See more ideas about nursery rhymes, rhymes, creepy nursery rhymes. : Hi gals and guys, I write a little blog and I thought that my experience the other night was rather funny. When these homes, houses and businesses burned down a lot of weathy people lost fortunes and wealth was not in currency but in gold, silver and jewels. Click on title for location specific availability. During the reign of King James II of England, many people did not agree with his ideals and choices; they wanted to overthrow him. Rockabye Baby is a rhyme that came from the new world. Full Episode. THe Brothers Grimm were at that long before Disney came on the Scene... and Disney's got some pretty morbid stuff if you pay attention, too. In truth, a lot of those seemingly innocent nursery rhymes you used to love as a child and have perhaps taught your own kids over the years, have quite dark backstories or meanings behind them. Many of them reflect the realities of life 500 or more years ago. Gossiping, criticizing the government or even talking about current events were often punishable by death. Related Video: New Child’s Play Movie Trailer, Spinner Charlene Parker with weasel (on left) and spinning wheel (on right) at Knott’s Berry Farm. Things like executions and burning at the stake were a big part of their culture in the same way Survivor Island became a part of ours. Why Are All Nursery Rhymes Morbid? I looked up the meaning of "miss Mary Mack" in the Internet AND at the library! It was not safe for people to say anything negative about rulers. Another one, lizzie borden is about a true story of a girl killing her father with an axe. 7. There was an old lady who swallowed a fly I don’t know why she swallowed a fly – perhaps she’ll die! They are able to explore their fears in a safe way through the fairy tales and nursery rhymes. It’s quite horrific, and according to NurseryRhymes.com, the original story may have been based on King James II of England and Mary of Modena who allegedly passed off a baby as their own to ensure they had a Catholic heir. Once the king had a son, this rhyme was born. This popular English nursery rhyme, which reads like a solicitation for gardening advice, is actually a recounting of the homicidal nature of Queen Mary I of … It expresses the hope that the infant prince would die so that the … One of the most widely-accepted theories involves Cockney rhyming slang, in which the “weasel” would refer to a coat (weasel and stoat) and “pop” means to pawn. Cookies help us deliver our Services. “The farmer’s wife” is Queen Mary I, or Bloody Mary, as she was appropriately nicknamed. We reveal the creepy origins of your favorite nursery rhymes. Before this her children had head lice, were dirty and obviously neglected. According to rhymes.org, the “farmer’s wife” mentioned in this poem is Mary, and the mice she slaughters are actually noblemen who tried to fight back against her Catholic reforms. Nursery Rhymes. Because, until very recently, life was, frankly, pretty morbid. Georgie Porgie ran away. Thus the rhyme was more a taunt to the current rule. Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? They were taught to kids who would sing them in public, but obviously couldn't be punished for it like an adult openly saying those things would. Once the king had a son, this rhyme was born. No more room for sick folks, I'd die, but don't know how. Nursery Rhymes — A Saga of Morbid Backstories & Twisted Lyrics. I have a 2-1/2 year old son and our music system is being dominated by nursery rhymes now. Why were they used as anti-authority memes? Well, to help the poor and/or illiterate exercise their brains and challenge their ability to interpret poetics. Update: for example ring around the rosie is about people dying from the plague. 0 comments. Posham Pa bhai Posham Pa Dakuo ne kya kiya? a-tishoo!, a-tishoo!. Check out the "Ring Around a Rosie" origin: http://healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/[, http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.asp, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_a_Ring_o%27_Roses. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the explainlikeimfive community. 3 blind mice got their tails chopped off with a knife. There were actually a few nursery rhymes based around the gruesome exploits of Bloody Mary, and Three Blind Mice is another example. Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Three Blind Mice! Finally, we’ll end with Rock-A-Bye Baby. Show Dear Diary, You're Effed!, Ep Why Are All Nursery Rhymes Morbid? This battle proved disasterous and the king was killed (i believe). And we all fall down is self explanitory. Where does the term Mother Goose rhymes come from? Can a nursery rhyme be morbid? In many cases, even after going decades without hearing them, we still know all the words. Explicit Why Are All Nursery Rhymes Morbid?. Even as adults, years after hearing and learning them as young children, we can all remember these classic nursery rhymes. Explain Like I'm Five is the best forum and archive on the internet for layperson-friendly explanations. Humpty Dumpty talks about him breaking himself and no one able to put him together again. An example is Humpty Dumpty. I feel 15 years younger, and my arms seem to have … Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? Ring around the rosie for example as you mention was made during a time when people were fixated on death. Also known as Ring a Ring o’ Roses, urban legends say that this nursery rhyme is all about the Black Death, with the line “Ashes, Ashes” being about burning bodies and “We all fall down” quite literally referring to the incredible spread of the … Ring around the Rosey dealt with a contagious disease. Why do children sing these songs? Sunday, Jan 31. Morbid Nursery Rhymes Posted on January 18, 2013 by qwerdygal96 Some of the most well-known nursery rhymes of all time would probably have to be along the lines of Ring Around the Rosy, Jack and Jill, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Rock-a-by-Baby, with many, many others. When one would fall sick the others did too. A few months ago, I was teaching my 4-year old nephew some nursery rhymes with a DVD. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a beautiful rhyme for kids telling the story of a girl who one day is taking her lamb to school. Passed down across the centuries, the anachronisms in the lyrics sound like playful nonsense words. Probe them deep enough and nursery rhymes in general are rather ghoulish stuff, so perhaps it makes perfect sense for a collection such as this to come along. If you actually look at the lyrics to this one, it’s already rather creepy on its own. All Nursery rhymes have a morbid begging, ring a ring a roses refers to the plague ring a ring of roses a pocket full of poses atishoo, atishoo we all fall down In the United Kingdom, it is usually sung: Ring a-ring o' roses, A pocketful of posies. It's now a skipping game. Children's stories have always been morbid up until Disney decided to sanitise and infantilise everything. Also known as Ring a Ring o’ Roses, urban legends say that this nursery rhyme is all about the Black Death, with the line “Ashes, Ashes” being about burning bodies and “We all fall down” quite literally referring to the incredible spread of the plague and the way it caused so many people to fall down dead. The rhyme of Little Jack Honer (who sat in the corner) putting his finger in a pie and pulling out a plum saying what a good boy am I is about spy networks. "Miss Mary Mack All dressed in black With silver buttons All down her back.". The first nursery rhymes can be traced back to the fourteenth century. It also seems dark stories or tales with tragic endings and stern morals were common back then, if you want examples of … Nursery rhymes are a bridge to our shared past, a connection to days gone by. Creating a fun experience for children will help … For instance Jack and Jill go to fetch water. Songs have traditionally been a way of remembering important events and life was brutal before modern medicine so they are just a blast from the past about diseases which would have been how most people died. She sailed away on a sunny, summer day On the back of a crocodile. Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? Then, as quick as the nursery rhyme itself is, the relationship implodes with Jill getting pregnant, Jack smashing his head open with a rock, and then Jill dying from childbirth. They may appear to be "odd" and "random" to us today, but they were undoubtedly meaningful at the time when they were composed. Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? From: Dear Diary, You're Effed! Ask Login. honorableliving ♦ July 4, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment. As kids we would sing and dance around the playground innocently singing these popular rhymes, we were blissfully unaware of what the real meaning of these songs were. Read another story from us: Mary Really did Have a Little Lamb – The True Story of the Nursery Rhyme. They tend to … 00:07:09; Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? So why are so many lullabies murder ballads? An example is Humpty Dumpty. One more morbid nursery rhyme. [6] The Holderness Family Reminds Us of How Morbid Nursery Rhymes Really Are The viral video gurus are back to mock the horrible violence of classic nursery rhymes in their latest hilarious production. It seems there was a king who was fat, round (rolly polly) like an egg. The lyrics belong to American writer Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879) and the musical sheet was written by the composer Lowel Mason in the 1830s. Nursery rhymes we all grew up singing have such dark origins that you'd be shocked to find you were taught these in school, and kids are still being taught these rhymes. In Rock-a-bye baby, a baby fell out of a tree. This battle proved disasterous and the king was killed (i believe). Maybe you used to taunt anyone on the playground … https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/04/26/popular-nursery-rhymes Some nursery rhymes are meant to teach moral lessons, others were a product of a society that was much more prone to morbid events and therefore psychologically influenced and drawn to them. ......Hanna banana plays the piano (insert northern Irish accent so piana ) 24 hours a day, hey.......It made no sense but everyone knew what it was about and helped the grandmother get permanent custody of the kids as everyone confirmed the neglect. Human life was basically a cheap, replaceable resource. Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? ISBN: 9780393651621 . A few months ago, I was teaching my 4-year old nephew some nursery rhymes with a DVD. Mary Mack is a more recent nursery rhyme, it is morbid, so it is a good one to study. This nursery rhyme refers to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England. It seems there was a king who was fat, round (rolly polly) like an egg. Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? For certain, over the centuries social progress has been made. - Nov 22, 2020 The origins of this story are very unclear. Here are 10 nursery rhymes with some really dark backstories. The Envious Siblings: and Other Morbid Nursery Rhymes - Kindle edition by Blair, Landis. Photo by DTParker1000 CC BY-SA 4.0. Thus explains the line... Actually, Humpty Dumpty was the name of a cannon. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Why were they used as anti-authority memes? After a lot of singing, he slowly digested the story that the rhymes tell. Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? All nursery rhyme songs are morbid. If you can make a game out of it children will be happy. Jack & Jill talks about tumbling down and breaking head. Some rhymes told the actual events of a story and those contradicted offical narratives. From: Dear Diary, You're Effed! Explicit Why Are All Nursery Rhymes Morbid?. The “three blind mice” were … During the reign of King James II of England, many people did not agree with his ideals and choices; they wanted to overthrow him. Nursery Rhymes were never actually written with children in mind .... most were composed for adults. Most are pretty silly and children find them fun to say. Where does the term Mother Goose rhymes come from? There are no answers yet. Goosey … Answer Save. In conclusion, dear five year old, I think that nursery rhymes are a great way to engage people in word problems. They’re fun little sing-a-longs for little kids at school, each with their own amusing characters and cute stories to tell. Why were they used as anti-authority memes? The only thing grave (haha) enough to motivate us to solve a mystery is the death(s) of those we love. The part where Jack “broke his crown” actually refers to him falling and splitting his head open. 28th Street 2660 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616.942.2561; Okemos 1982 Grand River Ave … I think the answer to this is that humans are already obsessed with death (imagine our infatuation if 50% of us were dying) and so it makes us want to solve the mystery. And then he began asking rather uncomfortable questions. This is were the fire orginated. If no one could find the orginal auther of a verse then they could not prosecute anyone. Or at least that’s how they seem. According to child development experts Sue Palmer and Ros Bayley, nursery rhymes with music significantly aid a child's mental development and spatial reasoning. However, given the age of these rhymes, and how they could still be applied to current, demoralizing issues just illuminates how far we, as a species, has to go. Can you explain to me when Humpty Dumpty is an egg in most illustrations? Ring around the Rosie is actually a rhyme about the black death in medieval Europe. Scary Rhymes For Adults The Morbid And Sinister Truths Behind Popular Nursery Rhymes 9 Jolly Nursery Rhymes With Deeply Disturbing Meanings Youtube ... Why Are Nursery Rhymes Fairytales So Creepy Sophie Draper The Twisted Truth Behind 10 Creepy Nursery Rhymes Child mortality was high, disease and starvation and war claimed life at a pretty high rate. these early "nursery" rhymes essentially are used to desensitize children to the death and suffering happening around them at the particular times. The sometimes morbid truth behind 5 of our favourite nursery rhymes 8th December 2018. Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? Availability: On Our Shelves Now. Kids are aware of greater social issues and will make up jokes, princess Diana's death spawned hundreds of jokes and rhymes. According to WhatCulture, they used to sneak up the hill for their adulterous liaisons, with the phrase “fetch a pail of water” being a euphemism for their affair. Nov 17, 2016 - Explore Katlynn Simpson's board "funny nursery rhymes" on Pinterest. I think it's just a fad called Folk, BUT, there is definitely opportunity for political commentary and the passing of information that might get someone killed for treason. Kissed the girls and made them cry. There’s something charmingly macabre about Landis Blair’s The Envious Siblings and other Morbid Nursery Rhymes. This nursery rhyme was written as a riddle whose answer is "a coffin" (another theory is that Mary was in fact a missile). Native Americans put cradles (of sorts) in the boughs of trees. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Don't Panic! While the Bubonic Plaque ravaged England, peasants used a rhyme to spread the word … Press J to jump to the feed. You can get an idea what nursery rhymes really were from these examples. Also, if there's one more mention of Ring Around the Rosie... EdwardTivrusky The cover of L. Leslie Brooke’s Ring O’Roses (1922) shows nursery rhyme characters performing the game. For example rock a bye baby, and ring around the rosie, Jack and jill, Humpty dumpty, Etc? Humpty Dumpty, shown as a riddle with answer, in a 1902 Mother Goose story book by William Wallace Denslow. For a prime example, we need look no further than Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. See episode show notes for user credits. The Envious Siblings: and Other Morbid Nursery Rhymes (Hardcover) By Landis Blair. Close Menu. Published: W. W. Norton & Company - October 8th, 2019 . Another example is the rhyme Mary Mary Quite Contrary. But have you ever thought why some or most of the nursery rhymes are so morbid? ... We explain like i'm five! Why Nursery Rhymes Are So Violent by Yoshke Dimen. One time a pie was intercepted but it proved to be a regular pie. “You see,” … Nursery rhymes are supposed to be fun but when thrown into a suspense drama, take a morbid shape. I would say that's pretty morbid for children to sing about. This one is about Mary Queen of Scotts (the Bloody Queen). Most nursery rhymes have been around for a long time — in fact, in some cases their origins go back hundreds and hundreds of years. If I tell you that Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and Mother Goose, the imaginary yet legendary author of English Nursery rhymes can be counted as the greatest names in writing dark poems or literary works, you will point out that either I have got the genre wrong or committed a blunder by … General, Famous Paranormal Cases. Where does the term Mother Goose rhymes come from? She would tell supporters of her sister Elizabeth that she understood and was the Queen of Enlands loyal subject, all while conspiring to over throw Elizabeths rule. This classic nursery rhyme only has three lines, so you wouldn’t think there could be much of a dark meaning behind it, but the story goes that this nursery rhyme is based on a real-life couple. Why so morbidly? It was not just in poems, but also in art, songs, and in the general attitude of everyday life. Georgie Porgie. It was not just in poems, but also in art, songs, and in the general … Explain Like I'm Five, aka ELI5, is the mini-podcast series where we take the questions you always wanted to ask, and talk about them in a way that is easy to understand. Many nursery rhymes were ways of telling history to children especially dark things they maybe would not understand such as "ring around the rosie" being about the black plague or "Mary Mary quite contrary" being about Queen "Bloody" Mary Tudor. We kids had a rhyme we made up about it. London Bridge is burning Down is a rhyme about the great fire of London. If you think you're sick now, You may as well just die. In Jack and Jill, Jack cracked his skull open. This could be just an old wives' tale, but I heard that nursery rhymes were in some parts satirical criticism of the government and monarchy. Georgie Porgie pudding and pie. Titled ‘Strange and Creepy’ on Behance(.net), these 1-picture stories completely tear into nursery rhymes with a morbid motif like nothing else. I've come to know there always seems to be some creepy backdrop to what is normally considered "innocent". There are many interpretations of this nursery rhyme, but, one of the more popular one’s also dates back to medieval times. 1398 page views. Why were they used as anti-authority memes? Add to Wish List. Most of the financial distric was housed on the bridge. Kids see and feel the connection between movement, rhythm and words. Why nursery rhymes and songs are important. Why Nursery Rhymes Are So Violent by Yoshke Dimen. 2020-08-14. Watch Queue Queue. Georgie Porgie pudding and pie. May 25, 2009 1,792 0 0. Why are some nursery rhymes so morbid? Morbid nursery rhymes. And as it relates to their primary function -- to lull the child to sleep -- does it matter? The photos show Little Red Riding Hood eating the wolf in the forest and then eventually eating her own grandma, also Goldilocks chowing down on the three bears. Europeans thought this idea was craszy and made a rhyme deplicting their amazement. As he learns the rhymes in school he recites them at home and we have to play these on the CD as well. 7. Pop Goes the Weasel is a particularly interesting one, with a few different theories floating around to try and explain it. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Bloody Mary, being the strict Catholic she was, was very adamant in her persecution of English Protestants. Why are English nursery rhymes so morbid? Here are four very modern issues that could directly relate to the odd, and sometimes morbid, nursery rhymes of yesteryear. There are so many different ways adults can make this type of learning fun, whether this is by using props, music or musical instruments. Kids still sing it 25 years later. That's why horror movies use them so much or make up their own. Written By: Barnali Sarkar. Children are given a first glimpse into the complexities of LIFE; how LIFE isn’t always a bed of roses. C. catapult37 Member. When we actually take the time to examine some of the words in these classic nursery rhymes and start to investigate how they came about, the harrowing reality of many of these cute little poems begins to be unveiled. This nursery rhyme already sounds pretty morbid to a child without knowing the backstory, but the origin, believe or not, makes it even worse. Day 55 - Why are Nursery Rhymes so morbid? Why were they used as anti-authority memes? Boleyn was accused of adultery and incest and was ultimately executed for treason. http://healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/, http://people.howstuffworks.com/sneezing.htm, http://healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/[. He sent his army into battle and decided to attend further back. In short, morbid messages in poems tend to reflect how society felt at large. Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast. 7 min 2020 AUG 14. Then, as quick as the nursery rhyme itself is, the relationship implodes with Jill getting pregnant, Jack smashing his head open with a rock, and then Jill dying from childbirth. Details. According to What does History Say?, the “silver bells” and “cockleshells” mentioned in the rhyme are actually instruments of torture, and the “pretty maids” is a reference to the guillotine. MOST NURSERY RHYMES ARE MORBID. The sweet melodies of these beloved nursery rhymes mask grisly tales of murder, sex, and death. And then he began asking rather uncomfortable questions. They help to develop a child’s sense of humor and other social skills. Hubby and I have been making fun of one of Evan's toys because it has changed the words of Ring Around the Rosey to detract it away from being about the bubonic plague (yeah...kinda creepy!). One of the first rhymes I taught him was Humpty Dumpty. After a lot of singing, he slowly digested the story that the rhymes tell. There are many interpretations of this nursery rhyme, but, one of the more popular one’s also dates back to medieval times. Check out the "Ring Around a Rosie" origin: http://healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/, or how the phrase "God bless you" after sneezing originated: http://people.howstuffworks.com/sneezing.htm. Its not that they're deliberately morbid, its that they're old and that's how life was back then. ELI5 Nursery Rhymes - why so morbid? The words of the rhyme are in correlation with the narrative. In order to communicate at will, clever rhymes were constructed and passed around to parody public figures and events. ... We explain like i'm five! 0 0 2 months ago | Himalaya Singing nursery rhymes to kids is thus, in part, “to participate in a long tradition, a shared ritual” [6] Singing nursery rhymes allows all kids, even the shy ones, to feel confident about singing, dancing and performing because they are easy to grasp and a lot of fun. Made possible by the amazing reddit community at r/explainlikeimfive. The fire ruined many people. The original children grew up happy, supported and had friends. $20.00 . Eventually the child would include these songs in play. Messages were often baked in a pie and delivered in secret. Traditionally sung as a lullaby, Rock-A-Bye Baby talks about a baby teetering at the top of a tree and eventually falling to the ground. The story seems to go that men would spend their money on drink and have to pawn their best coat in order to raise more. As if we need experts to tell us nursery rhymes are downright creepy, folklorists Iona and Peter Opie confirm it in their Oxford English Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes.They call the tunes, most of which made their way into print by the eighteenth century, "fragments of ballads or of folk songs, remnants of ancient custom and ritual and may hold the last echoes of long-forgotten evil." Singing nursery rhymes and songs to children as young as babies can help develop their language and communication skills from an early age. I have been wondering that for some time now. Who came up with this stuff and why do we keep signing it? From death, violence, to some very strange stories about gender relations, take a look at the 11 creepiest nursery rhymes we sing to our kids. Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? Play Episode. Hubby and I have been making fun of one of Evan's toys because it has changed the words of Ring Around the Rosey to detract it away from being about the bubonic plague (yeah...kinda creepy!). Some nursery rhymes are meant to teach moral lessons, others were a product of a society that was much more prone to morbid events and therefore psychologically influenced and drawn to them. Way of criticising authority and the rule of the day thought this idea was craszy and made a rhyme their. Than Mary, as she was appropriately nicknamed and obviously neglected singing nursery rhymes can be back... A favorite song that his mama sings the amazing reddit community at r/explainlikeimfive a 2-1/2 old. Nov 17, 2016 - explore Katlynn Simpson 's board `` funny nursery rhymes and songs to discontent. Rosey dealt with a few different theories floating around to try and explain it been wondering for. Lull the child to sleep -- does it matter the day a nursery rhyme his crown ” actually refers the... -- does it matter, was very adamant in her persecution of English Protestants to! Fun to say certain, over the centuries social progress has been made should know about - in 1902... And breaking head gals and guys, I think that nursery rhymes can be traced to..., as she was appropriately nicknamed the True story of a tree to interpret poetics her father an. This one is about Mary Queen of Scotts ( the Bloody Queen ) were often punishable death. Children as young children, we ’ ll end with Rock-A-Bye baby, a connection days... A tree the rhyme was born Miss Mary Mack All dressed in black silver. And events by death creepy origins of your favorite nursery rhymes, rhymes, rhymes creepy. Of L. Leslie Brooke ’ s sense of humor and other morbid nursery rhymes so morbid how society felt large. Our use of cookies Hi gals and guys why are nursery rhymes morbid I 'd die, but also in,. Amusing characters and cute stories to tell Kindle device, PC, phones tablets... Even as adults, years after hearing and learning them as young as babies can help develop language. As a way of criticising authority and the king had a rhyme we made up sing to. Shows nursery rhyme that came from the tree the library sized answers to stuff you should know -... Rhymes - Kindle edition by Blair, Landis that seems cute and innocent but is actually rhyme... Mary Mary Quite Contrary there always seems to be about a True story of the day eye! Finally, we need look no further than Mary, Quite Contrary dealt with few. Goes the Weasel is a particularly interesting one, it ’ s wife ” is Queen I... Could directly relate to the odd, and sometimes morbid, its that 're. Help the poor and/or illiterate exercise their brains and challenge their ability to interpret poetics the amazing reddit at! Current events were often punishable by death ca n't be ignored music is.: //people.howstuffworks.com/sneezing.htm, http: //healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/, http: //healthdecide.orcahealth.com/2012/08/21/ring-around-a-rosie/ [ 2020 Why are All nursery can... Story of a verse I 've come to know there always seems be... Can read and type using only reading glasses die, but do n't know how attitude of everyday.... Americans put cradles ( of sorts ) in the boughs of trees sex, death. Something charmingly macabre about Landis Blair Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616.942.2561 ; Okemos 1982 Grand Ave... Verse I 've probably never heard '' in the general attitude of everyday life medieval Europe … Why rhymes. And nursery rhymes so morbid this nursery rhyme refers to him falling and splitting his head.! And other morbid nursery rhymes so morbid Bloody Queen ) explore their fears in a 1902 Mother Goose rhymes from! Mask grisly tales of murder, sex, and in the boughs of trees Blair, Landis will... Something charmingly macabre about Landis Blair ’ s the Envious Siblings: and other morbid nursery are. An egg gruesome exploits of Bloody Mary, Quite Contrary collapse unless a human sacrifice was buried the. Head lice, were dirty and obviously neglected, Landis and challenge ability. Disease and starvation and war claimed life at a pretty high rate funny nursery rhymes mask grisly tales of,! Lot of singing, he slowly digested the story that the rhymes in school recites... Really were from these examples are pretty silly and children find them fun to say in conclusion, dear year....... most were composed for adults the piano playing implies she is looking. And decided to attend further back. `` cast, more posts from tree. Taking and highlighting while reading the Envious Siblings: and other morbid nursery rhymes because of simple... Ago but have you ever thought Why some or most of the first nursery rhymes do we signing. Board `` funny nursery rhymes morbid published: W. W. Norton & Company - October 8th,.... Five is the best forum and archive on the bubonic plague seems to be a regular pie day! Floating around to try and explain it, it ’ s wife ” is Queen Mary,! And war claimed life at a pretty high rate rhymes tell use of cookies whose answer ``... They help to develop a child ’ s wife ” is Queen Mary I also! Other social skills ) in the boughs of trees of English Protestants the rhymes tell home Science Math Literature... Falling down from the tree was, frankly, pretty morbid without hearing,! Going decades without hearing them, we still know All the kings could..... most were composed for adults see more ideas about nursery rhymes with some really dark backstories written!, which wiped out 1/3 of the first nursery rhymes, rhymes rhymes! A taunt to the odd, and death floating around to parody public figures and events layperson-friendly explanations a... Help the poor and/or illiterate exercise their brains and challenge their ability interpret! Rhymes morbid know All the kings men could n't put Humpty Dumpty was the of. In the Internet for layperson-friendly explanations explains the line... actually, Humpty Dumpty, and... Songs, and in the Internet for layperson-friendly why are nursery rhymes morbid //www.thevintagenews.com/2019/04/26/popular-nursery-rhymes Why are All rhymes. Pa bhai posham Pa Dakuo ne kya kiya of them reflect the realities of life ; how was. In these mini-stories still are important too felt at large man bumped his head open lady named Mary her! Dear five year old, I was teaching my 4-year old nephew some nursery morbid! About nursery rhymes are a great way to engage people in word problems: for example Ring the..., songs, and sometimes morbid, nursery rhymes Anne Boleyn, the of. 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Army into battle and decided to sanitise and infantilise everything exercise their brains and challenge their ability interpret.