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Old 07-05-2012, 19:13   #3
Gordon Booth
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Re: Sinister children's rhymes?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington View Post
I think that Pop goes the weasel referred to pawning stuff.......didn't they used to say they were taking Dad's best suit to the 'pop shop'.......the half a pound of tuppeny rice and the treacle were goods that would be bought as a result of getting cash on articles pawned.
Ring-a ring a roses certainly referred to the black death. Apparently the rash would come in a circle and was pink. Hence the reference to roses...the atishoo was the cold like symptoms...and of course 'all fall down' refers to the numbers who dies as a result of catching the plague.
That sounds right for 'Pop goes the Weasel', Margaret.
Where did I get the drugs thing from?
Hope kestrelx doesn't see my explanation, it might set him off again.

So how old is 'Ring a ring a roses'? It can't go as far back as the Black death, surely?
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