The tune appears to have begun as dance music, to which words were later added. A music sheet acquired by the British Library in 1853 describes a dance, "Pop! Goes the Weasel '', as "An Old English Dance, as performed at Her Majesty 's & The Nobilities Balls, with the Original Music ''. It had a tune very similar to that used today but only the words "Pop! Goes the Weasel ''. The dance became extremely popular, and featured on stage as well as in dance - halls. By September of the same year the title was being used as a scornful riposte and soon words were added to an already well - known tune. The song is mentioned in November, 1855 in a Church of England pamphlet where it is described as a universally popular song played in the streets on barrel organs, but with "senseless lyrics '': the use of alternative, more wholesome words is suggested. The following verse had been written by 1856 when it was quoted in a performance at the Theatre Royal:
origins of nursery rhymes pop goes the weasel
dance music, to which words were later added