London Bridge Is Falling Down
Nursery Rhyme
london Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair lady.Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair lady.Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair lady.
What the Poem Says (Summary)
The rhyme tells a story about a bridge that keeps falling down. Each stanza offers a different material—wood, clay, bricks, iron, silver—and asks whether it will hold the bridge together. The repeated refrain “My fair lady” personifies the bridge as a gentle woman who is being cared for. The poem ends with a warning: if the guard falls asleep or smokes too much, the bridge may collapse.
How the Poem Works (Analysis)
Repetition and Rhythm
- The line “falling down” repeats in every stanza, giving the poem a steady beat that is easy for children to sing.
- Each stanza follows an AAAB pattern: three lines end with the same word or sound, and the fourth ends with “lady.” This creates a predictable musical shape.
Personification and Metaphor
- The bridge is called “my fair lady,” turning it into a living, beloved figure. This makes the idea of protecting the bridge feel like caring for a friend.
- Materials such as wood or silver are treated as if they could be chosen to build a person’s home, which adds a playful tone.
Imagery and Sound
- Vivid images—“wood and clay will wash away,” “iron and steel will bend”—help children picture the bridge’s fragility.
- alliteration (e.g., “build it up with bricks”) and consonance (“falling down, falling down”) give the poem a sing‑song quality that makes it memorable.
Irony and Humor
- Each suggested material fails in some way, showing that no single solution can keep the bridge safe. This irony is gentle and humorous, fitting for a children’s song.
- The final stanza about a sleepy guard adds a comic warning: even if the structure is strong, human care matters.
Symbolism
- The bridge stands for London itself—a landmark that must be protected and maintained. The poem encourages listeners to think about how cities grow and change over time.
Why Children Love It (Interpretation)
Children enjoy the rhyme because it mixes a simple story with playful language. The repeated lines act like a chorus, while the changing materials keep the song fresh. By personifying the bridge as a lady, the poem invites empathy: children feel they are helping to keep something beautiful safe.
Key Takeaways for Teachers
- Use the rhyme to discuss how structures can fail and why maintenance matters.
- Explore sound devices—repetition, alliteration, consonance—to show how poetry creates music.
- Encourage students to write their own verses about a bridge or another landmark, experimenting with different materials and outcomes.
remember: The poem is not just a story of a falling bridge; it is a lesson in care, creativity, and the importance of listening—both to the structure and to those who guard it.