Limerick (song)


"Limerick" is a traditional humorous drinking song with many obscene verses. The tune usually used for sung limericks is traditionally "Cielito Lindo", with the words arranged in the form of a limerick.

Recorded versions

  • The Limerick Song has been commercially recorded many times. The earliest version of limericks being sung is 1905 under the title Fol-The-Rol-Lol as sung by Edward M. Favor on Edison records. The earliest date for limericks being sung to the "Gay Caballero" tune is May 11, 1931 on the recording titled Rhymes sung by Jack Hylton which was issued on Decca records.

Printed versions

The earliest printed date for limericks being sung is 1928 in the book A Collection of Sea Songs and Ditties from the Stores of Tom E. Jones. Since many of the verses used for this song are bawdy the song tended to get issued in rare, underground mimeographed songbooks. Some of these are :

Variant choruses

There are several different choruses for this song. One of the most popular in the United States of America is sung to the tune of the traditional Mexican song, "Cielito Lindo" and usually goes like this:
Or, alternatively:
Sometimes, the second line of the chorus is varied from chorus to chorus, while the rest remains the same. When the song is sung in a group, the line may be left open for someone to shout a joke line, then the group finishes the chorus together.
Another chorus, to an unknown tune, is also not uncommon in the UK:
A less commonly reported chorus goes:
In the children's rendition of this song, the chorus goes:

Lyrics

The lyrics for the Limerick Song are usually ribald and sometimes original. Here are some from the public domain book Sea Songs and Ditties:
Chorus:
chorus
There is a version of this song which is rendered for children. Three verses are as follows: