The truth behind Nursery Rhymes - A Hidden History

The term nursery rhyme is used for ‘traditional’ songs for young children in Britain and many English speaking countries. Most of these rhymes have historical connotations behind them some of which are downright sinister. We recite these stories without knowing the colorful history or gossip behind them.

Nursery Rhymes have historically been used to express opinions that could not be spoken freely. Some seemingly silly rhymes included political statements which if they had been spoken straightforward, would be punishable by death. Most nursery rhymes were from Europe, particularly England, but a few came from others areas of the world - even America contributed a few.

Humpty Dumpty

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!

Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in fifteenth century England describing someone who was obese. Humpty Dumpty somehow became an egg in the illustrations in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

But the Humpty Dumpty in this rhyme is believed to be a large cannon! The cannon was used during the English Civil War (1642-1649) in the Siege of Colchester (June 13, 1648 - August 27, 1648). Colchester was strongly fortified by the Royalists and was laid to siege by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). In 1648, the town of Colchester was a walled town with a castle and several churches and was protected by the city wall. St Mary's Church stood immediately alongside the city wall. A huge cannon, colloquially called Humpty Dumpty, was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary's Church. A shot from a Parliamentary cannon damaged the wall Humpty Dumpty sat on causing the cannon to "take a great fall". The Royalists, or Cavaliers (all the King's men) attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall. They probably attempted to use horses to help lift it, hence all the kings horses and all the kings men. They we're, as we know, unsuccessful. This had a drastic consequence for the Royalists as the strategically important town of Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks.

Jack and Jill

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Jack and Jill went up the hill
to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after

The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

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Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

The "Mary" is reputed to be Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic. The "garden" referred to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith - Protestant martyrs.

The "silver bells and cockle shells" referred to instruments of torture. The 'silver bells' were thumbscrews which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces by the tightening of a screw. The 'cockleshells' were believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals!

The 'maids' were a mechanical instrument (now known as the guillotine) to behead people called the Maiden.

Georgie Porgie

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

"Georgie Porgie" was referred to the courtier George Villiers, 1st duke of Duke of Buckingham (1592–1628). King James I took Villiers as his lover and nicknamed him "Steenie" (a reference to St. Stephen whom in the Bible describes as having the "face of an angel"). Villier's good looks also appealed to the ladies and his highly suspect morals were much in question!