Random thoughts on nursery rhymes

Every now and then, I like to post about random subjects and today is one such random occasion. Today's random subject is nursery rhymes, and to start things off here are a couple of criticisms of one famous nursery rhyme in particular.

1) Rock-A-Bye Baby is a nursery rhyme about a baby in a cradle on a treetop.

On reflection, it seems like a foolish decision
to look for water at the top of the hill.

Firstly, which idiot thought it was a good idea to put a baby in a cradle at the top of a tree? Surely that's just asking for trouble!

Secondly, just as I warned, when the wind blew, the cradle and the baby fell to the ground. You have to wonder, which idiot thought it would make a nice children's tale to have a nursery rhyme about a baby falling to its death from the top of a tree!?




2) Since water doesn't flow uphill, there's a good chance that Jack and Jill were heading in the wrong direction.

Silly nursery rhymes

Quite some time ago on the Charles Fudgemuffin blog I wrote about how some children's stories are inappropriately scary. This week I follow a similar theme as I take a look at some of the peculiarities found in nursery rhymes.

A cockle shell, as 'grown' by Mary in her garden.

1) Mary Mary

Let's start with Mary Mary....

"Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row."

Now I'm not much of a horticulturist, but I'm pretty sure Mary's a big fat liar.

Her garden grows with 'silver bells' and 'cockle shells'?  Really?  You're growing bells and shells, Mary, are you?  And just how did you manage that?  Even more impressive, you're growing pretty maids?

If Mary was some sort of evil genetic scientist from a sci-fi horror story, then maybe, but as a gardener in a nursery rhyme, I'm sorry but I'm going to call Mary's claims a big fat lie.