The explanation of the words to Wee Willie Winkie was to teach children to associate every day tasks with their own lives.

Before the days of the wireless, television and the Internet great reliance was put upon the Town Crier to pass on the latest news and information.

'Wee Willie Winkie' was the children's version of the Town Crier!

The author of the poem was William Miller (1810 - 1872) and the first publication date of the words to Wee Willie Winkie was in 1841.

Wee Willie Winkie rhyme poem

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Tapping at the window and crying through the lock,
Are all the children in their beds, it's past eight o'clock?

Wee Willie Winkie rhyme poem