MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH
Goosey, Goosey Gander (recited) (Mother Goose Club)
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Video page URL
https://multimedia-english.com/videos/esl/goosey-goosey-gander-recited-mother-goose-club-4792
Description

A traditional nursery rhyme.


It is usually sang, as you can see here: Goosey, Goosey Gander (song)


This rhyme is very old, that's why we see the use of some old-fashioned words and also the missing rhyme between GANDER/WANDER and CHAMBER. In modern British English these words don't rhyme at all:


/gændə*/ /wɒndə*/ /tʃmbə*/  


but in the past, some centuries ago, all three words rhymed: /gændə*/ /wændə*/ /tʃæmbə*/     

Transcript

Goosey, Goosey, Gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and Downstairs,
And in my lady's chamber.

There I met an old man,
Who would not say his prayers;
I took him by the left hand,
And sent him down the stairs.

Explanations

GOOSEY= Little goose (see picture)


GANDER= A female goose (but here, "goosey, goosey, gander" doesn't mean anything, it's only used for the musicality of the sounds)


WITHER SHALL I WANDER= (Old English) Where shall I go?


CHAMBER= (Old English) Bedroom.


WOULD NOT SAY= Refused to say, didn't want to say.


HIS PRAYERS= In this case, the prayers a christian says in bed before going to sleep.