Barber, Barber, Shave a Pig

"Barber, barber, shave a pig, How many hairs to make a wig?" This is one of the older more traditional nursery rhymes found in collections like Mother Goose, suggesting it dates back to at least the 18th century, possibly earlier.

The meaning is rooted in humorous absurdity. The idea of shaving a pig is silly in itself, and then asking how many of its coarse hairs would make a wig adds to the nonsense. It might also subtly reflect the broader role of barbers in centuries past – they weren't just hairdressers but often performed minor surgery, tooth-pulling, and other tasks, so perhaps asking them to do something utterly bizarre like shaving a pig wasn't that much stranger than pulling a tooth in the same shop! It's a quick, rhythmic, and slightly cheeky little rhyme.