Search Nursery Rhyme Lyrics & Childrens Songs
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble!
Jack be quick!
Jack jump over the candle stick
Whether it be a sport, means of fortune telling or a game more frequently done during wedding celebrations to predict either a year of bad or good luck to the jumper, this nursery rhyme is said to portray the practice of candle jumping where the goal is to jump without distinguishing the fire. This rhyme is said to have no politics or scheme behind it. This is one has more optimism and fun rather than ghastliness and morbidity.
Some more nursery rhymes to enjoy
My Shadow
I have a little shadow
that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him
is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me
from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me,
when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him
is the way he likes to grow,
Not at all like proper children,
which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller
like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little
that there's none of him at all.
He hasn't got a notion of how
children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me
in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me,
he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie
as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early,
before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew
on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow,
like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me
and was fast asleep in bed.
by Robert Louis Stevenso
Origins of Nursery Rhyme Lyrics and Words
Nursery Rhyme lyrics have many different origins and meanings. In most cases the meanings behind nursery rhyme lyrics cannot be verified. A few examples of some more well know nursery rhyme lyrics and their possible meanings are; ‘Baa, Baa, Black sheep’ was thought to originate from the medieval taxes, ‘Humpty Dumpty’ was thought to be a cannon used in the English civil war and ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’ was thought to be related to the burial of children in foundations or Vikings burning wooden bridges. Whatever the meaning behind Nursery Rhyme Lyrics we have enjoyed them in our own childhood along with sharing them with our own children (and it is amazing after many years how quickly the Lyrics to nursery rhymes can still be remembered).
