|
Rhyme &
History The
Nursery Rhyme, 'Pop goes the weasel'
sounds quite incomprehensible in this day
an age! The origins of the rhyme are believed to date back to the
1700's. We have listed two versions of the rhyme o n this page.
The first rhyme is the better known version - some translation is
in order!
Pop and Weasel?
These words are derived from Cockney
Rhyming slang which originated in London. Cockneys were a close
community and had a suspicion of strangers and a dislike of the
Police (they still do!) Cockneys developed a language of their own
based roughly on a rhyming slang - it was difficult for strangers
to understand as invariably the second noun would always be
dropped. Apples and Pears ( meaning stairs) would be abbreviated
to just 'apples', for instance, "watch your step on the apples".
To "Pop" is the slang word for "Pawn". Weasel is derived from
"weasel and stoat" meaning coat. It was traditional for even poor
people to own a suit, which they wore as their 'Sunday Best'. When
times were hard they would pawn their suit, or coat, on a Monday
and claim it back before Sunday. Hence the term " Pop goes the
Weasel"
In and out the Eagle?
The words to the Rhyme are "Up and down the City road, in and out
the Eagle -
That’s the way the money goes - Pop! goes the weasel". The Eagle
refers to 'The Eagle Tavern' a pub which is located on the corner
of City Road and Shepherdess Walk in Hackney, North London. The
Eagle was an old pub which was re-built as a music hall in 1825.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was known to frequent the Music Hall.
It was purchased by the Salvation Army in 1883 ( they were
totally opposed to drinking and Music Halls). The hall was later
demolished and was rebuilt as a public house in 1901.
Alternative Lyrics
"A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle" - this
version has led to a 'weasel' being interpreted as a shuttle
or bobbin, as used by silk weavers, being pawned in a similar way
as the suits or jackets owned by the Cockneys. |
