Pop Goes the Weasel

First recorded: 1850

Origin: England

Lyrics

Half a pound of tuppenny rice,Half a pound of treacle,That’s the way the money goes,Pop! goes the weasel.

Up and down the City road,In and out the Eagle,That’s the way the money goes,Pop! goes the weasel.

Every night when I go out,The monkey's on the table,Take a stick and knock it off,Pop! Goes the weasel.

A penny for a ball of threadAnother for a needle,That’s the way the money goes,Pop! Goes the weasel.

All around the cobbler's benchthe monkey chased the people;The donkey thought ’twas all in fun,Pop! Goes the weasel.

"Pop Goes the Weasel" sounds like nonsense but may be about being broke. By the likeliest reading, "pop" is slang for pawning something and the "weasel" is a coat (from "weasel and stoat"), so the singer keeps pawning his coat to cover his spending. It was a London music-hall craze of the 1850s.

What is the meaning of the phrase "Pop goes the weasel"?

The most widely accepted historical explanation connects the phrase to London poverty and pawnshops:

"Pop" was slang for pawning an item (leaving it at a pawnshop in exchange for cash).
"Weasel" comes from Cockney rhyming slang, where "weasel and stoat" means "coat." Therefore, the phrase means pawning one's coat to get money. Another theory suggests the "weasel" refers to a tailor's flat iron or a spinner's wheel that made a popping sound, but pawning a coat remains the most popular interpretation.

What does "the Eagle" refer to in the song?

The line "In and out the Eagle" refers to the Eagle Tavern, a prominent public house and music hall located on City Road in London. In the mid-nineteenth century, it was a popular spot for drinking and entertainment. The song suggests that patrons would spend their money on food and drink (treacle and beer) inside the pub, resulting in them having to pawn their belongings to cover their bills.

What does the "monkey" represent in the lyrics?

In some versions of the lyrics, a monkey is described as being on the table. In nineteenth-century London slang, a "monkey" referred to the sum of 500 pounds. Since 500 pounds was an astronomical amount of money at the time, some historians suggest the monkey in this context represents a debt or a heavy burden, while other interpretations suggest the monkey and donkey were simply added for lighthearted nonsense.

When was Pop Goes the Weasel first published?

While the melody is older, the earliest known publication of the specific title and tune is from a US sheet music printing in Baltimore in 1850. By 1852, the song had crossed back to England and became a massive dance hall craze. Lyrics were added incrementally, with the famous London-specific verses appearing in print shortly after.