Buzz
Nursery rhymes hold a special place in the hearts of children everywhere. This enduring affection has preserved these tales for centuries. While some rhymes are simple and innocent, others carry hidden morals or even darker, political undertones. Here, we explore the origins (or speculated origins) of ten beloved nursery rhymes.
10. Humpty Dumpty
The rhyme 'Humpty Dumpty' first appeared in print in 1810. Originally, the term 'humpty dumpty' referred to someone clumsy, making the rhyme a playful riddle. Interestingly, it never explicitly states that Humpty Dumpty is an egg, leaving readers to deduce his true nature. Today, however, everyone associates him with an egg. Some theories suggest the rhyme has a deeper meaning, with Humpty Dumpty symbolizing King Richard III of England and the wall representing his horse. Another interpretation links it to Cardinal Wolsey's downfall during King Henry VIII's reign.
9. Sing a Song of Sixpence
The rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' traces back to the 18th century. Originally, it concluded with a blackbird biting off the maid's nose in the garden. By the mid-19th century, this ending was softened with an added verse where a doctor reattaches her nose. Interpretations of the rhyme vary widely, but the 'four and twenty blackbirds' likely refer to a 16th-century custom of baking large pies filled with live birds that would fly out when sliced. This practice highlights how meals were designed to entertain as well as nourish.
8. Rock-a-bye Baby
Originally known as ‘Hushabye Baby’, this nursery rhyme is believed to be the first poem composed on American soil. While the exact origin of the lyrics remains unclear, it is thought to date back to the 17th century, possibly penned by an English immigrant inspired by Native American mothers who rocked their infants in birch-bark cradles hung from tree branches, letting the breeze lull the babies to sleep. Another theory suggests the rhyme symbolizes the son of King James II of England, rumored to be an imposter child brought into the royal chamber to secure a Catholic heir. In this reading, the cradle symbolizes the Stuart dynasty.
7. Little Jack Horner
The earliest known version of 'Little Jack Horner' dates to the 18th century, though it likely existed in the 17th. By the 19th century, a popular theory emerged linking the rhyme to Thomas Horner, steward to Richard Whiting, the last abbot of Glastonbury Abbey before its dissolution under Henry VIII. Legend has it that before the abbey’s fall, the abbot sent Horner to London with a massive Christmas pie containing hidden deeds to twelve manors. During the journey, Horner allegedly opened the pie and took the deed to Mells Manor in Somerset. Some suggest the 'plum' in the rhyme is a pun on the Latin 'plumbum,' referring to the lead mines in the Mendip Hills. However, the current owners of Mells Manor dispute this interpretation.
6. Little Bo Peep
The first known mention of this rhyme appears in a manuscript from around 1805, which includes only the opening verse. References to a children’s game named 'Bo-Peep' date back to the 16th century, with one appearing in Shakespeare’s King Lear (Act I, Scene iv). However, there is little evidence that the full rhyme existed at that time. The additional verses were first documented in the 1810 edition of Gammer Gurton’s Garland or The Nursery Parnassus, making it one of the more recent nursery rhymes on this list.
5. Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
The rhyme 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary' is often interpreted as having religious and historical undertones, though its exact origins and meaning remain debated. A widely accepted theory links 'Mary' to Mary I of England. The line 'How does your garden grow?' is thought to mock her inability to produce an heir or symbolize England’s subservience to Catholic Spain under the Habsburgs. It might also play on the name of her chief minister, Stephen Gardiner ('gardener'). The phrase 'quite contrary' could allude to her efforts to undo the religious reforms of her father, Henry VIII, and brother, Edward VI. 'Pretty maids all in a row' may reference her miscarriages or the execution of Lady Jane Grey. Drawing from her infamous 'Bloody Mary' reputation, 'silver bells and cockle shells' could metaphorically represent torture devices.
4. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
The nursery rhyme 'Baa, Baa, Black Sheep' dates back to the 18th century and shares its melody with 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.' Some believe the rhyme reflects the medieval wool tax of 1275, known as the 'Great' or 'Old Custom,' which persisted until the 15th century. Contrary to certain interpretations, this tax did not allocate one-third to the king and one-third to the church but instead imposed a modest fee of 6 shillings and 8 pence per sack to the Crown, roughly 5% of the wool's value. In the 1980s, a theory emerged linking the rhyme to slavery, though most scholars dismiss this claim.
3. Ring a Ring o’ Roses
The rhyme 'Ring a Ring o’ Roses' was first published in 1881, though it had been sung since at least the 1790s. Many associate it with the Great Plague of London in 1665, but this interpretation only gained traction after World War II. The symptoms described in the rhyme don’t align well with the plague, and the key phrases supporting this theory are absent from its earliest versions. The oldest recorded version goes:
Ring around the rosy, A pocket full of posies; ashes, ashes we all fall down!
Although the plague connection is highly improbable, the idea is so ingrained in modern English-speaking culture that it is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.
2. London Bridge is Falling Down
The nursery rhyme “London Bridge Is Falling Down is a globally recognized traditional song and game, existing in various forms across different cultures. One origin theory suggests it commemorates the destruction of London Bridge by Olaf II of Norway in the early 11th century. Another, more macabre theory, proposes it alludes to the ancient myth of children being entombed in the bridge's foundations, though this remains unverified. The fair lady mentioned might refer to Matilda of Scotland, known for her contributions to bridge construction, or Eleanor of Provence, who managed the bridge's revenues during the 13th century.
1. Mary Had a Little Lamb
Originally penned by Sarah Josepha Hale and published on May 24, 1830, this nursery rhyme was based on a true story. Mary Sawyer, who later became Mary Tyler, had a pet lamb that she brought to school following her brother's suggestion, causing quite a stir. Mary herself recounted the event, noting the unexpected uproar it caused among her classmates.
“A young man named John Roulstone, the nephew of Reverend Lemuel Capen, who resided in Sterling, visited the school that morning. During that era, it was common for students to study under ministers to prepare for college, and Roulstone was doing just that with his uncle. Deeply amused by the lamb incident, he returned the following day on horseback, traversing the fields to the quaint old schoolhouse. There, he handed me a piece of paper inscribed with the poem’s first three stanzas…”
