A-Z Blogging Challenge: S is for...Sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?

The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!

There isn't much historical background to this rhyme other than in the early 17th Century cooks/chefs would bake pies then fill them with live songbirds. When the pie was cut open the birds would fly out much to the amusement of the dinner guests. The servants would then bring in the 'proper' pie for everyone to eat.

Back in those days the 'commoners' believed that all a King did was count his money and all a Queen did was eat bread and honey - a great delicacy of the time. As for the maid? All I can think is that a blackbird - still angry from being encased in a pie - decided to get his own back by flying off with her nose!

Comments

Michelle said…

This is (was) my favorite song to sing to my kids when they were babies. I just like the way the words flow together!

23 April 2012 at 01:27

Mina Lobo said…

1. Just wanted to say "hi" and tell you I dig your A to Z theme!

2. I wholeheartedly agree with cupcakes/happiness comparison over on the right side of your blog. :-)

Some Dark Romantic

23 April 2012 at 05:31

Denise said…

Michelle - I love this rhyme too and the words do flow really well. I also love the fact that we are all still teaching these rhymes to children even after all this time.

Mina - thanks for dropping by. Where would we be without cupcakes??

Enjoy the rest of the challenge!

23 April 2012 at 09:05

Laura Clipson said…

I didn't know that they actually did that with pies! I'd love to see that. Great post :)

24 April 2012 at 17:46

Denise said…

Loopyloo - I remember reading about that years ago and thinking that it would be a great thing to see. I just hope none of the birds got stabbed when they cut into the pie!

24 April 2012 at 23:42

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