Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

"Tom, Tom the Piper's Son" is an English nursery rhyme that first appeared in print in 1795 in a London chapbook, though it was likely transmitted orally for many years before that. A common misconception surrounds the "pig" in the rhyme—while modern illustrations often show Tom stealing a live pig, the "pig" was actually a sweet pastry or cake filled with apples, sold by 18th-century street vendors, sometimes featuring currants as eyes. There are two distinct versions often confused: the shorter, more popular version narrates how Tom stole a pig and was beaten for it, offering a clear moral about the consequences of stealing; the longer version, traceable to a 1698 comedy play called "The Campaigners," elaborates on Tom's musical abilities. The term "piper's son" could historically refer to a piper in the English army or navy, and the refrain "O'er the hills and far away" from the longer version was a notable military recruiting song around 1705.