Tweet
My 2nd youngest daughter got a new book of nursery rhymes for Christmas today and it reminded me of a rhyme that was my favorite when I was a child: “Goosey, Goosey Gander.” For those of you unfamiliar with this gem of a rhyme, here are the lyrics and a short children’s video:
“Goosey, goosey, gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs, and downstairs,
And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers!
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs.”
Not only does it use the effective tool of alliteration to grab the child’s attention right away, it quickly teaches the child that if they do not say their prayers, they could be physically attacked. The converse is also taught: Throw people who don't say prayers down the stairs. Truly a very important moral lesson to teach a child of four. This is yet another example of how we are a Christian (Protestant) nation. Our heritage is imbued with messages like this. But wait, there's more! Has your child grows, the nursery rhyme grows with him. It turns out that it is really about executing papists!
I did some research and found that the origins of the nursery rhyme are believed to date back to the 16th century and refer to the necessity for Catholic priests to hide in 'Priest Holes' ( very small secret rooms once found in many great houses in England) to avoid persecution from devout Protestants who were totally against the old Catholic religion. If caught, both the priest and members of any family found harboring them were executed. The moral in Goosey, Goosey Gander's lyrics imply that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone failing to say their prayers correctly - meaning the Protestant Prayers, said in English as opposed to Catholic prayers which were said in Latin! Even every day catholics today know what this means and it terrifies them! (See this thread on a catholick board discussing this and other rhymes.)
This got me thinking, “What other Biblically-supported morals can be found in common nursery rhymes?” Here is my list so far. Let me know what I missed:
Here's The Church – ALL people go to church. Don't be different!
Old Mother Hubbard – God wants you to have as many children as possible and to beat them for any reason or no reason at all
Humpty Dumpty – Government healthcare is ineffective and leads to Death Panels!
Baa Baa Black Sheep – “Black sheep” (Negroes) should give up all their “wool” (property) to their betters, which includes little white boys
Rock A Bye Baby – Your parents may be incredibly negligent and you may die in your sleep tonight, so make sure you are right with Jesus. Sleep tight!
Jack and Jill – God hates pre-marital fornication
Ladybug Ladybug – God hates single mothers
Little Bo Peep – Only let women have jobs where even if they mess up, it won’t do any harm.
Little Miss Muffet – Female stereotypes are true and we all know it
Mondays Child – Sunday is the true Sabbath day, not Saturday or Friday like other false religions say.
Bells of London Town – London bell ringers are all gay.
Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater – Lock up your wife if she won’t obey you.
Pussycat Pussycat - Socialism creates countries so poor that even even their Heads of State can’t afford an exterminator.
Ring Around The Rosy – It is well known that this rhyme is all about one of God’s greatest tools for keeping nations in line: The Plague. Notice that the plague has never hit the U.S., just Europe. God hates Europe.
Simple Simon – Everyone on unemployment or welfare is a stupid, incompetent, lay about who will eventually die of starvation if God has his way.
Sing A Song Of Sixpence – God blesses those of wealth to the point that they can let their extravagant pets maim their servants without care.
Wee Willie Winkie – Gay pedophiles are everywhere. Sleep tight!
London Bridge Is Falling Down – Socialism leads to decaying infrastructure.
And of course, the Grandaddy of them all, JESUS LOVES ME: (My analysis in red.)
“Goosey, goosey, gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs, and downstairs,
And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers!
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs.”
Not only does it use the effective tool of alliteration to grab the child’s attention right away, it quickly teaches the child that if they do not say their prayers, they could be physically attacked. The converse is also taught: Throw people who don't say prayers down the stairs. Truly a very important moral lesson to teach a child of four. This is yet another example of how we are a Christian (Protestant) nation. Our heritage is imbued with messages like this. But wait, there's more! Has your child grows, the nursery rhyme grows with him. It turns out that it is really about executing papists!
I did some research and found that the origins of the nursery rhyme are believed to date back to the 16th century and refer to the necessity for Catholic priests to hide in 'Priest Holes' ( very small secret rooms once found in many great houses in England) to avoid persecution from devout Protestants who were totally against the old Catholic religion. If caught, both the priest and members of any family found harboring them were executed. The moral in Goosey, Goosey Gander's lyrics imply that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone failing to say their prayers correctly - meaning the Protestant Prayers, said in English as opposed to Catholic prayers which were said in Latin! Even every day catholics today know what this means and it terrifies them! (See this thread on a catholick board discussing this and other rhymes.)
This got me thinking, “What other Biblically-supported morals can be found in common nursery rhymes?” Here is my list so far. Let me know what I missed:
Here's The Church – ALL people go to church. Don't be different!
“Here's the church, and here's the steeple
Open the door and see all the people.
Here's the parson going upstairs,
And here he is saying his prayers.”
Open the door and see all the people.
Here's the parson going upstairs,
And here he is saying his prayers.”
“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.”
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.”
“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!”
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses, And all the King's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again!”
“Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.”
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.”
“Rock a bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.”
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.”
“Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.”
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.”
“Ladybug ladybug fly away home,
Your house in on fire and your children are gone,
All except one and that's little Ann,
For she crept under the frying pan.”
Your house in on fire and your children are gone,
All except one and that's little Ann,
For she crept under the frying pan.”
“Little Bo peep has lost her sheep
And doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they'll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.”
And doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they'll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.”
“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”
Eating her curds and whey,
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away”
“Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.”
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.”
“Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town”
To Ring the Bells of London Town”
“Peter Peter pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her!
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well!”
Had a wife and couldn't keep her!
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well!”
“Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?
I've been up to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.”
I've been up to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.”
“Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!”
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!”
“Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair;
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Let me taste your ware"
Said the pieman to Simple Simon "Show me first your penny"
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Sir, I have not any!"
Simple Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale;
All the water he had got was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went to look if plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for water in a sieve but soon it all fell through;
And now poor Simple Simon bids you all "Adieu"”
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Let me taste your ware"
Said the pieman to Simple Simon "Show me first your penny"
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Sir, I have not any!"
Simple Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale;
All the water he had got was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went to look if plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for water in a sieve but soon it all fell through;
And now poor Simple Simon bids you all "Adieu"”
“Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!”
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!”
“Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Tapping at the window and crying through the lock,
Are all the children in their beds, it's past eight o'clock?”
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Tapping at the window and crying through the lock,
Are all the children in their beds, it's past eight o'clock?”
“London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair Lady.”
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair Lady.”
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Straight off it teaches children that they can KNOW something is true if the Bible says it is.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Children, you are all Jesus's property. You are all weak but Jesus is strong, so don't try to resist! Now get in Jesus's van of love!
Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
Jesus wants you to die and come to him.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me when I'm good,
When I do the things I should,
What things should you do? Whatever Jesus tells you to!
Jesus loves me when I'm bad,
Though it makes Him very sad.
The reason not to be bad is because it makes God cry. That is why actions can be bad or good.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Jesus is with you all the time, watching you.
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.
Don't be afraid, Jesus is your friend.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
Can't teach the little ones about Jesus without reminding them that he died (temporarily) for them.
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
You are only 4, but you are a dirty sinner.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! Loves me still
Tho' I'm very weak and ill;
You are only 4, but you are a weak, ill, and dirty sinner.
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.
Hey you dirty, ill, sinning four year old...You're not going to take that cookie from the cookie jar and make the man who DIED for you cry are you?
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Jesus watches everything you do. EVERYTHING. Yes, even when you poop.
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.
You better pay Jesus back for his death. You pay him back by BELIEVING in him for the rest of your life!
For the Bible tells me so.
Straight off it teaches children that they can KNOW something is true if the Bible says it is.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Children, you are all Jesus's property. You are all weak but Jesus is strong, so don't try to resist! Now get in Jesus's van of love!
Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
Jesus wants you to die and come to him.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me when I'm good,
When I do the things I should,
What things should you do? Whatever Jesus tells you to!
Jesus loves me when I'm bad,
Though it makes Him very sad.
The reason not to be bad is because it makes God cry. That is why actions can be bad or good.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Jesus is with you all the time, watching you.
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.
Don't be afraid, Jesus is your friend.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
Can't teach the little ones about Jesus without reminding them that he died (temporarily) for them.
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
You are only 4, but you are a dirty sinner.
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! Loves me still
Tho' I'm very weak and ill;
You are only 4, but you are a weak, ill, and dirty sinner.
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.
Hey you dirty, ill, sinning four year old...You're not going to take that cookie from the cookie jar and make the man who DIED for you cry are you?
Chorus
Repetition is the key for drilling the "Bible = Truth" concepts into young minds.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Jesus watches everything you do. EVERYTHING. Yes, even when you poop.
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.
You better pay Jesus back for his death. You pay him back by BELIEVING in him for the rest of your life!
Comment