The Dark Origins of Nursery Rhymes [Podcast #196]

Jack & Jill – Dates back to the 1700s. One theory states that Jack is actually King Louis XVI, and Jill is his Queen, Marie Antoinette. The King was beheaded, hence “Jack fell down, and broke his crown,” and his Queen, was killed shortly after. Another theory says this one was inspired by a hill in Kilmersdon, Somerset, near where a couple was expecting a baby. The dad went to fetch water, had an accident on the hill, and died. The mom then passed away after giving birth.

Ladybird, Ladybird – Some theories state that this one is about Catholics being burned at the stake if they were caught saying Mass in anti-Protestant England. Another theory ties it to killing a ladybug being bad luck. And another says this was written about the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush – One historian suggests this rhyme originated with female prisoners at HMP Wakefield, where a sprig was taken to Stanley, Wakefield, and grew into a fully mature mulberry tree around which prisoners exercised in the moonlight. Another theory says the rhyme references Britain’s struggles to produce silk.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring – This is a fairly modern rhyme, recorded in 1939. No big secrets here, there is a good chance it’s simply about (possibly severe) head trauma.

Pop Goes The Weasel – One theory is that the rhyme is written in Cockney rhyming slang, which people used to disguise what they were saying. The song might be about people living on the edge of poverty and pawning their winter coat to survive. The other theory says it might be about weavers who lived and worked in an area of East London called Spitalfields. When weaving fabrics, they would use a machine called a ‘weasel’, which made a popping sound.

Ring Around The Rosie – A deathly little poem about the bubonic plague in London. Ring around the Rosie referred to the itchy rash around the sores of plague victims. Pocket full of posies were the flower pedals that plague doctors placed on deceased patients. Ashes are the cremated remains of the deceased. Not fun times.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Many theories equate this rhyme to an allegory of Catholicism. One based on Mary being the mother of Jesus, another says Mary is the Queen of Scots. Yet another theory says it originated as a political metaphor for Mary I of England. Mary famously was unable to have a child (How does your garden grow), the “quite contrary” name is probably a reference to the way she tried to roll back her father’s efforts to make the country Protestant, while “silver bells and cockle shells” were possibly a reference to different torture devices used on people who refused to convert back to Catholicism.

Rub-a-dub-dub – In the original version was talking about three maids instead of three men. Dating back to the 14th century, this references a fairground attraction similar to a modern peep show and was used as a type calling out people for disrespectable actions, such as “ogling naked ladies”.