Full Lyrics
Simple Simon met a pieman,
Going to the fair;
Said Simple Simon to the pieman,
“Let me taste your ware.”
Said the pieman to Simple Simon,
“Show me first your penny.”
Said Simple Simon to the pieman,
“Indeed I have not any.”
Simple Simon went a-fishing
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother’s pail.
About This Song
"Simple Simon" is a traditional English nursery rhyme built around a short comic story. It follows Simon as he tries to ask a pieman for a taste, making it feel more narrative than many other nursery rhymes.
Children often enjoy the fairground setting and the silly misunderstanding in the opening verse. The rhyme also works well for reading aloud because of its steady rhythm.
Over time, "Simple Simon" has stayed popular as both a rhyme and an early reading piece for young learners.