Maybe off topic and maybe not:

I'm wondering if there is any connection between the children's [jumprope or handclap] rhyme "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" and the songs "My baby got washed down the plughole" and "Alice where are you going".

I'm assuming that most of you know "Miss Lucy [or some other name] Had A Baby", but for the record, I'll post an example from a Mudcat thread of what I believe is the standard version, and another example from a Mudcat thread of what I believe is a contemporary version of this rhyme.

"Standard version":

Subject: RE: Naughty kids' greatest hits II
From: GUEST,Mrrzy-at-work - PM
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 12:20 PM

I saw on the older thread something about the alligator purse. We used to sing that one:
Miss Lucy had a baby, she named him Tiny Tim, she put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim

He ate up all the water, he drank up all the soap, he tried to eat the bathtub but it wouldn't go down his throat

Miss Lucy called the doctor, miss Lucy called the nurse, miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse

(now start singing faster and faster) In walked the doctor, in walked the nurse, in walked the lady with the alligator purse

Measles said the doctor, mumps said the nurse, chickenpox said the lady with the alligator purse

Out walked the doctor, out walked the nurse, out walked the lady with the alligator purse!

This was done by 2 people who did a fancy hand-clapping thing along with it.

**

"Contemporary version":

Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe!
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:53 PM

O_O This is sung to the tune of 'Miss Susie had a Steamboat' (and when I learned it, Miss Susie was Miss Mary)
Miss Molly had a baby,
The baby's name was Tim,
She put him in a bathtub,
To see if he could swim.
He ate up all the water,
He drank up all the soap,
He woulda ate the bathtub but it wouldn't fit his throat!
Miss Molly called the doctor,
Miss Molly called the nurse,
Miss Molly called the lady with the alligator purse!
Measles said the doctor,
Measles said the nurse,
Pizza said the lady with the alligator purse!
Miss Molly shot the doctor,
Miss Molly stabbed the nurse,
Miss Molly paid the lady with the alligator purse!
...
Early '90's, Calgary, Canada

**

So what do you think? Was "My baby got washed down the plughole" and "Alice where are you going" the source of Miss Lucy {Molly, Susie" etc} Had A Baby?"

Which songs/rhymes came first?