LM_NET: Library Media Networking
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In older days people ate more birds than we do today. 24 blackbirds made
enough for a pot pie. Similarly doves, pigeons, grouse, woodcocks, etc.
were all eaten and relished.
The rhyme goes ahead to say "Was not that a dainty dish to set before the
King" who certainly did eat blackbirds at times.
And if you finished the poem, I assume that the blackbird in the garden
must have been a redwinged variety as they are very territorial and do
swoop down and attack anyone near their nests.
My copy of "The Annotated Mother Goose" (by William S. and Cecil
Baring-Gould) has a nice explication of some of the images in Sing a Song
of Sixpence.
For the four and twenty blackbirds try:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/1674/knights.html
he following info. is from "The Annotated Mother Goose"by William S.
Baring-Gould.
"Theories abound about this rhyme; the "blackbirds" are the 24 hours in a
day, the king is the sun and the queen is the moon; another theory holds
that this song celebrates the printing of the first English Bible--the
blackbirds being the letters of the alphabet set in pica type (baked in a
Here is a compilation of all the hits I received. Thanks to all who
responded!
"pocketful of rye" --It is possible that "a pocket full" was once a specific
measurement in recipes
According to "Extraordinary origins of everyday things" by Charles Panati(a
reference I keep by my computer!):
"A sixteenth-century Italian cookbook, The Manner of Cuisine of What Meat
for What Affair, offers a recipe for actually baking live birds between
crusts or a pie. If the instructions are followed, the book promises, "the
birds may be alive and flie out when it is cut up." The purpose of such a
pie was to create a "diverting Hurley-Burley amongst the Guests." In fact,
it was not uncommon in the sixteenth century for a chef to bake surprises
inside a dinner pie. (See "Little Jack Horner") The rhyme, first published
in England in 1744, is thought to be a straightforward attempt to capture a
then-popular baking curiosity in verse."
This doesn't explain the reference to rye but I suspect the rye could have
been used to lure the birds? Just a thought! And four and twenty is 24?
Could it be that simple?
In a book titles "The annotated Mother Goose", the following information
was found:
A pocketful of rye- It is possible that a "pocket full" was once a a
specific measurement in recipes, as a tablespoon of sugar.
Four and twenty blackbirds - Theories about this rhyme are that:
blackbirds are the twenty four hours in a day, the king is the sun, the
queen is the moon. Also, Katherine Elwes Thomas identified the king as
Henry V111, the queen as Katherine, the maid as Anne Boleyn, the blakbirds
as four and twenty manorial deeds baked in a pie.
Still another theory is that this song celebrates the printing of the first
English bible - the blackbirds being the letters of the alphabet set in
pica type ("baked in a pie'").
--
Beverly A. Nelson
Media Generalist
Spring Grove Public School
Spring Grove, MN 55974
507-498-3221
bev.nelson@springgrove.k12.mn.us
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<HEAD>
<TITLE>Hit : Part 1 "four and twenty blackbirds"</TITLE>
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<TT>In older days people ate more birds than we do today. 24 blackbir=
ds made<BR>
enough for a pot pie. Similarly doves, pigeons, grouse, woodcocks, et=
c.<BR>
were all eaten and relished.<BR>
<BR>
The rhyme goes ahead to say "Was not that a dainty dish to set before =
the<BR>
King" who certainly did eat blackbirds at times.<BR>
<BR>
And if you finished the poem, I assume that the blackbird in the garden<BR>
must have been a redwinged variety as they are very territorial and do<BR>
swoop down and attack anyone near their nests.<BR>
<BR>
My copy of "The Annotated Mother Goose" (by William S. and Cecil<=
BR>
Baring-Gould) has a nice explication of some of the images in Sing a Song<B=
R>
of Sixpence.<BR>
<BR>
For the four and twenty blackbirds try:<BR>
<FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/1674/knight=
s.html<BR>
<BR>
</U></FONT>he following info. is from "The Annotated Mother Goose"=
;by William S.<BR>
Baring-Gould. <BR>
<BR>
"Theories abound about this rhyme; the "blackbirds" are the =
24 hours in a<BR>
day, the king is the sun and the queen is the moon; another theory holds<BR=
>
that this song celebrates the printing of the first English Bible--the<BR>
blackbirds being the letters of the alphabet set in pica type (baked in a<B=
R>
Here is a compilation of all the hits I received. Thanks to all who r=
esponded!<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
"pocketful of rye" --It is possible that "a pocket full"=
; was once a specific<BR>
measurement in recipes<BR>
<BR>
According to "Extraordinary origins of everyday things" by Charle=
s Panati(a<BR>
reference I keep by my computer!):<BR>
<BR>
"A sixteenth-century Italian cookbook, The Manner of Cuisine of What M=
eat<BR>
for What Affair, offers a recipe for actually baking live birds between<BR>
crusts or a pie. If the instructions are followed, the book promises,=
"the<BR>
birds may be alive and flie out when it is cut up." The purpose =
of such a<BR>
pie was to create a "diverting Hurley-Burley amongst the Guests."=
In fact,<BR>
it was not uncommon in the sixteenth century for a chef to bake surprises<B=
R>
inside a dinner pie. (See "Little Jack Horner") The rhyme, =
first published<BR>
in England in 1744, is thought to be a straightforward attempt to capture a=
<BR>
then-popular baking curiosity in verse."<BR>
<BR>
This doesn't explain the reference to rye but I suspect the rye could have<=
BR>
been used to lure the birds? Just a thought! And four and twent=
y is 24?<BR>
Could it be that simple?<BR>
<BR>
In a book titles "The annotated Mother Goose", the following info=
rmation<BR>
was found:<BR>
<BR>
A pocketful of rye- It is possible that a "pocket full" was once =
a a<BR>
specific measurement in recipes, as a tablespoon of sugar. <BR>
<BR>
Four and twenty blackbirds - Theories about this rhyme are that:<BR>
blackbirds are the twenty four hours in a day, the king is the sun, the<BR>
queen is the moon. Also, Katherine Elwes Thomas identified the king as<BR>
Henry V111, the queen as Katherine, the maid as Anne Boleyn, the blakbirds<=
BR>
as four and twenty manorial deeds baked in a pie.<BR>
Still another theory is that this song celebrates the printing of the first=
<BR>
English bible - the blackbirds being the letters of the alphabet set in<BR>
pica type ("baked in a pie'").<BR>
</TT>-- <BR>
Beverly A. Nelson<BR>
Media Generalist<BR>
Spring Grove Public School<BR>
Spring Grove, MN 55974<BR>
507-498-3221<BR>
bev.nelson@springgrove.k12.mn.us<BR>
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