Talk:Sing a Song of Sixpence

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Contents

[edit] Sources

The current first sentence: "Sing a Song of Sixpence is a well known English rhyme, the origins of which are uncertain; two main competing theories circulating on the Internet are" etc. Do we have reputable sources for this other than online rumor-mongering? And if we do, why is this the lead? I'm not sure what exactly should be done here, but surely it needs work in citing sources. I'll slap on a tag. -Phoenixrod 08:35, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

On second thought, I'm not sure what tag would be appropriate. -Phoenixrod 08:39, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

It's "Tommy Thumb's Pretty Songbook", not "Tom Thumb's". A quick search under its correct title shows this attribution to be fairly widespread. A checkable reference to a specific printed work, made on many respectable sites and not positively contradicted anywhere (those who make the "Pye" case don't mention the "Pretty Songbook": nobody actually mentions but denies this theory), is much more plausible than the "Pye" theory. I think the 1744 origin is acceptable until someone can cite an earlier one - it would be simply perverse to conclude that everyone's lying and a later origin is correct. Can't somebody just pop up to the British Library and look at the Songbook? If I do it myself does that count as original research or is it up to Wiki standards?

I learned it with the additional "Along came a bluebird / And brought it back again" as the last two lines. Is this just me, or do these lines have merit? 66.82.9.76 06:12, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Henry VIII

My understanding is that the blackbirds were the deeds of the dissolved monsateries presented to Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. I thought the rhyme had true historical significance?

Ah, found a web ref [1] Candy 13:41, 18 December 2006 (UTC) Corrected the link to the correct context page - Chef Frank

While of limited historical credibility, the following from http://www.fourntwenty.com.au/ suggests Henry VIII was the derivation of Australia's highest selling meat pie:

The name Four’n Twenty is derived from a story about King Henry VIII. When entertaining guests, King Henry VIII would have 24 blackbirds placed in to the baked pie. When the pie was served at the dinner table, he would have the birds fly out of the pie.

[edit] Recruitment song?

I was brought up being informed that it transpired as a nonchalant crew recruitment song for a specific pirate, Blackbeard. I wrote out a huge explination of this then cracked the shits when a certain line slipped my memory and a few google results later and I stumbled across this nice outline of it's origin. Perhaps this could be included? The current 'history' section is very ambiguous. Jachin 10:24, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

--Yep, DEFINANTLY worth putting in!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.71.178.147 (talk) 20:11, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Handbags and Gladrags

Some of the lyrics can also be heard in the Song "Handbags & Gladrags" by Mike d'Abo, Rod Stewart, Stereophonics, etc —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.230.107.192 (talk) 16:50, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Yes, this used to be part of the article before someone was "Culling the fold". Apparently, an Elvis Costello song that nobody has heard of is less cullable than one that everybody has heard Rod Stewart sing. Weird.