Disobedience
James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James
Said to his Mother,
"Mother", he said, said he;
"You must never go down to the end of the town,
if you don't go down with me."
James James
Morrison's Mother
Put on a golden gown,
James James
Morrison's Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James
Morrison's Mother
Said to herself, said she:
"I can get right down to the end of the town and be
back in time for tea"
King John
Put up a notice,
"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES
MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY;
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE TOWN-
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!
James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming _him_.
James James
Said to his Mother,
"Mother", he said, said he:
"You must never go down to the end of the town with-
out consulting me."
James James
Morrison's Mother
Hasn't been heard of since.
King John
Said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
"If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?"
(Now then, very softly)
J. J.
M. M.
W. G. Du P.
Took great
C/o his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J. J.
Said to his M*****
"M*****", he said, said he:
"You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-if-
you-don't-go-down-with-ME!"
Commentary
Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet… Woozles, Jagulars and Heffalumps… Honey… Kanga and Roo, not to mention Tigger… are you feeling nostalgic yet? Milne’s tales of the Hundred Acre Wood need no introduction - nor, for that matter, contradiction <grin>. Seriously, though, I cannot imagine a childhood lived without Edward Bear and his many friends, and I’m sure the same holds true for people all over the world and of every generation.
Equally enchanting are Milne’s books of light verse - ‘When We Were Very Young’, and ‘Now We Are Six’. The ballad of James James and his errant mother was my favourite poem from the former; I’m told that when I was very young, I used to recite the entire thing at breakneck speed and earsplitting volume - especially the last stanza.
Ah, fond memories. And the truly wonderful thing is that I still get every bit as much enjoyment from Milne today as I did back then. Sigh.
— Thomas
PS. Many thanks to my mother for suggesting I run this poem on the Minstrels, and for typing it out for me (since I don’t have a copy near at hand, more’s the pity).
Biography
b. Jan. 18, 1882, London, Eng.
d. Jan. 31, 1956, Hartfield, Sussex
in full ALAN ALEXANDER MILNE, English humorist, the originator of the immensely popular stories of Christopher Robin and his toy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh.
Milne attended Westminster School, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1906 he joined the staff of Punch, writing humorous verse and whimsical essays in a style that quickly dated. He achieved considerable success with a series of light comedies such as Mr. Pim Passes By (1921) and Michael and Mary (1930). Milne also wrote one memorable detective novel, The Red House Mystery (1922); and a children’s play, Make-Believe (1918), before stumbling upon his true literary métier with some verses written for his son Christopher Robin. These grew into the collections When We Were Very Young (1924) and Now We Are Six (1927). These remain classics of light verse for children.
His most popular works were the two sets of stories about the adventures of Christopher Robin and his toy animals–Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and Eeyore–as told in Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928). Ernest Shepard’s illustrations added to the books’ charm. In 1929 Milne adapted another children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, for the stage as Toad of Toad Hall. A decade later he wrote his autobiography, It’s Too Late Now.
Show 16 commentsHide comments
From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Suresh Ramasubramanian · 20 June 2000
On 21 Jun 2000, Abraham Thomas saw fit to inform me that:
P.G.Wodehouse would beg to differ :) Who was that chappie in the Golf stories who kept writing soppy poetry - Rodney Spelvin?
Timothy Bobbin
goes
hoppity
hoppity
hoppity
hop.
Also, Bertie once made a real ass of himself trying to recite Christopher Robbin.
-suresh
Daniel Marsh · 6 July 2000
This is indeed a very amusing poem, though sometimes I wonder if there’s something more to it. You’ll note the refferences are pretty specific– there was only ever one King John of England (with good reason.) A friend of mine said it had to do with espionage, but I have no idea if he’s right. At any rate, its funny, well-constructed, and that’s the important part.
On a side note, I was once very surprised to hear a musical rendition of this song by a band opening for the folk singer Dar Williams. They’re based out of Boston, called “Einstein’s Little Homunculus,” pretty good if you like a sort of a fractured Celtic. The song is titled like the poem “Disobedience.” Once I recognized just what they were singing, I collapsed with laughter.
golds_nm · 12 January 2002
I too used to love reciting this poem until one of my children asked me what happened to James Morrison’s mother. Why didn’t she come back? Does anyone have an answer? elaine
Bettina Morton · 11 March 2002
I am thankful that this poem is here. If this poem wasn’t here I would have been in a world of hurt. I have to recite “Disobedience” tomorrow for a grade in school…..
Sincerely,
Kathryn Morton, age 12 at Rising Starr Middle School 7th grade
SiliNani · 14 March 2002
I have been searching for this poem for at least 30 years. It was one of my favorites in grade school (eons ago) but never could remember the correct title of it til today. Thanks a million. Silinani
James Pogue · 3 May 2002
Some 70 years ago, when I was about 5, a friend of my mother, who was British, would visit us on occasion. When she did, I would ask her to read to me from our AA Milne book, and always took great delight in hearing about “James, James”. It brings back many memories, and now I recite it to my grandchildren.
Jim
jgindlesperger · 21 July 2002
As a teacher, I’m wondering how you would use this poem in the classroom and with what age group. Please respond by Monday, July 22 before noon. Thanks.
Joan
John and Lisa Fraser · 1 September 2002
This is one of my all time favorite poems and I woke today reciting it in my head. Couldn’t remember one verse and after a brief search- found it. Thanks for posting it! And yes, there are many social comments of the times within the poem.
Benda
adj · 4 October 2003
Thanks for putting this up - my husband recites the beginning of it but remembered it as being from “Now we are six” only to find when we tried to buy this volume that the poem wasn’t included. So, now we shall be able both to learn the second half of the poem and find the right book.
AML
paulson_m · 9 June 2004
Just browsing through your random feature, I found this one (“Disobedience” by A.A. Milne).
One of the comments included a reference to a song by a folk group. I don’t know if it’s the same version, but the Chad Mitchell Trio had a musical version in the ‘60’s. It was titled “James James Morrison Morrison” and was on their alblum “At the Bitter End”.
Michael
Celine · 13 June 2004
My mother has gone to the end of the town, and without consulting me. Can anyone get help me in contact with Jim (J.J.M.M.W.G.Dupree) for more detailed advice on the matter? The dilly dally woman probably stood on the cracks in the pavement and was swallowed up by the bears.I shall have to do without.
moonwind · 28 September 2005
Thanks so much for having this. It means I don’t have to call my son in Colorado after midnight to get the few words I can’t remember. My youngest son is 39 this year, and I can still reciete most of this [and many other] poem. Missed a few words in verse four and five. We used to say this together when we were driving in the car. Thanks again. Carolyn Tingstad
Roelof James · 5 October 2005
My grandmother would recite this poem to me before I went to bed every night I stayed at her house. She recently passed away but now I get the joy of reading it to my 3 year old son from the same book that my Grandmother used to read it to me. Thanks to the bard A. A. Milne.
James H. Roelof
Jim Morrison · 31 October 2005
Amazing Poem - and I never knew it was a poem by A.A. Milne. When I was a kid - we had an album by the “Chad Mitchell Trio.” On it was this song, James James Morrison Morrison - and we always sang it. But, we never knew much about it. Now I know. Thanks. Jim Morrison
Rhett Sampson · 26 June 2006
Many thanks for posting this. My mum used to read this to me when i was a kid (along with all the other AA Milne wonderful stuff esp. Pooh). I can still recite the first 2 verses to this day, but not the rest. She is quite ill now and we are having (at her request) a “one for the road” concert for her. I am going to recite this as my tribute to her (hope i can get through it). I am amazed at how appropriate it has become now both for how she is and my relationship with her. Perhaps Milne had an aging mum when he wrote this.
Rhett Sampson
Sydney, Australia
Folsom Mark · 25 April 2008
I too grew up around the Chad Mitchell Trio’s version of this poem, and am delighted to learn that it’s originally from AA Milne. For some strange reason I was inspired to sing the first verse to my 12 year old daughter in the car on the way to school this morning - and of course she looked at me like I was from outer space. That inspired me to go looking for the ‘lyrics’ — now I can sing the whole thing to her and make her certain that I’m completely off my rocker! Oh the joy! Thanks …. Mark B. Folsom