Rock-a-bye baby
On the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down will come baby
Cradle and all
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MEANING:
If you carefully listen to the lyrics of the version we know today, one can easily assume it depicts a horrific setting for a child.
One very popular belief is that the child in the rhyme is in reference to the son of James VII who some thought was smuggled into the birthing quarters in order to give a Catholic heir to James. Wind is thought to be in regards to James' family members coming in to overthrow the child as cradle is in reference to the royal House.
When the original was first printed, it had a footnote that read "This may serve as a warning to the Proud and Ambitious, who climb so high that they generally fall at last." This seemed to be a threat but others view it as just mockery.
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Nursery Rhymes
PoetryMy favorite nursery rhymes. NOTE: The cover isn't mine. Credits to whoever made such an amazing digital art!!!
