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Our grateful thanks go to
Stan Evans for the following
additional information:
"I read that it
referred to the post Civil
War period (middle 17th
century) and Cromwell's
soldiers who marched in
"goose-step", which gives
the title and first line.
Also, the version of the
rhyme I heard had the third
line as, "There I met an old
man a-saying of his
prayers". This referred to
(as you mention) a Catholic,
possibly a Priest, praying
and the line: "I took him by
the left leg and threw him
down the stairs" alluded to
the nickname "left-footer",
that a Catholic is sometimes
called in Britain. The
overall meaning was that the
Roundhead soldiers were
searching out Catholics,
particularly Priests, hiding
in the houses of friends,
and when found they were
ill-treated".
Goosey Goosey Gander poem
Goosey
Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's
chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his
prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him
down the stairs.
Goosey Goosey
Gander poem |
