Georgie Porgie, Puddin' and Pie

Variants on the Rhyme

There are minor variations of this rhyme. The only difference between the Lang and Opie rendition is the spelling of the name: Georgy Porgy is used in the former; Georgie Porgie is used in the latter. The Baring-Gould rendition uses the name of Rowley Powley instead of Georgie Porgie. In this rhyme, the other boys are not mentioned. After Rowley Powley kisses the girls and makes them cry, he simply runs away. In the Dennis Lee variation, the poem is entitled “Dirty Georgie”. This rendition has four stanzas and totally changes the tone of the rhyme. Georgie in this poem is dirty, smelly, and monster-like. He is advised to wash his face or be “kicked out of the human race.” He definitely has hygiene problems for his dirty ears “Smell like rubber boots.” This verse is more like a personal attack than the one depicted in the original nursery rhyme. It is insulting and offensive and sounds as if it were written by a child to taunt another child.

(The following was dedicated to Johnathan Prevette, suspended from the first grade in Lexington, N.C., in September 1996 for kissing a classmate on the cheek.)

Georgie Porgie, puddin' and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.

No, not the girls, who're none the wiser--
But principals, teachers, supervisor.

"Harrassment! Harrassment! Bounce him quick!
Such lewd behavior makes us sick!"

Reporters fed the lurid scenario:
"Class Now Safe From First-Grade Lothario."

But some smart girls made notes for the future,
'Cuz this guy must be some fine smoocher.

Now Georgie's got six dates for prom,
But can't cross the street without his mom.

In this modern rendition [ http://www.jamesfinngarner.com/georgie.html ], the poet uses a variation of the original rhyme to express his disdain over an incident that occurred in Lexington, North Carolina in September 1996. A six year old was accused of sexual harassment for kissing a female classmate. This Georgie Porgie is still guilty of the same action, kissing the girls; however, the school officials cry, “Harassment,” and the little boy is suspended for “lewd behavior.” Obviously, the poet feels that the authorities totally over-reacted. The poet uses this well known nursery rhyme as a vehicle to poke fun at the exaggerated response to what he deems as an innocent act.