Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Many years ago, I was told by a co-worker that the infamous "Lizzie Borden took an axe" rhyme actually had more words to it at one time. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, does anyone know the words?

Hi, welcome to the forum! Leonard Rebello, in his book *Lizzie Borden Past & Present* devotes several pages to this "doggerel" (pgs 458 - 464). Originally it was sung to the tune of "Ta Ra-Ra-Boom Der-E". Rebello found out many people had added to the basic verse over the years, & created their own versions. One 1924 version he cites has, "Lizzie Borden, bend your head; Don't you wish that you were dead? Lizzie Borden, bend your knee; One, two three--out goes she!" I wonder how many times Lizzie herself heard the rhyme...no doubt she would have. What a thing to have to endure!

I recall an item quoting a Fall Riverite who said there were more verses. Maybe Russell Lake? I think he, and the town, let these go by the wayside, not committing them to memory because they didn't like the notoriety.
So I don't think anyone knows any more.

Thanks for the citation, TinaKate! Rebello (462) says that Pearson first published the quatrain in 1924. All the other verses listed are considered variations, Mindbergs- no actual verses exist which add to the famous ones.

I guess the world will never know the other verses! It's kind of a shame that so many things and ideas get lost over time. It's even more interesting that many of these things and ideas tend to get lost when legislators, judges and politicians find it to be in their best interest to lose them!

Anyway, as I said, I have been interested in this case since I was a little girl. Of course, we all know that the Elizabeth Montgomery movie was not entirely accurate. But I will say this...it scared the mess oout of eight year-old little me!! I had nightmares about that movie for years.

From Bloody Versicles, The Rhymes of Crime by Jonathan Goodman, 1971:

Here are more verses:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... Rhyme1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... Rhyme2.jpg

Beck...the verses you posted links to are not from THE rhyme...but are other separate ones...right ? The second link you posted are the basis for the Chad Mitchell Trio song from 1962...right ?


Tracy...

Just to be clear, these are not More Verses, in the sense of the question asked, but variations.

Rebello, pg. 458:

"An Irresponsible Bird: Joe Howard in Boston Globe," New Bedford Daily Mercury, Tuesday, June 6, 1893: 5.

"At 11 o'clock precisely, a boy in the inside closure outside the court house from which a cow had been removed the day before, interrupted the proceedings with a shrill, clear, distinct whistling reproduction of 'Ta-ra-ra-boom- de-a.' It is needless to remark, but the record demands it, that brother Wright [Andrew R. Sheriff of Bristol County and trial bailiff] immediately sent out and the whistler subsided."

Thanks Eugene! I forgot about the whistler but I remembered the cow!

Thanks, Eugene. Makes me wonder, was the "Lizzie Borden took an axe" quatrain already established at that time, hence the whistling of that tune? Or, was this guy just whistling it because it was a popular tune at the time? Or, was it some comment on Lizzie herself that he chose to whistle this loudly outside the courtroom?

Here are the lyrics to the song, if that helps any:

Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
A smart and stylish girl you see,
Belle of good society, not too strict, but rather free,
yet as right as right can be!
Never forward, never bold, not too hot and not too cold,
but the very thing, I'm told, that in your arms you'd like to hold!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
I'm not extravagantely shy, and when a nice young man is nigh,
for his heart I have a try, and faint away with tearful cry!
When the good young man, in haste, will support me round the waist,
I don't come to, while thus embraced, till of my lips he steals a taste!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
I'm a timid flow'r of innocence,
Pa always says that I have no sense,
I'm one eternal big expense, but men say that I'm just immense!
Ere my verses I conclude, I'd like to have it known and understood,
Tho' free as an air, I'm never rude, I'm not too bad and not too good!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
You should see me out with Pa, prim and most particular,
the young men say "Ah! There you are!"
And Pa says "That's peculiar!" "It's like their cheek" I say,
and so off again with Pa I go, he's quite satisfied,
although when his back is turned, well you know.
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
When with the swells I'm out to dine, all my hunger I resign,
I taste the food and sip the wine, no such daintiness as mine!
But when I am all alone, for shortcomings I atone!
No old frumps to stare like stone, chops and chicken on my own!
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!
Sometimes Pa says with a frown,
"Soon you will have to settle down, have to wear your wedding gown,
be the strictest wife in town!!"
Well it must come by and by, when wed to keep quiet I'll try,
but till then I shall not sigh, I shall still go in for my:
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay! Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!