The British nursery verse “ Georgie Porgie ” tells of a plump child who kisses girls and runs away from boys . On the Earth’s surface , the verse seems to be about the antics of a naughty kid , but as with manynursery verse , there are rumors that the dim-witted Son have a profoundly hidden meaning .
Before chase after down the facts and possibility about “ Georgie Porgie , ” here ’s a quick reminder of thelyricsthat are typically blab out today :
The Kiss and Cry Corner
The oldest do it write disc of “ Georgie Porgie ” was publish in 1841 inThe Kentish Coronal , but it boast a few differences to the modern lyrics :
Along with the pas seul in the spelling of the titular persona ’s name , the third line has it that girls — rather than boys — come out to play . The rhyme is described as the only surviving “ sherd of an old lay , or lyric poem , ” indicating that it predates the solicitation ’s publication in the 1840s . Just a few age afterward , in 1844 , James Halliwell - Phillipps noted a different rendering of the strain in the third edition ofThe Nursery Rhymes of England :
Both Georgie Porgie and Roly Poly ( spelled “ Rowley Poley ” above ) are names associated withfuller figures , but which moniker was first used in the oral tradition of the rhyme is unidentified . The lyrics “ pud and pie ” are also changed in some later variation of the vocal . In 1887 , “ picklety Proto-Indo European ” isrecordedas the dialect idiomatic expression sung in South Cheshire , and in 1904 , American psychologist Amy Tanner used “ pumpkin pie ” inThe nipper : His cerebration , touch , and Doing .
The detail of boys come out to dally first appears in mark in 1882 inHaileybury Verses , but this take on the verse is rather dissimilar . Georgie Porgie is “ In the remove , / For fagging thinks / He ’ll show no love , ” withfaggingreferring to the British private school practice of younger schoolboy doing tasks for erstwhile schoolboys . The version that we sing today crops up just two years subsequently , in an1884 picture book .
The Royal Treatment
There have been a fair few contenders for the identity of the real person Georgie Porgie represent — all are either royals or have connections to royal line . Here are the top three theories .
Many aspects of the biography ofGeorge IV — who serve well as prince regent from 1811 to 1820 and ruled the UK as B. B. King from 1820 to 1830 — seem tofit the lyricsof the rime . George’sheavy weightwas the subject of derision throughout his reign , which may explain the “ pudding and pie ” reference . He also hadseveral mistress , the most prominent being Maria Fitzherbert , whom he illicitly wed in 1785 . Ten eld later on , he lawfully married Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Germany , but the brace hated each other , with George not even permit her attend his investiture . His playboy caper may be the inspiration behind the “ kissed the fille and made them cry ” line .
AnotherpossibilityisGeorge Villiers , 1st Duke of Buckingham — the favorite , a.k.a . intimate companion , of KingJames VI and I. Unlike George IV , Buckingham had a svelte build , but his beloved life was just as ill-famed . James publicly lavished care on Buckingham , leading to rumors about the pair take frisky in the bedroom . While at the Gallic court of justice in 1625 , Buckingham — who was matrimonial to Katherine Manners — also scandalously revealed his lecherousness forAnne of Austria , queen of France .
Alternatively , folklorists Iona and Peter Opienotethat “ popular tradition insists ‘ Charles II ’ ” is Georgie Porgie . Charlesruled during the mid-1600s and , like George IV , was ill-famed for his womanizing ways , but , like Buckingham , he was n’t overweight . Charles and his tabby , Catherine of Braganza , had no children together . Nonetheless , Charles was quite theCasanova , having around14 mistressesand at least 11 illegitimate kid .
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