Nursery Rhymes

Nursery Rhymes are songs for young children in Great Britain and many English speaking countries.

 

 

'But in North America the term "Mother Goose Rhymes" is still often used. This term was introduced in the mid-1700s. The publication of "Mother Goose's Melody or Sonnets for the Cradle by  John Newbery is the first record of many classic rhymes.'

 

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'These rhymes seem to have come from a variety of sources: traditional riddles, proverbs, ballads, lines of plays, historical events...'

 

 

'It is said that lots of Nursery Rhymes have hidden meanings and reflect events in history. They could have been used to parody the royal or to talk about political events and people of the day. A rhyme was used as a seemingly innocent vehicle to quickly spread subversive messages! Children's songs were a peculiar way of coded historial narrative, propaganda, coverte protest...'

 

 

 

A couple of examples:

 

. 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary' is said that has been seen as having religious and historical significance. One of theories says that this song is about Mary Queen of Scotland and another theory says that is about Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Queen of Scots

 

BBC. Schools. Mary Queen of Scots

   

. 'Ring a Ring Rosies' is said to refer to the Great Plague of London, 1665. The plague caused a rash in the form of a ring hence. "A-tishoo, a-tishoo" someone is sneezing...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In our days, we can find some lyrics of these well-known songs and Nursery Rhymes in advertisements, pop songs...

 

 Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star  

 

 

 

 

RING A RING A ROSES

 

 

Around minute 1.

 

 

 

Who said that Nursery Rhymes aren't fun!

 

Edward Reid!!!

 

 

I do agree... "loved him, what a nice bloke and he can sing!"

En español:

 

  Nursery Rhymes son canciones populares que cantan los niños de Gran Bretaña y de otros países de habla inglesa. Suelen ser cortas y con melodías muy pegadizas. Se cree que algunas de estas canciones podrían haber sido usadas para criticar a la realeza, contar las noticias del momento, etc. En aquellos tiempos la gente tenía miedo a dar su opinión ya que podían ser encarcelados o cortarles la cabeza. ¿Quién podría sospechar que una cancioncilla infantil tuviera algún mensaje oculto?

 Dos ejemplos:

 

. "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" se piensa que esta canción insinúa que  Mary no estaba muy bien de la cabeza. Podría hablar de la reina María Estuardo de Escocia (o María I, hija de Enrique VIII). Los motivos: o religiosos (católicos/protestantes) o de mala relación (las primas María Estuardo e Isabel I no se llevaban muy bien).

.  "Ring a Ring of Rosies" se dice que trata de la gran plaga que hubo en Londres, Inglaterra, en 1965. Fue una epidemia que mató entre 70.000 y 100.000 personas. Causaba fiebre alta y un sarpullido en forma circular.