Origins

As I Was Going up Primrose Hill has been around since at least the early 1800s, when it began showing up in printed collections. James Orchard Halliwell included it in his Nursery Rhymes of England, and Kate Greenaway later paired it with her delicate illustrations in 1881. Some versions swap Primrose Hill for Pippin Hill, proof that the words shifted easily in oral tradition. Primrose Hill itself is a real spot in London, a popular place for strolling and gathering on the city’s edge. That makes it a fitting backdrop for a chance meeting.

Meaning

The rhyme reads like a flirtatious exchange overheard on the street. A girl curtseys, the boy tips his words back in kind, and suddenly we have a miniature love story. The line about half-a-crown a day puts a smile on it — not a fortune, but enough to show he’d rather give what little he had than keep it. Instead of moral lessons or riddles, the rhyme celebrates charm, generosity, and a touch of everyday romance.

Cultural Background

The curtsey reflects the politeness children were taught, while the promise of spending every coin on a sweetheart echoes the playful ballads and courting songs of the 18th and 19th centuries. By placing the meeting on Primrose Hill, the rhyme grounds itself in a recognizable London landmark — a real place where people did walk, meet, and flirt.