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Our parents hummed them to us during our childhood, and we take pleasure in humming them in turn to our children… “Let’s dance the nasturtium”, “He was a shepherdess”, “The Good King Dagobert”… are part of our childhood. Mauis on closer inspection, we realize that therhymes are not always as tender as we think … As proof, Mother Michel’s cat which ends up being sold, or hanged, or even the saucy innuendo contained in “Au clair de la lune”… Some, of revolutionary or popular origin, may be marked by violence (“He was a shepherdess ”or“ Do not cry Jeannette ”). Do nursery rhymes have a hidden meaning?
However, there is no question of depriving yourself of the pleasure of singing them with our children! Because their sound, their musicality, make them songs that remain cheerful and light!
Here is the hidden meaning of 10 nursery rhymes for children.
Let’s Dance the Capucine
This rhyme was danced as early as 1868 in a circle. Parents will notice the repetition of certain sensitive topics, such as misery : “There is no bread at home”. We make fun of a neighbor who is rich but who sees her house burn down : “Mom, why is she crying for the neighbor?” », Answer:« Because his house is on fire ». Another equally nice verse: “There’s fun at home, we cry at the neighbor’s, we always laugh at home”.
Mom the little boats
The song “Maman les p’tits boats” is a French children’s rhyme adapted from the novel “Peter Ibbetson” by George du Maurier in 1891. In it, the mother laughs at his child after several questions implied “idiots” by answering him “yes my big beta …”.
Good King Dagobert
The song “Le Bon Roi Dagobert” dates from 1750 and evokes two historical figures: the Merovingian king Dagobert I and his main adviser, Saint Eloi. Some lyrics refer to the revolutionary period and aim to ridicule royalty. The best known is undoubtedly “The good king Dagobert put his pants upside down”, which makes children laugh so much. Other sentence: “The good king Dagobert was very afraid of going to hell” and the scathing response of Saint Eloi: “I believe well my faith that you will go straight there”.
It is Mother Michel
“C’est la Mère Michel” is a very popular French rhyme dating back to 1820. In the text, an allusion refers to the blackmail that is often done to children : “Give a reward it will be returned to you”. As for the sentence “If you give me back my cat you will have a kiss”, it implies that one would have to use her charms to obtain something. Finally, depending on the version, we can also have: “your cat will be sold or hanged”. Rather cruel, right?
A green mouse
“A Green Mouse” is a well-known children’s song from the XNUMXth century. The lyrics refer to the Vendée War that took place during the French Revolution. The green mouse represents a Vendée officer, captured by a Republican soldier. The latter presents him to his superiors, but the torture and the killing of the prisoner ensue. At the end of the song, the soldier ends up being rewarded with a coin.
He was a shepherdess
This rhyme, which dates from 1860, is very hard on toddlers. Indeed, the shepherdess, angry, kills her kitten. And the height of the story, she is not even punished by her father for this violent act. Another hidden meaning: “Let the cat go to cheese” meant, in Old French, “to lose your virginity before marriage “. Another naughty allusion.
By moonlight
This very famous and popular song, dating from the 18th century, has a double meaning from start to finish. In “By the moonlight”, a boy can no longer work in the evening because he can see nothing. He therefore goes to ask Pierrot if he has light, but the latter being already in bed, advises him to go and ask the neighbor. The hidden meaning once again refers to the intimacy of the characters. The feather, deformation of “lume”, light, and the candle are two phallic symbols. The metaphor of fire evokes passion and sexual ardor. Without forgetting expressions of the time: “We beat the lighter” which means to make love. And the “Lubin”: a perverted monk. We are far from the simple rhyme in honor of Pierrot.
We will no longer go to the woods
We will no longer go to the woods is a French children’s round created in 1753 by Madame de Pompadour, for the children of the neighboring village. The song refers to the practice of licentiousness under Louis XIV and the closing of brothels with in particular the phrase: “Jump, dance, kiss whoever you want”.
Don’t cry Jeannette
In this tragic rhyme, to say the least, Jeannette is in love with Pierre, but the latter is in prison. Her parents then want to marry her to a prince or a baron, but this decision makes her unhappy. She asks to be hanged with her Stone to avoid this sad fate. Thus ends the song: “Et on hanged Pierre, et sa Jeannette avec”.
A little pig
In the song “Un petit cochon”, we quickly understand the pain endured by the poor pig. He is first hung from the ceiling, then his tail is pulled five times in a row to lay eggs, give milk and even harder for gold.