The lyrics of this infamous song were based off of this terrible disease. Ring around the rosie was a reference to the dark wounds that would show up on your body as a symptom of the plaque. A person’s “rosie" is the center of the back of their hand. A pocket full of posies is a reference to people would carrying flowers around in order for to mask the odor the scent of decaying bodies everywhere. Ashes Ashes signifies the ashes from all the bodies being burned on since they weren’t permitted to be buried or else the disease would contaminate the soil and would spread. We all fall down signifies the falling of
