Rethinking Nursery Rhymes

Tune. Melody. Rhythm.

These factors tend to influence how much we enjoy a song, much more than the lyrics and meaning. Our favourite songs are usually something you can hum along to or recite subconsciously, without thinking too hard about what the lyrics mean.

I was thinking back to what my parents would sing before bed, and other nursery rhymes we’d sing in unison at school. How embellished they are in memory and how readily most of us can recite them without a second’s break. And yet, we probably never questioned the meaning or history behind them.

When you scratch beneath the surface, the background to the songs implanted into children’s minds leave a lot to be questioned.

For example:

Baa Baa Black Sheep stems from protests against a wool tax imposed on farmers in the 13th Century – where one third went to the King, one third to the Church and only the final third to the farmers themselves.

Goosey Goosey Gander supposedly refers to secret hiding places priests would use to pray – and when found, the priests would usually be physically assaulted – hence “took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs”

These seem more like nightmares than lullabies! In the world we live in, one wonders if many age-old children’s songs still have relevance and whether there are modern updates that parents and kindergartens should be using instead.

Roald Dahl

“When I’m gone I hope it will be said, my sins were scarlet but my books were read”

While we’re on the topic of childhood material – Roald Dahl might be most influential children’s author of 20th century. His stories somehow combined dark themes with championing kindhearted characters and a warm outlook towards life.

Here’s a lovely interview where talks about his writing process, his workspace and love of the craft. Particularly apt as we all figure out how to set up work spaces at home.