What are we really singing about? - Comments

I knew about this when I was little kid. When my teacher in elementary school had the class sing it while we played a game I asked my teacher why we had to sing a song about death. That little question ended in a little trip to the principle's office. I guess knowledge isn't appreciated at a young age.

i learned about that inworld history the other day too...its just how i guess they made children comfortable with death back then .

I learned about this in 6th grade, so I had a little background knowledge, but thanks for giving more information.

I don't agree with your assumption that this is sick and twisted. couldn't you argue that childrens tales are about creating a universe based on adult reality but on a learning curve that children can understand. At a time when a third of the world were dying i think its fair to say no one could escape there death and that a small rhyme better communicated to children what was happening.

Interesting article, I heard about the meaning before.
And also, I still know it in the original version as well.
Ah well.

That's crazy. I had no idea. I never really thought to decipher the words. Most children songs aren't too deep.

Actually, the modern day version is wrong. In England an all around Europe, well still sing

Ring-a-Ring o'Rosies
A Pocket full of Posies
"A-tishoo! A-tishoo!"
We all fall Down!

The 'modern day' is just a common americanism.

Jack and Jill was about Louis the third
(at least i think it was the third) and Marie Anntionette.
i probably misspelled her last name.

I was actually taught that it wasn't about the Black Death. I'd always known it and believed that it WAS about the Black Death, but lots of people told me it wasn't, and that people sometimes look into things too much. But I think it's a fun little coincidence.

I love the fact that old Nursery Rhymes are dark. Most fairy tales are dark too, but stupid Disney re-writes them. They half-ruined the little mermaid (she dies in the end :D) and HERCULES! Don't get me started on frigging Hercules. But I guess some of that stuff IS a bit too morbid for little kids. Great Article anyways :D

I read something like that when I like...seven and figured it out immediately, and then I got in trouble for telling my class that. I almost got expelled for it.
But, honestly, if you don't understand how it completely and directly relates to it then...wow, we need better english classes.

Good article, there's only a couple of things I want to point out-
One- Fleas aren't rodents. They're small insect-type-parasites.
Two- The rodents didn't do the biting, the fleas did.
Three- 60% of the world didn't die. 60% of the population in some big towns like London, maybe. But not the world- they didn't get it in Africa, America or Oceania. And most of Asia was plague-free too.

I live in London, and we got hit by the plague pretty bad in 1665.
Then the great fire in 1666 killed off most of the flea-carrying rodents, so there was no more plague. ^^

And Jack And Jill isn't about the town drunk- it was about adultery

Incidentally, the rhyme was written until the 1800's.

Intresting article. I first heard about this from my granpa's Christian tapes lecturing about this. I was 10 back then, creeped me the hell out. :]

London Bridge is about the sacrifice of children, apparently. My friend told me there was a verse in the original version that goes "Take the key and lock her up"
I'm not sure if this is true. Will Google. :]

Oh well thats cheerful. Just before naptime th ekindy kids will sing a pretty nursery rhyme then dream about the Black Death and decapitations. I just love school!

Mary, Quite Contrary is about Bloody Mary.
The pretty maids, are maidens or are now called Guillotines.
It's quite scary when you think about it lol.

No offense or anything,
but the song has always been about death...
Nothing new...

knew it! i told my friends that and what did they say.* ABI UR CRAZY* lol luv it when im right

.nomatter how seldom that is. XD

Oh yeah that makes snese it's the Black Death.

If you take note, you'll notice most childrens stories and poems are really quite creepy.

Oh.
First time I've heard of this.
I thought it was about hayfever lmfao!
cause of the "a-tishoo a-tishoo"
awww man. funny. i'm an idiot. (:

I've heard that too. It's so wrong to have children sing about death.

Nursery rhymes are so demented.