"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" is a popular English nursery rhyme. The rhyme has been seen as having religious and historical significance, but its origins and meaning are disputed. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19626.br br Lyricsbr br The most common modern version is:br br Mary, Mary, quite contrary,br How does your garden grow?br With silver bells, and cockle shells,br And pretty maids all in a row.br br The oldest known version was first published in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (c. 1744) with the following lyrics:br br Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,br How does your garden grow?br With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,br And so my garden grows.br br Several printed versions of the eighteenth century have the lyrics:br br Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,br How does your garden grow?br With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,br Sing cuckolds all in a row.br br The last line has the most variation including:br br Cowslips all in arow [sic].br br andbr br With lady bells all in a row.