To Market, to Market
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety, jig.
Origin and History
The nursery rhyme To Market, To Market (sometimes: To Market, To Market, to Buy a Fat Pig) dates all the way back to 1598 and is believed to have originated in England. The rhyme first appears in John Florio’s 1598 A Worlde of Wordes, which defines “Abomba” as “a man’s home or resting place: home againe, home againe, market is done.” The full version of the poem is believed to have appeared in 1805 in Songs for the Nursery. Although the origin of the rhyme is not known for certain, it is believed to have been inspired by actual trips to the market or fair.
Meaning
The meaning of “To Market, To Market” is quite clear. It reads as a simple narrative describing a visit to the market or fair. The poem starts off with the narrator's arrival at the market and their exploration of the various goods found there. The narrator then chooses something to buy—a “penny bun”—which they take back home. The rhyme ends with the phrase “market is done” indicating that their shopping trip is over.
Full Version
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.
To market, to market to buy a plum cake,
Home again, home again, market is late.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
To market, to market to buy a fat dog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market to buy a small chick,
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
