Goosey Goosey gander.

[Viktoria]

A whole new meaning.
Watching the TV programme tonight about Cross Rail ,and the Lost Graveyard It was stated that a common term for a streetwalker in those days, was “Goose”——.
The number of bodies with dreadful signs of the effect of Syphilis in their bones was amazing.
Many Nursery Rhymes have much more sinister meanings abd there is now a wholley different meaning to” Goosey goosey gander ,
                                             Wither dost thou wander ?
                                              Upstairs and downstairs
                                                In my lady’s chamber.etc.”
The words of quite a few Folk Songs too, may have very different meanings than is first obvious.
The programmes have been very interesting , and all exhumed bodies we are told will be reverentially re interred.
Viktoria.
At least those not kept in boxes for further research.
Viktoria.
                                                 

                                                 

[Girl Guide]

That puts me in mind of the Ring-a-ring o' roses rhyme.

Ring-a-ring o' roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down.

Some people claim the nursery rhyme 'Ring-a-ring-o'-roses' is about the plague:

The 'roses' are the red blotches on the skin.
The 'posies' are the sweet-smelling flowers people carried to try to ward off the plague.
'Atishoo' refers to the sneezing fits of people with pneumonic plague.
'We all fall down' refers to people dying.

Others believe that it's just a nonsense rhyme. The fact that people are willing to believe that the nursery rhyme is about the plague shows how much importance it is still given today.

Whether it really relates to the plague or not... who knows 

[Viktoria]

This has come up before and the conclusion was it was not the plague but we who think it may very well be can think of other songs and rhymes where Tge rose is not a flower but the mark of a deadly disease .
Once I had a bunch of thyme ,
I thought it never would decay,
But along came a handsome sailor
Who chanced to pass my way,
Who stole my bunch of thyme away.
But the sailor gave to me a rose.
A rose that never will decay,
He gave it to me to keep me well minded
Of when he stole my thyme away.

That rose is the mark of Syphilis ,the chancre.
lThose watching the programmes about HS2
and all the many graveyards uncovered will know so many skeletons are showing the ravages  of that disease ,the bones almost like sponges.

But , twas ever thus!
Viktoria.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I often say I learn something new each time I come on here! Better than U3A.

[BumbleB]

Bunch of thyme -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BNE7gIerwg

[Viktoria]

Thanks, I often listen to a CD of The  Houghton Weavers ,singing that.
Foster and Allen ‘s style  was well suited to it .
We saw one of their last concerts in Ramsbottom’s Theatre Royal, Tony Berry was very ill and has since died but gave a good performance as ever.

The Dubliners never recorded it.

We were taught to only use one superlative, “most  best “ ,is wrong as is  “most favourite “ etcetc..
But we all understand each other!
Viktoria.

[BumbleB]

BUT Paddy Reilly did!  And he was a member of The Dubliners. 

[Viktoria]

The Dubliners I know :-
Luke Kelly ,long necked Banjo.
John Sheehan , Violin
Ronny Drew ,Guitar
Barney McVane,Banjo
Ciaran -? Guitar.

Paddy joined after Luke died ,I think only Barney and John were left of the
original Dubliners when Paddy joined ,but he did have a nice voice  “.,The Fields of Athenry “  is lovely in his version.
I like Barney’s Carrickfergus ,so beautiful.

I love Luke singing “ On Raglan Road”.well anything really ,Come to the Bower, The Bonny Shoals of Herring,Black Velvet Band ,I know my Love,etc etc .
So sad he died so young ,a brain tumour .
That mad red hair and green green eyes ,throwing his head back and belting out.
He had  a place at Prague University ,but never took it up.
Cheerio.Viktoria.

 

[BumbleB]

Seen The Dubliners on a number of occasions, including St Patrick's Day concerts in Birmingham.