8/5/2023 0 Comments Ring around the rosie meaningThe earliest version of the song that bears a close resemblance to the modern version comes from the 1881 edition of the nursery rhyme book Mother Goose or, the Old Nursery Rhymes, written by the English collector of folktales and nursery rhymes, Kate Greenaway (lived 1846 – 1901). Stephens, an American novelist whose book The Old Homestead contains one of the earliest known mentions of a version of the song “Ring around the Rosie” in English Here is the version of the song from the novel:ĪBOVE: Portrait of Ann S. Stephens (lived 1810 – 1886), which was published in 1855. Possibly the earliest recorded version of the song in English comes the novel The Old Homestead by the American author Ann S. This article mentions that there was a game played by children called “Ring o’ Roses” that involved the children getting into some kind of “ring,” but it makes no mention of a song involved as part of this game. There she stood, graceful as young faun, her hair parted from the forehead, and flowing in ringlets about her neck, while with downcast eyes and compressed lips, she received the proffered kiss.” “Indeed it is whispered that the object of this gathering is the celebration of her birth day-per consequences, she has been elected mistress of ceremonies, which comprise, among other things, the celebrated “ Ring o’ Roses.” It was laughable to see the little yellow-haired, butter-chopped laddie take her out of the ring. The article is a description of some of the games played by children, written by an adult who had observed them. The earliest possible reference to the song in English that I am currently aware of is a mention in an article from the Brooklyn Eagle dated to 17 March 1846. Here is a translation of this verse into English: This is incorrect, however the earliest known version of the song is a German version originally printed in 1796 that goes as follows: Furthermore, we have a great deal of evidence that runs directly contrary to the popular interpretation of the song as being about the Black Death.įor instance, an underlying assumption behind the notion that the song is about the Black Death is that the song must have been composed at a time when the Black Death was prevalent. We have absolutely no solid evidence whatsoever that the song “Ring around the Rosie” bears any connection to the Black Death. ![]() This all makes for a spooky campfire story, but the truth is far less sordid. Not old enough to have been composed at the time of the Black Death There is a popular legend claiming that, supposedly, the “ring around the rosie” mentioned in the first line of the song is actually a description of the buboes on the plague victims’ bodies, that the “posies” from the second line were flowers collected to cover up the stench of rotting corpses, that the “ashes, ashes,” from line three is referring to cremation, and that the “we all fall down” at the end is referring to everyone dying from the plague. Here are the lyrics to the version of the song that is most widely known in the United States: ![]() In case you are unfamiliar with the song “Ring around the Rosie,” you should know that it is a popular children’s nursery rhyme throughout the Anglophone world. ![]() Although this may make for a good story, it is, in fact, totally false the song “Ring around the Rosie” did not even first appear until centuries after the Black Death had been effectively eradicated in England. A popular urban legend that has been circulating for decades now claims that the beloved children’s nursery rhyme “Ring around the Rosie” is actually about the Black Death.
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