Who Killed Cock Robin is a nursery rhyme beginning

Who killed Cock Robin?

I, said the Sparrow,

with my bow and arrow,

I killed Cock Robin.

The roles of each bird at the funeral are meticulously assigned:

Who'll be the parson?

I, said the Rook,

with my little book,

I'll be the parson.

The story has been connected with Robin Hood:

"The Death of Cock Robin is frequently taken as a Robin Hood analogue and the ready offers of help following this event, as described in the lyrics, reflect the high esteem that the legendary figure of Robin Hood was, and is, still held." ^*

The story has also been connected to the mysterious murder of William Rufus, king of England, the unpopular son of the Conqueror, found dead in the New Forest with an arrow piercing his lung.

The rhyme is much later, in fact. It has no Middle English version and first appears printed in the earliest known published collection of nursery rhymes, Tommy Thumb's (Pretty) Song Book, 2 vol. (London, 1744), which also included "Little Tom Tucker" and "Sing a Song of Sixpence". The publication date follows the political fall and resignation of Sir Robert Walpole, George II's first minister, in February 1742 raising the possibility the rhyme has a satirical subtext ("Robin" is a pet name for Robert). The minister had been in power since 1721, at first as First Lord of the Treasury, and had time to build a powerful clique of enemies.

"Who killed Cock Robin?" has been often reprinted with illustrations, as suitable reading material for small children. "Who Killed Cock Robin?" was a 1935 animated Walt Disney short subject ^*.

Cock Robin is mentioned in the Frank Sinatra film "Robin and the Seven Hoods", a film which adapted Robin Hood to a 30's gangster setting.

External links

• Text
• A case of curiosities: Who killed Cock Robin?
• Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin, by H. L. Stephens, from Project Gutenberg

Nursery rhymes

Who Killed Cock Robin? (2005) is a Travis Wilkerson film.