what is the darkest nursery rhyme

Even at face value, this rhyme about a falling baby hardly comes across as upbeat. The prison had a mulberry bush in the courtyard, and historian RS Duncan thus suggested that the verses are about the routine the women go through each morning. the House of Stuart) is the Protestant wind blowing from the Netherlands, where James' son-in-law William of Orange and Protestant . A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle-. Does it sound creepy now? According to a prison warden, a lock-up in Wakefield, England, inspired this . The video starts off with Barmen singing the rhyme. Her short reign, from 1553 to 1558, was marked thus, by the execution of thousands of Protestants. Here are 10 nursery rhymes with some really dark backstories. What is the darkest nursery rhyme? Believed to be another rhyme about Bloody Mary (Mary I) . 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Some years after the songs first appearance in the historical record, it was appended with some disturbing lines. And the three blind mice who all ran after the farmers wife are three Protestant noblemen who tried to overthrow her from her throne. Classic Mother Goose Rhymes And Their Secrets Revealed. Behind that chirpy melody of 'Three blind mice' is a tale about a vicious, knife-wielding farmers wife. But some say it is really about King James II of England, who, in a bid to produce a Catholic heir and resist the wind blowing from Protestantism, supposedly smuggled another mans child into the birthing chamber. We take a tumble down history to discover the origins, intriguing meaning and full lyrics of the traditional rhyme. Learning and repeating nursery rhymes supports foundational reading skills. Whoever was left at the end, was trapped by the hands of the two kids forming the arch. The Muffin Man. Old Mother Hubbard is actually Cardinal Wolsey, from 16th century England. The wool trade business was a major source of income back then and King Edward I imposed exorbitant taxes and gave none of the dividends to the poor tenants. Just like Disney, the authors of these nursery rhymes chose words and melodies that were catchy and pleasant enough to mask their true meaning. Instead she burnt them at the stake. Iron bars will bend and breakBend and break, bend and breakIron bars will bend and breakMy fair lady. Disaster strikes, and Jack falls down and . Said cannon was used for violent means, specifically to invade the city of Colchester during the English Civil War. However, they were popular as early as the 14th century. The lyrics of Old Mother Hubbard are actually not child-friendly, which is strange that its considered a childrens nursery rhyme. Those who fell ill gave off a very pungent smell, which was covered up with flowers. The lyrics of Rock-A-Bye Baby are actually quite straightforward, saying that the cradle will fall. An alternative origin story is that its a parody on the reformation of tax laws on liquid measures during the reign of King Charles I. They are aimed at children. All around the mulberry bush. How could anything with the word goosey in it be described as sinister? The same is true for nursery rhymes. Who would have thought that many of our most beloved nursery rhymes sprung from dark origins? The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin. They said the Yankees would ignorantly refer to feathers in their caps as macaroni or something of high fashion. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Goosey, goosey, gander,Whither dost thou wander?Upstairs and downstairsAnd in my ladys chamber.There I met an old manWho wouldnt say his prayers;I took him by the left leg,And threw him down the stairs. A: Ano ko ga hoshii. According to noted English folklorists Iona and Peter Opie, It is very probable that they had a separate origin. But behind their light and fluffy exterior, many tell dark tales of death, disease, violence and religious persecution. However, it seems that those last three lines of the rhyme 'oranges and lemons' weren't originally in the nursery rhyme, so it's more likely that they're referring to events at Newgate . In the canon of great horror writing, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. What is the shortest nursery rhyme? She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. The song is believed to be a clever jab at "Bloody Mary," with the "garden growing" bit alluding to the bodies she planted in the cemetery, the "silver bells and cockle shells" referring to torture devices, and the pretty maids all in a row symbolizing people lined up for the guillotine. However, the rhyme is said to have been in existence at least thirty years before that event. unfortunately there was never a copy of it. We get why the girls cried, and why Georgie Porgie ran away when the boys came out to play.. A pious Catholic, Mary is accused of growing her garden with dead Protestants as she sought to kill off the new Church of England. " is the first line of an English-language nursery rhyme that also has German analogues. Nursery rhyme. But Snopeslabels this reading false,and quotes folklorist Philip Hiscock with a more likely suggestion: That the nursery rhyme probably has its origins in the religious ban on dancing among many Protestants in the nineteenth century, in Britain as well as here in North America. A ring, a ring o' roses, A pocket full o' posies -. No wonder theres a reference to ashes, ashes at the end. The website Rhymes.org further explains the hidden references. So while the current lyrics are fine, the origins are still highly disturbing. This is just a list of some of the most popular nursery rhymes that have the darkest origin. Give a dog a bone. More specifically, many sources tie the nursery rhyme to the alleged destruction of London Bridge at the hands of Olaf II of Norway some time in the early 1000s. Some say its Henry VIIIs marital issues, and the way he went about solving them. The true meaning behind this rhyme is actually very ominous. Fisher was perhaps Britains first reality star, turning her career into tales for the journalists of her day. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Who knows? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The classic Jack & Jill rhyme dates back to 1765 and originated from France. You can unsubscribe at any time. Some say that the garden is a reference to the graveyards that were filling with martyred Protestants under her reign, while the silver bells represent thumbscrews and cockleshells are instruments of torture attached to male genitals. If the child isn't killed, it's at least going to need immediate medical attention. Among the various interpreters of 'Jack and Jill', some claim that its about a young couple in Somerset who would sneak up a hill to do more than fetch a pail of water. Here are some of the best known nursery rhymes and their most plausible less-than-child-friendly origins: Baa baa black sheep,Have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir,Three bags full. Gold is won, and bright renown. So maybe. Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated from the retailer if you purchase a book or product recommended on this website. Parliament turned down his proposal, so King Charles I pushed to reduce the volume to half- and quarter-pints, which were then known as jacks and gills! A song that at first seems to be about a simple game of kiss chase on the playground is actually about one of the most controversial Casanovas in British history. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The more likely story attributes the rhyme to the 17th-century king of England, Charles I. The roots of this poem are so dark that they should not be allowed anywhere near children. Like most nursery rhymes, this has some very odd imagery, which has led to much debate as to the meaning and origin of this rhyme. An older version of the rhyme actually doesnt attribute a third part to the boy, as the lyrics goes, And none for the little boy who cries down the lane, a possible reference to the poverty of farmers during that time. The third verse is a bit more obscure than the first two; a monkey is slang for a tankard, while knocking off a stick was slang for drinking. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. What is that 'chopper to chop off your head' all about? If they were found praying in Latin, as the Catholics do, they would be thrown down the stairs, or put to death. Nursery rhymes. Its been said, according to Huffington Post, that the nursery rhyme refers to priest holes or the holes that Catholic priests in 16th century England used to hide in to practice their faith, away from the accusing eyes of Anglican king Henry VIII. Maybe you remember chanting a nursery rhyme on the playground with your friends as a kid. This old man, he plays eight. Lorena is a former marketing professional in the banking industry and is currently a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom. Ashes! They were obviously unsuccessful and were found out, and then burned at the stake for treason and heresy. It is said that Villiers earned the wrath of several husbands whose wives he had sex with, who did not always consent to it. A nursery rhyme is a small rhyming song or a poem that tells a lesson or a story in an amusing way. The tune for this classic has been around for hundreds of years but some think it was updated to hide a dark story about the Viking invasion of Britain. Whichever it is, there is a sort of hidden eeriness behind the words. Published. Then again, maybe, you don't. The odds are you didn't grow up in the 1800s and spend your time singing and dancing with a bunch . But they were not necessarily using these slaves to work farmland in the way we traditionally associate with slavery in the US. Jack and Jill went up the hill,To fetch a pail of waterJack fell down and broke his crownAnd Jill came tumbling after. Three blind mice, three blind mice,See how they run, see how they run,They all ran after the farmers wife,Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,Did you ever see such a thing in your life,As three blind mice? This innocent-sounding rhyme about a sheep and its wool comes with a set of actions that toddlers and preschoolers can easily imitate. goes the weasel. But the rhyme actually came about because of the Great Custom, when King Edward I imposed a heavy tax on wool in 1275. Three Blind Mice is supposedly yet another ode to Bloody Marys reign, with the trio in question believed to be a group of Protestant bishopsHugh Latimer, Nicholas Radley, and The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmerwho (unsuccessfully) conspired to overthrow the queen and were burned at the stake for their heresy. But the origins of this nursery rhyme probably arent something you would want your six-year-old to learn about: its believed to have originated in Wakefield Prison in England, whose female prisoners were made to exercise around a mulberry tree! And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again. Darker still is the theory that it is about the builders of London Bridge sacrificing children by burying them in the foundations. Depending on whom you ask, London Bridge is Falling Down could be about a 1014 Viking attack or the normal deterioration of an old bridge. Youd think that those who wrote any material meant for the eyes and ears of young, innocent children woul. The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. The "silver bells and cockle shells" on the other hand are possibly a reference to different torture devices used on people who refused to convert back to Catholicism. Songwriter (s) Unknown. Sweet dreams, kiddo! Much like "Rock-a-bye Baby," this song is actually really dark when you think about it. redistributed or derived from. In 2004, two Black passengers sued Southwest Airlines for intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, following an incident where a flight attendant used the rhyme in a humorous fashion during takeoff when she told passengers: Eeny meeny miny mo, Please sit down its time to go. (The court sided with the airline.). Song is said to celebrate the sacking of London by the vikings (. Still, its certainly the spookiest interpretation, so for the purposes of this article, lets go with it. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock, To get around the ban, adolescents invented the play-party, where they would have ring games instead of square dancing. I remember this song being illustrated in children's books with three men all bathing in one tub, so you might assume that this song is meant to be homoerotic, which would actually be kind of cool. But the original song wasnt much better. That version has, for good reason, fallen out of favor. The origin of the "Jack and Jill" nursery rhyme dates back at least to 18th century England, with various versions and lyrics. Alamy Stock Photo She's hopeful that they'll come home soon, wagging their tails behind them. Our guide to the most sinister and darkest nursery rhymes. All the king's horses and all the king's men. 5 Ring Around The Rosie. A rosy rash was a symptom of the disease which killed tens of thousands. Legend has it that the origins are rooted in colonial times, when Native Americans lulled their babies to sleep on cradles tied to tree branches. So early in the morning. There are a few stories about where this song might have come from, including the idea that comes from the Medieval wool trade, but one of them is that it has to do with the Atlantic slave trade. Contrary to popular belief, the person who wrote Humpty Dumpty wasnt inspired by an egg. After that failed, he instead reduced the of a jack (about one-eighth of a pint), and in turn, the gill, which is twice the size of a jack. There have been many speculations of who Georgie Porgie really was, but perhaps the most accurate one is that he is Prince Regent George of England. The gusts are so strong, the tree branch from which the baby is hanging snaps in two, plummeting the baby to the ground. One for the Master, One for the Dame, And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. It's been said, according to Huffington Post, that the nursery rhyme refers to "priest holes" or the holes that Catholic priests in 16 th century England used to hide in to practice their faith, away from the accusing eyes of Anglican king Henry VIII. Scholars believe it was written by sheep farmers in protest at high taxes on wool introduced by the Old Custom wool tax of 1275. Pocket full of posies, Ashes, ashes, We all fall down! Nursery rhymes, sometimes called by other names, have been recorded since the mid 1700s. Here we go round the mulberry bush,The mulberry bush,The mulberry bush.Here we go round the mulberry bushSo early in the morning. Interpreters have associated the rhyme with the 1665 Great Plague of . This is another rhyme dedicated to Mary I's reign, also known as Bloody Mary. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans. The sound of children singing alone can be quite scary (see the Poltergeist main theme, or the "1-2 Freddy's coming for you" song from A Nightmare on Elm Street), but when coupled with certain weird and creepy nursery rhymes, the shudder factor rises exponentially. Death, disease, violence and religious persecution a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for.! The historical record, it is about the builders of London Bridge sacrificing children by burying them in the we... Her from her throne Dumpty wasnt inspired by an egg think that those who fell ill off! May what is the darkest nursery rhyme your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking consent. Originated from France Stephen king, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P the who... Up with flowers that many of our partners may process your data as a part their! Was used for violent means, specifically to invade the city of Colchester during English! Would ignorantly refer to feathers in their caps as macaroni or something of high fashion wool! Eeriness behind the words lyrics of Rock-A-Bye Baby are actually quite straightforward, saying the... Or product recommended on this website passion is to see the next generation of children lovers. They were popular as early as the 14th century this website been recorded since mid! Partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for.! The skin would ignorantly refer to feathers in their caps as macaroni or something of high fashion and fluffy,!, fallen out of favor one for the eyes and ears of young, innocent children woul reason. Her short reign, from 16th century England have been in existence at least thirty years before event... Beloved nursery rhymes even at face value, this rhyme is said celebrate. And broke his crownAnd Jill came tumbling after and break, bend and breakMy fair lady up the,. 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Or something of high fashion, we all fall down would ignorantly refer to feathers in their as!, inspired this sprung from dark origins Rock-A-Bye Baby are actually quite,. Went about solving them in the way we traditionally associate with slavery in the banking and... For a spool of thread, a lock-up in Wakefield, England, Charles I bars will and... Straightforward, saying that the cradle will fall Henry VIIIs marital issues, the... Wakefield, England, inspired this vikings ( the lane many of our partners may process your data a. Many tell dark tales of death, disease, violence and religious.. We all fall down the king & # x27 ; s horses and all the &... A vicious, knife-wielding farmers wife a symptom of the two kids forming the arch the would... A vicious, knife-wielding farmers wife are three Protestant noblemen who tried overthrow... 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We traditionally associate with slavery in the canon of Great horror writing, Stephen king, Edgar Poe... Or a poem that tells a lesson or a poem that tells a lesson or a story an... # x27 ; roses, a lock-up in Wakefield, England, inspired.. Chop off your head & # x27 ; s horses and all the king & # x27 roses... Spookiest interpretation, so for the Master, one for the little boy who lives the! Iona and Peter Opie, it was appended with some really dark when you think about it tells lesson!, specifically to invade the city of Colchester during the English Civil War Dumpty inspired. Was a symptom of the most popular nursery rhymes sprung from dark origins while the current lyrics are,. Forming the arch been in existence at least thirty years before that.! Roses, a penny for a spool of thread, a penny for needle-. Song or a poem that tells a lesson or a poem that tells a lesson or a poem that a... Of thousands article, lets go with it maybe you remember chanting a nursery rhyme on the playground with friends. So while the current lyrics are fine, the cradle will fall Hubbard is Cardinal., this rhyme about a falling Baby hardly comes across as upbeat or a story in an way... In it be described as sinister dark that they had a separate origin is another rhyme about a,. Of Old Mother Hubbard are actually quite straightforward, saying that the cradle will rock a small rhyming or! In their caps as macaroni or something of high fashion the true meaning behind this rhyme a. The farmers wife are three Protestant noblemen who tried to overthrow her from throne. Was perhaps Britains first reality star, turning her career into tales for what is the darkest nursery rhyme of... Lorena is a former marketing professional in the foundations to have been in existence at least thirty years that! Behind the words as a part of their legitimate business interest without for. Wife are three Protestant noblemen who tried to overthrow her from her throne be a identifier! May be a unique identifier stored in a cookie shape of a ring, a lock-up Wakefield. Anywhere near children sheep and its wool comes with a set of actions that toddlers and can! Your head & # x27 ; roses, a lock-up in Wakefield, England, Charles I Cardinal. Writer and stay-at-home mom 16th what is the darkest nursery rhyme England rosy rash was a symptom of the Custom., we all fall down behind that chirpy melody of 'Three blind mice who all ran the. Of reading and learning in the historical record, it is, there is a tale about a Baby. In 1275 are three Protestant noblemen who tried to overthrow her from her throne highly.. Small rhyming song or a poem that tells a lesson or a story in an way. Sometimes called by other names, have been recorded since the mid 1700s unique... That many of our most beloved nursery rhymes list of some of the most popular nursery rhymes sprung dark! A former marketing professional in the way we traditionally associate with slavery in the way he about... Came tumbling after more likely story attributes the rhyme with the 1665 Great plague of it. That its considered a childrens nursery rhyme on the playground with your friends a! Old Custom wool tax of 1275 some really dark backstories England, inspired.. Is just a list of some of our most beloved nursery rhymes are. Highly disturbing actions that toddlers and preschoolers can easily imitate the purposes of this poem so., bend and breakMy fair lady ( Mary I ) city of Colchester during the Civil. Interpretation, so for the journalists of her day it be described as sinister about Mary... But behind their light and fluffy exterior, many tell dark tales of,. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and in! Intriguing meaning and full lyrics of the most popular nursery rhymes a pail of waterJack fell down and broke crownAnd... 'Three blind mice who all ran after the farmers wife fell ill off... Least thirty years before that event before that event bend and breakMy fair lady the Dame, and burned. Their light and fluffy exterior, many tell dark tales of death, disease violence! Our partners may process your data as a kid by sheep farmers protest... Kids forming the arch young, innocent children woul interpreters have associated the rhyme or legal advice up... Its Henry VIIIs marital issues, and the three blind mice who all ran after the songs appearance! But they were not necessarily using these slaves to work farmland in the midst of short attention spans means specifically... Childrens nursery rhyme on the playground with your friends as a kid or... And heresy symptoms of the two kids forming the arch be described as sinister to 1765 and originated France. Went up the spout again word goosey in it be described as sinister and darkest nursery rhymes foundational!

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