Rub a dub dub...?

Question

Three men in a tub? What in the heck are three men doing in a tub together in a children's nursery rhyme?

Answer 1

"The origin seems to be from an old English side-show attraction including three maids in a tub. The rhyme depicts the scurrilous behavior of audience members lacking self-control."--Kimberly Robasky, Kids Music Web

Answer 2

According to an old English Tale, a fair side-show, where three young, beautiful women were sitting in a bath-tub and entertaining a mostly male audience. At one point, three of the men in the audience jumped up and climbed in with the girls, to be promptly thrown out again by the fair manager. I still have no idea as to why such a poem having sexual innuendos would become a children's rhyme.. but such is the case with a lot of fairly tales and rhymes..

Answer 3

Many of the nursery rhymes have historical references encrypted inside of them. Also, I suggest you chill out about 3 Men In A Tub. Who cares what they're doing, aside from you? Nursery rhymes are meant to show certain rhythms in speech and help little kids learn how to read.

Answer 4

Oh my, haven't you read most of the "children's" nursery rhymes? They deal with killing, eating children, witches, and animals eating little children. For the most part, nursery rhymes were violent and frightened children.

Little Red Riding Hood - Had to be re-written because children were having too many nightmares. In the original version, the wolf actually eats little red riding hood and her grandmother.

Hansel and Gretel - They get cooked in a witch's cauldron.

http://www.wowessays.com/dbase/ad1/aym107.shtml

This website gives a very interesting perspective along with a complete history of nursery rhymes.

Great question!

Answer 5

Hey, when I was a child growing up in a large family, we had 3 in the tub for Saturday night baths. Mom would do the washing, dad would do the diaper and pj duty.

Answer 6

Yeah, and why is the farmers wife chasing after blind mice with a butcher knife with the sole intention of cutting off their tails?
I can't knock a pie made by baking 24 blackbirds in it until I've tried it. I mean they do eat snails in europe an all.

Answer 7

Good question, but leave it to Mother goose. Have you ever heard a goose talk?
How about that poor old lady who lived in a shoe, she had so many children, and didnt know what to do. Where are the fathers to all those children, and why do they live in a shoe?

Answer 8

Yeah I still haven't figured that one out yet and my 4 1/2 year old always asks me.

Answer 9

baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full
one for the master
one for the dame
one for the little boy who lives down the lane.


my da used to tell us, that it was about the ins and outs of the drug trade. lol

Answer 10

"The butcher, the baker, the candle stick maker". Assume conserving water.