I have always been of the opinion that I Went To The Animal Fair was very old, possibly going back to England. The words tend to have that Swiftian flavor wherein politics is satired in children's song. The citizens of England were Catholic and then Henry the Eighth challenged the Pope's authority over him with his six successive wives. The "Monk" is the Pope. The Elephant would be the powerful King of England, Henry the Eighth. The Pope is combing his hair and get's drunk with his power and steps on the Elephant's trunk (excommunicates Henry) whereupon the elephant sneezes (talks back to the Pope) falls on his knees (prays on his own) and "that was the end of the Monk, the Monk, the Monk." In other words the break with the power of the Pope is accomplished by the creation of the Church of England with the King as the chief officer. The last words of Henry the Eighth upon his death was: "The monks! The monks! The monks!" Replies to this may be made to mgraffam@canyoncountry.net.