For years, nursery rhymes have been passed down from generation to generation and recited for babies to enjoy. But, when you look closely at some of the lyrics, you’d be surprised at how disturbing some of their meanings are.
“It’s raining, it’s pouring.”
We always sing “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,” when the weather is down — but, the line that we should remember is:
“He bumped his head and went to bed and couldn’t get up in the morning.”
He couldn’t get up in the morning because, well, he died.
“Hansel And Gretel”
Any story where kids are about to be cooked in an oven is creepy enough for me.
“Three Blind Mice”
In the song, the lyrics state: “They all ran after the farmer’s wife Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.”
A bit morbid for children, no?
“Rock-A-Bye Baby”
“When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. Down will come baby, Cradle and all.”
What child wants to hear about a baby falling from a tree?
“Ring Around The Rosie”
“Ring around the rosy A pocketful of posies “Ashes, Ashes” We all fall down!”
This rhyme may seem like fun, but it’s really about the Black Plague—Ashes, Ashes are the burning of the bodies of those who died from the plague.
“Jack and Jill”
“Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.”
While the story seems like a harmless chore gone wrong, many believe that the story is actually based on King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who were beheaded during the French Revolution.
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”
“How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row.”
While it seems innocent, this rhyme is based on Bloody Mary, who tortured Protestants in the 16th Century.
“There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”
“There was an old lady who swallowed a fly I don’t know why she swallowed a fly — perhaps she’ll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a horse… She’s dead, of course!”
I mean…why?
“Humpty Dumpty”
“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the King’s Horses and all the King’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again.”
While Humpty is portrayed as en egg in poor clothing, Humpty was actually a huge cannon mounted atop a high wall-like church tower during the Civil War.
“London Bridge”
“London Bridge bridge is falling down, down Falling down down, falling down, down London Bridge bridge is falling down, down My fair lady.
Take a key key and lock padlock her up, Lock padlock her up, lock padlock her up, Take a key key and lock padlock her up, My fair lady.”
This rhyme has to do with Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, who was ultimately executed for treason.
“Little Red Riding Hood”
Any story where a wolf eats both a sick grandmother and a young girl — and then needs to be chopped up to save them — is a no, no in my parenting book.
“The Little Match Girl”
The Little Match Girl is a story about a homeless girl who sells matches in the heart of winter. In the end, she lights her final match and dies.
Not the best ending for kids.
“Georgie Porgie”
“Georgie Porgie pudding and pie Kissed the girls and made them cry When the boys came out to play Georgie Porgie ran away.”
George Villiers was a Duke who supposedly dumped Anne of Austria to pursue King James I. While homosexuality wasn’t accepted back then, it was a rhyme set out to make fun of George.
“Pop Goes The Weasel”
“All around the mulberry bush The monkey chased the weasel; The monkey thought ’twas all in good sport Pop! goes the weasel. A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle- That’s the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel.”
This song about poverty in Britian. “Pop Goes The Weasel” meant to pawn a suit. Many people would pawn their suits during the week for money and temporarily borrow it for church on Sundays.
“This Little Piggy”
“”This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none, And this little piggy cried ‘wee wee wee’ all the way home.”
So about that pig that went to market… it didn’t go shopping. Likely it was displayed in a butchers stall. Yikes!
