<Dd> A penny for a needle, </Dd> <Dd> That's the way the money goes, </Dd> <Dd> Pop! Goes the weasel </Dd> <P> 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: </P>

All around the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel