Introduction: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
“Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional) first appeared in print in 1744 as part of Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, a collection of nursery rhymes popular in England. While its exact origins are uncertain, it has been traditionally sung as a children’s rhyme. The poem’s main themes revolve around whimsical and exaggerated imagery, such as blackbirds baked in a pie that sing when opened, and a domestic scene involving a king, queen, and a maid. Its playful language, absurdity, and vivid storytelling have made it a staple in children’s literature and education, often used as a teaching tool for rhythm, rhyme, and cultural history. The rhyme’s enduring popularity stems from its engaging narrative and its ability to spark imagination, making it a beloved choice for textbooks and oral recitation.
Text: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
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,
Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!
Annotations: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
| Line | Annotation |
| Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye, | The phrase “sixpence” refers to a small sum of money, often symbolic of simplicity or modest beginnings. “Pocket full of rye” could signify prosperity or abundance in a metaphorical sense. This line introduces a whimsical, surreal tone. |
| Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. | This imagery comes from an old culinary tradition of using live birds in elaborate pies to surprise diners. It signifies opulence and a sense of wonder, hinting at the fantastical and exaggerated elements of the poem. |
| When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, | This fantastical idea builds on the previous line, depicting an impossible yet delightful event. It creates a sense of magic and surprise, captivating the imagination of the listener or reader. |
| Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king? | The rhetorical question emphasizes the extravagance and rarity of the “dish,” underscoring themes of royalty and grandeur. It also reinforces the nursery rhyme’s playful and fantastical nature. |
| The king was in his counting house counting out his money, | This line paints a picture of the king as a symbol of wealth and power, engaged in a mundane activity. It contrasts the fantastical scene of the pie with the grounded image of the king managing his wealth. |
| The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey | The queen is shown in a domestic setting, indulging in simple pleasures. This image juxtaposes her luxury (honey being a prized delicacy) with the ordinary act of eating, adding to the nursery rhyme’s charm. |
| The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes, | This introduces a figure of lower social status, performing daily chores, providing a contrast to the opulence of the king and queen. It also adds a sense of everyday life to the fantastical backdrop of the poem. |
| When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose! | The abrupt violence of this line introduces dark humor and unpredictability. It subverts the mundane activity of the maid with an absurd and unexpected event, emphasizing the surreal and playful tone of the rhyme. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Alliteration | “Sing a song of sixpence” | Repetition of the “s” sound creates a musical quality, enhancing the rhythmic flow of the poem. |
| Anthropomorphism | “The birds began to sing” | Birds are given human-like abilities (singing), adding a fantastical and whimsical element to the narrative. |
| Assonance | “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish” | Repetition of vowel sounds (“a” and “i”) creates internal rhyme and adds musicality to the line. |
| Contrast | The king counting money vs. the maid doing chores | The contrasting activities highlight differences in social roles, adding depth to the imagery. |
| Dramatic Irony | “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!” | The sudden violent event contrasts with the playful tone of the earlier lines, surprising the reader and creating dark humor. |
| Enjambment | “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. / When the pie was opened…” | The continuation of a sentence across lines maintains narrative flow and builds suspense. |
| Hyperbole | “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” | An exaggerated, impossible image that emphasizes the fantastical and whimsical nature of the rhyme. |
| Imagery | “The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey” | Vivid description creates a clear mental image of the scene, appealing to the senses. |
| Irony | “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” | The absurdity of serving a pie filled with live blackbirds as a “dainty dish” creates ironic humor. |
| Juxtaposition | The fantastical blackbird pie vs. mundane daily activities | Placing magical elements alongside ordinary scenes creates contrast and amplifies the surreal quality of the rhyme. |
| Metaphor | “A pocket full of rye” | The rye symbolizes abundance or wealth, though not literally meant to fit in a pocket. |
| Onomatopoeia | “The birds began to sing” | The word “sing” mimics the sound of birdsong, enhancing auditory imagery. |
| Personification | “The birds began to sing” | The birds are personified with human characteristics, bringing the fantastical scenario to life. |
| Repetition | “Sing a song of sixpence” | The repetition of “sing” emphasizes the musical and rhythmic nature of the rhyme. |
| Rhyme | “Rye” and “pie”; “money” and “honey” | The end rhymes create a pleasant, predictable structure, typical of nursery rhymes. |
| Rhythm | The entire poem | The consistent meter and syllable pattern make the rhyme engaging and easy to remember, key features of a nursery rhyme. |
| Surrealism | “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” | The bizarre and fantastical imagery reflects a surreal quality, characteristic of traditional nursery rhymes. |
| Symbolism | “The king was in his counting house counting out his money” | The king symbolizes power and wealth, providing a thematic anchor to the story’s elements. |
| Tone | Playful and whimsical, with a hint of dark humor | The overall tone is light-hearted, though the maid’s mishap adds a twist of unexpected humor, making it memorable. |
| Visual Imagery | “The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes” | A clear, everyday image contrasts with the fantastical blackbird pie, grounding the rhyme in relatable, domestic life. |
Themes: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
- Fantasy and Whimsy: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” embodies a theme of fantasy and whimsy, drawing readers into a surreal world where four-and-twenty blackbirds are baked into a pie and miraculously begin to sing when the pie is opened. This imaginative imagery captivates young audiences, emphasizing the magical and absurd elements that characterize traditional nursery rhymes. The line, “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” underscores the playful nature of the poem, celebrating the unexpected and delightful.
- Social Hierarchy and Roles: The rhyme reflects the social stratification of the time, showcasing distinct roles within society. The king is depicted in his counting house, a symbol of power and wealth, while the queen enjoys her leisure in the parlour with bread and honey, symbolizing refinement. In contrast, the maid is shown performing her domestic chores in the garden, illustrating the labor expected of the lower class. This juxtaposition, presented through lines like “The king was in his counting house counting out his money,” subtly conveys societal roles and class divisions.
- Dark Humor: Amidst its playful tone, the poem introduces a jarring instance of dark humor with the line, “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!” This abrupt shift from whimsical to grotesque humor adds a layer of intrigue and surprise, keeping the audience engaged. The unexpected violence of the blackbird’s act injects an element of absurdity, reminding readers that nursery rhymes often carried an undercurrent of moral lessons or cautionary tales.
- Domestic Life and Routine: The poem captures a snapshot of daily life, contrasting the fantastical elements of the blackbird pie with ordinary scenes of domestic activity. The queen’s enjoyment of bread and honey and the maid’s task of hanging clothes in the garden reflect the rhythm of everyday life. These depictions, such as “The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,” ground the rhyme in relatable experiences, balancing its surreal aspects with familiarity and providing a glimpse into traditional roles and routines.
Literary Theories and “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
| Literary Theory | Explanation | References from the Poem |
| Marxist Theory | This theory examines class distinctions and power structures. The poem reflects societal hierarchy: the king represents the ruling class, the queen enjoys luxury, and the maid performs menial labor, showcasing inequality. | – “The king was in his counting house counting out his money” – “The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey” – “The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes” |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Freud’s ideas on the subconscious and desires can be applied to the surreal imagery and dark humor. The rhyme’s whimsical yet unsettling elements may reflect repressed fears or cultural anxieties. | – “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” – “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!” |
| Structuralism | This theory analyzes the underlying structure of the text, focusing on binary oppositions (e.g., royalty vs. commoners, whimsy vs. reality) and recurring patterns such as rhyme and rhythm to construct meaning. | – “The king was in his counting house… / The maid was in the garden…” (opposition of roles) – The consistent rhyme scheme and repetitive phrasing throughout the poem. |
Critical Questions about “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
· What Does the Imagery of the Blackbird Pie Represent?
- The line “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” raises questions about the symbolic meaning behind this fantastical image. Does it serve as a critique of excess or as a celebration of whimsy? Historically, elaborate dishes were used to demonstrate wealth and power, suggesting the pie could symbolize opulence and theatricality. Alternatively, the absurdity of birds singing after being baked could reflect a childlike imagination that values wonder over logic. This imagery invites readers to explore the interplay between fantasy and societal values in the rhyme.
· How Does the Poem Reflect Social Hierarchy?
- The clear delineation of roles in the poem, as seen in lines like “The king was in his counting house counting out his money” and “The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,” prompts questions about the portrayal of class divisions. Why does the poem emphasize these roles, and how do they reflect societal norms of the time? The king’s wealth-driven activity contrasts sharply with the maid’s domestic labor, highlighting disparities in power and privilege. This invites readers to consider how the rhyme subtly reinforces or critiques these societal structures.
· What Is the Purpose of the Dark Humor in the Final Line?
- The abrupt shift in tone with “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!” introduces an element of dark humor, raising questions about its purpose. Does it serve as a cautionary tale or merely as a surprising twist to amuse and unsettle? The violence directed toward the maid could symbolize vulnerability or an unexpected disruption of the mundane. Exploring this line’s role in the narrative reveals how nursery rhymes often blend innocence with darker, more complex undertones.
· How Does the Poem Balance Fantasy with Realism?
- The poem juxtaposes whimsical elements like singing blackbirds with mundane domestic activities, as seen in “The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey.” This balance raises questions about how fantasy and realism function together in the narrative. Does the fantastical serve to elevate the ordinary, or does the ordinary ground the fantastical? Examining this interplay helps uncover the rhyme’s appeal to both children’s imaginations and adults’ reflections on everyday life, making it a timeless piece of literature.
Literary Works Similar to “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
- “Hey Diddle Diddle” (Traditional)
Both poems feature fantastical and whimsical imagery, blending the absurd (e.g., a cow jumping over the moon) with lighthearted narrative. - “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
This shares a playful and nonsensical tone with “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” featuring anthropomorphic animals and a surreal storyline. - “Humpty Dumpty” (Traditional)
Similar in its use of rhyme and dark humor, this nursery rhyme also mixes whimsy with an abrupt, tragic twist. - “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” (Traditional)
Both explore exaggerated, imaginative scenarios to engage readers and evoke curiosity about societal roles or situations. - “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
This poem shares the fantastical and surreal elements, employing nonsensical language and imaginative storytelling to captivate readers.
Representative Quotations of “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye” | Introduces the rhyme with an imaginative and whimsical tone. | Structuralism: Sets the rhythmic structure and surreal imagery that underpin the narrative. |
| “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” | Describes a fantastical dish, showcasing the surreal and absurd. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects unconscious desires for extravagance and whimsy. |
| “When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing” | Depicts an impossible, magical moment where the birds sing from the pie. | Fantasy Theory: Highlights the blending of reality and fantasy to engage imagination. |
| “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” | Reinforces themes of royalty and opulence. | Marxist Theory: Reflects class distinction and luxury associated with the ruling class. |
| “The king was in his counting house counting out his money” | Portrays the king engaged in a symbolically materialistic activity. | Marxist Theory: Critiques or mirrors the association of power with wealth. |
| “The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey” | Highlights the queen’s domestic leisure, contrasting her role with the king. | Feminist Theory: Suggests the traditional, passive role of women in society. |
| “The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes” | Depicts a domestic worker performing menial tasks, illustrating class roles. | Social Realism: Examines the societal expectations of lower-class labor. |
| “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!” | Introduces an abrupt, darkly humorous twist to the narrative. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects suppressed fears or a latent cautionary element. |
| “Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” | Repetition emphasizes the surreal nature of the blackbird pie. | Formalism: Focuses on the use of repetition and rhetorical questions to enhance rhythm and impact. |
| “Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye” | Returns as a refrain, anchoring the rhyme in its melodic quality. | Structuralism: Acts as a recurring motif, emphasizing the structural consistency of the poem. |
Suggested Readings: “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (Traditional)
- Bowan, Kate, and Paul A. Pickering. “‘Sing a Song of Sixpence.’” Sounds of Liberty: Music, Radicalism and Reform in the Anglophone World, 1790–1914, vol. 148, Manchester University Press, 2017, pp. 165–227. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.21996581.10. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
- Tuman, Donna M. “Sing a Song of Sixpence: An Examination of Sex Difference in the Subject Preference of Children’s Drawings.” Visual Arts Research, vol. 25, no. 1, 1999, pp. 51–62. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20715969. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
- DAVIS, CAROL V. “Eating Crow.” Ploughshares, vol. 36, no. 1, 2010, pp. 31–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25704726. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
- J. G. “A Bilingual Song of Sixpence.” The Irish Monthly, vol. 31, no. 362, 1903, pp. 436–37. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20500475. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
- G. M. Garrett. “Oh Sing Again That Simple Song.” The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, vol. 14, no. 315, 1869, pp. 79–81. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3353325. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.