"Ring a Ring o' Roses" or "Ring Around the Rosie" is a nursery rhyme or folksong and playground singing game. It first appeared in print in 1881; but it is reported that a version was already being sung to the current tune in the 1790s. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7925. Urban legend says the song originally described the plague, but folklorists reject this idea.
The first printing of the rhyme was in Kate Greenaway’s 1881 edition of Mother Goose or the Old Nursery Rhymes:
Ring-a-ring-a-roses,
A pocket full of posies;
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down.
The rhyme must already have been widely distributed. A novel of 1855, The Old Homestead by Ann S. Stephens, describes children playing "Ring, ring a rosy" in New York.William Wells Newell reports two versions in America a short time later (1883) and says that another was known in New Bedford, Massachusetts around 1790:
Ring a ring a Rosie,
A bottle full of posie,
All the girls in our town
Ring for little Josie.
There are also versions in Shropshire, collected in 1883, and a manuscript of rhymes collected in Lancashire at the same period gives three closely related versions, with the now familiar sneezing, for instance:
George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731] – December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States of America, serving from 1789 to 1797, and the dominant military and political leader of the United States from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787. Washington became the first president, by unanimous choice, and oversaw the creation of a strong, well-financed national government that maintained neutrality in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion, and won acceptance among Americans of all types. His leadership style established many forms and rituals of government that have been used since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. Washington is universally regarded as the "Father of his country."
I was sitting by the phone
I was waiting all alone
Baby by myself I sit and wait and wonder about you
It's a dark and dreary night
Seems like nothing's going right
Won't you tell me honey how can I go on here without you?
Yes I'm down and feeling blue
And I don't know what to do, oh-oh
Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
And I sit all alone impatiently
Won't you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
You were here and now you're gone
Hey did I do something wrong?
I just can't believe that I could be so badly mistaken
Was it me or was it you?
Tell me, are we really through?
Won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking
Please forgive and then forget
Or maybe darling better yet, oh-oh
Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
And I sit all alone impatiently
Won't you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Oh-oh, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
I was sitting on the fence
And I thought that I would kiss you
I never thought I would've missed you
But you never let me fall
Push my back against the wall
Every time you call
You get so emotional
Oh, I'm freakin' out
Ring ring
Is that you on the phone?
You think you're clever
But you're never saying nothing at all
Hey hey
The way you spin me around
You make me dizzy when you play me
Like a kid with a crown
You got a dangerous obsession
Now I'm in need of some protection
That was never my intention
Used to love me
Now you hate me
See I drove you crazy
Well if I did
You made me
Won't somebody save me?
From you now
Ring ring
Is that you on the phone?
You think you're clever
But you're never saying nothing at all
Hey hey
The way you spin me around
You make me dizzy when you play me
Like a kid with a crown
Its words I wanted
Until you lost it
Why won't you leave me alone?
Hang up the phone
Just let me go
Ring ring
Is that you on the phone?
You think you're clever
But you're never saying nothing at all
Hey hey
The way you spin me around
You make me dizzy when you play me
Like a kid with a crown
Ring ring
Is that you on the phone?
You think you're clever
But you're never saying nothing at all
Hey hey
The way you spin me around
You make me dizzy when you play me
Like a kid with a crown
Ring ring
Ring ring
Christopher Rainbow)
Baby don't worry if the tide should turn before I do
'cause I gotta lot of life to see
Baby don't worry if I take some time to call
I've been away so long I'm gonna call tonight
I think I got your number right and
Chorus
Ring ring baby come and pick up the phone
So far away and I don't know when I'm coming home
Ring ring operator please check this line
I've a long distance call and I think I'm running out of time
Baby don't worry if the winter turns to spring again
The road that I follow leads to you
Baby don't worry when the mail man passes by
Look out along that road
See you in my dreams and
I'll hold you in my arms again and
Repeat chorus
Ring ring operator please check this line
I've a long distance call and I think I'm running out of time
(CHORUS)
Ring, ring, ring, your telephone is ringing. Take it or
you're never gonna get another call from me.. Oh what a
lovely day! Shame I've gotta spend it inna this way
without you. Sing, sing, sing, baby. Can you say that
you're not craving looking in my eyes, your fingers
upon my fingers? Oh, what a lovely night, shame I've
got to see you inna this light, it won't do.
I wonder where I got a negative point of view, looking
at your footsteps, stepping on the sweet green grass
that is my life. Someone special on the end of your
phone, take it don't lie, liars always end up crying I
and I am enervated, losing my will to try.
CHORUS
I wonder where I got a negative point of view, looking
at your footprints, shattering the delicate glass that
is my life. Someone so special on the end of your
phone, take it don't lie, liars always end up crying I
and I am enervated, losing my will to try.
Ring, ring, ring. Your telephone is ringing. Take it or
you're never gonna get another call from me. Oh, what a
lovely day. Shame I've gotta spend it inna this way
without you.
I feel my heart go pit-a-pat-a-pit-a-pat! (Me say) Why
you wanna go and do a thing like that? My love I never
stuttered when I said I want you. Mama told me that I
could have done better than that, listening ah dial
tone my digits on keypad, like the moment when you
first stare at a clock that isn't ticking, time
I was sitting by the phone
I was waiting all alone
Baby by myself I sit and wait and wonder about you
It's a dark and dreary night
Seems like nothing's going right
Won't you tell me honey how can I go on here without
you?
Yes I'm down and feeling blue
And I don't know what to do, oh-oh
Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
And I sit all alone impatiently
Won't you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
You were here and now you're gone
Hey did I do something wrong?
I just can't believe that I could be so badly mistaken
Was it me or was it you?
Tell me, are we really through?
Won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart
is breaking
Please forgive and then forget
Or maybe darling better yet, oh-oh
Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
And I sit all alone impatiently
Won't you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Oh-oh, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?
Ring ring,
Screening Your Calls.
Ring ring, what ya want?
I wanna tell ya I messed up,
so what I guess you're stuck.
Shit out a luck, and that sucks.
Get your hand off my window
I'm a drive this truck.
Down the avenue, Down Collins Avenue.
Don't you know it's the New Year.
Isn't it weird (why weird)
20 years and still no beard?
Out of America we could drink beers.
I remember, watch out for that deer.
Oh deer, more bear, big Texas to M.I.A.,
lets change gears.
Ring ring, what ya want?
I wanna tell ya I messed up,
so what I guess you're stuck.
Shit out a luck, and that sucks.
Get your hand out my window,
no need for innuendos.
Mother and a father
had a son and daughter.
Son makes music and the music's like water,
water's getting hotter, hotter and hotter.
Ring ring, what ya want?
I wanna tell ya I messed up,
so what I guess you're stuck.
Shit out a luck, and that sucks.
Get your hand off my window
I'm gonna ride this chariot (of fire).
Ring ring, tangled in a knot,
is that all you got, your shot.
Watch your fingers waters boiling hot.
On a chariot to the top,
you win some, you lose some,
then you lose all you got.
Ring ring, what ya want?
Ring ring, what ya want?
Ring ring, what ya want?
From me
jah put it right, for all too see,
I remember the smile on her face
When I put you on her finger
I felt the love in her sweet embrace
And all the happiness you brought her
I still see it all in my mind
The way she loved me
All the time
[chorus]
Ring, ring
You ain't nothin' but a thing
Yesterday we used to hold her
LIttel band of gold
With a little blue stone
I'm sure gonna miss the hand
That you were on
She'd wear you when we were together
She'd wear you when I was gone
'Cause we believed in love forever
But I guess we were wrong
Now she's found somebody new
She doesn't care about
Me or you
[repeat chorus]
Wish I could put it all behind
But I can't keep her off my mind
Oh, oh
What can I do?
[repeat chorus]
Little band of gold with a little blue stone
Oh..
C-note after c-note, put the remix on my kilo
Thought I wouldn't make it, now I'm winning Timothy Tebow
Fourth quarter, I'm back, fourth quarter, in fact
Fourth quarter, that's that, four Ford in all black
I said boss and I meant that, advance, you spent that
Corvette so clean you'll think Bruce Springsteen rent that
Cars just like sneakers, just got me ten pair
Dubai, I been there, but f-ck that, we in here
Roll up and inhale, I live next to Denzel
Alonzo, my condo cost three mil', this shit real
IPhone and iPad, Amex in my gat
Left hand got ten bands, back pocket, four stacks
All I need is bad hoes, all these niggas gon' rat
Half these niggas working now, they knocked it down, they're going back
All I need is Benzos, riding on Lorenzos
Stack my money tenfold, make this my new ten-four
[Hook]
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck all you haters
Watch me f-ck all these b!tches
I got eight different Rollies
And they all mint condition
I'm screaming f-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
I got five different Benzes
This is my deposition
I'm screaming, "F-ck every witness"
Cause b!tch, I'm big business
I'm screaming f-ck em
[Verse 2 : 2 Chainz]
Me gon hit my boast
Me gon hit my boast
What you know about walking in the Gucci store and they salute?
Chain cost a coupe, coupe cost a crib
Riding with the chopper like it's my friend
This for real niggas only, I still bail with Kobe
Got a sign in my garage that say, "Foreign only"
Forces pouring, on mixtapes I'm touring
See my shit that fire shit, and yo' shit boring
2 Chainz smoking loud like it's a newborn
Dad wasn't around, my father figure was Too Short
New Porsche deuced up, two cups got juice in it
Two forks, two pipes, I could whip it both-handed
My girl is bow-legged, just do it like Bo Jackson
Every beat I'm toe-tagging, tune big as a Volkswagon
Money got me sagging, it really doesn't matter
I run circles round these niggas' world like Saturn
[Hook]
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck all you haters
Watch me f-ck all these b!tches
I got eight different Rollies
And they all mint condition
I'm screaming f-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
I got five different Benzes
This is my deposition
I'm screaming, "F-ck every witness"
Cause b!tch, I'm big business
I'm screaming f-ck em
[Verse 3 : Wale]
Black Foamposites, it's like we on that outer shit
Riding five deep and I'm as dirty as them congressmen
Sixty-two, without no tint, mission roof of my new shit
Ironic sense, my drive increased, my driver see the profit
Yeah, word, f-ck you niggas, pay me though
Smoke that Mark McGuire strong
Oakland ain't no basic smoke
Shout-out to your lady, a.k.a. MMG favorite ho
Tell that ass the way to go before I show her where to go
No Canseco, and I'm switching lanes at one six oh
A nigga trees fine, a police siren!
Woop woop, nah, that's just Diplo
And you cute, shorty, let's get low
On the low, I'mma talk that jazz
Jungle fever for the night
Horny or white, that's Anglo-Sax
[Hook]
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
F-ck all you haters
Watch me f-ck all these b!tches
I got eight different Rollies
And they all mint condition
I'm screaming f-ck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
Fuck em, f-ck em, I'm screaming f-ck em
I got five different Benzes
This is my deposition
I'm screaming, "F-ck every witness"
Cause b!tch, I'm big business
Have a heart, have a heart, have a heart
sixteen six six six like the pentagon
we are the river flow
and you can never know
you're just a weatherman
we make the wind blow
keep thinking about every straight face yes
wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces
what about them
I'm all about them
six such straight As
cut em in the bathroom
so this is it then?
you're here to win friends
click click saddle up see you on the moon then
and all our old friends
pick up their phones then
ring ring call them up
tell them about the new trends
Have a heart, have a heart, have a heart
sixteen six six six like a heart attack
we form a?
and I'm aware of that
but we could fist fight drunk like the parent trap
keep thinking about every straight face yes
wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces
we never?
and you can see me
we fell asleep in the middle of the fury
so this is it then?
you're here to win friends
click click saddle up see you on the moon then
and all our old friends
pick up their phones then
ring ring call them up
tell them about the new trends
so this is it then?
you're here to win friends
click click saddle up see you on the moon then
and all our old friends
pick up their phones then
ring ring call them up
tell them about the new trends
Have a heart, have a heart, have a heart
sixteen six six six like the pentagon
we are the river flow
and you can never know
you're just a weatherman
we make the wind blow
keep thinking about every straight face yes
wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces
what about them
I'm all about them
six such straight As
cut em in the bathroom
so this is it then?
you're here to win friends
click click saddle up see you on the moon then
and all our old friends
pick up their phones then
ring ring call them up
tell them about the new trends
so this is it then?
you're here to win friends
click click saddle up see you on the moon then
and all our old friends
pick up their phones then
ring ring call them up