Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies
'Baa Baa Black Sheep' by Walter Crane from 'The Baby's Opera'
Nursery rhymes and lullabies have been sung to children for thousands of years and passed down through many generations. Nursery rhymes, 'ditties' as they were called before the 19th century, or Mother Goose songs, as they are known in the USA, are often difficult to date and most of their authors are unknown. Some rhymes have educational value, a moral lesson or warning, while others are completely fantastical. Many were probably not intended for children's ears and originated in pubs and taverns.
Parents have sung lullabies to their children as a way of settling their children or sending them to sleep. One of the earliest lullabies in English was written during the time of King Edward II of England in the 14th century. Just as adults relax to music, so babies and young children are comforted by music. Singing can help to strengthen the bond between parent and child and children benefit from hearing a familiar voice. It is not just song that comforts babies, even simple, repetitive sounds, such as a washing machine, can send babies to sleep, sometimes reminding them of their mother's heart beat in the womb.
In 1877 the artist Walter Crane published 'The Baby's Opera', a series of illustrated song sheets that included the most popular lullabies, songs and rhymes together with sheet music. A selection of these are included in the section below.
The Baby's Opera
A series of illustrated songsheets by Walter Crane, published in 1877. The songs, rhymes and lullabies include 'Tom the Piper's Son', 'Three Blind Mice', 'Baa baa black sheep', 'Here we go round the mulberry bush' and 'Oranges and Lemons'.
A Diller A Dollar
The word ‘diller’ is a Yorkshire term for a boy who is dim-witted and stupid so this rhyme seems to be a moral lesson warning the importance of punctuality.
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Although there is no proof that this rhyme was in use before the 18th century, many people believe it is about Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587).
Oranges & Lemons
Oranges and Lemons was the name of a dance for four couples in a square in the late 17th century. The lyrics to the rhyme were first written down in 1744 and since then it has become one of the most familiar nursery rhymes.
The Queen of Hearts
This rhyme first appeared in print as part of a 12 line verse in a feature called The Hive: A Collection of Scraps in The European Magazine of 1782.
Three Blind Mice
This nursery rhyme is thought to refer to the Catholic Queen Mary I (1516-1558) and her violent persecution of Protestants in the 16th century.
Hush A By Baby
Hush A By Baby is a well known lullaby is still sung today to babies all over the world. Hush, Little Baby is another traditional lullaby and again we do not know who wrote it or when, although it is thought to be American.
Lavender's Blue
Lavender's Blue is a traditional song often used as a lullaby. It is not known who it was written by or when, but it dates back to at least the 1680s.
Vespers
Vespers was written by the British author Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) and features his son Christopher Robin.
