The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker

Subject: what about the butcher and the baker?
From: Rollo
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 06:56 PM

Now and then I find references to "the butcher, the baker and the candlemaker" in english literature, when speaking of the plain burgher. Is there a song, a story or a piece of literature behind it? Or is it just a common proverb? Where does this saying derive from?

Subject: RE: what about the butcher and the baker?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:13 PM

It's a nursery rhyme, let me see if I can find it.

Subject: RE: what about the butcher and the baker?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:21 PM

Here's part of it, there may be more:
Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
Turn them out, knaves, all three.

Subject: RE: what about the butcher and the baker?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:24 PM

More info on background:

"Olde England was without the benefit of its present-day tabloids, so it relied on rhymes for spreading gossip. In the best tradition of yellow journalism, the earliest version of this bathing ballad describes three maids in a tub, performing in the sideshow at a local fair. Our three tradesmen in the audience lose control and jump onstage to bathe with the beauties. They get washed up in the resulting dirty scandal. The rhyme itself was later cleaned up for today's storytime."