Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks
As Tommy Snooks, and Bessie Brooks
Were walking out one Sunday;
Says Tommy Snooks to Bessie Brooks,
“To-morrow—will be Monday.”
Origins and Variations
The rhyme showed up in 19th-century nursery collections, including Mother Goose. Sometimes Bessie is spelled “Bessy.” Sometimes the final line is about marriage, sometimes it’s about the calendar. Either way, the two names bounce together in a way that made children remember them.
Kate Greenaway’s 1881 illustrations gave the couple a proper Victorian look—two well-dressed figures out for a Sunday stroll. That image has stuck ever since, even if the words themselves are little more than a playful joke.
Meaning
So, what does it mean? Honestly—not much. That’s the charm.
If you take the “Tomorrow will be Monday” version, it’s comedy in its simplest form: stating the obvious as though it were important. Kids love that kind of humor, because it feels like something they themselves might say with complete seriousness.
If you go with the “Wilt marry me on Monday” ending, the rhyme turns into a tiny proposal, sweet and slightly old-fashioned. It’s still lighthearted, but now the Sunday walk has a purpose.
In both cases, the rhyme is more about rhythm, wordplay, and silliness than hidden lessons. Not every nursery verse was meant to be a fable. Some, like this one, survive because they’re fun to chant.
