# London Bridge Is Falling Down
1744 
England
# Lyrics
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
# History and Meaning
There have been a number of bridges known as 'London Bridge' over the years, spanning the River Thames which splits London into North and South.
One explanation as to the origins is that the rhyme refers to a supposed Viking destruction of the bridge in 1014.
A more likely explanation would be that it refers to the 'Old London Bridge' (1209-1831). This was a grand and enormously expensive bridge, commissioned by King Henry II. Across the bridge there were as many as 140 houses which were 3,4 or even 5 stories high. The ground floors were typically used as shops, and rents went towards upkeep and maintenance of the structure. The bridge was 926 feet (282 metres) long by 20 to 24 feet (6.1–7.3 metres) wide. Fires in 1633, 1666 (The Great Fire of London) and 1725 all made significant damage to the bridge and the houses built upon it. By the 1700s constant repairs were needed to maintain the bridge, so much so that it was decided to completely destroy it and replace it with the 'New London Bridge'.