Song of sixpence "sing a song of sixpence" is reputed to have various sources but first printed in the early 18th century. One thing is certain about it: references to the song are plentiful, extending from Henry VIII and Shakespeare to the Beatles and the Monkees. But in all the references to it, none deals with what I consider the essence of the song. That is Joan of Arc. Joan was the maid, severely criticized for her wearing men's clothing, was threatened with torture if she did not don women's dress. The song has her preoccupied with clothes. Blackbirds were the priests who piously tried and persecuted her. They were responsible for condemning her - cutting off her nose. The dauphin whom Joan crowned king made no move to protect her during the tedious trial - he was busy raising money........ In the "counting-house." The queen was busy socializing in the parlor. As for the pie, this was a kind of code word for sending a secret message, and the blackbirds had the secret duty to see that Joan was to be executed, whatever the trial results would be. The sixpence and the pocket of rye are a bit of singing game fluff that goes with nursery rhymes. The entire song seems to be a kind of eclectic gathering of images, and I suggest that the Maid of Orleans is the cohesive element. Larry Gruman. 2/7/11 Song of sixpence "sing a song of sixpence" is reputed to have various sources but first printed in the early 18th century. One thing is certain about it: references to the song are plentiful, extending from Henry VIII and Shakespeare to the Beatles and the Monkees. But in all the references to it, none deals with what I consider the essence of the song. That is Joan of Arc. Joan was the maid, severely criticized for her wearing men's clothing, was threatened with torture if she did not don women's dress. The song has her preoccupied with clothes. Blackbirds were the priests who piously tried and persecuted her. They were responsible for condemning her - cutting off her nose. The dauphin whom Joan crowned king made no move to protect her during the tedious trial - he was busy raising money........ In the "counting-house." The queen was busy socializing in the parlor. As for the pie, this was a kind of code word for sending a secret message, and the blackbirds had the secret duty to see that Joan was to be executed, whatever the trial results would be. The sixpence and the pocket of rye are a bit of singing game fluff that goes with nursery rhymes. The entire song seems to be a kind of eclectic gathering of images, and I suggest that the Maid of Orleans is the cohesive element. Larry Gruman. 2/7/11

Song of sixpence
 
"sing a song of sixpence" is reputed to have various sources but first printed in the early 18th century. One thing is certain about it: references to the song are plentiful, extending from Henry VIII and Shakespeare to the Beatles and the Monkees. But in all the references to it, none deals with what I consider the essence of the song.  That is Joan of Arc.
 
Joan was the maid, severely criticized for her wearing men's clothing, was threatened with torture if she did not don women's dress.  The song has her preoccupied with clothes. Blackbirds were the priests who piously tried and persecuted her. They were responsible for condemning her - cutting off her nose. The dauphin whom Joan crowned king made no move to protect her during the tedious trial - he was busy raising money........ In the "counting-house." The queen was busy socializing in the parlor.  As for the pie, this was a kind of code word for sending a secret message, and the blackbirds had the secret duty to see that Joan was to be executed, whatever the trial results would be.  The sixpence and the pocket of rye are a bit of singing game fluff that goes with nursery rhymes.
 
The entire song seems to be a kind of eclectic gathering of images, and I suggest that the Maid of Orleans is the cohesive element.
 
   Larry Gruman.     2/7/11