Played upon a razor

Posted by Lloyd on May 02, 2005

What is the origin of the phrase "he played upon a Razor" in the old nursery rhyme "There was a man in another town" or another version of the rhyme is "Aikendrum"? But both have this curious idea of "playing upon a razor"... presumably (but not necessarily) as a musical instrument. The rhyme, at least, dates back to late 1700's.