# "One for sorrow" magpie rhyme

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-for-sorrow-magpie-rhyme/203508>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 24, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-for-sorrow-magpie-rhyme/203508 "2003-09-24T10:22:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-for-sorrow-magpie-rhyme/203508/1 "2003-09-24T10:22:51Z")

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I’m sure this has been done before.

Why do we say:  
“One for Sorrow,  
Two for Joy,  
Three for a Girl,  
Four for a Boy,  
Five for Silver,  
Six for Gold.,  
Seven for a Secret never to be told.” when we see magpies?  
I’ve also heard the rhyme with Three for a Letter, and Eight for a Babe buried in the dark.

I’m guessing it’s a pagan/druid type thing, but I’m not sure.

Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![brainfizz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/da6949/32.png) [@brainfizz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainfizz)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-for-sorrow-magpie-rhyme/203508/2 "2003-09-24T12:05:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> The most ‘talkative’ of birds, the magpie was often credited with oracular announcements and the communication of secrets to those who could understand the mystical bird language. Like other relatives of the crow, magpies could learn to imitate human speech when kept in captivity. For centuries the chattering of magpies was said to foreshadow the arrival of guests. Two or more magpies prophesied a happy occasion; one magpie meant sorrow.