Rural Dictionary

Ring Around The Rosey

1. A classic Nursery Rhyme always sung in preschools, day cares, and kindergarten classes all over.
2. One of the most gothic songs ever.

Although never confirmed, this seemingly harmless nursery rhyme is believed by many people to refer to the Black Plague in Europe during the Middle Ages. It seems quite strange, and even a little scary for 5 year old kids to be singing to this song.

Here's a breakdown of the song:

Ring Around the Rosey(victims of the plague would usually have a red, swollen ring around their eyes)

A pocket full of posies(people would carry flowers in their pockets to cover the lingering smell of death, and some people even thought they would ward off the disease)

Ashes, Ashes(this refers to the fact that they would take dead bodies and people suffering from the disease, throw them in pits, and burn their bodies to slow down the spread of the disease)

We all fall down(basically this means death)

Ring around the Rosey.
A pocket full of posies.
Ashes, Ashes.
We all fall down.

The thought of innocent children singing this song in their nursery schools is pretty bone chilling.

by Philip Cunningham January 26, 2007

1418👍 224👎

beat around the bush

To talk about something without mentioning it directly or avoid getting to the core of the subject--to try to bring up a subject in a roundabout way. Often motivated from a desire not to speak frankly about the subject, either because the subject is taboo, it's impolite to bring it up directly, or the conversation is perceived likely to be painful.

Well, Joe, I heard you were thinking about selling your car...

instead of

So, Joe, how much did you want for that Explorer of yours?

Also,

Susy, what are your plans for the future?

instead of

Susy, will you marry me?