They seem innocent enough, but Jack and Jill may have become amorous as they climbed that hill for a pail of water. And instead of a water bird, “Goosey, goosey gander” may refer to a woman of ill ...

We all have countless childhood songs ingrained in our minds, but have you ever wondered where these nursery rhymes began and what exactly they mean? The answer is probably no since most of us have ...

We often think of nursery rhymes as comforting, soothing, or playful. But many of the most well-known children’s songs we grew up hearing actually have creepy backstories and dark origins. The lyrics ...

Many of us can probably recite, “Pop! Goes The Weasel” by heart. Passed down across the centuries, the anachronisms in the lyrics sound like playful nonsense words. In truth, this and other rhymes ...

And people still use that version to this day. Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson recently got in trouble for using it while taping his internationally syndicated show. How comfortable with using the ...

Nursery rhymes from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are sung to children, yes, but often contain thematic elements that are fairly dark—beheadings, bridge collapses, and more. In this game, host ...

But contrary to popular belief, the nursery rhyme — first put down in written and published form in 1842 in The Nursery Rhymes of England compiled by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps — is not the ...

THE OXFORD NURSERY RHYME BOOK (224 pp.)—assembled by Iona and Peter Opie—Oxford ($4.50). When asked how her garden grew, Mary did not always give the same answer. At least once she replied: “With ...