The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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234               HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON
XII. How many miles to Banbury Cross ? Three score and ten. Shall we get there by midnight ? Yes, if you run well.
Then open your gates as wide as the sky, And let King George and his men pass by. It is so dark we cannot see, so thread the needle Nancy, Thread the needle Nancy. One, two, three.
—Warwick (from a little girl living near Warwick, through Mr. C. C. Bell).
XIII.     How many miles to London ? Three score ten.
Can I get there by candle-light ?
Yes, and back again.
Open the gate and let me through.
Not unless you're black and blue.
Here's my black and here's my blue,
Open the gates and let me through.
Dan, Dan, thread the needle; Dan, Dan, sew.
Suffolk County Folk-lore, p. 63.
XIV.     How many miles to Babylon ? Three score and ten.
Shall I be there by candle-light ?
Yes, there and back again.
Open the gates as wide as high,
And let King George'and his family pass by.
—Wales (Folk-lore Record, v. 88).
Barley Bridge ? XV. How many miles to Banbury ?
London ? Four score and ten [or. Fifty miles and more]. Shall we be there by candle-light ? Oh, yes, and back again.
[Or, at Market Drayton. Shift your feet with nimble light, And you'll be there by candle-light.]