My youngest, Greg, was having trouble falling asleep so I told him he’d better try harder or I’d sing Rock-a-bye-baby. He ran away screaming “Nooooo! Noo! Noo! I’ll sleep!” We both laughed.  Strange reaction to an offer for a lullaby, right?  (And no, my singing isn’t quite that bad.) He reacted that way because we have a running joke about how terrifying some children’s songs and stories are if you really think about the lyrics.

Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree tops.

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

I’m going to put you in a tree on a windy night and you are going to fall.  Sleep well.

Then you have the happy little party song and dance Ring-a-round a Rosie.  So much fun to spin around with your friends and then giggle while you lay on the floor at the end.

Ring-a-round a rosie,

A pocket full of posies,

Ashes! Ashes! (or Atishoo! Atishoo! in the original version)

We all fall down.

While there are different interpretations, many think this cute little song is referring to the Bubonic plague. I don’t think it would be as popular if the author had been more direct with the lyrics.

Red rosie colored rash,

Herbs to ward off infection,

Sneezing! Sneezing!

We all will die. 

One day I was asked to read a nursery rhyme to a group of children I was babysitting.  It was called “Oranges and Lemons.”  Innocent enough, right?   It was until I got to the last two lines.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed.

Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

I fumbled with my words and managed to mutter something that sounded sort of like “here comes a chopper whirling ’round your head.”  Luckily no one realized that helicopters hadn’t been invented when this nursery rhyme was written.  Out of curiosity, I googled the meaning.  Public execution.

Mother Goose was one sick Momma.

Well, it’s getting late so I will say…

Good night. 

Sleep tight. 

Don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Wait, there are BUGS in my bed????