Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary"
Illustration by William Wallace Denslow
Nursery rhyme
Published	c. 1744

"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" is an English nursery rhyme. The rhyme has been seen as having religious and historical significance, but its origins and meaning are disputed. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19626.

Lyrics

William Wallace Denslow's rendition of the poem, 1901

The most common modern version is:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

The oldest known version was first published in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (1744) with the lyrics that are shown here:

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,
And so my garden grows.

Several printed versions of the 18th century have the lyrics:

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,
Sing cuckoos all in a row.

The last line has the most variation including:

Cowslips all in a row [sic].

and

With lady bells all in a row.