The song 'As I Was Going To St Ives' is a classic English nursery rhyme and riddle that dates back to the 17th century or earlier. The lyrics present a traveler's encounter with multiple wives, sacks, cats, and kittens, leading to a question about the total number of those going to St Ives. It's intended to be a brain teaser that provokes thought about assumptions and attention to detail, with the typical answer being that only 'one' (the speaker) is going to St Ives, as the others are coming from there.
The journey starts with an opening of simple curiosity and a playful tone as the listener imagines the traveler walking along and encountering a seemingly impossible number of wives, sacks, cats, and kittens. This whimsical multiplication quickly turns into an exercise in mental arithmetic, conjuring up images of an ever-expanding group of travelers.
As the riddle progresses, the listener is likely to become more engaged and perhaps a bit challenged or frustrated, trying to calculate the totals. The suspense builds as one attempts to unravel the puzzle, recognizing that the scenario appears excessively complex and comical.
Upon closer inspection of the lyrics, or with knowledge of the riddle's trick, the listener experiences a moment of epiphany. The realization that the answer hinges not on multiplication but on understanding the direction in which each group is traveling brings about a humorous relief.
The playful nature of the riddle can foster a sense of nostalgia, as many will remember encountering this song or similar puzzles in their childhood. The 'aha' moment of the riddle can evoke a sense of pride or an amused acknowledgement of being outsmarted by such a simple tale. The tune remains with the listener as a reminder that not all is as it seems, and sometimes, the simplest answer is the correct one.
"As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives,"
This opening sets the stage for the riddle, implying an encounter which leads to the puzzling scenario of multiplying wives, sacks, cats, and kits.
"Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats, Each cat had seven kits:"
These lines begin the multiplication puzzle that tempts the listener into complex calculations.
"Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St Ives?"
The rapid repetition and rhythmic listing of items crescendos into the central question, creating a brain teaser.
"The rest were all coming."
This line provides the key to the riddle, revealing that the seemingly complex multiplication is irrelevant to finding out how many were actually going to St Ives.