We have had some family debate since the purchase of Mr. Jack-in-the-box. It seemed no one was certain of the second verse. There was also some question as to whether the monkey chased the weasel around the cobblers bench or the mulberry bush. The younger ones in the crowd voted for mulberry bush. The older ones (including grandma) were certain it was a cobbler's bench and were pretty certain that the younger ones in the crowd were confused with another song....
SOOOOO....I did some research! What did we do before Google?
Turns out we were both right and there are several versions of lyrics to this song!
Here is the verse as printed in 1858...
All around the cobbler's house,
the monkey chased the people.
And after them in double haste.
Pop goes the weasel.
In 1901 in New York the opening lyric was:
All around the chicken coop,
the possum chased the weasel.
The most common version was recorded in 1914...
All around the mulberry bush,
the monkey chased the weasel,
the monkey stopped to pull up his sock, (or the monkey stopped to scratch his nose)
Pop! goes the weasel.
Contemporary verses are:
All around the mulberry bush (or cobbler's bench)
the monkey chased the weasel:
the monkey thought 'twas all in fun,
Pop! goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread,
a penny for a needle -
that's the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Jimmy's got the whooping cough
and Timmy's got the measles
that's the way the story goes
Pop! goes the weasel.
All around the vinegar jug
the monkey chased the weasel:
the monkey pulled the stopper out,
Pop! goes the weasel.
I now have my favorite version of this song to sing next time the little one visits....
but...
my next question is...
why is it...
a clown named Jack
jumps out of the box & not a weasel???
have a good week,
brenda
4 comments:
you know I have never known that saying except: pops goes the weasel...or I did,, I don't now..but i love all the versions of it..thanks for sharing.cute photos too:)
He is so cute!!!! What a sweetheart Gramma!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Growing up in the 50's in the UK, we used to sing 'Half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle, that's the way the money goes, pop goes the weasel'. It's strange how many versions there are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4gkDDDvu6g
In the end, you asked why it was a clown that popped out and not a weasel. Here's why. There was originally a popular version that only a few people knew about cause it would likely scare most children. It goes something like, "All around the carnival town,
The clown chased the children,
The blood was shed, the soul bled and bled,
Pop! Goes the weasel.
They searched and looked at every bend,
But never could they find them,
That's the way the town here works,
Pop! Goes the weasel.
All around the carnival town,
The clown was chasing after you,
He's over your head and now you're dead,
Pop! Goes the weasel."
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