Little lambs eat ivy?

[janewilliams20]

I wonder where that phrase came from? Ivy's poisonous, isn't it?

Comments

[telynor.livejournal.com]

I only know it from the WWII era song, so I'm probably not much help, but the Wikipedia entry referenced there might shed some light on it; dunno. I'll go back and read it now. ;-)

[grahamrobinson.livejournal.com]

The version I know is :

Marsydotes and doesydotes and liddlelambsiedizies

Mares eat oats
and does eat oats
and little lambs eat *daisies*

I suspect that's closer to the original, and ivy comes from someone who doesn't speak cockeny.

Cheers,
Graham

[janewilliams20.livejournal.com]

That does make a lot more sense, yes. Daisies grow in grass, the lamb trying to eat ivy would have to climb a tree.

[tattercoats.livejournal.com]

A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?

Sorry, I can't bear for it to be left hanging like that...