Nursery rhyme/Talk

And just when is a Wikipedia entry "done"? :-)

It never is, it's just annoying to be fighting at the same time, particularly when I was trying to get rid of innacurate stuff and replace with accurate info. And sorry Cunctator - if I'd checked and seen it was you I wouldn't have been so self-righteous. -MB

Umm, Cunctator didn't write that. -Someone who isn't Cunctator. :-)

(And, wow, I sure agree that that's annoying. But what can we do about it?)

I heard that Beethoven loved 'twinkle twinkle little star' in his childhood. How old is that song anyway? Can anyone confirm that?

It was written around 1765 by Mozart as a child. "Ah vous je dirais Mamon" was the orignal name (or something similar) The english lyrics are officially "anonymous" according to ASCAP - I just checked it out- MB

... - my resources said that the eagle doesn't exist, its an urban myth... what are your sources? Mind you, I've got the street address and I'm flying to London tomorrow, so I'll check it out. :)- MB

FWIW, when I was a kid back in the 60s, there was a record by Anthony Newley regularly played on a UK childrens radio programme, where this exact Eagle pub/pawnshop theory was expounded.... and that's the only place I've ever heard that explanation (I heard the record hundreds of times back then)

Yeah - I checked dozens of places on the web yesterday and none of them could confirm this story - hence my doubts. Axel - what are your sources?- MB

OK - my apologies for misinterpreting your tone. I'm glad you're understanding about my desire to be thorough. Cheers - MB

OED says this:

• pop goes the weasel, name of a country dance very popular in the eighteen-fifties, in which these words were sung or exclaimed by the dancers while one of them darted under the arms of the others to his partner; also the name of the tune; hence as a vb. and in other humorous uses. See N. & Q. (1905) 10th Ser. III. 492, IV. 209.
• c1854 (Music-seller's Advt. in Newspaper), The new country dance ‘Pop goes the weasel’, introduced by her Majesty Queen Victoria. Musical Bouquet No. 409, Pop goes the Weasel; La Tempête; and Le Grand Père. These fashionable dances as performed at the Court balls. 1855 in N. & Q. 10th Ser. IV. 211/1 This dance is very popular, it is without deception, ‘Pop goes the weasel’ has been to Court, and met a good reception. 1855 SMEDLEY H. Coverdale xxxiv, Dear old Punch, with his private band pop-going-the-weasel like an harmonious steam-engine.