The dark and sinister side of children's nursery rhymes

Murder, religious persecution, rape and poverty - these are not the typical topics you think would be suitable for little kids to sing about - but apparently these were exactly the origins of some popular children's nursery rhymes!

The dark and sinister side of children’s nursery rhymes

You wouldn’t expect children’s nursery rhymes to be filled with lines about rape, murder, and poverty – but that’s exactly the history of some of these popular chants that little kids like to innocently repeat.

After exploring the dark and sinister origins of some well-known nursery rhymes, you may never look at Little Miss Muffet or Humpty Dumpty the same way again!

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary: Torture and murder

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells and pretty maids all in a row.

"Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" might be a reference to Queen Mary, otherwise known as Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII and a staunch Catholic.

This seemingly innocent children’s nursery rhyme narrates the torture and murder of Protestants and her "garden" is actually the graveyards which were filling up with dead Protestant martyrs.

The "silver bells" were torture devices known as thumbscrews and "cockleshells" are also believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to male genitals!

See-Saw Margery Daw: Child labour

Seesaw Margery Daw, Johnny shall have a new master. He shall earn but a penny a day, because he can’t work any faster."

The sad origins of this peculiar nursery rhyme is originally believed to be about the use of child labour back in the Victorian period, where young children were put to minor work for pittance.

It is thought that this rhyme was used as a cruel taunt by children against each other to imply that their families didn’t earn enough money so they were destined to work themselves to the bone forever.

Little Miss Muffet: Illness and medication

"Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey. Along came a spider, who sat down beside her and frightened Miss Muffet away."

Some people believe that Dr. Thomas Muffet, who lived in Brookmans Park in the 16th century, was the father of the famous Little Miss Muffet, who he originally composed this charming little nursery rhyme about.

Rumour has it that in those days, the doctors in England would use spiders as medicine, such as rolling a spider in bread crumbs and feeding it to the patient to treat a fever; or that eating mashed spiders was a cure for the common cold.

Dr Muffet would try to force this remedy on his daughter, but she did not share his love for arachnids and would scurry away with fright.

Humpty Dumpty: Violence and war

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again."

Some historical evidence suggests that Humpty Dumpty was not an egg like what some kids think as depicted in their colourful books nowadays, but he was in fact a great big cannon used by the Royalists during the English Civil War.

It was during a vicious battle in 1648, that the cannon fell from a battlement and was unable to be fixed, or "put back together again".

Pop Goes The Weasel: Misery of poverty

"Round and round the cobbler’s bench the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought ’twas all in fun - 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!"

Although there has been great debate over the real meaning behind this popular ditty, it is possible that this children’s nursery rhyme is actually about the poor and the immigrants who lived outside the walls of the City of London in Spitalfields, Hoxton and Shoreditch in the 1680s,

Most of them would slave away in London's textile industry, which was based there and this tune was an attempt to turn the grim reality of the local people's life of strife into a hit song.

Apparently, in the textile industry, a spinner's "weasel" was actually a mechanical thread-measuring device which resembled a spoked wheel, that accurately measured out yarn by making a popping sound to indicate the correct length had been reached.

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush: Mothers in jail

According to former warden and historian, RS Duncan, this catchy little rhyme first originated at Wakefield Prison in England, where convicted female inmates had to exercise around a mulberry tree out in the prison yard.

Throughout history, the Wakefield Prison faced many problems such as overcrowding and unsanitary conditions which led to outbreaks of cholera and typhoid among the inmates.

It is also believed that these women’s children were also sent to live with their mothers in prison. We’re not sure if this is a good or bad thing that at least the kids were not torn apart from their mums!

Goosey, Goosey Gander: Religious persecution

Goosey, Goosey Gander, whither shall I wander? Upstairs, downstairs, in my lady's chamber. There I met an old man, who would not say his prayers; I took him by the left leg, and threw him down the stairs

First published in 1784, it is suggested that this creepy nursery rhyme refers to the Catholic persecution which occurred in the 16th century.

Back then, Catholics had small hidden rooms in their homes to pray, but if zealous Protestants discovered their secret, the whole family would then be executed!

The phrase, "left leg" in the nursery rhyme is supposedly the nickname for Catholics at the time who were referred to as "left-leggers".

Georgie Porgie: Sexual asault

Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry. When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away."

One theory about this short nursery rhyme is that it is actually about Prince Regent (who then later became King) George IV, who was known to be rather overweight and would even wear a corset – thus the words, "Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie".

Unfortunately, he was also known to be somewhat of a playboy and his sketchy love life included several mistresses, a number of illegitimate children, and even bigamy – and he even forced himself on a few women against their will, which explains the line, "Kissed the girls and made them cry".

What do you think about these children's nursery rhymes now after learning of their dark and sinister sides? Have you heard of any creepy origins of other popular rhymes? Feel free to share your stories in the comments section below!

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Written by
Dew M. Chaiyanara

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