Chances are that when you were a kid, your parents sang you nursery rhymes to get you to sleep. And if that was the case, it is very likely they sang old nursery rhymes that were passed on from generation to generation like some family relic. A relic whose origins are unknown, meaning undiscovered, and powers unchanged. However, there comes a time when every mystery is solved, so if you came here to figure out nursery rhyme origin stories, you’ll absolutely find just that in this list.
But, before you begin gleaning the information on origin stories of nursery rhymes, be warned that most of them are much more sinister than you would’ve cared to think. Nursery rhymes often served the purpose of cautionary tales, although who thought that slipping the idea of chopped-off fingers to kids would help them fall asleep is beyond us. It’s probably because life, in general, used to be much more brutal than in our time, and these nursery rhymes for kids seemed appropriate, well, for kids. However, we do warn you again - chopped-off fingers are just a cherry on top, and revisiting these children’s rhymes in your adult years might make you all goose-bumpy with their cruelty and brutishness.
Okay, now that we’ve shared our warnings not once but twice, and since you’re still here, you can now proceed to the children’s nursery rhymes and the stories behind them. Once you are done with these shocking tales, be sure to upvote the old nursery rhymes whose origin stories were the most unexpected to you; we’re very curious to see which one of them will be the winner!
#21
"See Saw Margery Daw"
The rhyme may have its roots in a sawyer's labor song that helped maintain rhythm while using a two-person saw.
"See Saw Margery Daw,
Jacky shall have a new master;
Jacky shall earn but a penny a day,
Because he can't work any faster."
Jacky shall have a new master;
Jacky shall earn but a penny a day,
Because he can't work any faster."
24points
#22
"There Was an Old Woman Who Lived Under a Hill"
This children's song first appeared in The Academy of Complements in 1714 as a catch.
"There was an old woman lived under the hill,
And if she's not gone she lives there still.
Baked apples she sold, and cranberry pies,
And she's the old woman that never told lies."
And if she's not gone she lives there still.
Baked apples she sold, and cranberry pies,
And she's the old woman that never told lies."
24points
#23
"The Lion and the Unicorn"
The words of The Lion and the Unicorn were written in 1603 when James VI of Scotland united the Scottish and English kingdoms as James I of England. James, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, was designated as Elizabeth 1's successor. As a result of the two nations' union, a new royal coat of arms, known as "The lion and the unicorn" was created by merging Scotland's two unicorns with England's two lions. The British coat of arms now has one Lion and one Unicorn as a result of a compromise, and the poem "The Lion and the Unicorn" was written as a result.
"The lion and the unicorn
Were fighting for the crown
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town."
Were fighting for the crown
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town."
22points
#24
"London Bridge is Falling Down"
Although there are a number of potential sources for this incredibly well-known rhyme, it is most probable that the Vikings chanted it as they attacked the bridge in 1014. Variations of the song allegedly were sung by Vikings during a number of their victories.
"London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady."
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady."
21points
#25
"Round and Round the Garden"
This nursery rhyme has very recent beginnings. One of the most popular presents to give a newborn infant is a "Teddy Bear," and this tradition dates back to the early 1900s, when the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. in America and the Steiff company in Germany created the first plush Teddy Bears. Teddy, the nickname of former American President Theodore Roosevelt, is where the term Teddy Bear originated. Theodore Roosevelt, the president, went bear hunting in Mississippi in 1902. Members of the group surrounded a juvenile black bear, which Roosevelt found injured and ordered to be mercy killed.
"Round and round the garden
Like a teddy bear;
One step, two step,
Tickle you under there!"
Like a teddy bear;
One step, two step,
Tickle you under there!"
21points
#26
"Eeper Weeper"
The narrative of a chimney sweep who murders his second wife and puts her body up a chimney is depicted in this well-known English nursery rhyme and skipping song.
The rhyme has been used in this form at least since the first decade of the 20th century, according to Iona and Peter Opie.
The rhyme has been used in this form at least since the first decade of the 20th century, according to Iona and Peter Opie.
"Eeper Weeper, chimney sweeper,
Had a wife but couldn't keep her.
Had another, didn't love her,
Up the chimney he did shove her."
Had a wife but couldn't keep her.
Had another, didn't love her,
Up the chimney he did shove her."
21points
#27
"To market, to Market"
The rhyme is first mentioned in John Florio's 1598 book "A Worlde of Wordes, or Most Copious, and exact Dictionarie in Italian and English," which defines "Abomba" as "a man's home or resting place: home againe, home againe," and the 1611 edition, which is even clearer, refers to "the place where children playing hide themselves... Also as we used to say Home againe home againe, market is done."
"To market, to market, to buy a penny bun,
Home again, home again, market is done."
Home again, home again, market is done."
20points
#28
"Bobby Shafto's Gone to Sea"
The song was used by the followers of Robert Shafto, a British Member of Parliament for County Durham in the eighteenth century, and afterwards the borough of Downton in Wiltshire.
When he married Anne Duncombe of Duncombe Park in Yorkshire, the song is claimed to tell the tale of how he shattered Bridget Belasyse's heart at Brancepeth Castle in County Durham, where his brother Thomas served as rector. According to reports, Bridget Belasyse passed away two weeks after learning the news.
When he married Anne Duncombe of Duncombe Park in Yorkshire, the song is claimed to tell the tale of how he shattered Bridget Belasyse's heart at Brancepeth Castle in County Durham, where his brother Thomas served as rector. According to reports, Bridget Belasyse passed away two weeks after learning the news.
"Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles at his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!
Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He's my love for evermore,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!"
Silver buckles at his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!
Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He's my love for evermore,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!"
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19points
#29
"Humpty Dumpty"
A small, clumsy individual who was frequently full of ail was referred to as Humpty Dumpty in the past.
Additionally, because intoxicated people tend to stumble, they wouldn't have the ideal balance when engaging in drunken antics.
"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 had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again."
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17points
#30
"Pop Goes the Weasel"
Pop goes the Weasel for Fun and Frolic was released as sheet music by Miller & Beacham of Baltimore in the early 1850s. The first source that links the name to this song is this one. The music by Miller and Beacham was an adaptation of the 1700s song "The Haymakers." The "Haymakers" country dance or jig can be found in Gow's Repository of the Dance Music of Scotland (1799 to 1820).
"Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle.
That's the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel."
Half a pound of treacle.
That's the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel."
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17points
#31
"There was a Little Guinea Pig"
Like many classic nursery rhymes, the roots and lyrics of "There was a tiny guinea-pig" have buried, hidden meanings and make references to historical figures and events. The characters at King Richard III of England's Plantagenet court are said to be the subject of references in the poem "There was a tiny guinea-pig."
Sir Thomas Catesby was the Cat. Sir William Ratcliffe of Ordsall Hall was the Rat. Francis, Lord Lovell was a dog, a now-extinct hunting hound breed, talbot. Richard III was "The Hog" (his emblem was a white boar).
Sir Thomas Catesby was the Cat. Sir William Ratcliffe of Ordsall Hall was the Rat. Francis, Lord Lovell was a dog, a now-extinct hunting hound breed, talbot. Richard III was "The Hog" (his emblem was a white boar).
"There was a little Guinea-pig,
Who, being little, was not big;
He always walked upon his feet,
And never fasted when he eat."
Who, being little, was not big;
He always walked upon his feet,
And never fasted when he eat."
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15points
#32
"Arthur o' Bower"
In 1823, William Wordsworth recalled hearing this rhyme "in the time of a strong wind" as a young boy. According to an anonymous contributor to The Spectator in 1893, in the 1830s, "We yelled or sung as we ran whenever we were joyful enough to be running around in a strong wind as kids. In fact, it was frequently performed while dangling from the top of a tree since it was thought to be an essential accompaniment to the wind."
"Arthur o'Bower has broken his band,
He comes roaring up the land.
King of Scots with all his power
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower."
He comes roaring up the land.
King of Scots with all his power
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower."
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15points
#33
"As I was going by Charing Cross"
The equestrian statue of Charles I that was built during the Restoration in 1660 and transported to the location of the former Charing Cross in central London in 1675 is supposed to be the subject of the poem. Although the tarnished bronze statue's color is mostly dark, the word "black" might be a reference to the king's hair color.
"As I was going by Charing Cross,
I saw a black man upon a black horse;
They told me it was King Charles the First-
Oh dear, my heart was ready to burst!"
I saw a black man upon a black horse;
They told me it was King Charles the First-
Oh dear, my heart was ready to burst!"
14points
#34
"Baby Shark"
It began as a chant or song over a campfire. The original song was likely written in the 20th century and may have been inspired by the Jaws film by camp counselors. The campers use their hands to mimic the sharks' jaws as they introduce each member of a family of sharks in the chant.
"Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark."
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark."
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14points
#35
"Did You Ever See a Lassie?"
Although this song was first collected in the United States in the latter decade of the nineteenth century and was not discovered in Great Britain until the middle of the twentieth, the usage of the names "lassie" and "laddie" indicate that it may have Scottish origins. However, it might be suggested that Scottish immigrants or Scottish-Americans may have contributed to the song's lyrics.
"Did you ever see a lassie,
A lassie, a lassie?
Did you ever see a lassie,
Go this way and that?
Go this way and that way,
Go this way and that way.
Did you ever see a lassie,
Go this way and that?"
A lassie, a lassie?
Did you ever see a lassie,
Go this way and that?
Go this way and that way,
Go this way and that way.
Did you ever see a lassie,
Go this way and that?"
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14points
