When you think of “London Bridge is Falling Down,” you might remember singing it on the playground or hearing a catchy song by Fergie. This nursery rhyme has been around for nearly 300 years, but some people think it might be even older, possibly dating back to the year 1014. There’s a theory that it could be linked to a Viking attack led by Olaf II of Norway, which supposedly involved the destruction of London Bridge. However, not everyone agrees that this event actually happened.
The rhyme talks about a bridge falling and the efforts to rebuild it with iron, silver, and gold. Some historians believe it might be connected to a Viking attack on the British Isles. A line from a 13th-century Icelandic poem mentions “London Bridge is broken down,” which is similar to the nursery rhyme. However, this connection might not be as strong as it seems, as translations over time have varied, and some experts believe the story might have been exaggerated.
This rhyme seems like a simple song about gardening, but one theory suggests it’s about Queen Mary I of England, also known as Bloody Mary. She ruled from 1553 to 1558 and was known for her harsh treatment of Protestants. Some believe the “garden” in the rhyme is actually a graveyard, and the “silver bells” and “cockle shells” refer to torture devices. However, this explanation is debated since the rhyme appeared long after her reign.
“Three Blind Mice” might also be linked to Bloody Mary. The original lyrics describe mice having their tails cut off, which is quite gruesome. Some think the mice represent three bishops who were executed for their beliefs.
This rhyme has a fun name, but its history is a bit darker. Written down in 1784, it originally had tame lyrics, but later versions included lines about an old man who wouldn’t say his prayers, possibly added to reflect religious conflicts of the time.
“Jack and Jill” is a classic story about a boy and a girl fetching water. Some believe it refers to Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette, but the rhyme was recorded before their time. A more likely explanation is that it relates to King Charles I of England and his attempt to increase taxes on alcohol.
This rhyme might be about a tax on wool introduced in 1275. Recently, some have wondered if it has racial connotations due to the mention of a black sheep and the word “master,” but these interpretations are not widely accepted as the original intent.
Today, kids use this rhyme to choose who’s “it” in games, but early 20th-century versions included offensive language. It’s a reminder of how language and meanings can change over time.
This soothing song, recorded around 1765, is often sung to babies. One theory suggests it might be about the son of King James II of England, rumored to be passed off as their own child.
This rhyme is part of a children’s game, but it might have originated from a prison where female inmates exercised around a mulberry tree.
Many believe this rhyme is about the Great Plague of London in 1665, with “Rosie” referring to the rash of the infected. However, this interpretation is likely incorrect, as some experts think it resembles dancing games from the 19th century.
While these nursery rhymes might have dark stories behind them, they continue to be a fun part of childhood. It’s interesting to see how history and folklore can shape the songs we know today!
Research the historical events mentioned in the nursery rhymes, such as the Viking attack on London Bridge or Queen Mary I’s reign. Create a timeline that shows these events and how they might relate to the rhymes. Use online resources or history books to find accurate dates and details. Present your timeline to the class and explain your findings.
Choose one of the nursery rhymes discussed in the article and rewrite it with a modern twist. Think about how the rhyme might change if it were written today. Consider current events or modern settings that could replace the historical context. Share your new version with the class and discuss how the meaning has changed.
Divide into groups and choose a nursery rhyme with multiple theories about its origin. Each group will research one theory and prepare arguments to support it. Hold a class debate where each group presents their theory and tries to convince the class why it is the most plausible explanation. After the debate, vote on which theory seems most likely.
Illustrate one of the nursery rhymes as a comic strip. Use your creativity to depict the story and its possible historical background. Include dialogue and captions to explain the scenes. Display your comic strips in the classroom and discuss how visual storytelling can enhance understanding of historical events.
Find a nursery rhyme not mentioned in the article and research its history and possible meanings. Prepare a short presentation for the class, including any dark or interesting origins you discover. Compare your findings with the rhymes discussed in the article and explore how nursery rhymes can reflect cultural and historical contexts.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
When you think of “London Bridge is Falling Down,” two things probably come to mind: Fergie’s iconic but risqué homage released in 2006 and the original nursery rhyme recited on the playground during childhood. That nursery rhyme appears in written records almost 300 years ago, but many believe it dates back much further, possibly to the year 1014. Some believe it has origins tied to events less appropriate for children’s ears than whatever Fergie was alluding to, including a bloody war involving plundering Vikings.
Hi, I’m Aaron McCarthy, and this is the List Show. Nursery rhymes are some of the first songs that children learn, but it turns out that even the most inconspicuous and quaint-sounding children’s rhymes have some potentially dark and horrifying origins, from songs that came out of prison to lines meant to accompany animal cruelty. Let’s get started.
“London Bridge is Falling Down,” on the surface, tells of a crumbling bridge and the pleas to an anonymous fair lady to build it back up with iron, silver, and gold. Some historians believe it may reference a Viking attack on the British Isles in 1014, led by Olaf II of Norway, which involved the destruction of London Bridge. Some experts doubt that this event ever happened, but the story has spread widely. The song’s international dissemination is seen as evidence of its Viking origin, presumably spreading during the travels of itinerant groups.
One of the strongest pieces of evidence was a line in the 13th-century Icelandic collection “Hamðismál,” supposedly recited after a victory in London. The line is “London Bridge is broken down,” which appears in some of the earliest versions of the nursery rhyme. As writer Francis Arnold Foster asked in 1899, is it possible that the rhyme still sung is a far-off echo of the song of Olaf’s Norwegian bard? Today, many corners of the internet answer that question with a resounding yes. However, it would be unfortunate if that whole story was built on a shakier foundation than London Bridge itself.
The rhyme I just read comes from a 19th-century translation by someone named Samuel Lang. A few decades later, that translation was described as more vigorous than accurate. A more modern and accepted translation renders the line differently, suggesting that Lang was adapting the complicated scaldic poetry of “Hamðismál” into something more familiar to his audience and intentionally mimicked the already known “London Bridge is Falling Down.” Later writers assumed the translation was completely faithful and made a connection the wrong way around.
So what does that mean for the Viking origin story? There are a few other explanations, including that it was really about an old bridge falling down. However, there was a trend during that era of trying to tie modern things to a dim and distant past, often on scant evidence. While the following stories are popular and sometimes widely accepted, they may not always be ironclad historical facts.
“Mary Mary Quite Contrary” is seemingly a song about gardening, with Mary being solicited for advice on how to grow as lovely a garden as hers. One popular interpretation identifies the titular gardener as Queen Mary I of England, otherwise known as Bloody Mary. She reigned from 1553 to 1558 and is mostly remembered for her attempt to reverse the English Reformation. During her short reign, she ordered the executions of hundreds of Protestants, leading some to conclude that the garden is actually more of a graveyard. The Silver Bells mentioned in the song are thought to refer to thumb screws, a painful torture tool, while cockle shells are believed to be instruments of torture usually attached to male genitals. Some experts are dubious, noting that the rhyme doesn’t appear for a few hundred years after Queen Mary, but there doesn’t seem to be a more persuasive explanation.
“Three Blind Mice” is another nursery rhyme with possible ties to Bloody Mary. The original lyrics involve the mice’s tails getting chopped off with a knife, which is already pretty grisly. According to some, the three blind mice are believed to be a group of bishops who were burned at the stake for their heresy.
“Goosey Goosey Gander” has a fun name, but when it was written down in 1784, its lyrics were pretty tame. Later versions included lines about an old man who wouldn’t say his prayers, which were likely added later.
“Jack and Jill” has all the elements of classic storytelling—a boy, a girl, and a pail of water. A common theory suggests that the titular characters are actually Louis XVI of France and his wife Marie Antoinette. However, the first written record of “Jack and Jill” comes three decades before those events, making that origin seem apocryphal. The more likely story attributes the rhyme to King Charles I of England, who attempted to increase taxes on alcohol.
“Baa Baa Black Sheep” is another classic nursery rhyme with tax-based origins, referencing a tax on wool introduced in 1275. In recent years, the fact that the sheep is black and the word “master” appears in the song has led some to wonder about potentially racist connotations, though it doesn’t seem likely that those readings reflect how the poem was originally intended.
“Eenie Meenie Miny Mo” is another seemingly innocent playground song that has been re-examined. While modern kids use it to pick who’s “it,” early 20th-century versions included a racial slur.
“Rock-a-bye Baby,” recorded around 1765, has been the go-to song to sing to a fussy baby. A popular interpretation involves the son of King James II of England and Mary of Modena, rumored to be passed off as their own child.
“We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” is often sung as part of a children’s game, but its actual history is slightly less cute. A speculative origin suggests it comes from a house of correction where female prisoners ran around a mulberry tree for exercise.
Finally, “Ring Around the Rosie” is one of the few nursery rhymes that seems to have obvious dark origins. Many have pointed to the Great Plague of London in 1665 as a possible inspiration, with the Rosie in question referring to the red rash of the infected. However, this reading is likely false, as some folklorists suggest it resembles dancing games popular in the 19th century.
That’ll do it for today’s slightly disturbing episode of the List Show. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you next time!
—
This version removes inappropriate references and maintains a more neutral tone while preserving the overall content and structure of the original transcript.
Nursery – A room or place set apart for young children, often where they play or are cared for. – In the story, the children spent their afternoons playing in the nursery, surrounded by toys and books.
Rhyme – A repetition of similar sounds in two or more words, often used in poetry and songs. – The poet used a clever rhyme to make the poem more engaging and memorable for the readers.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Our history class visited a museum to learn about the ancient civilizations that shaped the world.
London – The capital city of England, known for its rich history and cultural landmarks. – In the novel, the protagonist travels to London to explore its historic sites and bustling streets.
Bridge – A structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a river, valley, or road, allowing passage over it. – The story describes how the villagers worked together to build a bridge that connected their town to the neighboring city.
Queen – A female monarch or the wife of a king. – In the historical novel, the queen played a crucial role in negotiating peace between the warring nations.
Mary – A common name, often associated with historical figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots. – The biography detailed the life and challenges faced by Mary as she navigated the complex politics of her time.
England – A country that is part of the United Kingdom, known for its historical significance and cultural heritage. – The author set the story in medieval England, capturing the essence of life during that era.
Tax – A compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits. – The historical account explained how the king’s decision to impose a new tax led to widespread unrest among the citizens.
Folklore – The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth. – The novel incorporated elements of folklore, weaving tales of mythical creatures and ancient legends into the plot.
