The Story: Don't eat the fruit in the garden, Eden,, It wasn't in God's natural plan., You were only a rib,, And look at what you did,, To Adam, the father of Man.
The Story: You smell like goat, I'll see you in hell
Since the 17th century, nursery rhymes have been performed to children throughout Britain. These traditional songs and poems have since become a staple in a child’s upbringing.
Even in the early 20th century, children’s books started to be written around nursery rhymes, paired with engaging illustrations that made story time an altogether different proposition for parents.
Dozens of the most famous nursery rhymes are claimed to have hidden meanings and origins. In fact, some of these child-friendly nursery rhymes that appear fictional on the surface are actually inspired by real-world scenarios:
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep (1731)
It is said that most scholars of English Literature agree that the nursery rhyme “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” was written about the ‘Great Custom’, a tax on wool that was implemented back in 1725.
In some quarters, there was a belief that the rhyme had racist connotations based around the word “master”. Latterly in the 20th century, some schools opted to remove it from classrooms, while a News.com.au report found that a school in north Queensland changed the title of the nursery rhyme to “Baa, Baa, Rainbow Sheep”.
London Bridge is Falling Down (1744)
Another hugely popular nursery rhyme from the 18th century, “London Bridge is Falling Down” is said to have one of a number of connotations.
Some believe that it harks back as far as 1014 when the Vikings attacked London, masterminded by Olaf II of Norway. According to Mental Floss, others believe that the nursery rhyme relates to child sacrifice, with the bridge itself built upon the foundation of human sacrifice, with the next generation of children watching over the bridge to maintain its awe-inspiring structure – hmm, yes, we’re as unsure as you about the last theory!
The Grand Old Duke of York (1913)
The Grand Old Duke of York, which was originally published way back in 1642, has more recently been performed with actions and given a contemporary twist. The latest lyrics, published in 1913, are said to relate to the Duke of York and Albany’s campaign on Flanders in 1794-95.
Royalty has since become a very common theme in popular culture, spanning all kinds of industries. In casino gaming, Lucky Pants Bingo's Enchanted Prince slot game is based around a love-sick princess and a frog that transforms back into the handsome prince he used to be after a kiss from his wife-to-be.
In the movie industry, Hollywood saw King George VI depicted in The King’s Speech back in 2010, shining a spotlight on the difficulty surrounding Britain’s declaration of war on Nazi Germany.
Jack and Jill (1765)
Finally, “Jack and Jill” who “went up a hill to fetch a pale of water”, is also said to have origins in our history.
Some claim that it is written about France’s Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette – but the rhyme was published some three decades before the pair were beheaded for treason. A more plausible hidden meaning is that the rhyme is based on King Charles I’s bid to reform the tax on liquid measures, which was eventually thrown out by Parliament.
Whether or not some of these playground rhymes and chants really are based on historical occurrences remains to be seen. It certainly makes sense for families to have sung in unison about the social imbalances and inequalities of modern life at the time.
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