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Gordon Booth · 07-05-2012, 18:49

I remember being told that a lot of the old children's rhymes were actually based on tragedies or unpleasant things or were a safe way of having a go at the Government or the monarch of the day( without getting hung for treason!).

'Pop goes the Weasel' was something to do with drug taking(was 'popping the weasel' taking opium or something?). I haven't a clue where the 'half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle' comes into it!
'Tishoo,tishoo, all fall down' was something to do with the Black Death(the way people died).
Can anyone confirm if this is true and explain these and what others do you know?

07-05-2012, 18:49	#1
Gordon Booth Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,402 Liked: 715 times Rep Power: 46614	Sinister children's rhymes? I remember being told that a lot of the old children's rhymes were actually based on tragedies or unpleasant things or were a safe way of having a go at the Government or the monarch of the day( without getting hung for treason!). 'Pop goes the Weasel' was something to do with drug taking(was 'popping the weasel' taking opium or something?). I haven't a clue where the 'half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle' comes into it! 'Tishoo,tishoo, all fall down' was something to do with the Black Death(the way people died). Can anyone confirm if this is true and explain these and what others do you know?