A bean, a bean, a half a bean...

Factual Questions
1

“A bean, a bean, a half a bean, a bean and a half and a bean.” I found my wife singing this at our daughter the other day, and seeing me go :dubious: she explained that that was how many beans make five, of course.

Of course. But where the heck does it come from? I’ve Googled and found lots of examples with slightly different wordings, but no explanation of the origin. Any ideas, and has anyone else heard of this?

2

I have no idea, but I recall my sergeant in DLI cadets teaching it to us aged 14 as we walked across the Cumbrian moors.

Except I was taught…

“two beans, half a bean, two half-beans a bean and a half-bean” YBMV of course.

3

Makes me think of Eric the half a bee.

Sorry, that’s all I’ve got.