<P> A boat named "Pop Goes The Weasel" competed in the Durham Regatta in June 1852,, but it was in December of that year that "Pop Goes The Weasel" first came to prominence as a social dance in England . A ball held in Ipswich on 13 December 1852 ended with "a country dance, entitled' Pop Goes the Weasel', one of the most mirth inspiring dances which can well be imagined ." On 24 December 1852, dance lessons for "Pop Goes The Weasel", described as a "highly fashionable Dance, recently introduced at her Majesty's and the Nobility's private soirees", were advertised in Birmingham . By the 28th of that month, a publication including "the new dance recently introduced with such distinguished success at the Court balls" and containing "the original music and a full explanation of the figures by Mons . E. Coulon" was being advertised in The Times . </P> <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". A similar piece of sheet music published in 1853 is available online at the Library of Congress; it also contains no words other than "Pop Goes the Weasel", but gives a detailed description of the dance . 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> <P> A piece of sheet music, copyrighted in Baltimore in 1846, advertises "Pop Goes the Weasel, sung by Mr. Chapman", written by "Raymond", as among the "Ballads" available for sale from the same publisher;; however a copy of that sheet music available online at the Johns Hopkins University indicates that it dates from significantly later (1856). </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Pop Goes the Weasel Tune for Pop Goes the Weasel by Nicolas Gasparini (myuu) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where did pop goes the weasel come from