"There once was a man from Nantucket" is the opening line for many limericks, in which the name of the island of Nantucket creates often ribald rhymes and puns. The protagonist in the obscene versions is typically portrayed as well-endowed and hypersexualized. The opening line is so well known that it has been used as a stand-alone joke, implying upcoming obscenities.
History The earliest published version appeared in 1879 in The Pearl, Volume 3 (September 1879):
Another early published version appeared in 1902 in the Princeton Tiger written by Prof. Dayton Voorhees:
Other publications seized upon the "Nantucket" motif, spawning many sequels.
Among the best-known are:
Followed later by:
Ribald versions The many ribald versions of the limerick are the basis for its lasting popularity. Many variations on the theme are possible because of the ease of rhyming "Nantucket" with certain vulgar phrases. The following example comes from Immortalia: An Anthology of American Ballads, Sailors' Songs, Cowboy Songs, College Songs, Parodies, Limericks, and Other Humorous Verses and Doggerel, published in 1927:
References
External links Yesterday's Island "Limerick Challenge"