Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Rhymes are simple, popular songs and rhymes taught to young children, they often accompany the games they play. In Host Nation we learn just a few. These rhymes, however, do sometimes have a less pleasant background although many people don't realise it. I have included some of the rhymes here, the details about each rhyme is really aimed at the grown ups, so you can just enjoy the rhymes!
Ring a ring o'roses/Ring around the roses
Ring a ring o' roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo! Atishoo!
We all fall down!
Children dance in a circle while singing the rhyme. At the last line 'We all fall down.' the children crouch down on the floor.
When I was young, we had a second verse:-
The cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
Atishoo! Atishoo!
We all jump up!
What is it about?
In 1665 the Great Plague spread throughout England, killing thousands of people. This popular children's rhyme explains the symptoms, the remedy and the consequences.
A ring o' roses or ring around the roses are the blemishes which appeared on the skin. The pocket full of posies refer to the flowers that the people carried around with them to keep the disease away (they believed that bad smells caused illness, so carrying flowers would sweeten the air!). Atishoo! is the sound of the sneezing which was one of the symptoms of the plague and, finally, of course, there was no cure!
I can't find any reference to the second verse anywhere. I think it must probably have been a way of hiding the true meaning of the rhyme, or maybe just being optimistic! It could, I suppose, be a regional version. Suggestions, anyone?
American differences
Most American's I speak with know this rhyme but with one major difference. In the American version 'Atishoo!' is replaced with 'Ashes'. Someone tried to tell me that it referred to the cremation of the dead, but, to my knowledge, they didn't cremate the victims before they 'fell down'! It could of course, be a different way of expressing the sneezing action!
Pussy cat, Pussy cat
Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you do there?
I frightened a little mouse under a chair.
What is it all about?
Legend has it that this rhyme dates back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603). One of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting owned a cat which roamed through the palace. One day the cat's tail brushed against the Queen's foot which made her jump. Luckily, for the cat, she said that he could stay providing that he kept the throne room free of mice!
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day.
Rain, rain, go away,
Little Johnny wants to play.
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!
What is it all about?
One thing, we get plenty of here in the U.K. is weather! But what is this rhyme really all about? Well, it could just be about the weather and the frustration we feel when we want to play outside! However, a more interesting theory says that the rhyme dates to the time of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) when England and Spain were frequently at war. When the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, it was largely due to the swiftness of the smaller English ships, but the weather played an important part, too. Stormy weather caused many of the Spanish ships to disperse, helping with the English victory.
Doctor Foster
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain;
He stepped in a puddle,
Right up to his middle,
And never went there again.
What is it all about?
It is said that this rhyme dates make to when King Edward I (1272-1307), who is Doctor Foster in the rhyme, is rumoured to have visited Gloucester (pronounced Gloster) and fallen off his horse into a large muddy puddle. As a direct result, he refused to go there again. King Edward I was a very tall man for his time (over 6 feet tall) which gave him the nickname, 'Longshanks'. If the puddle really did come up to his middle it must have been a huge one!
In a shower of rain;
He stepped in a puddle,
Right up to his middle,
And never went there again.
What is it all about?
It is said that this rhyme dates make to when King Edward I (1272-1307), who is Doctor Foster in the rhyme, is rumoured to have visited Gloucester (pronounced Gloster) and fallen off his horse into a large muddy puddle. As a direct result, he refused to go there again. King Edward I was a very tall man for his time (over 6 feet tall) which gave him the nickname, 'Longshanks'. If the puddle really did come up to his middle it must have been a huge one!