“Hi, people!” Blaize called out, “meet Dennis and Darcy, brothers who are really good singers and they play several instruments. With them, we have an equal male female balance, and no matter how noisy the party is, we will still be heard!” He laughed and moved on in, followed by the two newcomers. Soon they were all set and rehearsal began.
“Let’s try It’s Hallowe’en,” Vanessa said. They played a short introduction and then they all sang. (me singing a bit) with Vanessa singing solo on the sister Jane part. When they finished they all broke up laughing, and complimenting each other on how well it had gone.
“Now” Barry said, “if we can get the rest down as well as that one, we will wow them at the party. We may even earn a bonus!” They all agreed, and the rehearsal went on.
Three hours passed and they stopped for the night. “I am really happy with our progress,” Valarie said. “With two weeks still to go, we should have all of the pieces as nearly perfect as man or woman can get.”
Can we run through Ring Around a Rosy one more. Please? I’d like to sing it just once more. I’m not completely satisfied, and maybe once more will do it.” Velma said
The others willingly settled down and they went through it again. (me singing)
“Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posie,
“Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down.”
“Velma, there is no way you can improve on that!” Dennis exclaimed. “I have never heard it done creepier. But what in the heck is it about?”
In the 13th century, the Black Death (also called the Black Plague) killed so many people, many thought it was the end of the world. The nursery rhyme "Ring around the Rosie" came about during the time of the Black Death.
Here are what the lyrics mean:
Ring around the rosie is a reference to the black sores that would appear on your body as part of the plague. Your "rosie" is around the center of the back of your hand.
A pocket full of posies is a reference to people would carrying posies (flowers) around to not smell the sickening scent of dead bodies everywhere.
Ashes Ashes signifies the ashes from all the bodies being burned on pyres. Bodies couldn't be buried or else the infection would spread.
We all fall down signifies death or people falling down to hell because of their harsh and cruel ways.
“The second comes from Snopes – ‘The earliest print version was in Kate Greeaway’s “Mother Goose or The Old Nursery Rhymes” of 1881. Since folklorists had been collecting and putting into print bits and pieces of oral tradition such as Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales for hundreds of years, some version of Ring around the Rosie should have been in print before 1881. But in a span of five hundred years, no one had done so. If it had been from the 1347 plague it would be older than Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and there we would have examples in Middle English and Modern English forms.’
“But the Plague explanation is much more in keeping with Hallowe’en, so I vote for it!” Benji laughed, holding his hand up.
There was agreement all around as they gathered instruments, jackets and such, and headed out into the chilly night. Vanessa turned off the lights and locked the door. “That was a great rehearsal!” she said to Valarie, who agreed. “The addition of the seven guys really makes us sound great.” They turned to follow the others to the sidewalk, and wave them goodnight.
“Maybe we can stay together as a band after the gig. It does sound good, and it’s more fun having guys around.” Valarie giggled. “Lots more fun”
No comments:
Post a Comment