“Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?”

Description

"Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I've been to London to look at the queen. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair"

Supplemental text

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?
  Partial text(s)

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(No title)

From Norah & William Montgomerie, Scottish Nursery Rhymes, 1963
#1, p. 21.

"Pussy, pussy baudrons,
Where have you been?"
"I've been to London,
To see the Queen!"

Pussy, pussy baudrons,
What got you there?"
"I got a good far mousikie,
Running up a stair!"

(1 additional stanza)

Notes

According to the Baring-Goulds, there was an incident similar to this during the reign of Elizabeth I, and many have thought the song refers to that.

There is an English proverb, "A cat may look at a king," which is quoted, e.g., in _Alice in Wonderland_, chapter VIII, "The Queen's Croquet Ground." The idea also appears in Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #759, p. 759. Whether either is in any way related I do not know. - RBW

References

1. Opie-Oxford2 428, "Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?" (1 text)
2. Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #150, p. 116, "(Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?)"
3. Montgomerie-ScottishNR 1, "(Pussy, pussy baudrons)" (1 text)
4. ST OO2428 (Partial)
5. Roud #15094
6. BI, OO2428