RING A RING A ROSIES A POCKET FULL OF POSIES ATISHOO WE ALL FALL DOWN PICKING UP THE DAISIES ATISHOO WE ALL JUMP UP
HISTORY The rhyme dates from the time of the Great Plague of London (1665/6) and is about what happens to people who catch it. They get a ring of spots or inflammation (the ring of rosies), try to stop catching or passing it on by carrying a "pocket full of posies", start to sneeze ("A'Tishoo A'Tishoo") and then "fall down" dead.
RING
ROSE
ATISHOO (SNEEZE)
FALL DOWN
PICKING DAISIES
JUMP UP