What do the lyrics to Sing a Song of Six Pence really mean?

Answer 1

It may be a pirate recruiting song.

Sing a song of sixpence, (Six pence was a good day's wages.)

A pocket full of rye. (A "pocket" is a leather flask and "rye" is whiskey.)

Four and twenty Blackbirds, (A crew of 2 dozen)

Baked in a pie. (Lying in wait.)

When the pie was opened, (When it was too late)

The birds began to sing; (The pirates sprang into action)

Wasn't that a dainty dish, (The spoils of the ship)

To set before the king? (Blackbeard the pirate)

The king was in his counting house, (Blackbeard was paying his crew)

Counting out his money;

The queen was in the parlour, (Queen Anne's Revenge was docked)

Eating bread and honey. (Preparing for a voyage.)

The maid was in the garden, (A target is in the ocean around the Carolinas)

Hanging out the clothes, (Putting up its sails)

When down came a blackbird (Blackbeard's pirates came...)

And pecked off her nose. (...and robbed her)

Others say it may be related to the events of the kingdom of King Henry VIII.