By KiddieDaily Editors · Jun 29, 2026 · 3 min read · Ages 8–10 · 1 source

The Likely Origins Of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” Are Surprisingly Dark

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Share on XShare on RedditCopy ArticleAdd us as a preferred sourceAlthough we often believe that children should be protected from the harsh realities of life, children’s games and entertainment have a long history of showcasing dark topics.

For example, about half of the known Grimm fairy tales include murder, with multiple also depicting cannibalism. This might seem like an outlier on first glance, but it's surprisingly common for these topics to appear. Although we often believe that children should be protected from the harsh realities of life, children’s games and entertainment have a long history of showcasing dark topics.

For example, about half of the known Grimm fairy tales include murder, with multiple also depicting cannibalism. This might seem like an outlier on first glance, but it's surprisingly common for these topics to appear. As another example, children’s games and rhymes tend to have dark undertones beneath seemingly innocent lyrics.

For example, “Ring Around the Rosie” is about the Plague, while “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” is generally considered to be about Queen Mary I’s slaughter of English Protestants. The rhymes created opportunities for parents to explain the complicated horrors of their time to their children, as well as allowing potentially treasonous ideas to spread without censorship or punishment. As another example, children’s games and rhymes tend to have dark undertones beneath seemingly innocent lyrics.

For example, “Ring Around the Rosie” is about the Plague, while “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” is generally considered to be about Queen Mary I’s slaughter of English Protestants. The rhymes created opportunities for parents to explain the complicated horrors of their time to their children, as well as allowing potentially treasonous ideas to spread without censorship or punishment. However, not all of these rhymes are innately grim.

Some simply emerged as ways for parents to make the best out of a bad situation. That is true of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” a nursery rhyme and game which most likely emerged from the most infamous prison in the United Kingdom. However, not all of these rhymes are innately grim.

Some simply emerged as ways for parents to make the best out of a bad situation. That is true of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” a nursery rhyme and game which most likely emerged from the most infamous prison in the United Kingdom. While there have been some variations to the lyrics of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” over the years, most people agree on at least the beginning of each verse.

Listed below are the most common lyrics, per BBC Music’s Classical Music website: While there have been some variations to the lyrics of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” over the years, most people agree on at least the beginning of each verse. Listed below are the most common lyrics, per BBC Music’s Classical Music website: Here we go round the mulberry bush, The mulberry bush, The mulberry bush. Here we go round the mulberry bush On a cold and frosty morning.

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