# Ladybug Ladybug **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 1999, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877 "1999-11-21T17:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/1 "1999-11-21T17:08:00Z")
does anyone know the origin of this kiddies rhyme? ladybug ladybug fly away home your house is on fire and your children will burn seems kind of sick to teach this to children… * * * Magnificent to behold - Greatly to be praised. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/2 "1999-11-21T20:36:00Z")
dont know the origin of it but it was in an old book of mother goose nursery rymes I had when I was a child, there were LOTS of other disturbing rhymes also. I remember one that told you if you were not good that in the night “the goblins will get ya if you dont watch out” it included an illustration of a definatly evil looking goblin (oversized hands and claws and all) creeping up on a child from a shadow. I didnt care for that one much… haha 🙂 * * * “Boy, wouldja get a load of the cloaca on that one”? -Cecil Adams, october 8 1999 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/3 "1999-11-21T20:45:00Z")
That’s not Mother Goose, it’s James Whitcomb Riley and it’s “Little Orphant Annie,” and it’s one of the greatest children’s poems in U.S. literature. Careful with that stuff, or I’ll snatch you through the ceiling 'fore you know what you’re about. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/4 "1999-11-21T20:47:00Z")
“goblins’ is from the poem " Little Orphant Annie” by James Whitcomb Riley predares the comic. Away back when in England they grew some crop, I forget which,(hops?) what ever it was the lady bugs hung out in it eating what ever ate the crop. After harvest they burned the shocks. The shocks were full of the larva and the flames made the lady bugs fly. and that’s where it came from. They are also called Lady Birds, tho they aint birds nor ladies. I had a disaster this year i released ladybugs and placed matis eggs. the manti ate my lady bugs. the aphids et my beans. * * * “Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/5 "1999-11-21T20:57:00Z")
Uke… so it is! I found the whole poem [http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/poems/riley5.html](http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/poems/riley5.html) but it was in the M Goose book I had (parents still have it) sorry to hijack the thread!!! ☹ I’ll stop now. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 1999, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/6 "1999-11-21T21:04:00Z")
most strang, main board says there are 4 replies here. No. 2 should be mine explaining Lady Bug and Goblin. Yet I only see one reply from B. Somebody Email me and tell me if they see the othr 3. Other wise i will be forced to post again!!!Muhwhaa ha ha. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 1999, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladybug-ladybug/4877/7 "1999-11-22T13:32:00Z")
Well, it’s there, but your typing is atrocious. "Ladybird Ladybird, fly away home, your house is on fire, your children alone. Ladybird Ladybird, come back again, your children are safe and…" something. * * * -PIGEONMAN- Hero For A New Millennium! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - updates every Wed & Sat