One for Sorrow (nursery rhyme) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "One for Sorrow"
Three magpies in a tree
Nursery rhyme
Published	c. 1780

"One for Sorrow" is a classic children's nursery rhyme from England. It's all about magpies, which are clever birds. The rhyme is based on an old superstition that says the number of magpies you see can tell you if you'll have good luck or bad luck.

Rhyme Lyrics

There are many different ways to sing the "One for Sorrow" rhyme. A very popular version, which was used for the British TV show Magpie, goes like this:

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.

Where Did the Rhyme Come From?

This painting by Piero della Francesca shows one magpie at the birth of Jesus. Some people think it might hint at future sadness for Mary.

The "One for Sorrow" rhyme began because of old beliefs about magpies. In some cultures, people thought magpies brought bad luck. In Britain, these ideas go back to the early 1500s.

The rhyme was first written down around 1780. It appeared in a book by John Brand called Observations on Popular Antiquities. This early version from Lincolnshire said:

One for sorrow,
Two for mirth,
Three for a funeral
And four for birth

Later, in 1846, another version was printed in a book by Michael Aislabie Denham. This version was longer and had some changes:

One for sorrow,
Two for mirth
Three for a funeral,
Four for birth
Five for heaven
Six for hell
Seven for the devil, his own self

Sometimes, other birds like jackdaws, crows, and other birds from the Corvidae family are linked to this rhyme. This is especially true in America, where magpies are not as common.

Many children in the UK learned a version of the rhyme because it was the theme song for the TV show Magpie. This show was on from 1968 to 1980. The popularity of this TV show's song likely made it the most well-known version, replacing many older, local versions of the rhyme.