Is Ring Around the Rosies about pirates?

No. It is widely believed that Ring Around the Rosies is about the Bubonic Plague. However, as there is no evidence to support this idea, it is probably untrue.

The children during the time of the bubonic plague sung this song because when they started sneezing they fell down and died. They didn't have the same medicines as we do now so they just died when they caught a cold. That is why they say atishoo atishoo we all fall down.

The children made this up because they needed some form of entertainment.