[Intro]
To market, to market
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
To buy a fat pig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
[Verse 1]
There’s bulls
And bears
(And pigs)
Bulls (make money)
Bears (make money
Pigs….
[Chorus]
Off to slaughter
(The butcher’s knife)
Should have, aught ta
(Such is life)
[Bridge]
To market, to market
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
To buy a fat pig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
[Verse 2]
There’s bulls
And bears
(And pigs)
Bulls (make money)
Bears (make money
Pigs….
[Chorus]
Off to slaughter
(The butcher’s knife)
Should have, aught ta
(Such is life)
[Bridge]
To market, to market
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
To buy a fat pig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
[Outro]
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
——
Extended Version
[Instrumental]
[Chorus]
Off to slaughter
(The butcher’s wife)
Should have, aught ta
(Such is life)
[Bridge]
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
To market, to market
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
To buy a fat pig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
[Instrumental, Organ Solo]
[Outro]
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig
(jiggety-jiggety-jig)
ABOUT THE SONG
The nursery rhyme “To Market, To Market” is a traditional English rhyme dating back to at least the 16th century. Here’s the commonly recited version:
To market, to market to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
To market, to market to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.
Extended Versions
Some versions include additional lines about buying or losing animals:
To market, to market to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
Or:
To market, to market to buy a fat hen,
Home again, home again, dancing in ten.
Meaning and Origin
- Literal Meaning: The rhyme reflects the activity of going to a marketplace, a central part of daily life in earlier rural and urban economies. Markets were where people purchased livestock, food, and goods.
- “Home again, jiggety-jig”: This cheerful phrase suggests the excitement of returning home with purchases.
- Educational Purpose: Like many nursery rhymes, it likely served as a playful way to teach children about everyday routines, animals, and rhythm.
Historical Context
The rhyme has origins in the early-modern period of England and may have been passed down orally before appearing in written collections. The repetition and rhythm make it memorable, qualities often used in traditional rhymes to entertain and educate children. Over time, it became a part of English-speaking folklore and has been adapted in various cultures.
Its playful tone and imagery endure, making it a staple of nursery rhymes for centuries.