Cock Robin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the U.S. pop rock band, see Cock Robin (band).
Who Killed Cock Robin is a nursery rhyme beginning
- Who killed Cock Robin?
- I, said the Sparrow,
- with my bow and arrow,
- I killed Cock Robin.
The roles of each bird at the funeral are meticulously assigned:
- Who'll be the parson?
- I, said the Rook,
- with my little book,
- I'll be the parson.
The story has been connected with Robin Hood:
- "The Death of Cock Robin is frequently taken as a Robin Hood analogue and the ready offers of help following this event, as described in the lyrics, reflect the high esteem that the legendary figure of Robin Hood was, and is, still held."[1],
but Robin Hood's death does not figure in any Robin Hood material, and there is a sense of barely controlled malice in the hyperbole of the final verse:
- All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
- When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.
The story might as easily have been connected to the mysterious murder of William Rufus, king of England, the unpopular son of the Conqueror, found dead in the New Forest with an arrow piercing his lung.
The rhyme is much later than the Robin Hood ballads, in fact. It has no Middle English version and first appears printed in the earliest known published collection of nursery rhymes, Tommy Thumb's (Pretty) Song Book, 2 vol. (London, 1744), which also included "Little Tom Tucker" and "Sing a Song of Sixpence". "Robin" is a pet name for Robert. The publication date too closely follows the spectacular political fall and resignation of the often-satirised[2] Sir Robert Walpole, George II's first minister, in February 1742, for it not to be assumed to have a satirical subtext.[3] The minister had been in power since 1721, at first as First Lord of the Treasury, and had time to build a powerful clique of enemies.
"Who killed Cock Robin?" has been often reprinted with illustrations, as suitable reading material for small children. "Who Killed Cock Robin?" was a 1935 animated Walt Disney short subject [2].
Cock Robin was featured in the Fables comic series, and was killed by a fellow bird Fable, which said "Cock Robin is dead". Cock came back to life since Fables will die if people forget them.
The full song
Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin. Who saw him die? I, said the Fly, with my little eye, I saw him die. Who caught his blood? I, said the Fish, with my little dish, I caught his blood. Who'll make the shroud? I, said the Beetle, with my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud. Who'll dig his grave? I, said the Owl, with my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave. Who'll be the parson? I, said the Rook, with my little book, I'll be the parson. Who'll be the clerk? I, said the Lark, if it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk. Who'll carry the link? I, said the Linnet, I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link. Who'll be chief mourner? I, said the Dove, I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner. Who'll carry the coffin? I, said the Kite, if it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin. Who'll bear the pall? We, said the Wren, both the cock and the hen, We'll bear the pall. Who'll sing a psalm? I, said the Thrush, as she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm. Who'll toll the bell? I said the bull, because I can pull, I'll toll the bell. All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, when they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.
While the cruel Cock Sparrow, The cause of their grief, Was hung on a gibbet Next day, like a thief.
[edit] Notes
- ^ [1]. Cock Robin is mentioned in passing in the Rat Pack film Robin and the Seven Hoods(1964), which adapted Robin Hood to a 30's gangster setting.
- ^ John Gay's farcical Beggar's Opera is the best-known examle.
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes.
[edit] External links
- Text
- Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin, by H. L. Stephens, from Project Gutenberg
