Ring Around the Rosie
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Ring Around the Rosie Lyrics
Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!
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Ring Around the Rosie Alternative Lyrics
2nd verse
The cows are the meadow
eating buttercups.
Thunder, lightening,
they all stand up!
Lyrics for the "A Ring a Ring of Roses" version
A ring, a ring of roses,
A pocket full of posies,
Tish-yoo, a-tish-yoo,
We all fall down.
Information About Ring Around the Rosie
"Ring Around the Rosie" or "Ring a Ring o' Roses" is an English nursery rhyme and a playground or garden game as well. The rhyme was first recorded in ‘Mother Goose or the Old Nursery Rhymes' in 1881; but it is possible the song and its melody date back a further 100 hundred years. The rhyme is better known as ‘’Ring a Ring o' Roses’’ in the UK; also the words can differ region by region, although the tune remains consistent. There was also a German rhyme from 1796 that loosely resembled the words and actions of "Ring Around the Rosie".
A common theory suggests this song has its roots in the bubonic plague that swept through Europe. It was somewhat macabre, with references to a rosie ring (infection), posies (which supposedly warded off infection), and the cremation that was performed on those who died to prefent the spread of the disease. And you thought it was just a fun little rhyme! However, this theory appears to have emerged in more recent times and is considered by many folklore scholars to be baseless.
Notions associated with the meaning of this song
"Ring Around the Rosies"
This line was in reference to the red X with a circled around it that was drawn on the doors of homes to warn people that someone inside that house had been or is dying from the plague.
"Pocket full of posies"
This is in regards to the boils and blisters that often came with the plague.
"Ashes, ashes"
The bodies were indeed burned along with the homes and possessions of those who died.
"we all fall down"
It was believed in that dark time that this was the Lord's way of ridding the earth of the sinners and everyone would die.
Ring Around the Rosie Video
User Comments Ring Around the Rosie (49)
By Alex from Florida on 19 December 2008
Don't you know that this song is about dying .aka. (The Bubonic Plague) or (The Black Death) ring around the rosie means the red ring looking rashes that firsts appear on the body, pockets full of posies means the flowers or herbs the people put in there pockets, ashes ashes means the burning of the dead and, we all fall down means everyone is or does die.
By Laura from Cincinnati Oh on 30 January 2009
yes, the song is about dying. And "rule of thumb" means you can only beat your wife with a stick no bigger than the width of your thumb, but no one means that when they use the term. You can "pc" yourself to no end. Relax. Kids have been singing the song for hundreds of years, and they've all survived to tell about it.
By Hailee from Australia on 25 February 2009
IT IS ABOUT THE PLAGUE CUZ WERE STUDYING IT IN SCHOOL...duh!
By Sanjay from Indore, Mp on 2 March 2009
in the very old days, there was a virus going around, called bubonic plague, ring around the rosies means: they used to gather around the coffins and throw in roses, the pocket full of posies means: it stunk from the dead bodies so they threw around posies, ashes, ashes, means: they creamated the bodies and there were ashes everywhere. we all fall down means: a more pleasant way of saying we all fall dead. they sung that song while holding hands in a circle. they thought that if they did it, it would get rid of the plague. a song of terrible memories is now a classical children's song
By Keila from Hazelton Idaho on 16 April 2009
hahahhaha im studying this for my medieval fair! i sing this with my niece all the time! ahhh. i hate the middle ages.
By Madelle from Kekaha,hi,kaui on 22 April 2009
Hi my name is Madelle I am reacherching about ring around the rosie will you help me
By Ammy And Emmi from California on 5 July 2009
muahahahaha its about the plauge! and if u listen to it real closly then little kids shoulnd sing this because its violent and about death...
By Shanny from England on 5 July 2009
it is from the black death coz were studying it a school, but i need more lyrics to it
By Nina from Australia on 21 July 2009
Wow, I sang this song when I was younger never knowing it's about death :S oh my..
By Paige from Itasca Ill. on 6 October 2009
acutally ashes ashes means when they put the ashes on the doors of the sick to let people know they had the plauge.
By Lalu from England on 9 October 2009
About the Black Plague when they called for people to "bring out their dead" so the bodies could be burned to stop the plague. Rings or wreaths of roses were often put out with the bodies.. A good way to remember what happened, but I don't think its acceptable for kids to be singing in the playground.
By A Guy from The Boons Canada on 1 November 2009
To everyone saying "It can't be about death caus' its a kids song *doyh*." Yes it can, look at anything in history from paintings to literature for plays and you see its a coping mechanism, if you don't believe me go read some shakesphere. Take Hamlet for example, it has a scene where two grave diggers are actually making fun of death and the dead while digging up old graves to make new ones.
By Slaiw from Texas Usa on 13 January 2010
Actully all this happened when the french were killing jews,i learned bout it this year and if any of you haveheard of Anne Frank and her story you would know about the camps. gas "showers" it is really sad you can also learn about it if you watch the movie "The boy in Striped pajamas" only the german were killing the jews no the frenc.Here are some examples of where you can things that will help you find out more about these things: Books, twenty and ten, anne frank : Movies, The boy in striped pajamas. All the people who take my advice will know what im talking about. But peace out people And dont cry
By Claire - Louie from Johannesburg on 16 January 2010
honestly do we really care? It just so complicated , instead of debating it lets just believe this the song was created by aliens k?
By Annie from New Delhi, India on 21 April 2010
This is like so shocking! The song that I sang all my chilhood is about death!
By Jesse from Usa on 25 April 2010
This is about a disease that killed so many people and yet almost every kid alive knows that song. So basically, every kid goes around saying everyone's dying, be careful to not get infected, burn the bodies and now we all die. Cheerful, isn't it? Every parent must want there kid singing that.
By Lane from Dallas U.s. on 18 May 2010
Snopes is sometimes a joke, this song is about the plague. If you would pay attention in history rather than a gossip group you would know.
By Micaela from Mexico City, Mexico on 8 June 2010
Thisa si yevt mothinra ben guna de ala frontia.
By Nena from Elizabeth on 15 June 2010
i think this song should be sanged and explained its meaning to younger children
By Jaiio from Chicago Usa on 19 July 2010
All little kids should be taught the song. It teaches them about history. If they learn the song when they are young they will more likely be interested in it when they get older
By Jada from Chicago on 22 July 2010
I think dis is scary too, but I think this is fun to
By Jasarria from Chicago on 26 July 2010
I love this song because I heard about this song and now when I go too school this year I will be more interested in history lol
By Amber from United States on 28 January 2011
Why is it that most of the people writing these comments can`t spell....
By Chez from Australia on 1 February 2011
Well if you think this nursery rhyme is disturbing, perhaps you need to go and read the ORIGINAL fairy tales they deal with theft;rape;abuse;child slavery!
By Emily from Australia on 11 February 2011
look, this rhyme is about an important time in history, i think that if children hear this song, they will be more interested in learning about the history of it, just like us, cos this i why we are all on this page in the first place! yeah, the song is about death, but kids don't need to be explained the song when their like, 7? how awesome is the tune to this song? i knew i love it, so let it go and let other kids enjoy it like we did :)
By Kimberlee from United States on 23 February 2011
omg i used to sing this all the time when i was like 5, now i know what it means im like oh snap! soooo friggin sad! very scary!
By Jim from United States Minor Outlying Islands on 26 February 2011
that song is really short
By Me from Ireland on 12 March 2011
How is that scary?.. im doin it in school and its funny :) :)
By Some Guy from Ireland on 25 March 2011
why are so many people shocked at the true meaning of this song. we were taught the meaning in primary school
By Cassie from Australia on 5 April 2011
so im studying the plague at school and i was wondering if you guys knew any other childrens games inspired by the plague? thanks :)
By Azhar from Indonesia on 14 May 2011
The cows are the meadow eating buttercups. Thunder, lightening, they all stand up! i very like it!
By Spencer from United Kingdom on 3 August 2011
hmm.. seriously? you didnt know this was about death? i did hear recently that it wasnt to do with the plague and this as an urban myth, but i cannot recall what was the correct association.. anyways.. what the hell has it got to do with jews and french? nothing! all nursery rhymes of old were made as a way of telling the stories of they day, a way of remembering etc.. if you didnt know that, go back to school!
By Elezabeth from Croatia on 25 September 2011
never sing that song again or else your brain will go to hell
By Vanessa from Australia on 23 October 2011
err why would ya write a song bout the bubonic plague?
By Bun from Bahamas on 25 November 2011
im famous im famous WOOT WOOT WOOT YAAYAA WOO WHOO
By Cindy from United States on 25 November 2011
i don't let my kids or family's kids sing or play the game. it is albout the BUBONIC PLAGUE that started in the 1800's. My kids and family don't like this song becuase some of my family died back in those days of the BUBONIC PLAGUE.
By Sarah from Australia on 8 December 2011
Yes, it's about the bubonic plague and yes it's rather macabre, but I don't believe that means children should be stopped from singing it. Children are more capable of accepting and resisting the darker themes of life than we give them credit for. I grew up singing this song. When I was nine I learned what it meant and thought it was even cooler- the song was about something real and tangible. I grew up fine and so did the millions of other children who have sung it in the hundreds of years it has been around.
By Dee from United States on 14 January 2012
This is an example of how gullible we humans are. I learned a valuable lesson in the sixties. Do not believe everything you are told as being factual. Research and study a subject before coming to a conclusion. That way no one can get over on you.... If you look into the question of this children's song you will find it had nothing to do with the plague and is an innocent rhyme.
By Wanpablo Fredwardo from Afghanistan on 26 January 2012
это не то, я думал, что это
By Ac from United States on 27 February 2012
I've grown up singing this song and when I was little I had fun singing it so I think that's all that matters.
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By Cody from Victory on 18 November 2008
hahahaha