This seemingly child-friendly nursery rhyme actually has a sexual undertone to it. Georgie Porgie is a caricature of George Villiers, a bisexual nobleman who lived from 1592 to 1628. George was greatly favored by King James I. His friendship with the king was so intimate that he was able to gain immense power and position in just a short period of time - he was named the first Duke of Buckingham at the age of 31.
George and King James I were rumored to be lovers due to their intimate friendship, and accounts from various court diaries and letters proved this to be true. King James I even declared his love for George by publicly declaring, "You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else, and more than you who are here assembled."
Though George had a covert romantic affair with the king, he was a womanizer (...kissed the girls and made them cry...), and had sexual relationships with numerous women, including the daughters and even the wives of many English noblemen. Because the king favored him, the English noblemen were incapable of prosecuting him, thus explaining the line, "when the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away".
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Nursery rhymes and their dark side
PoetryUnknowingly when we sing these nursery rhymes we engage our children with centuries-old tradition that seems harmless. Courtesy of The express Tribune
