Mary Mary quite contrary, is actally about our leaders who tortured in the past.

[grahamhgreen]

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

"The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is reputed to be Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith - Protestant martyrs.

Instruments of Torture!
The silver bells and cockle shells referred to in the Nursery Rhyme were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'silver bells' were thumbscrews which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces by the tightening of a screw. The 'cockleshells' were believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals!"

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/mary_mary_quite_contrary.htm

can we please end rendition and torture again in our country?

[Xipe Totec]

1. Thank you! I had heard this before and have been looking for the source

Now I have a lead.

[htuttle]

2. After learning about the awful sources of so many traditional nursery rhymes...

...such as Ring Around the Rosy, for example, I've wondered what sorts of rhymes children in the future will chant about us?

[alfredo]

3. Great site.