Ring Around the Rosie
This song is considered sensitive and may contain lyrics that cause offensive to some people. Please speak to a parent or guardian for further help.
Alternative Lyrics & Words
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 This Song
Many music historians feel 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!
Notion 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.
Watch a Video of the Song
Comments (40)
By Alex in 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 Susan Locke in Houston, Usa on 21 December 2008
We'll be singing the alternative version from now on, along with deleting "rock a bye baby." Scary if you pay close attention to the lyrics. Check it out for yourself.
By Laura in 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 Datura in Hard Hittin, Usa on 18 February 2009
This is NOT about the plague. go check snopes if you don't believe me.
By Hailee in Australia on 25 February 2009
IT IS ABOUT THE PLAGUE CUZ WERE STUDYING IT IN SCHOOL...duh!
By Sanjay in 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 in 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 in 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 Cindy in Florida on 15 June 2009
Hahaha
By Ammy And Emmi in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 Dee Lasfar in Virginia Beach, Va Usa``````````````` on 10 October 2009
I have sang this song for many years and never new the background to it till this week. Wow
By A Guy in 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 Everyone Is Stupid in England on 25 December 2009
haha kids songs can't be morbid? Ever heard of London Bridges? Dumb people.
By Slaiw in 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 in 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 Another Guy in Usa on 18 January 2010
Look, the theory that this rhyme is about death is fairly recent, it appeared after WWII. Although there is some merit to it, a number of the images from the song could indeed represent the effects of the Plague, the current belief is that this interpretation is incorrect. Oh, and by the way, where the heck did you find violence in this nursery rhyme?
By Another Guy in Usa on 18 January 2010
Look, the theory that this rhyme is about death is fairly recent, it appeared after WWII. Although there is some merit to it, a number of the images from the song could indeed represent the effects of the Plague, the current belief is that this interpretation is incorrect. Oh, and by the way, where the heck did you find violence in this nursery rhyme?
By Jhon Deere in Mobile, Al on 27 March 2010
Many have associated the poem with the Great Plague of London in 1665, or with earlier outbreaks of bubonic plague in England. Interpreters of the rhyme before World War II make no mention of this;[15] by 1951, however, it seems to have become well established as an explanation for the form of the rhyme that had become standard in the United Kingdom. Peter and Iona Opie remark: "The invariable sneezing and falling down in modern English versions have given would-be origin finders the opportunity to say that the rhyme dates back to the Great Plague. A rosy rash, they allege, was a symptom of the plague, posies of herbs were carried as protection, sneezing was a final fatal symptom, and 'all fall down' was exactly what happened."[16][17] The line Ashes, Ashes in alternative versions of the rhyme is claimed to refer variously to cremation of the bodies, the burning of victims' houses, or blackening of their skin, and the theory has been adapted to be applied to other versions of the rhyme, or other plagues.[18] In its various forms, the interpretation has entered into popular culture and has been used elsewhere to make oblique reference to the plague.[19] (For 'hidden meaning' in other nursery rhymes see Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, Humpty Dumpty, Jack Be Nimble, Little Jack Horner, Cock Robin, and Meanings of nursery rhymes.) Folklore scholars regard the theory as baseless for several reasons: the late appearance of the explanation;[15] the symptoms described do not fit especially well with the Great Plague;[17][20] the great variety of forms makes it unlikely that the modern form is the most ancient one, and the words on which the interpretation are based are not found in many of the earliest records of the rhyme (see above);[18][21] European and 19th-century versions of the rhyme suggest that this "fall" was not a literal falling down, but a curtsy or other form of bending movement that was common in other dramatic singing games.[22]
By Annie in 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 in 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 Anissa in Tucson on 13 May 2010
ring around the rosies is dum
By Lane in 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 Hannah in Claremont, California on 26 May 2010
Omg this is kind of scary
By Maddi in Victoria, Australia on 8 June 2010
im in year 8 at the moment and we are working on this, it is from the black death/ the bubonic plague .... ring a ring a rosy means the black/blue bubils that appeared on peoples bodies that leak puss an blood..... pocket ful of posies is from One of the doctors in that time suggested that the dissease started from bad smells so addvised that people smelt posies, doctors also wore masks with a beak like thing on it with the end fillled with posies and nice smells.... A-tishoo, A-tishoo is because the people became sick, vomiting, haedaches, fever, chills and a white coated tongue....... And obviously they ALL fall down is because the black death killed over 40% of the people in Europe......
By Maddi in Victoria, Australia on 8 June 2010
im in year 8 at the moment and we are working on this, it is from the black death/ the bubonic plague .... ring a ring a rosy means the black/blue bubils that appeared on peoples bodies that leak puss an blood..... pocket ful of posies is from One of the doctors in that time suggested that the dissease started from bad smells so addvised that people smelt posies, doctors also wore masks with a beak like thing on it with the end fillled with posies and nice smells.... A-tishoo, A-tishoo is because the people became sick, vomiting, haedaches, fever, chills and a white coated tongue....... And obviously they ALL fall down is because the black death killed over 40% of the people in Europe......
By Micaela in Mexico City, Mexico on 8 June 2010
Thisa si yevt mothinra ben guna de ala frontia.
By Nena in Elizabeth on 15 June 2010
i think this song should be sanged and explained its meaning to younger children
By Gwendolyn Farrar in Cannon Beach Oregon on 6 July 2010
I agree! Poor little kids don't know what the heck it means. And most of them don't even know the second verse. I don't have a clue what the second verse means though.
By J in Canada on 7 July 2010
While there is much debate over whether this song is indeed about death, it disgusts me that there is debate that it is violent or inappropriate for children. Children are not stupid. Is your intention to never tell them about death? It's not about killing people with kung fu like the Ninja Turtles or something. It's a rhyme, about which historians are still determining the historical significance, so instead of carrying on the information...let's change the words? That makes no sense.
By Jaiio in 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 in Chicago on 22 July 2010
I think dis is scary too, but I think this is fun to
By Jasarria in 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 Ias in Chicago on 26 July 2010
Ha I Love This
By Jerry in Round Rock, Usa on 29 July 2010
i pulled up site just to find the lyrics to the song so that i can sing along with my grandchildren in the pool. i was totally unaware of the songs background. now, i have to decide whether to singalong my baby girls. thanks.
By Angel in Owensboro, Ky Usa on 16 August 2010
I just wanted to say, that as "Lane in Dallas" pointed out, SNOPES IS STUPID, and I find it real humorous whenever I hear people say things like, "If you don't believe me, check Snopes." or you send people a funny, or cute email (real or not, not the point) and you get at least a few replies back that say, "This is not true, it says so on Snopes." Excuse me, but who died and made Snopes God ? Snopes is nothing more than a website started with good intentions (possibly) to research things read and passed over the internet, but I personally, as well as many others have discovered a ton of occasions where Snopes is "full o' bull" and this happens to be one of them... Oh yea, they go into all kinds of details about why the rhyme is harmless and not about "The Bubonic Plague" but guess what, that don't make em right... Pay attention to the words, and look on more than one site while you are at it... This rhyme IS indeed about The Bubonic Plague era, and the words various meanings have already been explained enough times by others here without me going into all of that yet again... HOWEVER, that being said; I sang this as a kid, my kids sang this when they were little, and my grandkids sing it too, and none of us (or any other kids I know of) have ever suffered any ill-effects from singing a child's rhyme, regardless of it's meanings and heritage... Kids are not going to care, or even ask about it normally, they are just gonna learn it, and sing it, and have a good time with their friends... But for all the Snopes fans, the explanation for this rhyme is even in our college textbooks for my Pathophysiology class, so I am pretty confident that the writers of college textbooks, have more info then people who post Snopes... All that said, I think you all can rest assured that kids are gonna continue to be just fine and dandy, and relax... If you don't want your kids to sing it, tell em not to sing it, but it isn't going to harm anyone... Children should be protected, no doubt about it, but I think some people just take it a teeny bit far... If we take every single thing out of our childrens lives which has any type of bad conotations associated with it, then half or more of our childrens lives will be erased, good luck with that people... Just explain it (when they are old enough) and in the meantime, let em have fun, just like we did...
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By Cody in Victory on 18 November 2008
hahahaha