Bloodthirsty and bloody
I have become fascinated with the origin of all the best children's songs. You know, the ones that are totally inappropriate, and would be difficult to explain if asked.
As an example, I quote "donkey riding", you know: "hey ho and away we go, donkey riding, donkey riding; hey ho and away we go, riding on a donkey". My parents sang this to me loads, and I always visualised donkey rides on beaches and at fetes. Innocent, sweet, a jolly folky tune. Excellent! Gwen loves it, she sings along to my half remembered mumblings.
Someone gave me a cd of "listen with mother" children's songs, and let me tell you, innocent and sweet it isn't. It's a great song, and a wonderful rythm to belt out. Let us guess at the origins:
Were you ever in Cardiff Bay
Where the ladies are fine and gay?
"Here comes Johnny with his six months pay
Riding on a donkey."
Were you ever in Vallipo
Where the gals put on a show?
Wriggle their arse with a roll and go
Riding on a donkey
According to google and wikipedia, it's all about a type of steam engine on a ship. Of course. Nothing to do with what sailors get up to at all!
Is this the sort of song I should be encouraging my girl to sing? I've just found a whole set more verses too, and that's about the standard. I have a feeling that the other listen with mother songs may also be secretly (or not so secretly) terribly innappropriate.
I've just remembered a french song my mum used to sing to me too, about "Ne pleure pas Jeanette" which is about convincing a young woman to marry someone else, as you're about to hang her intended, and she's for it as well, unless she agrees.
What bloodthirsty or bawdy stories and songs do you remember as being totally normal parts of your childhood? Were you suprised when you discovered how bloodthirsty they were?
I am anxious to find more now.
As an example, I quote "donkey riding", you know: "hey ho and away we go, donkey riding, donkey riding; hey ho and away we go, riding on a donkey". My parents sang this to me loads, and I always visualised donkey rides on beaches and at fetes. Innocent, sweet, a jolly folky tune. Excellent! Gwen loves it, she sings along to my half remembered mumblings.
Someone gave me a cd of "listen with mother" children's songs, and let me tell you, innocent and sweet it isn't. It's a great song, and a wonderful rythm to belt out. Let us guess at the origins:
Were you ever in Cardiff Bay
Where the ladies are fine and gay?
"Here comes Johnny with his six months pay
Riding on a donkey."
Were you ever in Vallipo
Where the gals put on a show?
Wriggle their arse with a roll and go
Riding on a donkey
According to google and wikipedia, it's all about a type of steam engine on a ship. Of course. Nothing to do with what sailors get up to at all!
Is this the sort of song I should be encouraging my girl to sing? I've just found a whole set more verses too, and that's about the standard. I have a feeling that the other listen with mother songs may also be secretly (or not so secretly) terribly innappropriate.
I've just remembered a french song my mum used to sing to me too, about "Ne pleure pas Jeanette" which is about convincing a young woman to marry someone else, as you're about to hang her intended, and she's for it as well, unless she agrees.
What bloodthirsty or bawdy stories and songs do you remember as being totally normal parts of your childhood? Were you suprised when you discovered how bloodthirsty they were?
I am anxious to find more now.