While reminiscing your childhood memories, you must remember the moments with Apple Pie ABC. The joy of learning the alphabet for the first time and singing along to your parents' voices made up our fondest life events. But did you know that you might share the same memories with the children from the 17th century? It is true!
The history of this poem dates back 400 years when your great, great, great, great... great grandmother was singing the poem to her children.
If this has you hooked, you'll be even more fascinated by its long and surprising origins. Let us know more about the poem, its history, and where you can download its fun printable version!
Written lyrics
This is how the Apple Pie ABC lyrics go:
Says A,
give me a good large slice!
Says B,
a little bit, but nice.
Says C,
cut me a piece of crust.
Take it, says D,
it's dry as dust!
Says E, I'll eat it fast,
I will, Says F,
I vow I'll have my fill!
Says G,
give it me good and great.
Says H,
a little bit I hate.
Says I,
it's ice I must request.
Says J,
the juice I love the best.
Says K,
let's keep it up above.
Says L,
the border's what I love.
Says M,
it makes your teeth to chatter.
N said, it's nice,
there's nought the matter.
O others' plates with grief surveyed.
P for a large piece begged and prayed.
Q quarrelled for the topmost slice.
R rubbed his hands and said "it's nice".
S silent sat,
and simply looked.
T thought,
and said, it's nicely cooked!
U understood the fruit was cherry.
V vanished when they all got merry.
W wished there'd been a quince in.
X here explained,
he'd need convincing.
Y said, I'll eat,
and yield to none.
Z, like a zany,
said he'd done.
While ampersand purloined the dish,
And for another pie did wish.
Printable lyrics
Download these amazing lyrics for your children's room and make them live your childhood as well! Find it here.
Photo lyrics
Video links
There is no better retention of a rhyme than a video synced to a catchy tune. Increase your kids' infatuation by showing them the following video!
Origin and history
The history and origin of Apple Pie ABC date back to the 17th century. Some historians claim that while the complete version was first published in 1742, it first partially appeared in a religious text back in 1671.
The 1671 version only covered letters A to G and appeared in Child's New Plaything: Being a spelling book intended to make the learning to read a diversion instead of a task.
It garnered momentum during the reign of Charles II, where it was called "The tragical Death of A, Apple Pie Who was caught in Pieces and Eat by Twenty-Five Gentlemen with whom All Little People Ought to be Very well acquainted."
Since then, the text has undergone several revisions to resemble what we see today.
The original version went something like this - "A was an Apple pie; B bit it; C cut it; D dealt it; E eat it; F fought for it; G got it; H had it; J joined it; K kept it; L longed for it; M mourned for it; N nodded at it; O opened it; P peeped in it; Q quartered it; R ran for it; S stole it; T took it; V viewed it; W wanted it; X, Y, Z, and &, All wished for a piece in hand."
I, J, and U V weren't differentiated and treated similarly during that time. It is even said that the phrase 'in apple pie order' was derived from this alphabetical progression.
FAQ
ABC and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star sound quite similar because of their tune. So, when you sing both of them simultaneously, you'll notice the similarity.
Generally, if anything was published before 1923 or the author of uncopyrighted material died 70 years ago, the product becomes a part of the public domain. Since the current version was made in 1853, ABC is not copyrighted.
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