London Bridge is falling down

[Tonguez]

I don't recall writing this post.... Oh, 2005. Wow. OK.

Yeah its weird when they come back to haunt you

 

[Umbran]

I am playing in a Space: 1889 game in which the characters are on a station (codenamed, "London Bridge") orbiting Venus, and after some unfortunate events, it is, in fact, falling down.

And, as an update - London Bridge did, in fact, fall down.

We left the transdimensional, homicidally deranged botanist on board. It was unclear whether he would survive the fall. We'll see if he turns up again.

 

[Guang]

The Cantonese version of London Bridge is falling down doesn't even mention London Bridge. Translated to English, it would be something like this:

A bird fell in the water, fell in the water, fell in the water. A bird fell in the water, and was washed away!

 

[Marie D]

My wife and I are having this odd discussion. It seems that her version of "London Bridges Falling Down" differs from mine. Well, the refrain at least.

When she sang it, I was like "What the...!?"

Her version:

"London Bridges falling down, falling down, falling down.
London Bridges falling down, my fair lady.

Shake them up with salt and pepper, salt and pepper, salt and pepper.
Shake them up with salt and pepper, my fair lady."

This was apparently the version of the song she had learned in school.

It took me a while to recollect the version I learned, but I did, and shared this with her:

"London Bridges falling down, falling down, falling down.
London Bridges falling down, my fair lady.

Take the key and lock them, lock them up, lock them up
Take the key and lock them up, my fair lady."

She thought that my version was mean. I told her that her version was weird.

This was a month ago. She asked her friends. One grew up in Louisiana, and another grew up in Kansas City. My wife grew up in Missouri. They all had learned the "salt and pepper" version. A version I was wholly unfamiliar with.

So, I google'd it. The version that seems canon has nothing to do with locking people up, or salt and pepper, but building the bridge with iron bars, and silver and gold, though I did find one that mentioned locking up prisoners. After some searching I did find a version which had my refrain in it. Still nothing on salt and pepper.

Still, it seems odd that three people who grew up in different areas would all learn the same, seemingly bizarre version of this song.

What version did you learn as a child?

I'm from a town south of Kansas City and I learned the salt and pepper version. This was sung while playing a game with others. 2 kids connect hands and make a bridge for the rest of the kids to go under. And sing "london bridge is falling down, falling down..." and right after the my fair lady part, the 2 kids bring the bridge down and capture the kid who happens to be under the bridge. Then we sing the "shake 'em up with pepper and salt" part, while shaking the kid around inside the connected arms. Lol I can still hear everyone giggling at this part, especially the one inside getting shook up.