Oranges & Lemons

By Walter Crane

Ballad
    Oranges and lemons, says the bells of St. Clemen's;     You owe me five farthings, says the bells of St. Martin's;     When will you pay me, says the bells of Old Bailey;     When I grow rich, says the bells of Shoreditch;     When will that be? says the bells of Stepney;     I do not know, says the great bell of Bow.     Here comes a candle to light you to bed,     And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Ballads
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem weaves together a rich tapestry of themes, including debt, wealth, uncertainty, and the passage of time, all wrapped within the context of a cityscape marked by distinct, personified bells. The repetition of the phrase "says the bells of" creates a rhythmic, almost chant-like structure, reflecting the tolling of bells. This repetition also serves to emphasize the poem's exploration of the cyclical nature of life and the inexorable march of time.

The tone of the poem is one of playful melancholy; there's a childlike rhythm that is contrasted sharply with the mature themes of financial obligation and the inevitability of time's passage. The concluding lines deliver a particularly striking juxtaposition: a comforting image of bedtime ritual immediately followed by a stark, ominous prediction of impending doom. The technique of using a seemingly innocent nursery rhyme structure to convey more profound, even grim, messages is powerfully effective. It lulls the reader into a sense of security, only to disrupt it with a harsh dose of reality, reflecting life's unpredictability and the looming inevitability of death.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.