You don't know Jack..

Let's see what's down this rabbit hole?
From Wikipedia :
'A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank.[1] When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often "Pop Goes the Weasel". At the end of the tune there is a "surprise":[2] the lid pops open and a figure, usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box. Some jack-in-the-boxes open at random times when cranked, making the startle even more effective. Many which use "Pop Goes the Weasel" open at the point in the melody where the word "pop" would be if it were sung.' Oh. the gateway toy to adrenaline highs! How clever...

(Jack in the Toy Hall of Fame)
OK OK we all know what a jack in the box is...but here we also find the Devil in the details. Personally, I don't believe in the Devil, at least not in any conventional sense. However, if you think outside the box, some pretty strange coincidences "pop"up.
Let me try to crank this one out...

Definition from free dictionary:
crank 1 (krăngk)
n.

1. A device for transmitting rotary motion, consisting of a handle or arm attached at right angles to a shaft.
2. A clever turn of speech; a verbal conceit: quips and cranks.
3. A peculiar or eccentric idea or action.
4. Informal
   a. A grouchy person.
   b. An eccentric person, especially one who is unduly zealous.
5. Slang Methamphetamine.
   v. cranked, crank·ing, cranks
   v.tr.

a. To start or operate (an engine, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.
b. To move or operate (a window, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.

1. To make into the shape of a crank; bend.
2. To provide with a handle that is used in turning.
   v.intr.
3. To turn a handle.
4. To wind in a zigzagging course.
   adj.
   Of, being, or produced by an eccentric person: a crank letter; a crank phone call.
   Phrasal Verbs:
   crank out
   To produce, especially mechanically and rapidly: cranks out memo after memo.
   crank up
5. To cause to start or get started as if by turning a crank: cranked up a massive publicity campaign.
6. To cause to intensify, as in volume or force: cranks up the sound on the stereo.
   [Middle English, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, weaving implement).]

WOW! I could have a field day of double triple meaning play on words with this one, and it's all two too many significant meanings! Not to mention, isn't it a twitter term? Or is that handle? Very similar words with interesting corresponding meanings if you're looking at the puzzle from a certain angle. Speaking of puzzles and boxes, we should throw in this one to savor for later

But let's get out of the box here

I'm not trying to crucify anyone here and I don't own these images they are from the web ( I just figured out how to do this) But this is beginning to look like a crucifix or cross. I think we've reached the crossroads people...

Thanks again wikipedia : 'In folk magic and mythology, crossroads may represent a location "between the worlds" and, as such, a site where supernatural spirits can be contacted and paranormal events can take place. Symbolically, it can mean a locality where two realms touch and therefore represents liminality, a place literally "neither here nor there", "betwixt and between".'
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_(mythology)

And of course I'm sure you know this is the best place to meet people. ' The crossroads -- a place where two roads cross at or about at right angles, otherwise known as "the forks of the road" -- is the subject of religious and folkloric belief all around the world. Because the crossroads is land that belongs to no one, a place outside the borders of town, it is considered a suitable site to perform magical rituals and cast spells. The use of the crossroads as an impromptu altar where offerings are placed and rituals performed is widely encountered in both European and African folklore.' - taken from this very interesting read found here : http://www.luckymojo.com/crossroads.html

My oh my, the odd coincidences won't stop and it seems we're running out of time you old Jack Rabbit

Well Oh wEll. What's this?

'A theory as to the origin of the jack-in-the-box is that it comes from the 14th century English prelate Sir John Schorne,[3] who is often pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. According to folklore, he once cast the devil into a boot to protect the village of North Marston in Buckinghamshire. In French, a jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte" (literally "boxed devil").

Plenty to take note of here about the devil's toy box https://roadtrippers.com/stories/the-devils-toy-box-is-americas-most-terrifying-urban-legend
Stingy Jack and the crucifix ( a box unfolded )https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingy_Jack

Is that an ice cream cone as a horn? The plot thickens...This Jack doesn't look very nice here. Jack is turning out to be a very sneaky and mean man. He's always wearing a mask?! Are there Bad Jack's? Maybe that one eyed thing has something to do with one eyed jacks...hey what about black jacks? And what's with the number 21 and why is it the legal drinking age?

black·jack
ˈblakˌjak/
noun
noun: blackjack; plural noun: blackjacks

NORTH AMERICAN
a gambling card game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value as close as possible to 21 without going over.

NORTH AMERICAN
a short, leather-covered, typically lead-filled club with a flexible handle, used as a weapon.

historical
a pirate's black ensign.

historical
a tarred-leather container used for alcoholic drinks.
blackjackverb
To compel by pressure or threats:
coerce, dragoon, force.
Informal: hijack, strong-arm.

There's too many questions popping up here. I'm going to have to come back and add on to this one. Here's something to wash all that down with for now

Below is from http://mentalfloss.com/article/55035/dark-origins-11-classic-nursery-rhymes

1. HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH (1840)
   “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” is often sung as part of a children’s game. According to historian R. S. Duncan, a former governor of England’s Wakefield Prison, the song originated with that 420-year-old institution’s female prisoners, who were exercised around a mulberry tree. Which is probably not the connotation your six-year-old self had in mind.'

Below is a Copy and pasted from http://www.rhymes.org.uk/a116a-pop-goes-the-weasel.htm
Rhyme & History
The Nursery Rhyme, 'Pop goes the weasel' sounds quite incomprehensible in this day an age! The origins of the rhyme are believed to date back to the 1700's. We have listed two versions of the rhyme on this page. The first rhyme is the better known version - some translation is in order!

Pop and Weasel?
These words are derived from Cockney Rhyming slang which originated in London. Cockneys were a close community and had a suspicion of strangers and a dislike of the Police (they still do!) Cockneys developed a language of their own based roughly on a rhyming slang - it was difficult for strangers to understand as invariably the second noun would always be dropped. Apples and Pears (meaning stairs) would be abbreviated to just 'apples', for instance, "watch your step on the apples". To "Pop" is the slang word for "Pawn". Weasel is derived from "weasel and stoat" meaning coat. It was traditional for even poor people to own a suit, which they wore as their 'Sunday Best'. When times were hard they would pawn their suit, or coat, on a Monday and claim it back before Sunday. Hence the term " Pop goes the Weasel"

In and out the Eagle?
The words to the Rhyme are "Up and down the City road, in and out the Eagle -
That’s the way the money goes - Pop! goes the weasel". The Eagle refers to 'The Eagle Tavern' a pub which is located on the corner of City Road and Shepherdess Walk in Hackney, North London. The Eagle was an old pub which was re-built as a music hall in 1825. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was known to frequent the Music Hall. It was purchased by the Salvation Army in 1883 (they were totally opposed to drinking and Music Halls). The hall was later demolished and was rebuilt as a public house in 1901.'

So Jack seems full of it. Booze and lies. Fear mongering. Surprising children. All kinds of mischief he paints as delightful. What a Jack a$$ ...but I still think there's more to this Jack thing so before I jack it up too much, I'll hit the road ( but I'll come back) and in the meantime when is this weasel going to pop?

Alternative Lyrics (2)*
Every night when I go out
The monkey's on the table
Take a stick and knock it off
Pop goes the weasel

*Alternative Lyrics (2)
Our thanks go to Robert Creed and his family for this verse and interpretation of the lyrics - A 'monkey' is Cockney rhyming slang for £500. Robert also suggests that weasel was a type of iron used by tailors, so the rhyme relates to them pawning the tools of their trade in order to be able to go to the pub.

Alternative Lyrics (3)*
Round and round the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey stopped to pull up his socks
And Pop goes the weasel.

*Alternative Lyrics (3)
Our thanks go to Jesse from Perth, Western Australia for these lyrics, which seem to be in combination with another children's song 'Here we go round the mulberry bush'. Lee speculates that if a monkey is £500, then perhaps the coat and money are being exchanged back and forth until something else comes up.

Thanks also to K. Saul for reminding me that the line "That's the way the money goes' was often replaced with "Mix it up, and make it nice" especially when the first verse of the rhyme was repeated