Why some children songs are morbid?

Question

for example:

1) rock a bye baby on the treetop when the wind blows the cradle will rock when the bow breaks the cradle will FALL and down will come baby cradle and all???
(I'm wondering what's the baby doing on top of the treetop and where are the parents??)

2) Something about my boney lies over the ocean (i don't know the whole lyrics but when I've heard it it was also morbid)

Answer 1

Good question, I never thought about it, until now....hmmm..

Answer 2

Actually the song for #2 is:

My bonnie lies oer the ocean, my bonnie lies over the sea.
My bonnie lies over the ocean, so bring back my bonnie to me.

I always thought this was more romantic than morbid. (bonnie is also an affectionate term)


Can't really say about the Cradle falling. Maybe it has to do with proving that anything will put kids to sleep if you give it the right tune? lol

Answer 3

Ring around the Rosie is based on the plague. Alouette is a French song, and when translated is describing ripping feathers off a bird the chef intends to cook.

Answer 4

Yeah, for some of the things that people will fall all over each other trying to protect children from, I find it hysterical that we'll sing things to them as disturbing as the "Rock-a-Bye Baby" tune!

Answer 5

Because the world is a horrible place...and the parents who made up the songs had 15 kids and was on their last nerve.

All child stories are horrible.

Answer 6

my bonny lies over the ocean, my bonny lies over the sea, my bonny lies over the ocean, so bring back my bonny to me etc... I have no idea, but i totally agree, its wrong, we should teach our kids good, moral songs that have a purpose. and the "Jack and Jill" poem really has to do with english monarchy in like 'robin hood' times.

Answer 7

I was told once, that the Nursery Rhymes as we know them, were written for adult entertainment and not for the children. I think I will look into that. The Mother Goose rhymes are pretty creepy.

Answer 8

Probably to teach them to take life seriously and plan for big events like retirement.

Answer 9

Good question. I've often wondered the same thing.

Be blessed.

Look up these websites:

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursery_rhymes

Answer 10

Jack fell down and broke his crown .... Translated: Jack cracked his skull. Eeeewwww!

Answer 11

I don't know but that rock-a-bye baby one has always bothered me.