I have just sent my grandson home after a weekend visit. During it I sang four verses of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' but was very aware that almost every playschool and nursery rhyme book only includes the first verse. Peter and Iona Opie's wonderful book contains additional verses for many of them, as well as many less well known songs.

And I got to wondering about the 'folk process' trimming many songs of extra verses, versus a general lack of interest in keeping the richness of the originals.

I have no conclusions, but would welcome your thoughts.