not so nursery rhyme

'Rain Rain go away
Come again another day
Little children want to play
Rain Rain go away'

I don’t know if you remember a couple of those innocent nursery rhymes; I got a little interested that day when I overheard 2 children reciting them at a shopping mall. I’m sure all of us have learnt a couple at pre-school, ‘Humpty Dumpty’, ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’. But have you ever wondered what they really meant?

For me, I’ve never thought so much into these rhymes as they come across as mindless songs written to assist young children in their development of vocabulary, and several examples deal with rudimentary counting skills. However, a Wiki search left me rather intrigued and surprised that these rhymes are actually not as innocent as they sound. Most of them bear metaphorical references to political and societal issues. In fact, the origins of many still remain enigmatic as they date back to centuries ago and some have even sparked off multiple theories.

For example:

‘Humpty Dumpty’ has 5-6 theories for its origin. For one, Humpty Dumpty was said to be a powerful cannon during the English Civil War. It was mounted on top of the St Mary's at the Wall Church in Colchester defending the city against siege in the summer of 1648. Although Colchester was a Royalist stronghold, it was besieged by the Roundheads for 11 weeks before finally falling. The church tower was hit by enemy cannon fire and the top of the tower was blown off, sending "Humpty" tumbling to the ground. Naturally all the King's horses and all the King's men (Royalist cavalry and infantry respectively) tried to mend "him" but in vain. Other reports have Humpty Dumpty referring to a sniper nicknamed One-Eyed Thompson, who occupied the same church tower.

‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ was known to be written to help children associate wool with the animal that produces it, and also the sound that a sheep would make. Baa Baa Black Sheep was first published in 1744. It probably dates back to the Middle Ages, possibly to the 13th Century, and relates to a tax imposed by the king on wool. One-third went to the local lord (the 'master'); one-third to the church (referred to as the 'dame') and about a third was for the farmer (the 'little boy who lives down the lane'). Did you also know that in 1999, guidelines from Birmingham City Council in England suggested that the rhyme should not be taught in schools because it was seen as racially negative and could cause offense?

Not so NURSERY after all huh? Paradoxically, nursery rhymes are more often than not, I quote Wikipedia ‘violent in nature, for example, in Jack and Jill, Jack fell down and "Broke his crown"- meaning breaking his skull.’ Hmm...

Let’s check out a couple of Uniquely Singapore Nursery Rhymes, shall we?

1.

ABC
CID
Police catch you I happy

2.

ABC
Giam Chye Cha Lo Ti
Lo Ti Bo Ho Jiah
Ah Ma Pang Sai Kor Li Jia

3.

Oh Ah Peh Ah Som (Bah Li Geh)
Roti Prata, Cha Quay Tiao

4.

Copy Cat
Kiss the Rat
Go home let your mother slap
Mother say never mind
Father say
(*when you reach this point, you must pause as if you're going to say something vulger)
GO AND DIE


Speaks a lot about the culture and the heritage of Singapore ya? Then again, those kids make brilliant poets when they grow up don’t you think? For one, the rhymes actually rhyme even with a mixture of Singlish, Hokkian and some kind of gibberish. Better still, they’re ‘enigmatic’ and ‘violent’, the 2 key characteristics of famous rhymes.

Now you know why more kids are killing friends with guns at schools these days.







* For futher reading on Nursery Rhymes, do check out the following websites:

http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/nursery_rhymes/nursery_rhymes_index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursery_rhyme

_____
Why is it 'Your LERP, Your LERP, Your LERP Right'
and not 'Your LEFT, Your LEFT, Your LEFT Right'?

Why is the short form of Auditorium known as 'Audit'
to the people in my camp and not 'Audi'?