Simple Simon

Simple Simon One child is chosen for the Pieman and the other for Simple The rest may join hands in circle formation or if they are too they may stand at one side and keep time to the music by hands softly while singing to tune of Coming Through the Rye 

Simple Simon met a pieman 

coming from the fair; 
Said Simple Siman to the pieman. 

"Let me taste your ware." 

Said the pieman to Simple Simon, 

"Show me first your penny." 

Said Simple Simon to the pieman 

"Indeed I haven't any."

Simple Simon went a -fishing 

For to catch a whale; 

All the water he had got 

Was in his mother's pail.

Simple Simon went to look 

If plums grew on a thistle. 

 He pricked his fingers very much 

Which made poor Simon whistle.

The two players start out and walk in opposite directions around the circle. When they meet at the words "Said Simple Simon to the pieman"the child representing the former, sings his lines and panto mimes the action.s When the pieman sings "Show me first your  penny"penny Simple Simon responds shaking his head sorrowfully. Indeed I haven t any. Whereupon they both bow and skip in opposite directions around the circle and together sing Tra la la la la la la la tra la la la la finishing the refrain Simple Simon then becomes the pieman and selects another player for his part 

References:

1. Primary Education 1927. 1928

2.THE HOME BOOK OF VERSE TOPY RIC AMERICAN AND ENGLISH 1580 1918 With an Appendix Containing a Few Well known Poems in Other Languages Selected and arranged By BURTON EGBERT STEVENSON УИЛЯМО КАТЛОН ҮЛИЗН THIRD EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED 

3. NEW COMMON SCHOOL SONG BOOK A ONE BOOK COURSE IN MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS OF MIXED GRADES WITH LESSONS IN THE PRINCIPLES OF MUSIC AND STUDY EXERCISES BY LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH FORMERLY OF STATE NORMAL SCHOOL PLATTEVILLE WISCONSIN ARTHUR SCHUCKAI SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS Branford CONNECTICUT CLARK LEAMING DIRECTOR OF MUSIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS Tucson ARIZONA CLARENCE L RIEGE ASSISTANT SUupervisor oF MUSIC STATE NORMAL SCHOOL PLATTEVILLE WISCONSIN ANNA HEUERMANN HAMILTON DIRECTOR OF MUSIC FULTON MISSOURI Co BECKLEY CARDY COMPANY CHICAGO