Song Video
Information About Pop Goes the Weasel
"Pop Goes the Weasel" originated from a jig, but has been sung as a nursery rhyme for many years. The jig can be traced back to seventeenth century England, and could be heard across the Empire as it was spread by the colonists. The original had the monkey going around the cobbler's bench.
While the rhyme certainly originated in England there is considerable dispute over the meaning of the lyrics. The verse referencing 'weasels' and 'monkeys' certainly points towards children employed to carry out factory work inside huge industrial loom-machines. The "weasel" may refer to a spinner's weasel, which is a mechanical yarn measuring device made up of a spoked wheel.
The original had the monkey going around the cobbler's bench.
Some versions also have the monkey chasing the weasel around a mulberry bush.
The original theme could possibly be taken from a darkly humorous vignette of the cycle of poverty that existed among workers in the environs of London.
According to another version children would sing this song while lending a helping hand to their mother who would wind the wool into a skein. The wool after it was spun had to be put into skeins. This involved wrapping it on a large spinning type wheel. When the appropriate amount was put on the wheel, the gear called a weasel gear popped out and thus - Pop goes the weasel. The weasel is a square tool used for measuring yards of yarn. It would "pop" every time it passed one yard. You"d wrap yarn around and around the tool, counting the "pops". It was very tedious work.
For any further information about the song "Pop Goes the Weasel" take a look at Wikipedia.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
You can start the first line of with this one
All around the chicken coup the monkey chased the weasel the monkey thought it was all in fun pop goes the weasel.
This is also an alternative verse for the song
Half a pound of tuppenny rice
Half a pound of treacle,
That's the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weasel.
Alternative version with the Mulberry Bush
all around the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel the monkey thought it was all in fun pop goes the weasel.
This version is for those who are artistic
The painter needs a ladder and brush
The artist needs an easel
The dancer needs a Fiddler's two
Pop goes the weasel.
I've no time to wait and sigh
I've no time to wheedle
Kiss me qucki. I'm off, good bye
Pop goes the weasel.
Another extra set of verses to sing to
Half a pound o' tuppeny rice
Half a pound o' treacle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel.
Up and down the City Road
In and out of the Eagle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel.
Every night when I come home
The monkey's on the table
I take a stick and knock him off
Pop goes the weasel.
Up and down the City Road
In and out of the Eagle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel.
AN extended song to sing along to
All around the cobbler's bench
The monkey chased the weasel.
the monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
Pop! goes the weasel!
I've no time to wait, and sigh,
No patience to wait 'til bye and bye.
So kiss me quick, I'm off--good bye!
Pop! goes the weasel!
A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle--
That's the way the money goes.
Pop! goes the weasel!
You may try to sew and sew, and
never make something regal.
So roll it up and let it go.
Pop! goes the weasel!
All around the cobbler's bench
The monkey chased the weasel.
the monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
Pop! goes the weasel!
Pop! goes the weasel!
Here is another version of Pop Goes the Weasel
All around the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel
The monkey thought t’was all in fun
Pop! goes the weasel
Rufus has the whooping cough
Sally has the measles
And that’s the way the doctor goes
Pop! goes the weasel
Chorus
A penny for a spool of thread
A penny for a needle
That’s the way the money goes
Pop! goes the weasel
This seems like a good mix of the different versions
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.
You may know these 2 verses that we found
Half a pound of tupenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
Mix it up and make it nice,
Pop goes the weasel.
Up and down the City Road,
In and out of the Eagle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weasel.