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Nursery Rhymes

Dedicated to @RealisticWriting for the idea.

The sweet sound of the charming nursery rhymes you sung during your childhood as you skipped round the playground are probably still on the tip of your tongue. As you joyously laughed and played with your friends, chanting 'ring around the rosy' or 'lady bird lady bird', nothing could ruin that pretty image of your youth. Nothing. Nothing... until you actually look into what these cute tales of insects and flowers actually mean; they say ignorance is bliss, and it truly is when it comes to the meaning behind the nursery rhyme. While some help children learn the art of counting and rhythm. there is a long list of nursery rhymes that are troubling from the first lyric, and will make you see lady birds and church bells in an entirely different light.

1. The three blind mice

In this role play of despair the 'three blind mice' are reference to the three nobleman who adhered to the protestant faith during the reign of Mary I, and were therefore convicted against plotting against the queen, who is represented by the farmer's wife. To be fair - she didn't actually have them dismembered and blinded like the rhyme suggests - they just burnt at the stake, so no biggy.

2. Ring a Ring o' Roses

Considering that some of today's classic nursery rhymes are more than two centuries old, there are often several theories surrounding their origins-and not a lot of sound proof about which argument is correct. But of all the alleged nursery rhyme backstories, "Ring Around the Rosie" is probably the most infamous. Though its lyrics and even its title have gone through some changes over the years, the most popular contention is that the sing-songy verse refers to the 1665 Great Plague of London."The rosie" is the rash that covered the afflicted, the smell from which they attempted to cover up with "a pocket full of posies." The plague killed nearly 15 percent of the country's population, which makes the final verse-"Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down"-rather self-explanatory.

3. London Bridge is falling down

This one is one of the more disturbing rhymes. The song was made back in the late 1100's when a popular belief that burying humans (mostly children) alive in buildings helps the building stay strong forever because the spirits were protecting it. Luckily, there's no archaeological evidence to support it
But that does not make it any less disturbing having your five year-old singing about someone asking a mother to bury her child in a bridge.

4.Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater

This nursery rhyme has it's roots in America, unlike most that started in England. It was a different time back then for women, and for views on divorce, too, which is why this rhyme served to warn young girls about infidelity. Peter's wife was supposedly a harlot, and Peter's remedy for the situation was to kill her and hide her body in a giant pumpkin shell.

5. Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row

This rhyme is a reference to Bloody Mary(Queen Mary I of England) who was known for her brutal reign . The garden refers to the massive numbers of growing cemeteries, as she filled them with protestants and rebels . Silver bells and cockle shells were instruments of torture and the maiden was a device used to behead people.

6. The old lady who lived in a shoe

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.

Just a poor women trying to feed her kids right? Wrong. Read the ending of the original version.

When she came back
They were a'lying dead
She went to the wright
To get them a coffin
When she came back
They were a'lying laughing
She gaed up the stair
To ring the bell
The bell-rope broke
And down she fell.