The nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence tells a playful story about royalty, surprise, and curiosity. The rhyme tells us a story about a funny little word with a king, queen, and some birds hiding in a pie
This wasn’t a regular pie. It was a magical surprise pie that entertained royal guests. The king is counting money while the queen is eating honey, and then the birds come back to mooch off the maid’s nose.
Lyrics of Sing a Song of Sixpence
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Blackbirds Baked in a Pie?
This line is added to create a rhyme. Also, earlier, such funny elements were used to make a joke or a riddle.
Where did the Rhyme Come From?
It dates back to the 18th century and is believed to be of English origin.
What is a Sixpence?
A sixpence was an old English coin worth six pennies.
