5 Dark Meanings Of Nursery Rhymes

Ever since we were little, we were exposed to kindergarten songs or nursery rhymes that involve simple but catchy melodies.

How about the lyrics you might ask? Most people will sing it without realizing the meaning behind it since the rhythm and sound do not seem to mean anything at all. But do you know that there is a dark meaning behind each of these nursery rhymes that you have been singing all these times?

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1. Baa Baa Black Sheep Song

This song was highly related to the English economy in the 13th century. The farming of sheep activity became the main economic driver for the people back then which made sheep a crucial commodity to trade.

For the nobles, it has been quite common for them to employ little children as shepherds to handle the sheep to graze on the grass and ensures that all of them are in the flock. King Edward I introduced a tax system known as "maltolt" or bad tax due to the need to support the cost of war that have been spent.

Among the things that were taxed were sheep. As one of the ways to protest, the English created a song insinuating the tax; 1/3 of the sales of the sheep were given to the "master" meaning King Edward I, and 1/3 to the "dame" or church.

In the original song, the lyric "none for the little boy" refers to the children that were assigned to herd the sheep before it was changed to "one for the little boy" in the 16th century.

2. Humpty Dumpty Song

Many loved to sing this song while imagining an egg character that sits on a wall and later fell off. This image has been embedded in our heads as we think of this song.

The reality is that Humpty Dumpty was referring to a cannon that was given such a name and was used in the English civil war that occurred in the 17th century. This great battle was between the King and the rebellions which forced the Humpty Dumpty to be carried out to the wall.

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It was during a war known as the Battle of Gloucester. Humpty Dumpty is a cannon built by the Dutch and assembled on the Llanthony Secunda church in the hopes of protecting the villagers from intrusions.

However, the impact of the cannon on top of the attack from the opposite side was so strong that it led to the wall supporting Humpty Dumpty falling. The cannon was cracked without anyone from King Charles I's side knowing how to repair it.

The real facts of where this song originated from are still unknown but as of today, this story might just be the most popular one yet.

3. Rock A Bye, Baby Song

The most popular nursery rhymes that are used to make your baby fall asleep have many different versions of the stories. This is because the lyrics as it was studied, showed many illogical aspects with regard to a baby that was sung to asleep in his/her carrier and later fell off.

The most popular belief involves the creation of this song that was related to the habits of the Americans that loved to sing to their babies to sleep while hanging them on a tree. This inspired an English writer that was there at the time to create a poem that was then turned into a song.

Some also believed that this song is related to an implied perception of the English Protestants towards their ruler, King James II in the 17th century. They hated him so much hoping that he will fall from the throne.

It was a poem telling us how they hoped that the heir of King James II will die to end the legacy of his rule.

But what thing for sure is that the melody of this poem was made by a composer named Effie I. Canning in 1872 while she was taking care of a baby. The rhythm that was clearly unknown of its meaning is what is being sung by most people today.

4. London Bridge Is Falling Down

Among all stories and origins of children's songs, "London Bridge Is Falling Down" is among the clearest ones. The story goes that the bridge in London was attacked in the early 11th century by the Vikings led by Olaf Haraldsson.

The Ruler at the time, King Ethelred the Unready gathered his men in the center of London. They improved all bridge constructions at strategic locations that managed to prevent any intrusion by water.

However, it did not last long as King Ethelred was defeated but saved after the Vikings agreed to accept the tribute payment and a position as commander in the English army.

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The agreement was done without the consent of the King of Denmark, Swein Forkbeard and he considered it treason. So King Swein decided to march into London and managed to chase away King Ethelred.

Following the agreement between King Ethelred and the Vikings earlier, one operation to regain back London was done after the death of King Swein. Olaf Haraldsson, one of the commanders given the responsibility to command the attack in 1014, brought down London Bridge which was the main defense of London.

This insane strategy was definitely remembered as the name Olaf was commemorated in a poem created by a Viking, Ottar Svarte that became the foundation of the song "London Bridge Is Falling Down".

5. Jack and Jill

Have you ever thought to yourself who Jack and Jill are and why they climbed the mountain to get some water? It all started in a village in England known as Kilmersdon in Somerset.

To this day, there is a mountain there that was named Jack and Jill. The villagers believed that their ancestors created the song to tell the tale of an incident that occurred back in the 17th century.

Jack and Jill are a couple that comes from the village. They both were unmarried and always see each other while having a good time in the mountain as they both hide their activities.

In order to protect what they were doing, they acted as if they were taking water from the mountain. They both got caught after Jill was pregnant with many people convinced that Jack was the father.

However, Jack's life did not last long after the landslide incident caused a rock to hit the top of his head. Jack passed away not having the opportunity to see his son. Jill was distraught after hearing the news and also followed the same fate.

The foster child was called Jill's son who was raised by the villagers of Kilmersdon and his generation still continues to this day by the name Gilson family.

Source:

• Iluminasi

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