- If you've never really thought about it before, you probably didn't notice.
These kids songs have lyrics about death and beatings but we sing them all the time. What do you think of these songs now knowing they have dark meanings.
Ring Around the Rosie
As one fo the more popular kids songs originally started about the Black Death. There are other theories about the song including a version where the disease was a red rash, “rosie” and people would keep herbs, “posie,” in their pockets to try ward off sickness. And, we all fall down, well, it’s not good.
Lucy Locket
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon round it.
Another version:
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Nothing in it, nothing in it,
But a binder round it.
This song too has different theories but one of them is a sex scandal. The story says that Kitty Fisher, one of the most famous courtesans in 18th century London. Lucy Locket was a barmaid and the two fought over a man, who was rumored to be King Charles II. Not exactly a kid-friendly song according to the history.
Is this one of the darker kids songs? What do you think of a sex scandal kid song?
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
The old man is snoring,
He went to bed and bumped his head,
And couldn’t get up in the morning.
Who doesn’t sing this song? But the lyrics are very dark, if you pay attention. Hitting your head and going to be and not getting up in the morning is, well, you’re dead.
Jack and Jill
Jack and Gill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Gill came tumbling after.
Later the spelling was changed to Jill and more verses were added to carry the story further, of which the commonest are:
Up Jack got and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper;
Went to bed to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper.
Jill came in and she did grin
To see his paper plaster;
Mother, vex’d, did whip her next
For causing Jack’s disaster.
It’s not the worst of songs, I mean, who hasn’t ran and tumbled down a hill as a kid? The second part and newer verses though? Jill surely didn’t deserve a beating for playing with his brother and him getting hurt. Beyond that, the song itself dates back to 1765 and originated in France. The song is actually about King Louis XVI, Jack, and his queen, Marie Atoinette/. King Jack was beheaded due to his failure to accept France’s financial problems, hence, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill, being killed shortly after.
Did you know the history behind these kid songs? Let me know what you think in the comments!