Coded message hidden in children's song

[damian_steele]

Found this on Snopes (dot com) - an interesting site that is well worth visiting.

Did you know this?


A Pocket Full of Wry

Claim: The nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' originated as a coded message used to recruit crew members for pirate ships.

Status: True.

Origins: Many of us fondly recall the rhyming ditties we learned as children, such as "Jack Be Nimble" and "The Farmer in the Dell." But how many of us realize that several of our most fondly-recalled nursery rhymes (e.g., "A Tisket, A Tasket" and "Little Jack Horner") were not mere nonsense songs, but actually originated as coded references to such dark events as plagues and religious persecution? Such was the case with another childhood favorite, "Sing a Song of Sixpence."

For those unfamiliar with this ditty, let's start by offering its lyrics:

Sing a song of sixpence
A pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie

When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Was that not a tasty dish
To set before a king?

The King was in his counting house
Counting out his money
The Queen was in the parlor
Eating bread and honey

The Maid was in the garden
Hanging out the clothes
When down came a blackbird
And snapped off her nose!

The surprising truth is that this innocent little rhyme, which dates from the early 1700s, actually represents a coded message used to recruit crew members for pirate vessels!

Pirates (or corsairs, privateers whose activities were sanctioned by letters of marque from a sovereign) did not spend all their time at sea: they cruised the waters in areas such as the Mediterranean, the Spanish Main, or the Atlantic coast of North America, looking for prizes, and they returned to port when the need for supplies or repairs demanded it. Upon reaching port, the ship's captain paid off the crew (primarily by dividing the spoils of whatever they had captured), and the crew members then dispersed ashore (usually to spend all their pay on alcohol and prostitutes as quickly as possible). Some crewmen tended to stay in the vicinity, but others left for other regions, caught on with other ships, died, were killed, or simply disappeared. Thus, much like the captains of naval vessels and merchant traders, the captains of pirate ships needed to recruit new crew members whenever they embarked on yet another venture. Since piracy (as opposed to privateering) was against the law, pirates devised codes that could be used to advertise for crew members without openly revealing their illegal affiliations.

The nursery rhyme "Six a Song of Sixpence" was a coded message that evolved over several years' times and was used by confederates of the notorious pirate Blackbeard to recruit crew members for his prize-hunting expeditions. Like many other messages passed down to us over hundreds of years by oral tradition, there is no one "official" version, nor is there a "correct" interpretation for any particular variant. In general, however, the most common form of this rhyme bore these veiled meanings:

Sing a song of sixpence / A pocket full of rye

Blackbeard's standard payment of sixpence a day was considered good money in the 1700s, especially since most pirate vessels did not pay a salary: the crew only received a share of the spoils if they were successful in capturing prizes (and many a pirate ship had to return to port empty-handed after spending several fruitless months at sea). As well, his crew was promised a pocket (a leather bag somewhat like an early canteen which held about a liter) full of rye (whiskey) per day. Not bad, considering that alcohol was the average sailor's raison d'etre.

Four and twenty blackbirds / Baked in a pie

As Henry Betts points out in his book on the origins and history of nursery rhymes, "It was a favourite trick in the sixteenth century to conceal all sorts of surprises in a pie." Buccaneers, too, were fond of surprises, and one of Blackbeard's favorite ruses to lure a ship within boarding range was to make his own vessel (or crew) appear to be in distress, typically by pretending to have been dismasted in a storm or to have sprung a leak below the waterline. Passing ships — both honest sailors wanting to help and other pirates looking for an easy catch — would sail in close to offer assistance, whereupon a crew of two dozen heavily-armed seamen dressed in black would board the other vessel (via a boat in darkness or fog, or by simply jumping into the other ship when it came alongside if no other means of surprise attack was possible) to quickly kill or disable as many crew members as possible. Thus the four and twenty "blackbirds" (i.e., Blackbeard's crewmen) "baked in a pie" (i.e., concealed in anticipation of springing a trap).

When the pie was opened / The birds began to sing

This follows from the previous line. Once the victim's ship was lured in for the kill, the "blackbirds" came out of hiding and attacked with a fearsome din.

Was that not a tasty dish / To set before a king?

This line is commonly misinterpreted. The King is not a reference to any real king, but rather to Blackbeard himself, the king of pirates. And the tasty dish is the plundered ship that was so easily captured.

The King was in his counting house / Counting out his money

Again, the King is Blackbeard (no real king would take on such a mean task as counting money). This line of the message signals that Blackbeard had the cash on hand to pay a crew on salary rather than strictly on divided spoils.

The Queen was in the parlor / Eating bread and honey

Blackbeard's main vessel was a French merchant ship named "Le Concorde de Nantes" that was jointly captured by Blackbeard and Captain Hornigold in the Grenadines in November of 1717. Upon his retirement from pirating, Hornigold presented the ship to Blackbeard, who renamed it "The Queen Anne's Revenge". Thus the "Queen" referred to here is Blackbeard's ship, and "eating bread and honey" meant that it was in port taking on supplies in preparation for a cruise.

The Maid was in the garden / Hanging out the clothes

The use of the word "maid" indicated that the location/route of one or more prize ships was known, and they were going to be specific targets of the upcoming cruise (this greatly enhancing the probability of the crew's collecting prize money). The waters around the Carolinas down to the Caribbean were referred to as the garden, as this was an area where pirates would often cruise for easy pickings. "Hanging out the clothes" meant the targeted ship was already at sea or just about to leave port (thus its sails — or "clothes" — have been hung).

When down came a blackbird / And snapped off her nose!

There is some scholarly debate in literary and maritime circles as to whether the last part was originally "and snapped off her nose" or "and snapped off a rose." Either way, the passage is taken to be a Blackbeard's bragging about his plans to swoop in and have his way with the targeted ship.

So, next time you hear this innocent children's song, remember that it was originally recited in taverns by drunken, bloodthirsty buccaneers as a code to recruit other pirates for their next murderous voyage!


Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2014 by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson of snopes.com.




Who would have thought it?

Did you know about this?

Do you know of any other similar hidden messages?

[damian_steele]

Wow. Over fifty thread views and not one single reply.

This is so sad. eBid forums used to be so much livelier; so much more enjoyable to visit. Nowadays it's like nobody can be bothered. We've already lost so many of the folks who made this place fun and interesting, is it too late now to stop the decline?

[sherlock07]

I read the thread, and found it very interesting and imformative, however I am old school and was brought up with this in mind

"If you have nothing to say, then say nothing"

I felt there was little or nothing I could add, so I said nothing.

I read most of the threads on here, but comment very little for the above reason.

[Maelbrigda]

That was interesting thank you. Many years ago I bought a book about the history of Nursery Rhymes. It was a facinating read.

[HerMajesty]

I had never heard of this interpretation! It's logical enough, though it must not have been much of a secret if so many knew of the double meanings of the words. I did know about ring around the rosie being about the plague, but there must be so much we don't know about early literature and music and customs.

It's nice to have a variety of posts here on the forum......and sometimes I start one and toss it out into the waters, and sometimes there are some nibbles and bites, and sometimes not......that's not always a bad thing., and doesn't mean people don't care. I often read something and chuckle, or think it's interesting, but at that point in time can't think of anything intelligent or amusing to add, and don't want to dilute the thread with drivel. Well, more than I normally do, anyway.

Will put my thinking cap on...........would love to learn more about such customs.

[meebo1]

Fascinating. Can't say much more as I don't really know nursery rhymes

[deanosaur1972]

Damian

Like Sherlock, I read it last night and found it interesting and informative and followed that by going to blackbeard's entry on Wiki.

I don't read too much of what is on the forum and reply even less....................

[damian_steele]

OK, I get what people are saying about not knowing what to add. However, if people don't reply to threads, if even to say whether they liked reading the content or not, then those who do currently post are more than likely to become disheartened and stop putting in the time and effort it takes. Acknowledgment and encouragement are important.

Of course folks could also add some of their own threads, too. Variety is the spice of wossname, after all.

[squern]

You post was very interesting and informative, just as they always are.
I didn't reply because I didn't have anything interesting to say.

I am, however, working on a follow-up of my "flying worms" theory.
Despite being ridiculed and called a big girl's blouse, I am not deterred in my thirst for knowledge and scientific advancement.

Watch this space.

[countryfeedback87]

I read the thread at about 1am this morning. Was too tired to totally understand it all as there was a lot!

Have re-read it now, very interesting! I didn't know Blackbeard was a real thing/person! Have too been reading through his wiki page, have opened my eyes, thank you.