The Truth Behind Nursery Rhymes Part 2

The Truth Behind Nursery Rhymes Part 2

Previously, it was mentioned that certain nursery rhymes have very dark histories. The next part of the series will uncover even more of such stories.

“Goosey Goosey Gander” has innocent words like goosey goosey, but the song is about religious persecution, while “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” is about the murderous actions of Queen Mary I of England, and lastly “Rock-a-bye Baby” has connotations with King James II of England and Mary of Modena having a son that was not their own but was faked to ensure a Roman Catholic heir for the throne (Wood, 2023).

But there are even more nursery rhymes with dark histories.

“Humpty Dumpty” is actually not an egg, but a huge cannon that was launched as an attack during the battle of the Royalists against Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, while “Oranges and Lemons” was about Henry VIII’s marital issues, and “Ring around the Rosie” is about the millions of Medieval Europeans who died due to a deadly plague (Nepilova, 2026).

Even as history is captured through word of mouth in these unique nursery rhymes, perhaps this would not work in our modern age. If a song is discriminatory, it would immediately be flagged by the general public. Everyone has a camera, and documentation is instant. If something is published online, that information is very difficult to take down. Hence, the truth behind nursery rhymes will only work with ancient rhymes.

However, with generative AI, all this could change. The truth, as we know, may also change.

References

Nepilova, H. (14 February, 2026). Darkest nursery rhymes: the eerie truths hidden in our favourite childhood songs. Retrieved from Classical Music: https://www.classical-music.com/features/works/darkest-nursery-rhymes

Wood, J. M. (14 March, 2023). The Dark and Mysterious Origins of 10 Classic Nursery Rhymes. Retrieved from Mental Floss: https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/nursery-rhymes/dark-origins-11-classic-nursery-rhymes

 

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io

The Truth Behind Nursery Rhymes Part 1

The Truth Behind Nursery Rhymes Part 1.

Nursery rhymes are timeless, and they can be found in every preschool classroom. Teachers sing or recite them with the children, and sometimes even create new lyrics to match the curriculum. However, these nursery rhymes may not be as innocent as they seem. Some have dark histories behind them. In this series of articles, the stories behind these stories will begin to unfold, shedding light on the truth behind nursery rhymes.

Nursery rhymes help build children’s early language and communication skills, foster self-esteem, and get them ready to do reading or writing (National Literacy Trust, 2025).

The popular “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” song could be about racism, while “Jack and Jill” is about France’s Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, his wife, where they were beheaded, and lastly “London Bridge Is Falling Down” could be either about child sacrifice, the destruction of an old bridge, or even a 1014 Viking attack (Wood, 2015).

Also, “Three Blind Mice” is about three Protestant bishops: Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Radley, and Thomas Cranmer, who were burned for trying to overturn the queen, or “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo” is about racism against black people because “tiger” was a new addition from the n-word, and lastly “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” is about female prisoners being executed around a mulberry tree (Wood, 2015).

Thus, it is clear that, similarly to ghosts or witches, it is usually the minority or females who become discriminated and ill-treated.

If you are looking for useful resources to teach language skills to young children, check out this resource here.

References

National Literacy Trust. (7 November, 2025). Nursery Rhymes in the Early Years. Retrieved from National Literacy Trust: https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/nursery-rhymes-in-the-early-years/

Wood, J. M. (29 April, 2015). The Dark Origins of 11 Classic Nursery Rhymes. Retrieved from Time: https://time.com/3828261/dark-origins-11-nursery-rhymes/

 

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io