Nursery rhymes are quite often the product of a historical event. Something that happened whose meaning has been passed down over generations, often by word of mouth.
They all have their derivations and meanings, and we are going to look at one such nursery rhyme. So, let’s take a look at the facts and establish the meaning behind the traditional song, “London Bridge Is Falling Down”.
Lost In Time
Precisely when many of these nursery rhymes first appeared, we have no accurate answer. But London Bridge was a real thing, and the song seems to talk about efforts to prevent it from falling into the River Thames.
Which Bridge?
Some foreign visitors to London often get confused when talking about London Bridge. They mistakenly think that London Bridge is what is actually called Tower Bridge.
This is a very common mistake, even today. To demonstrate, take a look at some advertising info regarding a version of the song. Often on the covers, it clearly shows Tower Bridge, not London Bridge. The content of the traditional song “London Bridge Is Falling Down” deals with repeated attempts to make repairs using metals and mortar.
The London Bridge
The Romans were the first to build a bridge over the River Thames. But, that was a structure that would not serve the purpose of the now-growing city. A design was made by a priest Peter of Colechurch, in 1176 for the first ‘stone-arch’ bridge built in Britain.
This was built as a replacement for the flimsy Roman structure, possibly destroyed by the Vikings. It was completed in 1209. This bridge of Peter’s was probably the original source of the London Bridge Is Falling Down nursery rhyme.
Endless Catastrophes
It is not hard to see how the London Bridge Is Falling Down nursery rhyme evolved. Apart from constant repairs, there were fires on the bridge, one of which killed 3000 people. It was crowded and lined with houses and businesses for the whole length of its span across the river.
With so many additions made, the “walking width” was reduced to about four meters. And this was the only way to cross the river. So, it must have been bedlam and a disaster waiting to happen.
This “second” bridge survived two major fires. The first was in 1633, and then slight damage in the Great Fire Of London in 1666, which wiped out the plague.
Repairs Were A Common Sight
As I said, it was thought that the original Roman structure was destroyed by Viking invaders in 1014. However, there are some differences of opinion over this.
But, if it was the case, then children and people living in the proximity would have seen what was happening. Repairs to the bridge would have been a common site.
The First Post-Roman Bridge
This first bridge, designed by the priest, had 19 quite thin arches. It was built that way because of the engineering practicalities. When it was finished, it was found that the bridge was preventing the water from flowing down the river as it needed to.
They widened it a hundred years later, but it made little difference. One of the outcomes was that the bridge was in a state of almost constant repair. So, for nearly 400 hundred years, children, traveling poets, and minstrels would see the constant build and repair of the bridge.
Therefore, it is not hard to see why London Bridge is falling down became a common theme. It probably looked like it might just do that at any moment.
A Second Bridge
The second bridge was made entirely from stone and replaced the original part-wooden structure in the early 1800s and opened in 1831. That bridge was eventually taken down in 1972 and sold to a company in Arizona as a tourist attraction. I hope when they negotiated that deal, they didn’t think they were buying Tower Bridge.
The Meaning Behind the Traditional Song, “London Bridge Is Falling Down”
The origins of the traditional song “London Bridge Is Falling Down” cannot be identified with any certainty. Although, it was not, as some have alluded to, written in the 1800s. It was around a long time before then, but it was only written down at that time.
The stories that gave us the nursery rhymes we know today were sung by children and their families. It wasn’t until the 1800s they started to read in any great numbers, let alone write things down.
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” has a similar origin as others, passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Whether that included the tune, we will never know. It is probable the melody of “London Bridge Is Falling Down” we know today was added later.
The Lyrics
There are up to 14 verses for the traditional song “London Bridge Is Falling Down” that have been sung over the years. Most of those verses are talking about which material to use for repairs.
It is clear that whoever started to compose the rhyme was witness to what was going on. And that would have been in the 12th Century. Verses were added years later as techniques improved and different materials were used. At the end of each verse, there is a reference to the mysterious “Fair lady.”
The verses…
As I have said, each verse refers to materials and the risks should you use them. The first suggestion for repairs mentions building and repairing using “wood and clay.” This suggestion is refuted as the wood and the clay “will wash away.” The next suggestion is to use “bricks and mortar.” Declined again with the answer they will “not stay.”
Then comes a suggestion that was added much later in our time frame to use “iron and steel.” No good, according to the person answering, as it will “bend and bow.” How about “silver and gold”? Silver and gold would certainly not have been an option. The answer comes back that gold and silver will be “stolen away.”
At this point, you get the feeling that we are not dealing with reality anymore. Possibly a traveling minstrel eager to make his song longer. The last three verses talk about hiring a night watchman to prevent theft. And, to make sure he doesn’t go to sleep, they should give him a pipe to smoke.
The Fair Lady
At the end of each verse, there is the line, “My Fair Lady.” And there is a range of suggestions as to who this line is referring. Some have said it refers to the biblical Virgin Mary.
The reason they say that is they insist the Vikings attacked the bridge, but Mary prevented the capture of the city. Mary is implicated in the story because they say the bridge was attacked on her birthday. Most inconsiderate of those naughty Vikings.
I think some people would be interested to know how Vikings knew her birthday in the 12th Century. We certainly don’t even know if there is such a date today. So, I think we can discount that theory.
Another Suggestion
Another potential Fair Lady is a Scottish woman named Matilda. She was known to have organized the building of some bridges during her lifetime from 1080 to 1118.
The Most Likely Candidate
As for who the Fair Lady in “London Bridge Is Falling Down” is, the best guess is Eleanor of Provence. Provenance is a well-known area situated in Southeast France. She had custody and control over the revenues from the bridge from 1269 to 1291.
That means she would have collected rent and addressed any issues to satisfy tenants who had businesses on the bridge, including recognizing the need for repairs and their costs. She would have been a well-known figure around the bridge at the time.
A Gruesome Turn of Events
Most medieval countries had myths and legends in their cultures. In some cases, these were very extreme and often created to strike fear into the populace. One such myth was about buildings.
Some believed you needed to bury a child at the foundations; otherwise, the structure would collapse. It wasn’t made clear whether the child was dead or alive at the time of burial. The body of a human sacrifice would ensure the bridge was safe, and the child would be a kind of “spiritual watchman.”
Is There any Evidence For This Practice?
Since those days, the foundations of the site of the original bridge have been excavated. No bodies were found. However, when the area that was under the bridge was excavated in 2007, human skeletal remains were found. But that doesn’t necessarily mean rituals were going on.
It could just be people who had died, maybe constructing the bridge. I am not sure how good the health and safety practices were at that time. The plot thickens.
It gets even more interesting when a family from Stoneleigh Park, 150 miles north of London, made a claim. They have a family story that one of their ancestors was buried ‘under’ the bridge. This was due to a human sacrifice. That is probably an embellished story passed down over hundreds of years that was made more interesting as it went along.
Games With These Songs
Many of these nursery rhymes have little simple games that go with them. “London Bridge is Falling Down” is no exception. A game for “London Bridge is Falling Down” involves two children facing each other and holding hands to form an arch. Other children pass under the arch while they all sing the song.
The two children forming the arch then, at an agreed point, lower their arms. They “capture” the person going underneath who falls down.
Can You Associate A Meaning?
As with all nursery rhymes that have a historical context, it is hard to discover exactly what they are about. Some have seen cryptic references to the death of an individual and even the collapse of society. I think that is unlikely since most people at the time weren’t sophisticated enough to consider that.
It is more likely to be related to the constant repairs that were necessary. Possibly even things falling off the bridge, either during or after construction. Buildings in those days weren’t particularly sophisticated, and repairs would have been ongoing.
Tracing The Origins
There will always be people who try to find some form of sophisticated philosophy behind these rhymes. The truth of the matter is that when these rhymes were created, the majority of the less affluent couldn’t read or write.
They were created for fun. But it is interesting how many of them seem to hold dark secrets and are about death and destruction. Perhaps the songs were made up because of the fear of mortality.
Want To Learn What Other Famous Songs Are All About?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Meaning of “Ring Around the Rosie” Song Lyrics, The Meanings Behind Wade In The Water, the Meaning Of The Song “Vienna” By Billy Joel, the Meaning Of ‘American Pie’ Song Lyrics, and the Meaning Behind “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins for some interesting song interpretations.
The Meaning Behind the Traditional Song, “London Bridge Is Falling Down” – Final Thoughts
It is one of the most famous nursery rhymes we have. If you would like to hear more, a good option is a Nursery Rhymes CD or stream. Or, perhaps in book form for reading to a child, My First Book of Nursery Rhymes.
I am sure we have all taken these nursery rhymes for granted. But, the stories form an essential historical part of seeing how life was centuries ago. “London Bridge Is Falling Down” is just one of those stories.
Until next time, happy listening.
