Season 3 Episode 6 - One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

In this episode of the 'Tisket Tasket Podcast,' host Gina delves into the rich history and cultural significance of the nursery rhyme '1, 2, Buckle My Shoe.' Exploring its origins from early 19th-century publications to its widespread popularity in various cultures, the podcast uncovers the evolution of shoe buckles as a fashion statement and their decline with the advent of mass shoe production. The episode also features iconic illustrations and interpretations of the rhyme from historical artists, concluding with a 1963 audio rendition by the London Rhymers. Listeners are encouraged to consider the historical context of other nursery rhymes as they continue to explore the fascinating world of children's folklore.

Transcript

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Welcome to a  Tisket Tasket podcast where we dive into the rich history and cultural impact of nursery rhymes. I'm your host, Gina, and today we're taking a step back into time to explore one of the most enduring and widely recognized counting rhymes, 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe.  This little rhyme has helped generations of children learn to count, but its origins and variations tell a much larger story, one that weaves through centuries of fashion, education, and literature.

So, buckle up and join me as we unravel the fascinating history of this nursery rhyme.   

Origins and Variations of '1, 2, Buckle My Shoe'

Like many nursery rhymes, 1 2 Buckle My Shoe has evolved over time, appearing in multiple sources with variation in lyrics and structure. The first known publication of the rhyme appeared in 1805 with a version that read 1314, draw the curtain.

1560, the maids in the kitchen.  Another version surfaced in Gamer Girton's Garland, which I've talked about before. In 1810, with  another version surfaced in Gamer Girton's Garland,  a book that I've discussed before on this podcast. In 1810, with yet another set of lines, including 3 4, lay down lower.  By 1820, the rhyme had found its way into Jack Horner's Pretty Toy.

 By 1820, the rhyme had found its way into Jack Horner's Pretty Toy, and a year later, it appeared again in Peter Prym's Profitable Present.  The rhyme's flexibility suggests that it was part of an oral tradition long before it was ever written down, which is very common with nursery rhymes, as we found out. 

All of this information, by the way, can be found in Opie's Opies, the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes.  What's particularly intriguing is how common  

Cultural Significance and Global Variations

What's particularly intriguing about this nursing rhyme is how common this form of counting rhyme is across cultures. Opie and Opie cite a version recorded by Henry Carrington Bolton in the Counting Out Rhymes of Children, 1888, which included 11 12 Bake it Well. 

Bolton believed that that the rhyme could originally have extended up to 30 with lines like make a kerchief appearing in some variants. Now I looked up what a kerchief was and I couldn't find anything except that it was an old timey word for kerchief, but I still have my doubts about it.  In any case, his research indicated that a version was being used in Rentham, Massachusetts as early as 1780. 

Additionally, similar counting rhymes existed in Germany, France, Holland, and Turkey, reinforcing the idea that counting out rhymes are as widespread,  reinforcing the idea that counting out rhymes are a widespread cultural phenomena.  The RAUD Folk Song Index, shout out to RAUD, has assigned 1 2 Buckle My Shoe the number 11, 284,  it, further conforming it,  As an enduring piece of folklore. 

Of course, the most striking imagery in the rhyme is the act of buckling a shoe. But why buckles? To answer this, we need to delve into the history of shoe fashion. Now, I've talked a little bit about this in this podcast. Check out Season 1.  Shoe buckles were a significant fashion accessory from the 17th century through the early 19th century.

They were made from material They were made from materials ranging from simple brass and steel to ornate silver or even diamond encrusted designs for formal wear.  Samuel Pepys, the famous 17th century diarist, remarked on this fashion shift in his diary entry from January 22nd, 1660. This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes, which I have bought yesterday of Mr.

Wotton.  However, buckles weren't universally accepted right away. As late as 1693, a newspaper writer bemoaned the transition from ribbons to buckles as the preferred method of fastening shoes in knee pants. And I'd like to point out, this is actually for men's fashion. This is a discussion of men's fashion trends before they became widespread for women. 

Despite resistance, separate buckles remained popular until the French Revolution in Europe, when Aristocratic fashion, including the high heeled shoes and elaborate buckles, fell out of favor. Of course, you didn't want to appear too fancy.  By 1791, buckle manufacturers, desperate to maintain their industry, appealed to Prince George, later King George IV, to preserve their trade by mandating buckles at courts. 

While the prince did encourage their use at courts, the general population had moved on to more practical footwear.

In Colonial America, buckles were widely available, often imported from England. However, local production also existed, as evidenced by an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette in 1766 by John Greenhow, who sold, quote, shapes and tongs for silver buckles, end quote. If you are interested in learning more about the anatomy of shoe buckles, check out the Colonial Williamsburg website, where they provide more information in a neat diagram. 

A fact that I could not uncover is why buckles went out of fashion. Through my research, I found that \ they went out of fashion  in the mid to late 19th century, but could not find out the reason. 

Mass  Production and the Decline of Buckles

Through my research, I found out that Wikipedia has a really in depth and well cited article on shoemaking, which states that handcrafted shoe trade fell out of favor in the later half of the 19th century due to mass production. 

I imagine because buckles were a fashion statement and a person could take a pair of fancy buckles and use them on a different pair of shoes, they fell out of favor when shoes were widely produced and favored quantity over quality. However,  I'm a simple folklorist and I'm not a cobbler historian, so do not quote me on this. 

On the mass production of shoes, here's an interesting tidbit.  The first steps, and I'm quoting directly from Wikipedia here, the first steps towards mechanization were taken during the Napoleonic,  Napoleonic, were taken during the Napoleonic Wars by the engineer Mark Brunel. He developed machinery for the mass production of boots for the soldiers of the British Army.

In 1812, he devised a scheme for making nailed boot making machinery that automatically fastened soles to uppers by means of metallic pins or nails.  With the support of the Duke of York, the shoes were manufactured and due to their strength, cheapness and durability were introduced for the use of the army  in the same year, the use of screws and staples were patented by Richard Woodman.

Brunes system was described by Sure  by Brunes system, was described by Sir Richard Phillips as a visitor to his factory in batter Sea as follows.  In another building, I was shown his manufacturing of shoes, which, like the other, is full of ingenuity and, in regard to subdivision of labor, brings his fabric on level with the often admired manufacturing of pins. 

Every step in it is affected by the most elegant and precise machinery, while, as each operation is performed by one hand, so each shoe passes through twenty five hands, who complete from the hide, as supplied by the courier.  Courier, as supplied by the courier, a hundred pairs of strong and well finished shoes per day. 

As details are performed by the ingenuity, all the  details are performed by the ingenious application of the mechanic powers, and all the parts are characterized by precision, uniformity, and accuracy. As each man performs but one step in the process, which implies no knowledge of what is done by those who go before or follow him.

So the persons employed are not shoemakers, but wounded soldiers who are able to learn their respective duties in a few hours.  The contract at which these shoes are delivered to the government is six  6S60 per pair, I'm assuming that's 6 silver, maybe, being at least 2S, less than what was paid previously for an unequal, unequal in cobbled article. 

I just think direct quotes from people are pretty neat and I'd like to include them.  This mass production of shoes, especially for army men, led to further shoe inventions, including the invention of the riveting machine in 1853 by Thomas Crick, with the sewing machine being invented in 1846.  I imagine that these inventions led to the end of buckles unless it was just for fashion. 

And okay, I went way too far off track about shoes, but they play such an important part in culture that I wanted to include a bit about the history of them. But let's get back to the nursery rhyme.  

Illustrated Children's Books

The popularity of 1 2 Buckle My Shoe led to its inclusion in several illustrated children's books. In 1857, Caroline R.

Braille published an edition featuring lithographs of 18th century domestic interiors. Walter Crane, one of my favorite illustrators of the Victorian era, published a picture book version in 1869, later reissuing an expanded Buckle My Shoe picture book in 1910.  American artist Cortland Hoppen created a unique version of the rhyme in 1866, illustrating each verse with a detailed drawing.

In 1880, in 1889, Constance Hazelwood's rendition appeared in Old Mother Goose's Rhymes and Tales, taking inspiration from the delicate floral style of Kate Greenway, another one of my favorite illustrators.  These beautifully, these beautifully illustrated books help cement the rhymes place in popular culture, ensuring that generations of children would continue to chant it while learning to count. 

One of the most delightful aspects of nursery rhymes is hearing them performed. This week we have an audio recording from 1963 featuring the London Rhymers rendition of One, Two, Buckle My Shoe. Let's take a listen. 

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I absolutely love records from this era.  

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

But in closing, it's fascinating to know how a simple counting rhyme has survived for centuries, adapting to different cultures, artistic interpretations, and changing fashions. 

From its humble beginnings in early 19th century chapbooks to its modern use as a counting song for children, 1 2 Buckle My Shoe remains an essential part of folklore tradition.  As I close on today's episode, think about this. What other nursery rhymes have evolved from fashion trends of everyday life?

Or what other nursery rhymes involve shoes? I've covered a few of them, but which ones have you not heard?  In any case, join me next time as we explore another nursery rhyme and uncover the unique and sometimes weird stories behind the verses. Until then, keep counting, keep rhyming, and stay  📍 curious.  Take care.