Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs As if we need experts to tell us nursery rhymes are downright creepy, folklorists Iona and Peter Opie confirm it in their Oxford English Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. They call the tunes, most of which made their way into print by the eighteenth century, "fragments of ballads or of folk songs, remnants of ancient custom and ritual and may hold the last echoes of long-forgotten evil." The rhymes were never actually meant for children; many were political statements, couched in enough nonsense to protect the singer from being prosecuted for treason, and set to a fun melody that was easy to remember and pass along. If children overheard, there was no real concern. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries kids were not treated like kids, but more like "adults in miniature," according to the Opies.

But as the rhymes were published for children in popular tomes like Mother Goose and Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book, some adults began to fear that happy songs about murder and fatal illnesses might have a negative effect on the playground crowd. As early as the nineteenth century, authors like Samuel Taylor and Sarah Trimmer tried to alter nursery rhymes to make them more suitable to young ears, worried the macabre nature of some songs might inspire sadistic tendencies and create a race of children akin to The Omen. But these authors didn't anticipate the internet, or public libraries for that matter. These are some of the lyrics from nursery rhymes and other children's songs you may have forgotten, you may have never heard, or may have haunted you for years... "Ring 'o Roses"/"Ring Around the Rosie" Ring-a-ring-a-roses, A pocket full of posies Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down. Familiarly known as "Ring Around the Rosie" this nursery rhyme conjures images of laughing children dancing in a circle among scattered flower petals, not people collapsing into death after suffering a plague. But there it is.

People (like us) who can't leave well enough alone have long been linking the lyrics to this otherwise sweet rhyme to symptoms of England's Great Plague or the earlier Black Death. In 1665, the bubonic plague struck London hard, killing 20 percent of the population within a year. "Ring o' Roses" is said to indicate a rosy rash that spread across the victims' bodies, while "a pocket full of posies" was used to ward off the smell of disease. Obviously, the "ashes, ashes" that come falling down are the remnants of cremated dead bodies. Other versions replace "ashes, ashes" with sneezing ("A-tishoo! A-tishoo!), another symptom of the plague. While it sounds like a horrifying prospect, many folklorists dismiss the idea. After all, the song was published in Kate Greenaway's 1881 edition of Mother Goose over two hundred years after the plague's reign of terror (and even longer since the Black Death of the 1300s). Also, the so-called rosy rash was only present in extreme cases of the illness. Even Snopes calls the idea preposterous .

But you can't unthink it now, can you? "Rock-a-bye Baby" Nothing says sweet dreams like the image of a baby tumbling out of a treetop to his death among the shattered remnants of his cradle, yet the soothing lullaby has become so ingrained in our consciousness we rarely question the shocking nature of the lyrics to "Rock-a-bye Baby," originally titled "Hush-a-bye Baby." Hush-a-bye baby And down will fall baby Cradle and all. But are things really as they seem? Unfortunately, all of the theories are just that — theories. One claims that pilgrims were inspired by the Native American practice of letting their babies be gently rocked to sleep while their cradles rested on tree branches. Another points to an English family who lived in a gigantic yew tree. Then, there was also the political turmoil that surrounded the overthrow of King James II in 1688.

But an even stranger answer lies in an ominous warning alongside the first publication of the nursery rhyme in Mother Goose's Melody (1765): "This may serve as a Warning to the Proud and Ambitious, who climb so high that they may generally fall at last." That poor baby's a goner. "Who Killed Cock Robin?" "Who Killed Cock Robin?" details the murder of the title character and the preparation of his funeral by his friends in the animal kingdom. The original version was printed in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (1744) and only contained the first four verses: Who killed Cock Robin? with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin. Thirty years later, an extended version was published to satisfy the warped little minds of children who craved the grisly details of poor Cock Robin's demise—and they were grisly: Who saw him die? with my little dish, I caught his blood. The victim was well-mourned by his friends who carefully prepared his burial; the beetle made a shroud, the owl dug a grave, the thrush sang a psalm and so on.

As for the murderous Sparrow, despite his confession, he was free to kill again until a later addition condemned him to death by hanging. While the cruel Cock Sparrow The cause of their grief Was hung on a gibbet Next day, like a thief Still another century later, H.L. Stephens had to up the ante from disturbing to terrifying. In his Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin (1865), he illustrates the tale with a cast of characters dressed in Victorian fashions. The creepy part is they have animal heads and human bodies. The result is like some twisted collaboration between Stephen King and Charles Dickens. Our murderer has the face of a sparrow and the upper body of Rocky II era Stallone. A dapper fly with massive wings accompanies a portly spider whose legs stretch up to his web dotted with the corpses of insects. The murder victim is the only one who actually looks like an animal—Cock Robin is the last image shown...on his back with a gaping beak and an arrow through his heart.

"It's Raining, It's Pouring" Long before they could channel their boredom into violent video games, children of the mid-twentieth century used to amuse themselves on rainy days by imagining the deaths of the elderly and putting their fantasy to a jaunty tune. It's raining, it's pouring, And bumped his head And couldn't get up in the morning. He couldn't get up because he was dead, not extra tired from bumping his head in the night. Dead. "Oranges and Lemons" The eighteenth century nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons" starts out pleasantly enough as church bells are ringing around London. Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clement's. You owe me five farthings, Say the bells of St. Martin's. But like many of these other rhymes prove, you're lulled into a false sense of security until things take a nasty turn at the end. Here comes a candle to light you to bed, Here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Chip chop chip chop The last man's dead!

Folklorists Peter and Iona Opie pointed out that in the days of public executions, the condemned were led along the street to the accompaniment of the tolling of bells. Far from traumatized, children gleefully reveled in the last verses and even made a game of it. They threatened to capture whoever ran beneath their arched arms as they shouted "chip chop chip chop!" What followed wasn't an execution, but a game of tug of war between the "oranges" and "lemons." ("London Bridge is Falling Down" has a similar game sans the tug of war ending.) "Goosey Goosey Gander" If nursery rhymes sought to teach any morals, respecting elders wasn't one of them. Just like the poor old man who fatally bumped his head on a rainy day, the one who refuses to say his prayers has a similar fate in "Goosey Goosey Gander." Goosey goosey gander, And in my lady's chamber. There I met an old man Who wouldn't say his prayers, So I took him by his left leg And threw him down the stairs.

Some earlier versions of the rhyme actually command the listener to "take him by the left leg and throw him down the stairs" rather than simply recount the story. Thankfully, the earliest recording from 1784 makes no mention of the cruel punishment but instead offers a gift of a "cup of sack and a race of ginger." "There was an Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe" Apparently none of these naughty children who go around murdering the elderly live with the "Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe" (first published in Infant Institutes, 1797). At first glance, this rhyme seems to depict a poverty-stricken woman trying to provide food and discipline for her children. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children, she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread; Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed. A politically-correct version might have her doling out time-outs instead of whippings, but we get the point.

According to another version from James Orchard Halliwell's Nursery Rhymes of England, things take a creepy turn after the lights go out: When she came back She went to the wright To get them a coffin When she came back She gaed up the stair To ring the bell And down she fell "Three Blind Mice" "Three Blind Mice" is one of the primary examples of a nursery rhyme that wasn't intended for the nursery at all. It made its debut in Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia or The Seconde part of Musicks Melodie in 1609 in a different form: Three blind mice, three blind mice Dame Iulian, Dame Iulian The Miller and his Merry Olde Wife Shee scrapte her tripe lick thou the knife James Orchard Halliwell introduced the tune to children in 1842 with Nursery Rhymes of England, and made it more kid-friendly. Or not. Instead of a miller's wife, we have a farmer's wife—who should be used to seeing mice, living on a farm and all—wielding a carving knife. Not only have the poor mice lost their sight, but they're about to lose their tails, too.

Nursery rhymes have long been prejudiced against mice, though. An even more disturbing scenario was described in "Three Mice Went into a Hole to Spin." Little rodent tailors have to contend with a cat trying to smooth talk her way into their home. It used to end with the mice singing a wise refusal "oh no, Miss Pussy, you'd bite off our heads!", but a chilling alternate ending was included in Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes (1924): Says Puss: "You look so wondrous wise, I like your whiskers and bright black eyes; your house is the nicest house I see I think there is room for you and me." The mice were so pleased and they opened the door And pussy soon laid them all dead on the floor.

"Sing a Song of Sixpence" In what appears to be a centuries-old prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, a royal maid gets her nose pecked off by a blackbird after his brothers are baked into a pie for the king in "Sing a Song of Sixpence." Even though they emerge from the pastry unscathed—and tweet a happy tune, in fact—their protector is still determined to take his wrath out on someone from the royal household. The maid was in the garden, Hanging out the clothes; When down came a blackbird And pecked off her nose. It seems unfair that the maid and not the baker is his target, but she's given some relief in later versions as a skilled doctor sews her nose back on. In the earliest known version of the rhyme, however, it's not birds that are baked into the pies, but "four and twenty naughty boys" ala Hansel and Gretel. So while the image of a woman getting her nose ripped off by a vicious blackbird may inspire a lifetime of Ornithophobia, it's a less terrifying fate than ending up in the king's stomach (or outhouse).

"Alouette" Speaking of birds, little kids unfamiliar with the French language may sing along with the lyrics to this tune in ignorant bliss until they realize it's about slowly tearing the feathers off of their chirping friends. The "Three Blind Mice" have nothing on the torture this poor bird endured. Little skylark, lovely little skylark Little lark, I'll pluck your feathers off The lengthy process is as followed (with enthusiastic repetitions in between): I'll pluck the feathers off your head. I'll pluck the feathers off your head. I'll pluck the feathers off your beak. I'll pluck the feathers off your beak. I'll pluck the feathers off your eyes. I'll pluck the feathers off your eyes. I'll pluck the feathers off your neck. I'll pluck the feathers off your neck. I'll pluck the feathers off your wings. I'll pluck the feathers off your wings. I'll pluck the feathers off your feet. I'll pluck the feathers off your feet. I'll pluck the feathers off your tail. I'll pluck the feathers off your tail. I'll pluck the feathers off your back.

I'll pluck the feathers off your back. Off your back! Be really afraid of the kids who do understand French and keep on singing. "Eeper Weeper" Mother Goose again proves that yesterday's crime can become today's nursery rhyme. While modern children's songs teach kids how to count and learn their ABCs, children of bygone eras had different needs...like how to efficiently hide a dead body. "Eeper Weeper" offers the bonus of using your existing career skills to do it. Eeper Weeper, chimney sweeper, Had a wife but couldn't keep her. Had another, didn't love her, Up the chimney he did shove her. An earlier version from Scotland includes the delightful detail of mice feasting on the woman's corpse. "Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater" found a similar solution when he stashed his cheating wife's body in a pumpkin shell "and there he kept her very well." "Oh My Darling, Clementine" In "Oh My Darling, Clementine," the narrator recalls his lost love—a big-footed miner's daughter who gets a splinter in her toe and stumbles into a river. Because he couldn't swim, he stood nearby and watched her drown.

The song is meant to be light-hearted, but it still paints a vivid picture of Clementine's demise: Ruby lips above the water, Blowing bubbles, soft and fine, But, alas, I was no swimmer, So I lost my Clementine. Percy Montrose is credited with the earliest version of the classic folk ballad, which debuted in 1884, but the song was actually inspired by H.S. Thompson's earlier song "Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden." The 1863 ode to Clementine describes her womanly features like "her lips were like two luscious beefsteaks, dipp'd in tomato sauce and brine." In this version, her lover plies her with wine before she takes her fatal dip into the water. In the 1960s, Bobby Darin added insult to injury when he ended his cover with a fat joke: Hey you sailor Way out in your whaler A-with your harpoon and your trusty line If she shows now, yell... A-there she blows now! It just may be chunky Clementine "London Bridge is Falling Down" London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down.

London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady. "London Bridge is Falling Down" references the famous stone bridge that was commissioned by Henry II in the late-1100s. It's a simple song that lists different materials to try to keep the bridge from collapsing (earlier versions claim London Bridge is broken down, rather than falling down). Folklorists have tried in vain to link the famous "my fair lady" to historic women like Anne Boleyn, Matilda of Scotland and Eleanor of Provence. But for horror purposes, we're not concerned with the lady of the song; we're concerned with the man. The watchman to be exact. Set a man to watch all night, Watch all night, watch all night, Set a man to watch all night, My fair lady. The watchman seems to be appointed to make sure thieves don't make away with the precious building materials like silver and gold, but there's also a more sinister explanation for his role, according to the Opies.

Legend has it, living people were built into the foundations of walls and gates "to serve as guardian spirits." In the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, they cite tales of other famous bridges, like Aryte in Greece, which is said to have kept from falling down after the wife of the master-mason was walled in and the bridge of Rosporden in Brittany that was failing until a four-year-old boy was sacrificed. Indeed, children's bodies have been found embedded into the foundations of bridges like the Bridge Gate at Bremen. As far as we know, however, no humans were harmed in the making of London Bridge. ~Amanda Flinner, February 28, 2013 About the Author: Amanda FlinnerAmanda is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a degree in English/Writing from Geneva College (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania). When she's not listening to jazz and pop standards from the '40s and '50s, she's obsessing over classic movies. She has no musical ability whatsoever except for a short stint as a saxophone player in the sixth grade.

More from Amanda Flinner send your comment Potter's Museum of Curiosity | History Today Potter's Museum of Curiosity Britain Science & Technology , Cultural Richard Cavendish muses on the 'stuffed' of history in the animal kingdom in Bodmin Moor. Is there a weirder museum in Britain, with its stuffed kit- tens and grotesque freaks of nature? The collection was originally assembled by Walter Potter, a taxidermist born at Bramber in Sussex in 1835. His father owned the local pub and the young Walter left school early and started work at the inn. He spent his spare time on his hobby, busily stuffing animals and birds in a loft above the stables and as his number of specimens grew his imagination was fired by an illustrated version of 'Who Killed Cock Robin?' in his sister's nursery rhyme book. He decided to create a tremendous tableau of 'The Death and Burial of Cock Robin', showing the funeral procession to the churchyard with the parts all played by his stuffed animals.

The owl who dug the grave is there, the rook is the parson, the sparrow has his bow and arrow, the chief mourners are a dove and a senior redbreast, and all the birds of the air are a-sighing and a-sobbing in the trees, some of them with tears (glass beads) about to fall from their eyes. There are ninety-eight species of British birds in the tableau in its solid mahogany case in the museum. It took seven years to complete and was first displayed to an astonished world in the pub in 1861. It created such an impression that Potter was able to turn professional and earn a living for the rest of his life, preserving much-loved deceased pets and other specimens for posterity. Want the full article and website archive access? Already a member? Log in now The Believer - Walter Potter's THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF COCK ROBIN The Believer San Francisco, CA 94110 U.S.A. February 2012 The Death and Burial of Cock Robin by Walter Potter Central Question: Is taxidermy art?

Taxidermist's lifespan: 1835–1918; Animals humanized in taxidermist's oeuvre: kittens, rats, rabbits, birds; Auctioned value of taxidermist's life’s work, in 2003: £500,000; Number of years taxidermist spent on The Death and Burial of Cock Robin: seven; Recommended if you like: Bidibidobidiboo by Maurizio Cattelan, Body Worlds exhibition, America's Funniest Home Videos (the animal clips) c. 1989–1997 By the time of his death, in 1918, Walter Potter had stuffed more than ten thousand specimens for his museum, but his greatest taxidermy tableau remains his first, The Death and Burial of Cock Robin. The work, begun when Potter was only nineteen, reenacts the funeral from the nursery rhyme of the same name, which poses a series of questions such as "Who killed Cock Robin?" ("'I,' said the sparrow, 'with my little bow and arrow'") and "Who'll dig his grave?" ("'I,' said the owl, 'with my spade and shovel'").

Nursery rhymes often contain morbid imagery: sightless mice being chased with a butcher knife ("Three Blind Mice") and birds being methodically dismembered ("Alouette"), to name two that involve animal cruelty. Just as these verses take their unsettling power from their ability to soothe the macabre (horrific death!) into the quotidian (memorable ditty!), Potter's work gains depth by casting dead animals as civilized humans: a frog shaves another frog, two guinea pigs play cricket, seventeen ginger tabby and white kittens partake in colorful pastries at a tea party. So it is in The Death and Burial of Cock Robin: Avian mourners perch on a leafless tree while others line up in pairs behind the coffin, heads lowered; several shed glass tears. We hope you enjoy this excerpt. To read the full piece, please purchase a copy of the magazine from The McSweeney’s Store . —Jeannie Vanasco Jeannie Vanasco wrote about erasure literature for last month's issue. A batch of her prose poems, one of which concerns a diabolical birdhouse and taxidermy, appear in the current issue of Coffin Factory.

February 2012 Nursery Rhymes - Brain Water Brain Water Ring a ring o' rosies Ring a ring o' rosies A pocketful of posies We all fall down! Origins in English History The lyrics to this nursery rhyme has its origins as a children's ring game. The period in history dates back to the great plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague). The symptoms of the plague included a raised red rash on the skin (Ring a ring o' rosies) and violent sneezing (Atishoo, Atishoo) A pouch of sweet smelling herbs or posies were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The death rate was over 60% and the plage was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease which had been transmitting it to water sources. Hush a bye baby Hush a bye baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. Nursery Rhyme or lullaby?

The lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme were first published in 1765. The words and lyrics to this song are often crooned to a baby in an effort to rock them to sleep. When repeating this song children often make a rocking motion with their hands and arms. The imagery conveyed appeals to a child's imagination! The origins and history of this nursery rhyme are said to originate from America and the habit of some Native Americans of placing a baby in the low branches of a tree allowing the young child or baby to be rocked to sleep. Little Jack Horner He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum And said "What a good boy am I!" 16th Century history origins of the nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner was in fact reputed to be the Steward to the Bishop of Glastonbury. He was sent to King Henry VIII with a Christmas gift of twelve title deeds to manorial estates. Whilst on his way to the King Jack stole the deed to the manor of Mells (this being the real 'plum' of the twelve manors) which was in France. The remaining eleven manors were given to the crown but the manor of Mells became the property of the Horner family!

The first publication date for the lyrics to this nursery rhyme is 1725. Seesaw Marjorie Daw Johnny shall have a new master He shall earn but a penny a day Because he can't work any faster Origins and history in a game for children A see-saw is one of the oldest 'toys' for children , easily constructed from logs of various sizes. The words of the nursery rhyme reflect children playing on a see-saw and often singing this rhyme to accompany their game. There was no such person that we can identify who had the name Margery Daw and we therefore make the assumption that this was purely used to rhyme with the words 'see-saw'. The last three lines appear to reflect the use of child labour in work houses where those with no where else to live would be forced to work for a pittance (a penny a day) on piece work (because he can't work any faster) Christmas is coming Origin lost in the depths of time? Unable to trace a commonly agreed upon origin for this particular nursery rhyme however could be connected to Black Jack, a pirate who was notorious for escaping from the authorities in the late 16th century.

The words and lyrics of this nursery rhyme cannot be further analysed due to the brevity of the text of the lyrics but could be associated with the old tradition and sport of 'candle leaping' which used to be practised at English fayres. Little Robin Red Breast Little Robin Red breast sat upon a tree, Up went pussy cat and down went he; Down came pussy, and away Robin ran; Says little Robin Red breast, "Catch me if you can". Little Robin Red breast jumped upon a wall, Pussy cat jumped after him and almost got a fall; Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did pussy say? Pussy cat said, "Meeow!" and Robin jumped away. A traditional English nursery rhyme The nursery rhyme lyrics are merely teaching children about natural enemies of animals and makes good use of the English language by using similes (red breast). It has no basis in history for its origins. It does, however, introduce a child to onomatopoeia ( a word that sounds like its meaning) In this nursery rhyme the word 'meeow' when pronounced conveys the actual sound of the word! The robin is a small brown bird with a bright red breast - hence the continuous reference to red breast.

The robin is always associated with the Christmas season and featured on many Christmas cards showing a snow scene. Incy Wincy spider Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain Now Incy Wincy spider went up the spout again! Finger nursery rhyme for children A child will love trying to mimic the actions of this particular nursery rhyme. It assists them with improving manual dexterity whilst remembering the words of the song. The name of the spider seems to vary but 'Incy Wincy spider' is believed to be the correct and original version. The original history and origins of the Incy Wincy spider nursery rhyme cannot be traced, it is believed just to be a fun action rhyme that has survived the test of time. Horsey horsey Gone to fetch a rabbit skin To wrap the Baby Bunting in Cry Baby Bunting The origins - lullaby lyrics for this nursery rhyme for a baby The lyrics, origins and history to this nursery rhyme are not important - it was the sound of the music to accompany it! The song would be crooned to a young child as a lullaby. Perhaps to explain the disappearance of Daddy to a fretting child!

Star light star bright The first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight. Nursery rhyme with American history and origins The lyrics to this nursery rhyme are believed to be of late 19th century American origins and the lyrics allude to the fantasy that you can wish upon a star. This nursery rhyme has no doubt been used on many occasions to quieten a child ready for bedtime as they patiently look out of the window waiting for it to get dark enough to see the very first star! The Owl and the Pussycat The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are, What a beautiful Pussy you are." Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl, How charmingly sweet you sing.

O let us be married, too long we have tarried; But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows, And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will" So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon. And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand. They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon, They danced by the light of the moon. What is a Runcible Spoon? A traditional childrens poem , or folksong, as the lyrics have been set to music on several occasions. The author was Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) and the first publication date was 1806.

Some wonderful illustrated graphics have also been set to the words and lyrics of this poem helping to fire the imagination of a child! The burning question remains, however, what exactly is a runcible spoon? The most agreed upon definition of this term is that a runcible spoon is a kind of fork with three broad prongs or tines, one having a sharp edge, curved like a spoon, used with pickles, etc. Little Boy Blue Little Boy Blue come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow the cow's in the corn. But where is the boy who looks after the sheep? He's under a haystack fast asleep. Will you wake him? No, not I - for if I do, he's sure to cry Origins of the story Unlike other Nursery Rhymes the words and lyrics cannot be closely connected to any historical figure in European history. There is, however, a doubtful theory that 'Little Boy Blue' could refer to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey dating back to English Tudor history (although the origins and lyrics cannot be connected to any events in his life). Neither does the rhyme have a moral objective or used to demonstrates any specific use of the English language.

The most common belief is that the origins of this nursery are not based on actual events or people in history but is merely a reflection of peaceful country life which would appeal to the imagination of a young child Hey Diddle Diddle Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun And the dish ran away with the spoon! Fantasy Nursery Rhyme! Origins and history The first known date of publication for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is 1765. Completely nonsensical rhyme whose sole aim is to fire the imagination of a child with impossible actions which are, however, very easy and amusing for a child to envision! Walt Disney uses this type of imagery in animated films to great effect! The term 'Hey diddle diddle' was a colloquialism used in much the same vein as "hey nonny no" which can be found in traditional British folk songs. The original title was known as 'High Diddle Diddle' but has been changed to 'Hey Diddle Diddle' during the course of time.

There was a crooked man There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse. And they all lived together in a little crooked house The origins and lyrics of the Nursery rhyme in British history The content and lyrics of this nursery rhyme have a basis in history. The origins of this nursery rhyme originating from the English Stuart history of King Charles 1. The crooked man is reputed to be General Sir Alexander Leslie of Scotland. The General is one of those who signed the Covenant securing religious and political freedom for Scotland. The 'crooked stile' being the border between England and Scotland. 'They all lived together in a little crooked house' refers to the fact that the English and Scots had come to an agreement. The lyrics reflect the times of old England with reference to the animosity between the English and the Scots. The word crooked is pronounced as 'crookED' the emphasis being placed upon the 'ED' in the word. This was common in olde England and many references can be found in this type of pronunciation in the works of William Shakespeare.

The Lion and the Unicorn The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown The lion beat the unicorn all around the town. Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town. Origins in British history The lion and the unicorn lyrics date from 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became James I of England unifying the Scottish and English crowns . The virgin Queen Elizabeth 1 named the son of Mary Queen of Scots, James, as her heir. The new union of the two countries required a new royal coat of arms combining those of England which featured two lions, and Scotland, whose coat of arms featured two Unicorns. A compromise was made thus the British coat of arms has one Lion and one Unicorn. Goosie Goosie Gander Goosie goosie gander where shall I wander, Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers, I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.

Obscure morality Nursery Rhyme Goosie, goosie gander - an attention grabber to a nursery rhyme which uses alliteration in the lyrics designed to intrigue a child. The 'lady's chamber' is a room that no longer exists today but English history refers to a high born lady having her own chamber, which was once referred to as a solar. The origins of the nursery rhyme are said to date back in history to the 16th century and refer to Catholic priests hiding in 'Priest Holes' ( very small secret rooms found in great houses in England) to avoid persecution from zealous Protestants who were completely against the old Catholic religion. If caught the priest and also members of any family found harbouring them would be executed. The moral to the story and in the lyrics is to point out that something unpleasant would occur to anyone found not saying their prayers! What are little boys made What are little boys made of? Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails That's what little boys are made of !" What are little girls made of? "Sugar and spice and all things nice That's what little girls are made of!" The lyrics!

The origins and history of this nursery rhyme date back to the early nineteenth century - the battle of the sexes was raging even then! The lyrics obviously reflect this, but what is the meaning of 'snips and snails'? Many meanings have been suggested but the one that has the most credibility is that the original words were in fact 'snips of snails' snips meaning 'little bits of' No redemption there for describing what little boys are made of' ! 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. The Early Battle of the Sexes? A Nursery Rhyme demonstrating the different attitudes between the sexes! Even at a very early age children in Britain would play a game called 'Kiss Chase' - in fact the girls would actually chase the boys and then kiss them! their were no tears from the girls but the boys fought like mad to get away! The origins and history of the lyrics to this nursery rhyme are English and refer to George (Georgie Porgie), the Duke of Buckingham, from 17th century English history. His dubious moral character was much in question!

This, however, was overlooked due to his friendship with King Charles II until the parliament stopped the Kind intervening on his behalf - at this point all of the jealous husbands vowed to wreak their revenge causing Georgie Porgie to 'run away'! For want of a nail For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. A Nursery Rhyme explaining consequences through its lyrics A clever set of lyrics encouraging a child to apply logic to the consequences of their actions. Perhaps used to gently chastise a child and explain the possible events that might follow a thoughtless act. The references to horses, horseshoe, riders, kingdoms and battles indicate the origins of this nursery rhyme were probably set in English History Hickory, Dickory Dock Hickory dickory dock Participative Nursery Rhyme reflected in the lyrics A nonsense song using alliteration and allowing a small child or even a baby to mimic the sound of a clock chiming one at the appropriate point in the lyrics.

Obviously intended to introduce children to the rudiments and importance of telling the time. The origins and history are unknown but the first publication date for this nursery rhyme is 1744. Pease pudding hot Pease pudding hot, pease pudding cold, Pease pudding in the pot - nine days old. Some like it hot, some like it cold, Some like it in the pot - nine days old. Pease pudding hot - the origins of the lyrics based on a traditional British dish The pease pudding referred to in the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is a dish which is still enjoyed in Britain today. It is a smooth, thick sauce, (referred to as a pudding in the rhyme for the sake of alliteration) which has a dark yellow colour and is made from dried peas. Pease pudding is traditionally served hot with boiled bacon or a form of sausage called a saveloy. Thirty days hath September All the rest have thirty one Except for February which has twenty eight! (And twenty nine each leap year) Nursery Rhyme - Aide Memoire! The words and lyrics to this useful little nursery rhyme are probably used by many adults to prompt them into remembering how many days are in each month!

The origins and history of the lyrics are obscure but use of olde English can date this rhyme back to at least the 16th century. When was the last time that you found yourself muttering the words to this nursery rhyme? The Queen of Hearts The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away. The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he'd steal no more. The Queen of Hearts lyrics The origins of the title the 'Queen of Hearts' can be found in the work of Lewis G. Carroll in his book entitled 'Alice in Wonderland' first published in 1805. In more recent history the term was used by Princess Diana during a famous interview as her preference to the title the Queen of Hearts to that of Queen of England. Princess Diana is now lovingly referred to as the Queen of Hearts The lion and the unicorn The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown The lion beat the unicorn all around the town.

Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town. Origins in British history The lion and the unicorn lyrics date from 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became James I of England unifying the Scottish and English crowns . The virgin Queen Elizabeth 1 named the son of Mary Queen of Scots, James, as her heir. The new union of the two countries required a new royal coat of arms combining those of England which featured two lions, and Scotland, whose coat of arms featured two Unicorns. A compromise was made thus the British coat of arms has one Lion and one Unicorn. Three Blind Mice Three blind mice, three blind mice, See how they run, see how they run, They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife, Did you ever see such a thing in your life, As three blind mice? The origins of the 'tale'! The origins of the lyrics to this nursery rhyme are in English history.

The 'farmer's wife' refers to Queen Mary I, otherwise known as 'Bloody Mary' the reference to 'farmer's wife' alludes to the massive farming estates which she possessed and those of her husband, Philip of Spain. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who were plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in the rhyme - but she did have them burnt at the stake! Baa baa black sheep Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full! One for the master, one for the dame, And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. Educational reasons of the nursery rhyme lyrics The reason to the words and history to this song were to associate wool and wool products with the animal that produces it, not to mention the sound that a sheep would make! The first grasp of language for a child or baby is to imitate the sounds or noises that animals make onomatopoeia (words sound like their meaning e.g. baa baa). The first publication date for the lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme can be dated back to 1744.

Rock a bye baby Rock a bye baby on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock, When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. Origins in American history The words and lyrics to this nursery rhyme are reputed to reflect the observations of a young pilgrim boy in America who had seen Native Indian mothers suspend a birch bark cradle from the branches of a tree enabling the wind to rock the cradle and the child to sleep. The rhyme also hold a warning on the choice of bough! Pat a cake Pat a cake Pat a cake, Pat a cake, baker's man Bake me a cake as fast as you can; Pat it and prick it and mark is with a 'B', And put it in the oven for baby and me. The origins and lyrics The origins and lyrics of this nursery rhyme are unknown, but the tradition of decorating cakes with the name or initial of a child is still adhered to today! Peter Peter pumpkin eater Had a wife and couldn't keep her! He put her in a pumpkin shell, And there he kept her very well! American origins...

The lyrics of this nursery rhyme (unlike so many others) are not based in Europe, but in America. This rhyme is known of by British children but is only in recent years that it has become clear exactly what a pumpkin is! As it is not indigenous to the British shores the vast majority of the British population have never eaten pumpkin! The tradition of dressing up for Halloween (and the subsequent use of the pumpkin for making lanterns) together with 'Trick or Treat' Little Miss Muffet Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away Origins and history of the Nursery Rhyme Little Miss Muffet was a small girl whose first name was Patience. Her father, Dr. Muffet, was an entomologist (someone who studies insects). Whilst eating her breakfast one day she was frightened by one of his spiders and ran away! This particular Nursery Rhyme reputedly dates back to the late 16th century! Unlikely story! This little piggy This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed at home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went... "Wee wee wee" all the way home...

Action nursery rhyme for baby or young children The lyrics for this particular nursery rhyme include action based words where the little piggy is each one of the child's toes! The last line is used to accompany the child being tickled by the teller of the rhyme! This is a typical rhyme which will be passed down from one generation to another - it has no origins in history! The lyrics for this nursery rhyme were first published in 1728. Tom Tom the pipers son Tom Tom the pipers son Stole a pig and away he ran, The pig was eat and Tom was beat And Tom went roaring down the street. Origins of a Scottish nursery rhyme? The words and lyrics of this nursery rhyme were not based on a person in Scottish history (pipers son). The term 'piper's son' could allude to any piper in the British army and the origins of this tale probably date back to the 18th century It is a children's nonsense rhyme which has an obvious moral. The imagery used in the phrase 'went roaring down the street' is very strong and would indicate to a child that Tom's punishment was severe!

Pussycat, pussycat "Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?" "I've been up to London to visit the Queen." "Pussycat, pussycat, what did you dare?" "I frightened a little mouse under her chair" "MEOWW!" The origins of the nursery rhyme! The origins of this rhyme goes back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the staff of Queen Elizabeth I had an old cat which tended to roam throughout one of her castles. On one occasion the cat went underneath the throne and the cat's tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. But 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and declared that the cat may wander through the throne room on condition it kept it free of mice! Here's the church Here's the church, and here's the steeple Open the door and see all the people. Here's the parson going upstairs, And here he is saying his prayers. Visual impact! An action based Nursery rhyme Children love this nursery rhyme as it combines lyrics and words with actions. This also improves the manual dexterity and coordination of a child whilst firing their imagination.

An oft repeated song ending with the hands clasped together as if in prayer! Probably steeped in English history where the architecture of churches and its steeple dominated the skyline of all towns. Ding dong bell One, two, three, four, five One, two, three, four, five. Once I caught a fish alive, Six, seven, eight, nine ,ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on the right. The lyrics of the nursery rhyme The lyrics of this nursery rhyme are not based on origins dating back in history. This is an education rhyme with the lyrics devised with the specific intention of teaching a child to count. Doctor Foster Doctor Foster went to Gloucester In a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle right up to his middle And never went there again! The History behind the words and lyrics! The origins and history of this Nursery Rhyme are in England, which is clear due to the reference to the English county of Gloucestershire (Doctor Foster went to Gloucester).

A warning to a child in days gone by, prior to modern roads, that what could appear to be a shallow puddle could in fact be far deeper! An attempt to keep a child clean and safe! The origins of this nursery rhyme are reputed to lie in English history dating back to the Plantagenant reign in the 13th century when King Edward 1 was reputed to have visited Gloucester and fell from his horse into a large muddy puddle! He was so humiliated by this event that he refused to ever return to the town of Gloucester ever again! A Wise Old Owl A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? The origins and history of 'A wise old owl' The origins and history of this nursery rhyme is vague but its meaning is not, it basically would be told to a child in an attempt to instil the wisdom of observing and keeping quiet!

The association of the lyrics of this nursery rhyme derive from the saying 'a wise old owl' based on an owl's behaviour of watching and patiently waiting when hunting its prey "Children should be seen and not heard!" Old Mother Hubbard So the poor little doggie had none. Origins of lyrics in British history The Old Mother Hubbard referred to in these nursery rhyme words and lyrics allude to the famous Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal Wolsey was the most important politician and churchman of the Tudor history period in 16th century England. Cardinal Wolsey proved to be a faithful servant but displeased the King, Henry VIII, by failing to arrange the King's divorce from Queen Katherine of Aragon which would enable him to marry Anne Boleyn.

The King was the "doggie" and the "bone" alludes to the divorce (and not money as many believe) The cupboard relates to the Catholic Church Who killed Cock Robin "Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow, "With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin." "Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die." "Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish, "With my little dish, I caught his blood." "Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle, "With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud." "Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl, "With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave." "Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook, "With my little book, I'll be the parson." "Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark, "If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk." "Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet, "I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link

." "Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove, "I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner." "Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite, "If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin." "Who'll bear the pall?

"We," said the Wren, "Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall." "Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush, "As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm." "Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull, "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell." All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin. The origins and history of the lyrics 'Who killed cock robin?' is better described as a British folksong rather than a nursery rhyme. The Death of Cock Robin is frequently taken as a Robin Hood analogue and the ready offers of help following this event, as described in the lyrics, reflect the high esteem that the legendary figure of Robin Hood was, and is, still held What are little boys made of What are little boys made of? Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails That's what little boys are made of !" What are little girls made of? "Sugar and spice and all things nice That's what little girls are made of!" The lyrics!

The origins and history of this nursery rhyme date back to the early nineteenth century - the battle of the sexes was raging even then! The lyrics obviously reflect this, but what is the meaning of 'snips and snails'? Many meanings have been suggested but the one that has the most credibility is that the original words were in fact 'snips of snails' snips meaning 'little bits of' No redemption there for describing what little boys are made of' Old King Cole Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe in the middle of the night And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler had a fine fiddle, and a very fine fiddle had he; Oh there's none so rare as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three. Nursery rhyme lyrics based in history origins dating back to 3rd century Old King Cole ruled part of Britain in the third century. He is reputed to have built the English town of Colchester.

In Colchester there is the site of a Roman gravel pit which is still known today as 'King Cole's Kitchen.' Cole or "Godebog" was a Dark Age British King, and, a descendant of Britain's pre-Saxon & pre-Roman royal house. The Tudor Kings, starting with Henry VII, claimed to descend from this royal lineage in attempt to further legitimise the Tudor claim to the English throne. Wee Willie Winkie Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown, Tapping at the window and crying through the lock, Are all the children in their beds, it's past eight o'clock? The origins of the nursery rhyme The origins of the words and lyrics to this nursery rhyme were to allow children to associate every day tasks with their own lives. Before the days of radio, TV and indeed the Internet and also due to levels of illiteracy within the population great reliance was made on the Town Crier who was paid to walk the streets crying out the latest news and information. 'Wee willie winkie' was a child's version of the Town Crier!

The author of the nursery was William Miller (1810 - 1872) and the first publication date of the lyrics was in 1841. Mondays child Mondays child is fair of face, Tuesdays child is full of grace, Wednesdays child is full of woe, Thursdays child has far to go, Fridays child is loving and giving, Saturdays child works hard for his living, And the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay. Traditional Nursery Rhyme lyrics The words and lyrics of this nursery rhyme poem were used to introduce a child to the order and the different days of week. The wording guaranteed to ensure that a child would take a keen interest in which day that they were born on! Sunday was traditionally referred to as the 'Sabbath day' in the religion of Christianity. This is the only reference to history for the origins of this nursery rhyme poem Two little dicky birds (Fly away Peter, fly away Paul) Two little dicky birds sitting on a wall, One named Peter, one named Paul. Fly away Peter, fly away Paul, Come back Peter, come back Paul! The origin?

No specific origins in history could be traced for this popular children's nursery rhyme! Neither could any other verses be traced! What is also unusual is that although the rhyme only has four lines there are two titles for it - the obvious 'Two little dicky birds' and the more obscure 'Fly away Peter, Fly away Paul' which is also used! How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. The origins are steeped in history... The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith. The silver bells and cockle shells were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'maids' were a device to behead people similar to the guillotine. Twinkle twinkle little star Mary had a little lamb Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day, which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb at school. And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, And waited patiently about till Mary did appear. "Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry; "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know" the teacher did reply. Increasing use of language The words and lyrics of this American nursery rhyme would appeal to a young child and introduces imagery and the use of similes (white as snow) as part of use of the English language. The words also convey the morale that love is reciprocated! We can find no specific connection in history for the origins of this nursery rhyme but the origins are American as the lyrics were written by Sarah Hale, of Boston, in 1830. Ride a cock horse

Question: In the nursery rhyme Who Killed Cock Robin, which animal dug the grave?
Answer: The owl