Cinema VinesRyan Murphy’s new Netflix series, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, has reignited interest in the infamous 19th‑century rhyme that has haunted the American public for more than a century: “Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks.” The show’s brief nod to the verse has prompted historians and journalists to trace the song’s origins back to the original 1893 murder trial of the Borden family in Fall River, Massachusetts.
While the rhyme is now a staple of American folklore, its factual accuracy is dubious. Trial records show that Lizzie’s stepmother, Abby Borden, was struck approximately 18 or 19 times, and her father, Andrew Borden, received around 10 or 11 blows. The popular version exaggerates the number of blows and simplifies the complex details of the case, according to Smithsonian Magazine. A lesser‑known second stanza, which appears after the well‑known four lines, has also been documented, but its origins remain unclear.
Historian Megan Alves, who guides tours at the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, told the Boston Globe that the rhyme is a classic example of doggerel—a form of informal, rhythmic verse that prioritizes catchy cadence over literary sophistication. Alves explained that the lines were typically sung to the tune of “Ta‑ra‑ra Boom‑de‑ay,” a popular song of the late 1800s. She noted that the earliest evidence of the rhyme dates back to the trial itself, suggesting that it was likely crafted by a newspaperman eager to boost paper sales.
The 1893 trial is often cited as one of the first and most intense examples of “trial by newspaper” in American history. While circumstantial and prejudicial evidence was largely excluded from the courtroom, newspapers freely reported on it, shaping public opinion long before the jury rendered its verdict of “not guilty.” The press’s coverage helped cement the rhyme in the public imagination, as reported by the Smithsonian. An article in The Providence News during the trial claimed that the press had effectively convicted Borden in the court of public opinion.
Although the rhyme did not appear in the Boston Globe until 1933, the story of its creation remains a fascinating glimpse into how media can influence folklore. The Netflix series has brought the historical debate back into the spotlight, reminding viewers that the story of Lizzie Borden—and the song that followed her—continues to evolve with each new retelling.
