Oh Kolkata Team
We probably have grown up in our lives but I am sure we faintly remember the nursery poems we used to sing in the classroom. What wonderful days those were, right? Probably your kids are singing this now in the kindergarten. But to spoil your childhood, let me inform you that those nursery rhymes actually have deeper and creepier meanings. As you grow up and dig deep into the history and literature, you will get to know that there has a lot of critical meaning that might freak you out, as you have never expected it would actually mean like this.
So here are the 5 most popular nursery rhymes that have a lot deeper meaning:
Now, this is a very basic poem, we all must have remembered it. Let me remind you one more time:
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
It’s a very common kid’s nursery rhyme and very easy for the kids to master the poem. But it means a lot more than just a rhyme.
This poem dates back to as early as 1731. According to many historians, this poem probably is referring to the wool tax of 1275. The wool of the ‘black sheep’ is priced high as it doesn’t need dyeing. Modern-day theories are associating the poem as controversial and could even mean racism.
This nursery rhyme has got a British version, an American version, and even an Indianized version. However, it’s a very catchy poem for kids. We used to hold hands, make a full circle, and danced round and round, and ‘we all fall down’ at the end.
There are many theories on this poem and one of which states that Ring around the Rosie” might be speaking about the Black Death. The ‘Rosie’ here can be the red rash. People used to keep ‘a pocketful of Poises’ referring to herbs, to ward off the illness. The last line, no matter in what language it’s been written is signifying the act of falling down may be due to sickness or can be death.
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after
A very doozie kind of a nursery rhyme where a couple named Jack and Jill went top to the hill to fetch water but instead fell down from the hill.
This quatrain poem is not that innocent as it seems. The origin of the poem is however unknown, but theorists depict it’s telling about Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette. They were found guilty of treason and beheaded. Another theory suggests that it can suggest the attempt made by King Charles I in reforming the taxes on liquid measures. Parliament blocked him and ordered the volume of Jack (1/2 pint) to be reduced, but the tax remained the same.
We all might be fooled while singing the ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’ poem, assuming it as a clean and humble poem. It was also a kind of singing game. The melodious nursery rhyme may date back to the Late Middle Ages. The London Bridge poem has many theories related to it. One of which is the Child sacrifice theory: which is based on the concept that a human sacrifice, preferably a child sacrifice must be done otherwise the bridge might collapse.
Another theory refers to the 1014 Viking attack. Around the early 1000s, there have been alleged destruction of the London Bridge by Olaf II of Norway.
Goosey Goosey Gander is a children’s rhyme with historical undertones. The origin of the poem dates back to the 16th Century. And this poem is actually about religious persecution. The Protestants were totally against the Catholic priests at that time. Latin-based prayers were not allowed at all. The Catholic Priests used to hide in ‘Priest Holes’ to avoid persecution from zealous Protestants. If they are found, they could be executed in no time.
Have you ever thought that these innocent-sounding nursery rhymes could have much deeper and creepier meanings? Probably not! These poems actually have an underlying story, unrhymed, unheard and unspoken, until you grow up and learn about it.
