Talk:The Muffin Man

Image
I think we need a picture of The Muffin Man from Shrek 2 for this article in the modern-day references section. CeeWhy2 12:15, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

But I'm the Muffin Man...
Muffin Man 23 13:33, 2 October 2007 (UTC)
 * To the power of 23, apparently. Martinevans123 (talk) 09:46, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
 * Gsystctstcya 24.28.41.87 (talk) 18:07, 20 January 2024 (UTC)

Cherry Lane or Drury Lane?
76.24.21.242 (talk) 03:23, 6 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Drury Lane. It's mentioned several times on the article. 84.13.135.79 (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2012 (UTC)

"In" the Lane, or "on" the Lane?
Wouldn't the second version be more grammatically correct? -- Jokes Free4Me (talk) 17:28, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

In England (and probably more widely), they usually use "in". I think that "on" is mostly an Americanism. —Toby Bartels (talk) 23:24, 21 December 2012 (UTC)

American College Song
I remember when I lived in the States (more than 50 years ago now!), The Muffin Man was a popular staple in piano bars, along with songs like "Goodnight Irene" (always sung last thing at night). I've always assumed it would be in all American college songbooks. David Kemp —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.67.140 (talk) 07:45, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

Alternative meaning of song
Muffin was also a colloquial diminutive for a pitiful creature i.e. Ragamuffin. So the muffin man is likely a beggar or poor man that lived on Drury Lane - a fashionable part of London. Maybe not homeless but certainly penniless. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.181.151.209 (talk) 15:21, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
 * The 'ragamuffin' interpretation sounds plausible to me, noting that at that time, rather than being fashionable, "Drury Lane had become one of the worst slums in London, dominated by prostitution" per the Drury Lane article. Onanoff (talk) 10:03, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

There is also speculation that this song started as a warning about a serial killer. Even though there isn't clear proof that it's the case, it is a rumor that has gotten quite well known JayBirdtyper (talk) 02:40, 6 September 2022 (UTC)

Shrek
Surely the gag in that film merits an "in popular culture" mention here. -- Evertype·✆ 22:07, 11 August 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 10 July 2023
Some versions of the muffin man title the lane the muffin man as Druey lane, as different accents and cultures passed down the rhyme and changed the spelling. Do you know the muffin man who lives on Druey lane. 2605:59C8:43F6:9E10:6DB0:C9A5:92A1:FEA4 (talk) 07:24, 10 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. M.Bitton (talk) 08:35, 10 July 2023 (UTC)