10 More Happy Songs That Are Insanely Dark
6. Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Though this English folkloric song never actually released as a single (pre-dating the UK Charts by centuries!), the frequent teaching of the simple nursery rhyme is decidedly less appropriate for the school curriculum than the deceptive tune would suggest.
The short, single-stanza song is believed to be a reference to Queen Mary I of England, daughter of King Henry VIII and elder sister of Elizabeth I. Given the nickname 'Bloody Mary' for her ruthless reign littered with religious tensions (Mary was catholic, despite her father establishing the Church of England during his reign, and was less than nice to protestants during her time in power), Mary I was greatly disliked, and the tune 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary' is said to be an unflattering summary of her time as Queen.
'Pretty maids all in a row' eluding either to Mary's inability to have children or Mary's flagrant killing of protestants and 'silver bells and cockle shells' both tools used for torture, the song you so regularly sing to your children at night may have immensely dark connotations.
Elizabeth I restored the crown to protestant rule, but the horrors of Bloody Mary's reign would forever be immortalised in this happy, upbeat jingle.