A Tisket a Tasket is a late 19th-century American children’s rhyme and dance song. The song started as a traditional rhyming game for kids before inspiring a famous 1938 recording by Ella Fitzgerald.
In the past, children would dance in a circle as they sang the song. One person would run outside the ring, then drop a handkerchief. The person closest to the cloth would pick it up, chase after the dropper and make them mention their sweetheart’s name, go inside the circle or kiss them.
Although several variations exist, the most famous is the version by Ella Fitzgerald. The American musical icon recorded her performance in 1938 and it took the country by storm.
Lyrics for A Tisket A Tasket Nursery Rhyme
Although the song has different variations, this is the most popular.
A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it, I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up
And put it in his pocket.
Some versions replace the green with brown, some say I wrote a letter to my friend instead of love, whilst others replace the line with “I lost a yellow basket.” In some versions, a little girl picks up the letter.
Here is a version from 19th-century England.
I lost my supper last night,
And the night before,
And if I do this night,
I never will no more.
I sent a letter to my love,
I carried water in my glove,
And by the way I dropped it,
I did so, I did so:
I had a little dog that said bow-wow!
I had a little cat that said meow-meow!
Shan’t bite you,
shan’t bite you,
Shall bite you.
I dropt it, I dropt it,
And by the way, I lost it.
