Re: Need History for Sing A Song of Sixpence
Posted by glo on June 05, 2002 at 12:42:21:
In Reply to: Need History for Sing A Song of Sixpence posted by Deborah Gillham on May 20, 2002 at 10:17:05:
Sing a Song of Sixpence appeared as one verse in "Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book" (ca. 1744) - as two verses in "Nancy Cook's Pretty Song Book: (ca. 1780) - and also in "Gammer Gurton's Garland (1784).
There's been a lot of speculation about whether or not it is a parody of some political/royal situation in England, but none are provable. The most logical and believable inspiration is that it plays on the ancient practice of actually serving pies out of which birds flew at some banquets.
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