Re: If wishes were horses...

Posted by ESC on May 05, 2005

In Reply to: If wishes were horses... posted by M Gardner on May 05, 2005

: My mother used to say, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, upon white chargers, with dames at their sides". Is this part of a poem? If so where can I learn the rest of it?

From previous discussions, it looks like there are several versions. And one person said it was a Scottish proverb and another said it is Mother Goose.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
If turnips were swords, I'd wear one by my side
If ifs and ands were pots and pans,
there'd be no need for tinkers' hands.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.
And if "ifs" and "ands"
Were pots and pans,
There'd be no work for tinkers!

If wishes were horses,
Beggars would ride;
If wishes were fishes,
We'd all have some fried.
(or alternately, "We'd all cast our lines")