Magpie rhyme

[ks]

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.... does anyone know 8,9 & 10?

[chantelle_123-098]

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, eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a time of joyous bliss.

[Angelwings247]

well i only know
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
and i dont know what 8 or 9 are but hear ten might be to starty all over again :-/

[Angelwings247]

well i only know

1 for sorrow
2 for joy
3 for a girl
4 for a boy
5 for silver
6 for gold
seven for a secret never to be told
then i don't know what 8 and 9 are but was once told that 10 was to start all over again :-/

[BILLYBINGO]

8 a wish 9 a kiss 10 a bird you must not miss!!!

[BILLYBINGO]

8's A WISH AND 9's A KISS TEN is A BIRD YOU MUST NOT MISS!

[TownofUK]

Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss and ten for the bird you must not miss

[selstonlady]

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, Eight for a wish, Nine for a kiss, Ten for a bird you must not miss

[selstonlady]

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. Eight for a wish. Nine for a kiss. Ten for a bird you must not miss

[selstonlady]

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 Eight for a wish Nine for a kiss Ten for a bird you must not miss

[halfpint2004]

Here's the version I was taught....
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, Eight a wish, Nine a kiss, Ten the bird you must not miss

[Murdoch]

I remember this version from an old book of folklore I found in the library years ago:

One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, four for a birth, five for sickness, six for health, and number seven is the devil hisself.

[Murdoch]

I remember this version from an old book of folklore I found in the library years ago:

One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, four for a birth, five for sickness, six for health, and number seven is the devil hisself.

[swfulton426]

I believe there are hundreds of different versions going upto as far as 20 birds. They could possibly originate as far back as ancient celtic times from over 2000 years ago, when the Babd Catha hooded crow was an aspect of one of their battle Gods the Morrigan. The english language did not exist as such back then it was more like modern Welsh. Consequently the words dont translate but often the meanings are the same eg. line 2 is often "2 for Joy" but also "2 for mirth" in other versions. Here are some common ones:
1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for laughing
6 for crying
7 for sickness
8 for dying
9 brings silver
10 takes gold
11 a secret never to be told

1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for rich
6 for poor
7 for a witch (after this point many versions are sinister- usually ending with "I can tell you no more")
8 for a babe buried in the earth
9 for a whoring (sometimes kissing)
10 for crying
11 for wishing
12 life's no longer trying (or somekind of fulfillment " a time of joyous bliss" the words may be different but often the meanings are similar.

I would be very interested if anyone knows any Welsh , Scotish or Irish versions as they are less likely to be corrupted. I dont speak Welsh so please translate to english even if it doesnt rhyme. Could be of use in a book Im writing.

Cheers S Fulton

[lime1111]

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, eight for a letter over the sea, nine for a lover as true as can be

[kelstar2u]

This is a good one ,no negative effect,(One for sorrow seen by two,brings luck the whole day through)!

[Red-Cunningham]

10 for a surprise you should be careful not to miss
11 for Health
12 for wealth
13 for beware the Devil himself
14 for Wine
15 for Time
16 for the old speckled Hen where it all starts again.