Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme

by Chris Roberts

Was Little Jack Horner a squatter? “Baa Baa Black Sheep” a bleat about taxation? What did Jack and Jill really do on that hill? Chris Roberts reveals the seamy and quirky stories behind our favorite nursery rhymes.

Nursery rhymes are rarely as innocent as they seem —there is a wealth of concealed meaning in our familiar childhood verse. More than a century after Queen Victoria decided that children were better off without the full story, London librarian Chris Roberts brings the truth to light. He traces the origins of the subtle phrases and antiquated references, revealing religious hatred, political subversion, and sexual innuendo.

Roberts reveals that when Jack, nimble and quick, jumped over a candlestick, he was reenacting a popular sport that tested whether a person was lean and healthy. Humpty Dumpty was actually a cannon mounted on the walls of a church in Colchester, blown up during the English Civil War. Few know that the cockles in “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” actually refer to cuckolds in the promiscuous court of Mary Queen of Scots. Or that “Rub-a-dub-dub, three maids in a tub” was inspired by a fairground peepshow.

A fascinating history lesson that makes astonishing connections to contemporary popular culture, Heavy Words Lightly Thrown is for Anglophiles, parents, history buffs, and anyone who has ever wondered about the origins of rhymes. The book features a glossary of slang and historical terms, and spooky silhouettes of nursery-rhyme characters to accompany the rhymes. Mother Goose will never look the same again.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Language, Poetry, Folklore, Nursery Rhymes, Fairy Tales

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

London based writer and tour guide with www.londonstreettours.co.uk. My interests include history and folklore, especially London's, and of the river Thames and bridges over that river. I am the author of books about the latter as well as one on the history of nursery rhymes, "lost" English words and football and superstition.

Current projects include co-presenting the cult football radio show Cafe Calcio on Resonance 104.4 FM which examines the social, political and cultural aspects of the game. Previous series have featured the Football Art Masterclass, Soccer Dance School and Tacticus a Latin speaking football correspondent. The current one (Street pharmacist's guide to football) examines the links between soccer and narcotics. All of these will hopefully be turned into short books one day soon.

From 2007 to 2011 I edited the 21st century penny dreadful called One Eye Grey. These were collections of short scary London stories which in 2012 went electric under the title Stories from Another London.

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. It's a fun read mostly, and pretty educational as to the history behind various rhymes (I had no idea Jack Horner was related to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, for example). However, the author uses (and misdefines!) a hideously unnecessary transphobic slur when discussing "William and Mary, George and Anne," and there's some gross fat-shaming in "Georgie Porgie." So, basically, entertaining book, but I'd get it out of the library, and if you're sensitive to either, skip the two mentioned chapters.

Seriously, the transphobic slur wasn't even necessary, he just threw it in there offhand. Gross.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

2018 Reading Challenge: title includes song lyrics

I forgot how much I enjoyed this book the first read-through! I ❣️nursery rhymes. In fact, when my daughter was born I bought TWO Mother Goose books-one for me, one for her. It's easy to fall back on innocence when reading these, but they're really not.
This book tells the stories behind many of the most popular verses memorized in childhood. Now the reader must take into account that the author is English, so there are many British references; but not to worry! There is a glossary in the back for any terms with which one is not familiar. I find these terms really add to the book's charm.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, which explores the origin of some 40 familiar nursery rhymes, alternated between being fascinating and frustrating. Fascinating because of the unexpected nuggets of information it contains ('Tweedledum and Tweedledee' was based on a feud between Handel and another composer, Bononcini; 'Banbury Cross' was intended to mock the Puritans; 'Baa-baa black sheep' was an early complaint about taxes; 'Sing a song of sixpence' is about the first two wives of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries). Frustrating because all too often the 'explanation' is little more than the presentation of assorted theories of varying degrees of plausibility, with no resolution provided (though to be fair to the author, this probably reflects a desire not to go beyond the bounds of interpretation acceptable on the basis of current scholarly research).

There is a distinctly English emphasis to the rhymes included in the book, and some (Elsie Marley, London's burning, Turn again Whittington, Remember Remember, Taffy was a Welshman) are likely to be unfamiliar to non-English readers. An interesting feature of the book is that each rhyme is illustrated by one of a panel of 30 artists commissioned for the purpose. As you might expect, the quality of the illustrations is decidedly mixed, ranging from the charming (Celia Biscoe's drawings to accompany 'Jack Be Nimble' and 'Georgy Porgy') to the truly abysmal ('Here we go round the mulberry bush', 'Three Men in a Tub'; both drawings appear to have been done by a manic depressive).

I have no hesitation in saying that you will find much in this book to interest you. I'm equally confident that some of the material will bore or irritate you. A decidedly mixed bag.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not intended as a great scholarly tome, this book offers a few of the most plausible and interesting explanations of nursery rhymes. Many of these little ditties are actually in reference to members of the monarchy (Henry VIII and the other Tudors get a few, as do James I and James II). Apparently, if you can be decapitated for expressing dissent, disguising your message with friendly animals holds some sort of appeal. Roberts does his best to dissect these rhymes with historical context and an exploration of the language, which is not always what one might have inferred. For instance, "'round the mulberry bush" refers to walking a prison yard. That just gives a whole new connotation to the whole "this is the way we ________" trick.

Roberts' presentation is a little focused on the relatively modern British history, which is interesting enough, and probably more easily researched. He does mention the idea the Cock Robin is Baldur--because, well, obviously--but he completely neglects my favorite interpretation of Jack and Jill. Now, I understand he doesn't intend this little book to be comprehensive, but I have it from a reliable source--well, Nancy Farmer--that the well is Mimisbrunnr at the third root of Yggdrasil. I think a more continental view of these rhymes would have illuminated different themes in many cases.

Overall, however, this is a lovely little book. Roberts has mastered a kind of conversational wit that had me flipping cheerfully to the glossary every few pages to figure out why the heck "cheese on toast" could be considered racist against the Welsh. His ending with "Old King Cole" and the idea of nostalgic golden ages even earned enough indulgence to forgive his use of Geoffrey of Monmouth as a historical source.

[Smoakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and very interesting, with some outdated language. I felt I learned a lot about British history and myth, though at sometimes wished he was more clear about where he was getting his information.

Overall, much enjoyed.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the author's acknowledging that this is not a heavy work of scholarship, I was somewhat disappointed in this book, having expected something a little more...serious in aspect. I have had an interest in the origins of nursery rhymes for some time now, which is why I picked this up.

I also think he's got some of it quite wrong, but I haven't progressed in my own researches that far. Personally, I rather doubt that "Georgie Porgie"'s prototype (Rowley Powley) was about the dangers of overweight youth, for example. And I know that Rowley or old Rowley was a nickname for Charles II; that probably has more to do with it. Other problem--there are a number of digressions in many of the chapters that have nothing to do with the rhyme.

I do appreciate the glossary for us poor benighted US'ans. And I had no idea there are so many differences between US & UK nursery rhymes; it adds a whole new dimension to the research. Sadly, a good third of the rhymes I had never heard of! Distanced me somewhat, because they weren't the familiar rhymes of my youth. But a light pleasant writing style overall.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baa Baa Black Sheep was about taxation? What was Humpty Dumpty? Was Jack and Jill a cautionary tale about engaging in premarital sex? If you've ever wondered about the backstory of nursery rhymes, or if you are an avid Anglophile, this is the book for you. I am not an Anglophile, so I had difficulty at times following the King Philips, Williams, Edwards, Dukes, Earls, Archbishops etc, etc in some of the stories.

This kind of oral history that has been handed down all these years is still read and heard by our children, without really understanding what they mean. This was a fun, light read, although I got bogged down by the sections featuring the rhymes I was unfamiliar with.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book. I've always been fascinated by childhood rhymes and the stories behind them. This is well written and down to the level, with some great jokes and quips thrown into every article for each new piece. I'd advise to anyone with even a passing fancy. It's a quick, fun, lighthearted to read write-up of as it says some pretty heavy stuff.

[xX_Kath_Xx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty informative

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book twice and each time I get more out of it. It's not a heavy read by any means. The author gives short histories and references to the fairy tale/mother goose rhymes which are totally intellectually stimulating. The information packed into short snippets allows the reader to go out and do further research into the topic or be satisfied with the explanation given. It's clear and concise and leaves anyone interested in the history of fairy tales and such like where and who they're about fulfilled.

[Kathy]

Didn't finish it yet, but gave this to Mom because I thought she might like it. Her response was the same as mine - meh.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars! This was a very interesting book with entertaining (and sometimes disquieting) background for many nursery rhymes, some of which I hadn't even heard of!

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anthology of old nursery rhymes which purports to explain the origin of the rhymes.....many of which have political implications. Of course, there are also a huge number of variants of the rhymes that have been used or developed over the years as well. This complicated the interpretation of the rhymes. I have somewhat mixed feeling about the book. I don't think it's especially scholarly. For example, with the rhyme: "Goosey goosey gander.......
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers
So I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs"
Roberts simply interprets this as having sexual meanings with the idea that "goose" refers to a "prostitute"....whereas other commentators draw attention to the fact that it is probably related to Catholic priests ..who if found in priest holes etc were likely to be thrown down the stairs......or to the actual case of Cardinal Beaton who would not submit to the covenanter's demands and was thrown down the stairs.
So interesting, not especially reliable or scholarly, and Roberts throws in some of his own amusing writing touches for good measure. (Some work...some don't....at least for me).
I rate it as three stars. Easy reading. But I don't think I'll keep it.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is well known that many nursery rhymes were based on the parody and satire of political leaders. Of course, in the early days, a criticism of a sovereign could easily cause you to literally lose your head. While Roberts does not claim to be an expert in the area of children’s literature, his knowledge of the field is sufficient to write an interesting historical recapitulation of many of the most famous nursery rhymes.
While many of them have a fairly specific point of origin, there are some whose genesis is lost to history. There are others with more than one plausible initial rendering. One point well made is that some of them are quite violent and brutal. Many of them also contain very clear sexual inuendo. For example, the one that opens with, “Run-dub-dub, three men in a tub” has clear gay connotations to the modern reader. It is actually based on an earlier verse where the line is, “Three maids in a tub.” In that version, the hint is that the three men were peeking in on the maids in their bath. It was an allusion to an old-fashioned peep show.
This is a fun book to read, it is very educational to learn the origins of some of the most well known stories ostensibly for children. The reality that they were not originally meant for children increases the fun.

[Misha Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a deep, scholarly history of English nursery rhymes. The style is light and entertaining, facetious at times, with 1980’s-2000’s alternative pop culture references to explain medieval rhymes. The late Jacobite years seem to really lead to satire from the author. The author includes a British glossary for American readers. I would normally be just a little bit ticked by this, but many of the definitions are as fun to read as the rest of that book. So I read the glossary even tho I know Blackadder and Alexi Sayle.
Not scholarly, as I said, but the author does a really good job of presenting differing theories and alternate wordings for the rhymes. He even notes how easy to ready dark meanings and conspiracies into all nursery rhymes. Some probably are just silly sounds strung together for children.
The author does ramble into unrelated topics sometimes. For instance, after analyzing “Jack and Jill went up the hill”, he looks at Jack as a generic everyman name, then goes into Spring-Heeled Jack.

[Kelly C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some fascinating facts and theories related to several common nursery rhymes. It is a fun read and contains a lot of interesting information about English history, sometimes very tangential to the rhyme in question, but entertaining nonetheless. But, as the author himself notes, this was not meant to be particularly scholarly, so I wouldn't recommend relying only on this book if you're trying to get to the bottom of how any particular rhyme actually originated.

I also found the author's tone rather annoying. He tries quite hard to be funny, and this is often at the expense of other groups of people and can be quite off-putting. As previous reviewers have noted, he uses a slur for transgender people, falls into fat-shaming rather frequently, uses the g slur to describe Roma people, etc. This all came off as more ignorant than hateful, but it was still not pleasant to read, and you might want to avoid the book if you are especially sensitive to any of these issues.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read/watch a lot of British-made stuff... this guy is the stereotype of what people mean when they say they don't like Brits.
Imagine the stereotype of an American frat boy - and then add a better vocabulary.

Obnoxious
Asinine
Pretentious

The book is less than 200 pages and I nearly put it down at least six times because of the author's attitude. Maybe the "jokes" comes across less douchey in person on his walking tours?

I guess it was somewhat interesting, but just a waste of time as none of the histories are proven to be true. He has compiled a list of what the history of each rhyme PROBABLY was.

I should've listened to the multiple reviews I read complaining of the same things. I was reading Jasper Fforde's "Big over easy" which has a lot of nursery rhyme references so I thought it would be interesting background reading.

I was wrong

At least it was short, so I didn't waste a lot of time on it, but don't make the same mistake I did - skip it.

[Chris Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has an intriguing premise-- explaining the meanings behind well-known nursery rhymes. However, as the book itself admits, this is not scholarly research or hard history. Instead, it discusses various theories behind each rhyme that it could possibly be about. In fact, only a couple have any sort of definitive answer. About half seem to be about King Charles I, and many explanations seem to be a stretch, but you do get a sense of British history through this book.

One striking feature is how different British nursery rhymes are from American versions-- same rhyme, different words. An example:
Ring-a-ring o' roses
A pocketful of posies
Atish-oo! Atish-oo!
We all fall down

("atish-oo" is the sound of sneezing, which makes me think that "a tissue" is not a coincidence.)

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anthology of old nursery rhymes which purports to explain the origin of the rhymes.....many of which have political implications. Of course, there are also a huge number of variants of the rhymes that have been used or developed over the years as well. This complicated the interpretation of the rhymes. I have somewhat mixed feeling about the book. I don't think it's especially scholarly. For example, with the rhyme: "Goosey goosey gander.......
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers
So I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs"
Roberts simply interprets this as having sexual meanings with the idea that "goose" refers to a "prostitute"....whereas other commentators draw attention to the fact that it is probably related to Catholic priests ..who if found in priest holes etc were likely to be thrown down the stairs......or to the actual case of Cardinal Beaton who would not submit to the covenanter's demands and was thrown down the stairs.
So interesting, not especially reliable or scholarly, and Roberts throws in some of his own amusing writing touches for good measure. (Some work...some don't....at least for me).
I rate it as three stars. Easy reading. But I don't think I'll keep it.

[Krissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I understand it wasn't written to be a literary book, I still thought this book would at least have some references to cite to support the claims the author makes.

While at times interesting, this felt less like the history of nursery rhymes and more like some uncle type figure at a pub giving you all his version of what's what (including a lot of football stuff that wasn't particularly necessary, some making fun of fat people, and other opinions I don't give two squirts for).

The best thing I can say about this book is that it has inspired me to read more about the history of nursery rhymes. The worst thing I can say is that the author is a bit of a dick.

[Coral · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun exploration of the possible origins and meanings behind British (and a few American) nursery rhymes. The author states that this was "never meant to be a particularly scholarly exercise", so those expecting lengthy, heavily footnoted dissertations on each rhyme will be disappointed. However, if you're looking for brief information on each one, including possible plausible relationships to historical events when the origins are not known (afterall, some of these are so old that there is no documentation or just simply no way to definitively know the intended subject), this should be up your alley.

[Becky Segerstrom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what I was expecting from this book... maybe a bit more certainty behind the history of nursery rhymes. The author did a great job of researching, but most explanations cannot fully be confirmed, just speculated on. Not the author's fault.

If you're looking for an interesting British history lesson, this book will suffice. I'm not very knowledgeable on British history, so much of it was a mystery to me.

The glossary at the back is helpful in deciphering British slang, etc as well.

[H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are always difficult books because they require so much conjecture. Roberts attempts to bring in a sense of historical context to flush out the rhymes, and there are some interesting characters it doesn’t really grab a reader.

Also, much like the Lieutenant in ‘Good Morning Vietnam’, if you have to remind people that you are funny, you probably aren’t that funny. Satire is the most difficult of writing styles, by far. Roberts tries, but alas it doesn’t really work.

[Sarah Vigorito · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting dive into the nursery rhymes I grew up with and a lot I had never heard of before. The origins are almost all historical. Some are dark, some are light, some are spicy. The only problem I had with this book is that the glossary for English terms is in the back and I got tired of flipping back and forth from almost every page of book. Other than that, it was good!

[John Geddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The examination of lullabies isn’t necessarily a new subject, but I really enjoyed the authors frisky style and pacing. I found myself not wanting to put it down. While it’s certainly not a treatise or anthropology piece, it does a really fun job of looking a the nursery rhymes through a wide variety of perspectives and lenses.

[Mollie Ray Lavezzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a definitive explanation of the history of nursery rhymes, this isn’t it. If you are looking for a fun read with information that may be useful at a trivia night, this is your book. While I was disappointed that this was not a book of carefully researched and cited history, I did enjoy hearing some different theories of the origin of various rhymes.

[Hannah K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Did feel like rather a lot more speculation than definite fact, and the author did seem to enjoy the most edgy stories. But it was unique and fun to learn some things about the possibilities.

[Keekee Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. I found it to be too slow paced for my liking. It's interesting to see the different speculations of origins for some of these well-known rhymes, but I doubt I would read it again.

[Joe Vess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book; funny, informative, clever and interesting.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed through this. Gives detailed explanations as to why the saying are what they are. For me at the moment it’s to thick to really and truly enjoy.