Nursery Rhyme Raps

Did you know nursery rhymes weren’t originally written for children?

Many of them were coded political statements back when freedom of speech didn’t exist.

For example, I believe Humpty Dumpty was about overthrowing a king.

And, back in the Middle Ages, most people didn’t have the kind of musical instruments we often use. The common folk would make drums with animal skin over wooden or clay bases. They could make flutes with holes in hollow branches or reeds, and bang sticks together.

Criers would walk around town using those instruments and chanting the rhymes to get attention for their political beliefs without getting arrested.

There are a lot of nasty politics in the world, especially in the last few years, but at least we’re free to discuss them.

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Janet Ann Collins