As I Was Going to St Ives is an old nursery rhyme thought to have originated in 18th-century England.
The song repeatedly mentions seven objects and can work as a counting song for kids.
This classic rhyme has been enjoyed for centuries and is perfect for parents and teachers looking to entertain and educate young children.
Lyrics for As I Was Going to St Ives
The song is a relatively simple song with a single verse. Though there are earlier versions with different lyrics, below are the modern lyrics accepted by most people.
As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives,
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits:
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were there going to St. Ives?
And here are the lyrics to a 1730 version:
As I went to St Ives
I met Nine Wives
And every Wife had nine Sacs,
And every Sac had nine Cats
And every Cat had nine Kittens
The above version is widely thought to be the first-ever version of the rhyme.
