Cottleston Pie
Challenge: PUBLIC DOMAINLiner Notes
When I saw this week's challenge, I immediately knew what I had to do.
Several years ago now, I decided I wanted a Winnie-the-Pooh tattoo. I found this E.H. Shepard illustration online, of Pooh singing, and I immediately knew it was exactly what I was looking for:
I got the tattoo:
And then I got home, and as @fecknom was admiring my new art, they asked me which story it was from. They were then mildly horrified to find that I hadn't actually looked that up before getting the tattoo done.
It turns out, the image comes from Winnie-the-Pooh, chapter 6, "In Which Eeyore Has a Birthday and Gets Two Presents." Pooh has gone to visit Eeyore, who hints at it being a special day, which makes Pooh feel like he's being asked a riddle, and he proceeds to sing "Cottleston Pie" as he ponders this. (The rhyme itself is a regular bit of echolalia around our house now.)
Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain in 2022. So here's my silly little rendition of "Cottleston Pie" on the tenor uke.
Lyrics
(Lyrics fully courtesy of A.A. Milne)
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly Ask me a riddle, and I reply "Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie"
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie A fish can't whistle, and neither can I Ask me a riddle, and I reply "Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie"
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie Why does a chicken, I don't know why Ask me a riddle, and I reply "Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie"
Comments
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/988.png){kind=avatar}
This is SO SWEET! I was brought up on Winnie the Pooh. This real one, not the Disney imposter. Love that you've done this, and done it so well. 😍
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/88971da1-444b-4ea7-800d-602500057b38.png){kind=avatar}
I love the tattoo! The song feels pulled right out of a Winnie the Pooh movie :)
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/901cb017-04b7-41d3-a29d-2f53dea6f401.png){kind=avatar}
Wow. An American accent completely changes the rhythm of the poem! That is so interesting. In an English accent it would never be able to swing like that...
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/5c1b0a0b-2e14-46a4-8e32-a06542d5a148.png){kind=avatar}
oh my gosh fantastic story, amazing tattoo, utterly delightful rendition, I love everything about this!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/d5bf0a12-24f0-4fb3-9b68-270257eaccb2.png){kind=avatar}
Awww! I love the tattoo and definitely remember this song from reading Pooh stories to my son - he used to insist I sing the song so I had to make it up on the fly. Your version is much better. Authentic! I bet this is how it really sounded 😀
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/25bfe1a8-5363-45a0-be7b-2c5ad81f178e.png){kind=avatar}
That’s an awesome tattoo and inspiration. Very soothing, almost like a lullaby
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/5ee6487f-edf6-47b1-a0a5-c68600288891.png){kind=avatar}
Lovely inspiration, great tat and a cool song!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/0b0aaa6a-9cd1-4f09-a105-f9dc73ab48b8.png){kind=avatar}
Yes! I remember/love that song (and I love your tattoo) and this is a perfect way to represent it musically! (and it definitely needed a ukulele!). this is fantastic.
![[FAWM]](/static/img/ukulelecorn.svg)
A classic poem well set. I enjoyed this!