<P> One theory of origin is that the rhyme relates to the supposed destruction of London Bridge by Olaf II of Norway in 1014 (or 1009). The nineteenth - century translation of the Norse saga the Heimskringla, published by Samuel Laing in 1844, included a verse by Óttarr svarti, that looks very similar to the nursery rhyme: </P> <P> London Bridge is broken down .--Gold is won, and bright renown . Shields resounding, War - horns sounding, Hild is shouting in the din! Arrows singing, Mail - coats ringing--Odin makes our Olaf win! </P> <P> However, modern translations make it clear that Laing was using the nursery rhyme as a model for his very free translation, and the reference to London Bridge does not appear at the start of the verse and it is unlikely that this is an earlier version of the nursery rhyme . Some historians have raised the possibility that the attack never took place . However, the original document detailing the attack was written only about 100 years after what would be a famous event in a highly populated area, leading the majority of historians to conclude that the account is at least relatively accurate . While it might or might not be the origin of the rhyme, this would make King Olaf's victory the only historically recorded incidence of London Bridge "falling down ." </P> <P> The theory that the song refers to the burying, perhaps alive, of children in the foundations of the bridge was first advanced by Alice Bertha Gomme (later Lady Gomme) in The Traditional Games of England, Scotland and Ireland (1894--1898) and perpetuated by the usually sceptical Iona and Peter Opie . This was based around the idea that a bridge would collapse unless the body of a human sacrifice were buried in its foundations and that the watchman is actually a human sacrifice, who will then watch over the bridge . However, there is no archaeological evidence for any human remains in the foundations of London Bridge . </P>

What are the lyrics to london bridge is falling down