Why Are Nursery Rhymes So F***ing Creepy?

Summary

This video explores the eerie connection between nursery rhymes and horror, questioning why seemingly innocent children's songs can be so unsettling. It delves into theories about the dark origins of rhymes like 'London Bridge' and 'Ring Around the Rosie,' suggesting they may have been influenced by historical events or cultural fears. The video also examines how the Victorian era's shift in the perception of children, along with the rise of Gothic literature, contributed to the association of nursery rhymes with horror in modern media. Sponsored by 80,000 Hours, a non-profit offering career advice for positive global impact.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video is sponsored by 80,000 Hours, a non-profit focused on helping individuals find fulfilling careers that positively impact the world.
• 📽️ Fritz Lang's 1931 film 'M' is noted for being one of the first to use a nursery rhyme in a horror context, setting a precedent for the genre.
• 🧒 The script explores the juxtaposition of nursery rhymes with horror elements in films, such as 'The Birds', 'Evil Dead', and 'Nightmare on Elm Street'.
• 👻 The 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope is deeply ingrained in culture, often used effectively due to its unexpected contrast with innocence.
• 📚 Folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme proposed a dark theory about the origins of 'London Bridge', suggesting it might be about child sacrifice.
• 🤔 The script questions the creepiness of nursery rhymes, considering their original purpose to be sung by and for children.
• 📖 The script mentions myths about 'Ring Around the Rosie' and 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary', suggesting they might be about the plague and torture, respectively.
• 🔍 However, it clarifies that there is no concrete evidence supporting these dark origins, and that such myths may be spurious.
• 🎶 Nursery rhymes evolve from oral tradition, with lyrics changing over time to reflect cultural values, which can lead to lost meanings.
• 📚 The late 18th century saw nursery rhymes being printed in books, which solidified their lyrics and tied them to a specific cultural worldview.
• 🧩 The human mind tends to fill in unknowns with horror, which may explain why nursery rhymes with obscure cultural references can be unsettling.
• 👶 The modern view of children as pure and innocent is a relatively recent concept, which has heightened the impact of horror associated with their corruption.
• 🎬 Horror in nursery rhymes and children's imagery reflects deep societal fears about the corruption of innocence and the disruption of the natural order.
• 🏗️ Interestingly, the script ends with a mention of bodies found beneath London Bridge, hinting that there might be some truth to the dark origins of nursery rhymes.

Q & A

What is the significance of the year 1931 in the context of the video script?

In 1931, Fritz Lang, a legendary silent film director, made his first movie with sound, a dark thriller called 'M'. This film is notable for being one of the earliest examples of a horror film that uses a nursery rhyme.

How does Alfred Hitchcock use nursery rhymes in his film 'The Birds'?

Alfred Hitchcock juxtaposes children singing a Scottish folk song with the ominous gathering of birds, creating a chilling contrast that enhances the horror element of the film.

What is the connection between nursery rhymes and horror in the context of 'Evil Dead'?

In 'Evil Dead', a possessed woman sings a creepy song to the tune of 'Ring Around the Rosie', which adds to the horror of the film by using a familiar nursery rhyme in a disturbing context.

What is the 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope and why is it effective?

The 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope involves using nursery rhymes, which are typically associated with innocence and childhood, in horror contexts. It is effective because it subverts the expected innocence, creating a sense of unease and fear.

What theory did folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme propose about the origins of the children's rhyme 'London Bridge'?

Alice Bertha Gomme proposed a dark theory that the seemingly innocent children's song 'London Bridge' is actually about the ritual sacrifice of children under the bridge, based on folklore that bridges would collapse unless a human sacrifice was buried in the foundations.

What is the myth associated with the nursery rhyme 'Ring Around the Rosie'?

The myth associated with 'Ring Around the Rosie' claims that it is actually about the Black Death, with the lyrics supposedly referring to the symptoms and spread of the plague.

Why do nursery rhymes have meanings that are lost to us today?

Nursery rhymes have lost meanings because they were born out of the oral tradition and evolved organically. As they were written down and printed in books, particularly during the Victorian era, they became fixed, but many of the cultural references they contained have since been lost.

How did the Victorian era contribute to the固化 of nursery rhymes?

The Victorian era saw cheaper and more available printing, as well as a cultural shift towards viewing children as innocent and pure. This led to the popularization of nursery rhyme books, which in turn locked in the words to the rhymes, preserving them in a particular cultural context.

What role do cultural associations play in the perception of horror in nursery rhymes?

Cultural associations, such as the Victorian era's association with Gothic horror and spiritualism, influence the perception of horror in nursery rhymes. The human mind tends to fill in the unknown with horror, especially when nursery rhymes are removed from their innocent context and associated with dark themes.

Why are children and nursery rhymes effective in horror media?

Children and nursery rhymes are effective in horror media because they represent innocence and societal values. When this innocence is threatened or corrupted, it reflects deep societal fears and creates a chilling effect.

What modern perspective on children contrasts with historical views and contributes to the horror of nursery rhymes?

The modern perspective views children as pure and innocent, a stark contrast to historical views where children were treated more like small adults. This shift in cultural values makes the idea of childhood being corrupted or threatened particularly disturbing in the context of horror.

What real-life discovery supports the theory of a dark origin for some nursery rhymes?

In 2007, during building work for a tourist attraction, bodies were uncovered beneath London Bridge, suggesting that there may be some truth to the dark origin stories of nursery rhymes, such as the one proposed by Alice Bertha Gomme.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 The Dark Origins of Nursery Rhymes 🎵

This paragraph delves into the eerie history and potential dark origins of nursery rhymes, which have been a part of our culture for centuries. It discusses how these seemingly innocent children's songs may have been influenced by grim events or beliefs from the past. The script mentions the 1931 film 'M' by Fritz Lang, which used a nursery rhyme as a chilling motif, and other horror films that have similarly employed nursery rhymes to evoke fear. It also explores the theories of folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme, who suggested that some rhymes, like 'London Bridge,' might have been about child sacrifice. The paragraph questions why nursery rhymes, meant for children, are often so creepy and suggests that they may have evolved from oral traditions with meanings that have been lost over time.

05:00

👻 The Intersection of Horror and Nursery Rhymes 👻

This section examines why nursery rhymes have become intertwined with horror and fear in modern culture. It discusses the Victorian era's influence on the perception of children and the development of horror tropes, such as Gothic horror and spiritualism. The paragraph suggests that the cultural shift towards viewing children as innocent and pure has made the idea of their corruption deeply unsettling. It also touches on the Brothers Grimm's dark fairy tales and how societal fears about the loss of innocence are reflected in horror films and nursery rhymes. The paragraph further explains that the固化 of nursery rhymes during the Victorian era, along with the rise of modern horror, has led to a fascination with the macabre in what was once considered innocent children's entertainment.

10:03

🌟 The Impact of 80,000 Hours on Career Choices 🌟

The final paragraph shifts focus to the non-profit organization 80,000 Hours, which is dedicated to helping individuals find fulfilling careers that can make a positive impact on the world. The script highlights the value of career planning and the overwhelming nature of choosing a career path. It emphasizes the organization's free resources, including research-backed career advice, a job board, one-on-one advice, a newsletter, and a podcast. The paragraph concludes by expressing enthusiasm for the partnership with 80,000 Hours and encouraging viewers to take advantage of the resources available to plan their careers effectively.

Keywords

💡Nursery Rhymes

Nursery rhymes are traditional poems or songs for children, often set to a simple melody and used to entertain or educate. In the video, they are discussed in the context of their potential dark origins and their use in horror media, with examples such as 'London Bridge' and 'Ring Around the Rosie' being given to illustrate the theme of innocence being disrupted by dark themes.

💡Fritz Lang

Fritz Lang is a legendary silent film director mentioned in the video for making 'M,' his first movie with sound. Lang's work is significant in the history of cinema, and his use of a nursery rhyme in 'M' is highlighted as an early example of horror films drawing upon nursery rhymes to create an unsettling effect.

💡Horror Films

Horror films are a genre of cinema that aims to elicit fear, dread, and terror in the audience. The video discusses how horror films often use nursery rhymes to create a sense of unease by juxtaposing the innocence of children's songs with ominous events, as seen in examples like 'The Birds' and 'Evil Dead'.

💡Creepy Nursery Rhyme Trope

The 'creepy nursery rhyme trope' refers to the use of nursery rhymes in a horror context to evoke a sense of dread or unease. The video explains how this trope is deeply ingrained in our culture, with nursery rhymes being reinterpreted to have sinister meanings, contributing to the video's theme of the intersection of innocence and horror.

💡Alice Bertha Gomme

Alice Bertha Gomme was a folklorist who proposed a dark theory about the origins of the nursery rhyme 'London Bridge.' According to her theory, the seemingly innocent children's song is actually about the ritual sacrifice of children. This theory is used in the video to illustrate how nursery rhymes may have darker origins than commonly believed.

💡Cultural References

Cultural references are allusions to cultural aspects such as historical events, popular culture, or social norms within a work of art or literature. The video explains that many nursery rhymes contain cultural references that have been lost over time, leading to a sense of mystery and potential for reinterpretation, particularly in horror contexts.

💡Oral Tradition

The oral tradition refers to the method of transmitting stories, songs, and other cultural elements from one generation to the next without the use of writing. The video discusses how nursery rhymes evolved through this tradition, changing over time to reflect the cultural values of the people singing them.

💡Victorian England

Victorian England refers to the period of British history during the reign of Queen Victoria, known for its cultural and technological developments. The video notes that the Victorian era saw the printing of nursery rhyme books, which helped to solidify the words of the rhymes and associate them with the cultural worldview of the time.

💡Gothic Horror

Gothic horror is a literary genre that combines elements of horror and romanticism, often featuring dark, mysterious, and supernatural themes. The video mentions that the Victorian era, which saw the codification of many nursery rhymes, also coincided with the birth of gothic horror, suggesting a cultural bleed-over that may influence the perception of nursery rhymes in horror.

💡Innocence

Innocence, in the context of the video, refers to the perceived purity and naivety of children. The video discusses how the modern conception of children as innocent beings makes the idea of their corruption or threat particularly disturbing, which is a key element in the use of nursery rhymes in horror.

💡80,000 Hours

80,000 Hours is a non-profit organization mentioned in the video that aims to help individuals find fulfilling careers that can genuinely improve the world. While not directly related to the main theme of the video, it is the sponsor of the content and is presented as a resource for career planning and impact.

Highlights

The video discusses the use of nursery rhymes in horror films, tracing back to Fritz Lang's 'M' in 1931.

Horror films often use nursery rhymes to create an eerie juxtaposition with dark themes.

Nursery rhymes may be creepy due to their origins and the cultural context in which they were used.

Alice Bertha Gomme's theory suggests that 'London Bridge' is about child sacrifice.

The myth of 'Ring Around the Rosie' being about the Black Death is debunked.

Nursery rhymes evolve organically from oral tradition, changing over time to reflect cultural values.

The Victorian era saw the codification of nursery rhymes and the emergence of modern horror tropes.

The Brothers Grimm's dark fairy tales may have influenced the perception of nursery rhymes.

Horror media often deals with the disruption of the natural order and the threat to innocence.

The concept of children as pure and innocent is a relatively modern invention.

The cultural shift during the Victorian era increased the value placed on children and childhood innocence.

The fear of childhood corruption is a deep societal concern reflected in horror and nursery rhymes.

Media theorist Vivian Sobchack notes the oppositional nature of horror media.

The video mentions the discovery of bodies beneath London Bridge, hinting at a possible dark origin for some nursery rhymes.

80,000 Hours is a non-profit organization offering free career advice to help individuals make a positive impact.

80,000 Hours provides resources such as a job board, one-on-one advice, a newsletter, and a podcast.

Transcripts

this video is brought to you by 80 000

hours a non-profit that wants to help

you find a fulfilling career that

genuinely improves the world more on

that after the video

in 1931 the legendary silent film

director Fritz Lang made his first movie

with sound a dark Thriller called M the

first thing that we hear in that film is

children playing a game to a nursery

rhyme it might be the earliest example

of a horror film drawing on a nursery

rhyme but it was far from the last in

the birds Alfred Hitchcock juxtaposes

children seeing his Scottish folk song

with the ominous Gathering of birds in

Evil Dead a possessed woman sings a

creepy song to the tune of Ring Around

the Rosie and then of course there's Wes

Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street which

writes a nursery rhyme about Freddy

Krueger today the creepy nursery rhyme

Trope is completely encoded within our

culture honestly it would be trite if it

wasn't so effective but that brings up a

question if nursery rhymes Are Meant To

Be Sung to and by children then why the

hell are they so freaking creepy let's

take a closer look

around the turn of the century the

folklorist Alice Bertha gum put forth a

dark theory about the origins of the

children's rhyme London Bridge

according to gum's Theory the seemingly

innocent children song is actually about

the ritual sacrifice of children under

the bridge this theory is based around a

piece of folklore that said Bridges

would be collapsed unless the body of a

human sacrifice was buried in the

foundations to watch over them

it's a chilling myth that

re-contextualizes a seemingly innocuous

rhyme there's a similar myth about Ring

Around the Rosie which claims it's

actually about the black death and it's

sad that Mary Mary Quite Contrary is

loaded with hidden references to Mary

the first the queen known as a Bloody

Mary

according to this Theory the silver

bells and cockle shells of the song are

euphemisms for torture devices thumb

screws and pairs of Anguish the maidens

all in a row are supposedly references

to Iron Maidens could these dark Origins

account for our current obsession with

creepy nursery rhymes

well not exactly you see there's no

actual evidence of iron maidens being a

real torture device at all and Bloody

Mary died before thumb screws were

brought to England as it turns out the

Ring Around The Rosy myth Rings Hollow

too that song has lots of variations

that have nothing to do with disease and

the oldest known version of it appeared

in a book of nursery rhymes from 1881

hundreds of years after the Black Plague

the myth of human sacrifice around

London Bridge Is equally spurious most

modern historians don't really believe

there's much Credence to Lady gums

theorizing but while these dark

histories might be exaggerated they're

likely born out of a kernel of Truth

plenty of nursery rhymes undoubtedly do

have meanings that have been lost to us

today and that's because of the way

nursery rhymes operate as traditions of

folklore nursery rhymes are born out of

the oral tradition they're not really

written like we imagine songs being

written now rather they evolve

organically with new words being created

to existing Tunes this is how you get

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and baba

black sheep two different songs both

using the same Melody from the French

tune

the music of these Tunes stays

relatively fixed but the words change to

reflect the cultural values of those

singing just think of the way that

school children today will will Paradise

Jingle Bells with Batman references for

most of human history lullabies and

nursery rhymes were ever shifting but in

the late 18th century technological and

cultural changes conspired to lock a lot

of the nursery rhymes that we now know

into place printing became cheaper and

more available while a new cultural

vision of children as innocent and pure

was developing as a result nursery rhyme

books became popular throughout

Victorian England when these books were

printed they locked in words to the

Rhymes tying them to a very particular

cultural world view in the centuries

since a lot of those cultural references

have been lost but the circulation of

these books has continued so now many of

these songs are filled with cultural

references that we just don't understand

and the human mind loves filling in the

unknown with horror

there's a couple factors that compound

this around the same time many of these

nursery rhymes were shifting to the

forms that we know The Brothers Grimm

were publishing dark fairy tales full of

children being eaten by monsters there's

no doubt some cultural bleed over from

these as we apply this sort of Darkness

to nursery rhymes the Victorian era that

codified many of these books also

coincided with the birth of many of our

modern horror tropes Gothic horror was

an exciting new form of literature and

movements like spiritualism were finding

footing around the Victorian world even

today many horror films still use

Victorian manners and Aesthetics as set

pieces due to the cultural associations

we have with that era but the horror and

nursery rhymes runs deeper than just

Victorian associations media theorist

Vivian sobchek has noted that much of

horror media is marked by a sort of

opposition she says that horror films

deal with reversals of icon photography

that threatened the natural Order of

Things horror films deal with moral

chaos the disruption of the natural

order and the threat to the harmony of

Hearth and Home today few things

represent these ideas as well as

children Scott Derrickson the writer and

director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose

explained in the modern world nothing is

more revered than children as they are

the embodiment of innocence and for that

innate innocence to be contaminated by

something evil or corrupt or dangerous

is inherently mysterious and disturbing

so that's why we love finding Horror in

children's imagery it reflects deep

societal fears about the corruption of

Innocence nursery rhymes are meant to be

simple and playful they're meant to

reinforce the cultural roles that

children have in society so when they're

removed from this context and inverted

put into situations that reflect

darkness and the threat of violence the

effect can be chilling it's worth noting

that this conception of children as

being pure and innocent is actually a

relatively modern invention for a lot of

human history children were treated a

lot more like small adults they were

part of the labor force and they weren't

seen as something that needed constant

oversight and protection child mortality

rates were also much higher back in

those days so the concept of the death

of a child probably wouldn't have been

quite as scary as it is today back in

those days people probably wouldn't have

found the same Horror in creepy children

that we do today because they had a

different Cultural Association with the

child but a lot of this shifted during

the late Victorian era the very same

time that nursery rhymes were being

codified and horror tropes were starting

to emerge our culture started to put so

much more value on children and so it's

only natural that the concept of

childhood being corrupted or threatened

became a great fear a few Generations on

and that manifests as movies about

Creepy possessed dolls or those weird

twins from The Shining or in nursery

rhymes

bye

oh and for what it's worth not everyone

discredits the creepy origin stories of

nursery rhymes Iona and Peter Opie were

two folklorists who spent their whole

lives studying nursery rhymes and they

believed that lady gum's hypothesis

about the London Bridge may have had

some Credence to it and in 2007 when

building work was being done for a

tourist attraction workers uncovered

bodies buried beneath London Bridge so

maybe just maybe there is a tinge of

horror built into some of these nursery

rhymes after all

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