This animal rhyme is an apparently nonsensical and upon subsequent inspection, reveals itself to in fact be about poverty, pawnbroking, the minimum wage - and hitting the Eagle Tavern on London's City Road.
The 'weasel' in the rhyme is a winter coat, which has to be pawned - or 'popped' - in exchange for various things. The first verse describes the cheapest food available; the narrator of the poem has no money, so 'pop' goes the weasel.
The second verse describes a night out at a music hall called the Eagle Tavern, which was located on the City Road. But music halls - and drinks - cost money. Pop goes the weasel.
The third verse is a bit more obscure than the first two; a monkey is slang for a tankard, while knocking off a stick was slang for drinking. The last verse probably refers to the narrator's day job.
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Nursery rhymes and their dark side
PoetryUnknowingly when we sing these nursery rhymes we engage our children with centuries-old tradition that seems harmless. Courtesy of The express Tribune
