The infamous rhyme associated with Lizzie Borden, the woman tried for the 1892 murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, likely originated from the press rather than any family folklore or contemporary chant. Although Borden was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, the rhyme has persisted in popular culture for more than a century, frequently recited or sung in informal settings.

The verse, commonly known as a doggerel rather than a traditional poem or limerick, carries a playful, rhythmic quality characteristic of children's songs. Megan Alves, a guide and historian at the Lizzie Borden house, notes that the doggerel follows the tune of “Ta-ra-ra Boomde-ay,” a melody widely used in playground songs and popular children's music. This style contributed to its lasting catchiness and informal appeal.

The rhyme first appeared publicly in the 20th century, with the earliest known reference traced back to a 1933 article in The Boston Globe. Reporter Roger Batchelder mentioned the doggerel in connection with a Broadway play starring Lillian Gish as Borden, commenting on how the public continued to condemn Borden despite her acquittal. Earlier press coverage reveals that the media cast a largely guilty verdict on Borden, intensifying public fascination and sensationalizing the case.

Historical records indicate the rhyme was likely created by a newspaperman during the trial to sell newspapers. A June 1893 article in The Providence News described widespread rumors and reported that the press had almost universally declared Borden guilty, despite the jury’s decision. Alves observes that variations of the rhyme existed, including an Ohio newspaper version altering the number of whacks in the verse, further signaling its journalistic origin rather than an oral tradition.

The Borden trial was a media spectacle in its time, with newspapers frequently characterizing her as a “sphinx of coldness” because of her reserved demeanor during testimony. The media’s portrayal helped embed her story, alongside the catchy doggerel, in the public consciousness.

Although Lizzie Borden was legally acquitted, the rhyme and continued press coverage ensured her legacy as a figure of enduring intrigue. The creation and dissemination of the doggerel illustrate how newspapers of the era used sensationalism and catchy verses to captivate readers long before the advent of modern social media and viral memes.