Nursery Rhymes

[pushka]

I have a fascination with Nursery Rhymes...their content, origin and 'real' meanings, which I believe is commentary on the world at the time they were composed.

I was thrilled to find the following website, which gives me all of the above...

Nursery Rhymes Origins Of

Just the other day, when I was travelling on a bus, the Rhyme Oranges and Lemons appeared in my head and I found myself silently reciting it throughout my journey...I've no idea what sparked me to think of it.

Are there any Nursery Rhymes in your part of the world, that fascinate you, and do you know where they originated from and their real meaning?

[Elphaba]

I have a fascination with Nursery Rhymes...their content, origin and 'real' meanings, which I believe is commentary on the world at the time they were composed.

I was thrilled to find the following website, which gives me all of the above...

Nursery Rhymes Origins Of

Just the other day, when I was travelling on a bus, the Rhyme Oranges and Lemons appeared in my head and I found myself silently reciting it throughout my journey...I've no idea what sparked me to think of it.

Are there any Nursery Rhymes in your part of the world, that fascinate you, and do you know where they originated from and their real meaning?

Pushka,

I think your site has every nursery rhyme every written in Western Civilization! It certainly has every single one I could think of.

Sorry.

Elphaba

[bunnzy]

In australia we sing these songs alot. I dont know if its a nursery rhyme, (it doesnt rhyme) but its pretty easy to tell why we find it importnat. It is the Aussie dream.

Give me a home among the gum trees

With lots of plum trees

A sheep or two

And a kangaroo

A clothesline out the back

Verandah out the front

And an old rocking chair

You'll see me in the kitchen

Cooking up a roast

Vegemite on toast

Just you and me

And a cup of tea

And when my friends will ask me

The place that I adore

I'll tell you right away.

Give me a home among the gum trees

With lots of plum trees

A sheep or two

And a kangaroo

A clothesline out the back

Verandah out the front

And an old rocking chair

We also have waltzing matilda. I remember learning as a kid what all the terms meant.

http://www.imagesaustralia.com/waltzingmatilda.htm

[bunnzy]

In australia we sing these songs alot. I dont know if its a nursery rhyme, (it doesnt rhyme) but its pretty easy to tell why we find it importnat. It is the Aussie dream.

Give me a home among the gum trees

With lots of plum trees

A sheep or two

And a kangaroo

A clothesline out the back

Verandah out the front

And an old rocking chair

You'll see me in the kitchen

Cooking up a roast

Vegemite on toast

Just you and me

And a cup of tea

And when my friends will ask me

The place that I adore

I'll tell you right away.

Give me a home among the gum trees

With lots of plum trees

A sheep or two

And a kangaroo

A clothesline out the back

Verandah out the front

And an old rocking chair

We also have waltzing matilda. I remember learning as a kid what all the terms meant.

http://www.imagesaustralia.com/waltzingmatilda.htm

[Elphaba]

<snip>

Cooking up a roast

Vegemite on toast

<snip>

Okay Bunnzi,

WHAT is VEGEMITE??? I've always wanted to know.

Elphie

[Iggy]

WHAT is VEGEMITE??? I've always wanted to know. Elphie

"Vegemite dates back to 1922 when the Fred Walker Company, which became Kraft Walker Foods in 1926 and Kraft Foods Limited in 1950, hired a young chemist to develop a spread from one of the richest known natural sources of the vitamin B group - Brewers Yeast. <<snip>>

It was described as "Delicious on sandwiches and toast, and improves the flavour of soups, stews and gravies". However, it took 14 long years of perseverance from Walker before Vegemite finally gained acceptance and recognition with the Australian people."

Here is the complete article.

[pushka]

Thanks for your replies, and thanks for the Australian songs Bunnzy...I think it's great to uncover the meanings of words in all sorts of songs/poems/rhymes.

Speaking of songs, and the stories behind them, another of my favourites is Whisky in the Jar, a traditional Irish song, covered in the 70's by Thin Lizzy.

As I was going over the Kilmagenny mountain

I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting.

I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.

Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,

Chorus:

musha ring dumma do damma da

whack for the daddy 'ol

whack for the daddy 'ol

there's whiskey in the jar

I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.

I put it in my pocket and I brought it home to Jenny.

She said and she swore, that she never would deceive me,

but the devil take the women, for they never can be easy

Chorus

I went into my chamber, for to take a slumber,

I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.

But Jenny took my charges and she filled them up with water,

and sent for Captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.

Chorus

It was early in the morning, before I rose to travel,

the guards were all around me and likewise Captain Farrel.

I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,

but I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.

Chorus

If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,

if I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney.

And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,

and I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny

Chorus

Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,

but others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.

But I take delight in the juice of the barley,

and courting pretty Jenny in the morning bright and early

Chorus

Now some take delight in the carriages a-rolling

And others their delight in the hurley and the bowling

But me I take my pleasure in the juice of the barley

And courting pretty girls in the morning bright and early

The site goes on to print variations on the song, and similar songs telling the same story.

'An internet search came up with these lyrics, which are similar to the ones I've usually heard. The search also came up with many strange variations I had never heard.

There is usually also a verse after his capture, but before he mentions his brother, which documents his punching out the sentry and making his escape from jail in Sligo.

There is also a variation of this song called "Bold Lovell", aka "The Devil's In The Women". It is sung to a different tune and has a different (although more intelligible) chorus cursing the treachery of his bawd, although the storyline is much the same. (I've always thought that it would be a good exercise to write a version of Whiskey In The Jar from his girlfriend's perspective, explaining why she turned him in to the authorities.) In the Bold Lovell variation, he doesn't escape and he gets hanged.

I copied these from a site and take no responsibility for complete accuracy. Is there really a Kilmagenny mountain?'

Scroll down the list to find the entries regarding the song lyrics:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3116

Vegemite is also produced in the UK, only we call it Marmite...it is good, but is an acquired taste.

[Elphaba]

Speaking of songs, and the stories behind them, another of my favourites is Whisky in the Jar, a traditional Irish song, covered in the 70's by Thin Lizzy

As I was going over the Kilmagenny mountain

I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting.

I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.

Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,

Chorus:

musha ring dumma do damma da

whack for the daddy 'ol

whack for the daddy 'ol

there's whiskey in the jar

Pushka!

I thought this was a Nursery Rhymes thread!

Did your babies fall asleep to "whack for the daddy ol"' every night?

Elphaba

[pushka]

Lol, no...I used to dance round the room with Becki in my arms to Queen and Led Zeppelin and used David Bowie's Low album to serenade her to sleep...all that Brian Eno music soon had the desired effect :)

[pam]

Mind if I tell you MY version of a nursery rhyme.

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner

And now he has

a square butt

[Elphaba]

Lol, no...I used to dance round the room with Becki in my arms to Queen and Led Zeppelin and used David Bowie's Low album to serenade her to sleep...all that Brian Eno music soon had the desired effect :)

I was listening to Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmylou Harris, Leonard Skynard, George Straight, Barbara Mandrell, Rosannne Cash, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Travis Tritt, Juice Newton, Carlene Carter, and dancin' to the Orange Blossom Special!

You see, I WAS country before country was cool. I really was. My best friend and I would go to this country dive in downtown Santa Ana, California (not the safest spot thirty years ago!) when no one else was into country. Urban Cowboy hadn't been released yet, and the huge Country Music clubs were just on the horizon. And I was the cutest little two-stepper you ever saw.

I bet you would have never guessed that!

Elphie

Mind if I tell you MY version of a nursery rhyme.

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner

And now he has

a square butt

That sounds painful.

Elphie

[Dr T]

Thank you for the link Push :)

[bunnzy]

We're happy little vegemites

As happy as can be

we always eat our vegemite

for breakfast lunch and tea

our mummies say were growing stronger

every single week

because we LOVE our vegemite!

we all ADORE our vegemite!

It puts a rose on every cheek!!!

That a jingle that almost every aussie knows off by heart! :)

ps. Sorry for posting twice last time, i have no idea how that happened!