Nursery Rhymes, we all teach them to our kids, just like our parents taught them to us when we were kids. But do you know the meaning behind most of the nursery rhymes?
Many nursery rhymes are associated with actual historical events. The only one that I knew about was Ring around the Rosies which is about the Bubonic Plague that was ravishing Europe during the middle ages.
Ring around the rosies: refers to the rash that would typically appear at that the onset of the illness
Pocket full of posies: refers to people filling their clothing with sweet smelling flowers and herbs because they believed that disease was carried through bad smells
Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down: refers to cremation
London Bridge is falling down has pretty obvious historical meaning. The bridge was constantly falling down after catching on fire. Over the years it was built and rebuilt using better materials of the day. When it was completely rebuilt in the 1960’s,
the London Bridge of 1831 was transported, stone by stone, to Lake Havasu in Arizona, USA. I had no idea! Did anyone else know this?
Other rhymes I had never heard of their meanings, but isn’t that one of the beauties of the internet? Instant information . Although, just because you read it on the internet doesn’t mean it is true. (I know, like that is a surprise.) Most of the information regarding the historical significance is speculative.
Humpty Dumpty refers to a cannon? I had no idea.
The nursery rhyme Jack and Jill has been claimed by a village in Somerset according to one website, but another website which explains that historical context of nursery rhymes, doesn’t agree.
It is interesting to read about the various nursery rhymes, some of which I had forgotten about until I saw them on the list.
Legend has it that the US asked to buy London Bridge (which they were duly given), but had actually meant Tower Bridge, the one in front of the Tower of London (with the swing-up parts). I am not entirely sure how true that is but it’s told on the boat trip along the Thames.
More info on London Bridge: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/havasu.htm
Comment by Jen — August 18, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
I do sometimes wonder if “Pop goes the weasel” is somehow actually a NAUGHTY song!
Comment by Brigitte — August 19, 2008 @ 4:53 am
I think pop goes the weasel is about cobbler complaining work and money.
“All around the cobblers bench the monkey chased the weasel The monkey thought ’twas all in fun–pop goes the weasel. I’ve no time to wake or cry, not patience to wait for by and by, kiss me quick I’m off good bye. Pop, goes the weasel.
“Every time that I go out, the monkey’s on the table, take a stick and knock him off-Pop goes the weasle. A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle, that’s the way the money goes–pop goes the weasel
Those are the two verses I know, but on Wikipedia they have a ton of others. All of them seem to be about money, and a monkey who is a complete burden. I’m guessing the weasel is the cobbler, about to lose it.
Comment by cassique — August 22, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
Just from the lyrics of “Pop Goes the Weasel”, I think it is about a a guy who feels like he is being ripped him off and he is about to pop.
“All around the cobblers bench the monkey chased the weasel
the monkey thought twas all in fun–Pop! goes the weasel.
I’ve no time to wait or cry, no patience to wait till by and by, kiss me quick I’m off goodbye. Pop! goes the weasel.
“Every time when I go out the monkey’s on the table take a stick and knock him off–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.”
Comment by cassique — August 22, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
good site fozhec
Comment by ok — September 25, 2008 @ 2:57 am