* “Pop-Goes-The Weasel”-Nursery Rhyme – It’s meaning & London references

This particular ‘Shoes’ blog is one that’s slightly different from the norm.

Last week, whilst undertaking another blog, I happened to stumble upon a very famous old London pub, that I had never visited before, and so popped in for beer.

What I found inside this historic pub, prompted me to research and put together this article – which is all about the origins of the traditional children’s nursery rhyme and song: –

“Pop Goes the Weasel” ……..

It’s an interesting one this – as its totally focusses on London and London way of life, way back in the day. (well – its does, from my perspective – others may disagree).

The ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’ that I recognise from my childhood – went like this:-

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Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

Up and down the City Road,
In and out the Eagle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

Although rarely heard or used in full, there are 2 additional verses, which are: –

Every night when I go out,
The monkey’s on the table,
Take a stick and knock it off,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

A penny for a ball of thread
Another for a needle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

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I remember clearly the 1962 released ‘Anthony Newley’ recording of the song ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ that was regularly played on the “Children’s Favourites” radio programme every Saturday morning – and I used to love singing along with it – especially the bit where he sings: –

“Why did the weasel go pop – go pop, pop goes the weasel.

 Why did the weasel go pop? – because the weasel caught his beak’le in the treacle”.

But at that age I never thought to question what the lyric/words were all about – but now, some 60 yrs later, I’ve now found out!!!

My research on this topic established that some of the words/terms used in the traditional nursery rhyme, date back to 1600’s England.

The ‘song’ of the nursery rhyme most likely dates back to the early 1800’s and probably started life as a country dance.

In the 1850’s the ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ song made its way across the Atlantic to the United States, where its lyrics have been changed into different verses and words, from state to state.

But it’s the British version that I’m interested in – especially as (in my opinion) this traditional nursery rhyme is London through and through, and therefore ideal as a Shoes topic.

Looking at each line of the 2 most commonly used verses of the nursery rhyme – I would like to think that it ‘means’ something like this:-

• “Half a pound of tuppeny rice, half a pound of treacle”

Back in the 1800’s throughout the slums of London, rice was the cheapest food for the impoverished poor and needy Londoners.

Rice used to cost around 1 penny a bowl (‘tuppeny’ was slang for tuppence).

To ‘liven-up’ a bland bowl of rice, it was common practice for working class Londoners to buy a couple of spoons worth of treacle, and then slap in on top of the awful tasting rice, to make it more appetising.

• “That’s the way the money goes”

London’s poor working classes, laboured hard for very little pay – and when they did get paid, the bulk of their wages went on a little bit of bland non-nutritious food……..and that’s the way your money goes!!!

• “Pop goes the Weasel”

In mid-1800’s London, the term ‘Pop’ was a cockney slang for having to pawn something.

In City Road, where the famous Moorfields Eye Hospital is located, just on the outskirts of the City’s ‘square mile’ – there once stood a well-known, very popular pawn shop.

The term ‘Weasel’ is the cockney rhyming slang ‘Weasel & Stoat’ which means ‘coat’ (e.g. “where’s me ‘Weasel & Stoat’?”)

So – London’s poorer working classes would regularly pawn their weasel, to be able to pay for cheap rice to enable them to feed their families (e.g. ‘Pop’ goes the weasel).

The 2^nd verse –  follows on as:-

• “Up and down the City Road”

The City Road is where the pawn shop was situated – and where London’s poor would visit to pawn whatever items of value, they had.

• “In and out the Eagle”

‘The Eagle’ was, and still is – a famous old pub on the corner of City Road and Shepherdess Walk.

So – having pawned your ‘weasel’ – there would now be a few pennies in your pocket, and many of London’s working classes, would be strongly tempted to spend it all on a few pints in The Eagle – rather than on cheap food like rice…..much more enjoyable to sink a few jars with the ‘chaps’.

• “That’s the way the money goes”.

So, you’ve pawned your weasel – had a few more pennies than usual in your pocket – you’ve then gone and blown it in The Eagle – it would be a case of ‘easy come easy go’ – because that’s ‘the way the money goes’.

• “Pop! Goes the weasel”

In mid-1800’s London, the term to ‘Pop’ was a cockney slang for having to pawn something.

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There are 2 more lesser used or referred to verses to the rhyme – which are:-

Every night when I go out,
The monkey’s on the table,
Take a stick and knock it off,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

It is believe that this verse relates to drinking.

19th century sailors used to refer to their glazed beer mugs as “monkey’s” – and a “stick” was the term used for a shot of rum or brandy – which was knocked off (i.e. swigged down) with a beer.

A night on the booze would soon use all your money up – but, for many – ‘that’s the way the money goes’ 

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The lesser used 3rd verse relates to tailoring and clothing – and the costs involved in obtaining the materials to enable you to do your tailoring job – once paid out for, then there was hardly ever any money left over to live on – but – ‘that’s the way the money goes’

A penny for a ball of thread
Another for a needle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel.

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So -that’s what the nursery rhyme “Pop goes the Weasel” is all about.

THE EAGLE – pub

What’s interesting about all this is that ‘The Eagle’ pub referred to in the rhyme, is still standing on its original site just off the City Road, and on an external wall there is a large plaque commemorating this old nursery rhymes reference to the Pub – and displayed on an interior wall, is a framed picture of the verses – so that’s good to see.

The Eagle pub itself is steeped in history. It started life as the Eagle Music Hall – built in the mid 1800’s to provide varied entertainment for London’s rapidly growing population.

Charles Dickens used to refer the the Eagle Music hall quite a bit in his early novels – so he must have hung out there now and again.

The music hall got so popular that it had to be enlarged – and it changed its name the Grecian Theatre – and it used to be a regular haunt of the late great musical hall singer and entertainer ‘Marie Lloyd’ who first performed there as a teenager in 1884 (watch this space, for a future blog on Marie Lloyd – a particular fav of London Shoes).

As the Grecian Theatre developed, so did its bad reputation – it got itself a really bad name because of drunkenness, violence and prostitution.

In 1884 the Salvation Army bought the theatre up – hoping to save everyone’s souls – but they couldn’t control the East London natives – and the Sally Army got driven out-of-town after a tenure of 17yrs.

The theatre/club building was demolished in 1901, and a straight forward pub built on its site – which still stands today.

So – it was only fitting that my London Shoes paid homage to The Eagle pub and its importance to the ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ nursery rhyme – by sinking a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones there – and what a comfortable relaxing place it is – the sort of boozer where you can ‘feel’ its history and its vibe. I

I will certainly be returning to The Eagle in the not too distant future – to spend more time having a few more ‘pigs’ in there – well worth checking out if you’re ever near Old Street tube station and/or the City Road.

So – all that’s left for me to do now is toddle off and ‘pop my old ‘weasel.

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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to support this ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ blog