The History and Origins of Nursery Rhymes

The History and Origins of Nursery
Rhymes

The history and origins of most nursery rhymes reflect events in history and where
available we have included both the meanings, history and origins of everyone's
favourite nursery rhymes. Two examples of these types of nursery rhymes history and
origins are 'Ring a Ring o Rosies' which refers to the Bubonic plague and 'Remember
Remember' nursery rhymes which allude to Guy Fawkes' foiled attempt to blow up
the English Houses of Parliament! Many of the words and nursery rhymes lyrics were
used to parody the royal and political events of the day, direct dissent would often be
punishable by death!
Here are the examples of the Nursery Rhymes:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When the nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark.
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

Jack be Nimble
Jack be Nimble
Jack, be nimble,
Jack, be quick,
Jack, jump over
The candlestick. Jack jumped high
Jack jumped low
Jack jumped over
and burned his toe.
Do You Know The Muffin Man
Do you know the Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man?
Do you know the Muffin Man
Who lives in Drury Lane?
Yes, I know the Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man.
Yes, I know the Muffin Man
Who lives in Drury Lane.
Humpty Dumpty
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.

Hush Little Baby
Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's going to buy you
a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's going to buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull,
a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over,
a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover
won't bark,
a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest
little baby in town.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Nursery Rhymes and its Origins
Most children love being told nursery rhymes. The most popular nursery rhymes are
listed here with their origins - perhaps nursery rhymes bring back fond memories of
your childhood! Can you remember the tunes to the nursery rhymes? The most
popular nursery rhymes are Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Sing a song of sixpence
and last but not least Hey diddle diddle! these examples of nursery rhymes have
been passed down generation to generation up to thirty times!

Nursery Rhymes & Origins
It's no wonder the historical origins of Nursery Rhymes have become obscure as even though the
nursery rhymes lyrics may have changed only slightly over so many re-tellings the English language
itself has changed over the last six hundred years as anyone reading Shakespeare for the first time
could not fail to notice!

As I was born and bred in London my favourite nursery rhymes are London Bells and its counterpart
'Oranges and Lemons' which recreate the sound of the chimes of many old churches once in London,
however now I know the origins of the lyrics for this nursery rhyme the true rhyme meaning and
origins of the last sentences are even more sinister than I had imagined as a child. The other is
'Pussycat Pussycat' - every child's dream must once have been 'to go up to London to visit the
Queen'. Believe it or not the origins and history of the nursery rhyme 'Hey Diddle Diddle' are fully
known and if you want to know what a runcible spoon is - check out the 'Owl and the Pussycat' for
the origins and definition of Nursery Rhymes...

Knowledge of English History and the English language undoubtedly assisted in the
analysis of the lyrics and origins of these nursery rhymes, however we can normally
offer little definitive proof other than author names and earliest traceable
publication dates of the nursery rhymes.

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