Comments on: Thank God for ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/ The Mind, Times, and Life of Yoshke Dimen Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:30:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: debbie http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-18108 debbie Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:16:05 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-18108 a few months back i bought this book titled GAMES AROUND THE WORLD and it has something about the game LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN. it says that primitive people had this belief that bridges trespassed on the powers of the gods of water and land. the materials of a bridge were not strong enough to guard it against the "offended spirits" so they had to offer sacrifices like a living man as part of the foundations of the bridge. the game involves making the players choose between two options like "orange or durian", "shaider or maskman" (haha). the book says this was adapted from a belief that started in the MIddle Ages that the two sides of the bridge (it says "THE bridge"--so it must be referring to the London Bridge itself) represent good and evil. anyway, i also googled this nursery rhyme and one source said the concept came from the many times the London Bridge was hit by disasters, including several fires and the attack of Vikings. here is a version of the song with some of it copied from the book: London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair Lady. How shall we build it up again, Up again, up again, How shall we build it up again, My fair lady. Build it up with wood and clay, Wood and clay, wood and clay, Build it up with wood and clay, My fair Lady. Wood and clay will wash away, Wash away, wash away, Wood and clay will wash away, My fair Lady. Build it up with bricks and mortar, Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar, Build it up with bricks and mortar, My fair Lady. Bricks and mortar will not stay, Will not stay, will not stay, Bricks and mortar will not stay, My fair Lady. Build it up with iron and steel, Iron and steel, iron and steel, Build it up with iron and steel, My fair Lady. Iron and steel will bend and bow, Bend and bow, bend and bow, Iron and steel will bend and bow, My fair Lady. Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold, Build it up with silver and gold, My fair Lady. Silver and gold will be stolen away, Stolen away, stolen away, Silver and gold will be stolen away, My fair Lady. Set a man to watch all night, Watch all night, watch all night, Set a man to watch all night, My fair Lady. Suppose the man should fall asleep, Fall asleep, fall asleep, Suppose the man should fall asleep? My fair Lady. Give him a pipe to smoke all night, Smoke all night, smoke all night, Give him a pipe to smoke all night, My fair Lady. the book says the last verse goes, "take the keys and lock him (her) up." and that's when the two "guards" lower their arms to enclose the player between them. a few months back i bought this book titled GAMES AROUND THE WORLD and it has something about the game LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN. it says that primitive people had this belief that bridges trespassed on the powers of the gods of water and land. the materials of a bridge were not strong enough to guard it against the “offended spirits” so they had to offer sacrifices like a living man as part of the foundations of the bridge.

the game involves making the players choose between two options like “orange or durian”, “shaider or maskman” (haha). the book says this was adapted from a belief that started in the MIddle Ages that the two sides of the bridge (it says “THE bridge”–so it must be referring to the London Bridge itself) represent good and evil. anyway, i also googled this nursery rhyme and one source said the concept came from the many times the London Bridge was hit by disasters, including several fires and the attack of Vikings. here is a version of the song with some of it copied from the book:

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair Lady.

How shall we build it up again,
Up again, up again,
How shall we build it up again,
My fair lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair Lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair Lady.

Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair Lady.

Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair Lady.

Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair Lady.

Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair Lady.

Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair Lady.

Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair Lady.

the book says the last verse goes, “take the keys and lock him (her) up.” and that’s when the two “guards” lower their arms to enclose the player between them.

]]> By: Yoshke http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-10610 Yoshke Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:54:01 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-10610 yeah. Little Red Riding Hood. The grandmother has to be eaten by the wolf. Traumatic. Haha. yeah. Little Red Riding Hood. The grandmother has to be eaten by the wolf. Traumatic. Haha.

]]> By: Yoshke http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-10609 Yoshke Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:53:23 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-10609 Ako naman, I knew he died. I mean, come on, he's an egg. His innards must have splattered. Ako naman, I knew he died. I mean, come on, he’s an egg. His innards must have splattered.

]]> By: Yoshke http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-10608 Yoshke Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:52:02 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-10608 Ayayay. Some children's story, huh? Ayayay. Some children’s story, huh?

]]> By: Yoshke http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-10605 Yoshke Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:49:10 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-10605 hindi ko na maalala. Basta puro illustrations yun. hindi ko na maalala. Basta puro illustrations yun.

]]> By: jun.anteola http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-10112 jun.anteola Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:57:50 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-10112 interesting! i've often wondered too why fairy tales have such morbid themes... and how they came to be labelled as "children's classics"? talk about Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood... even Snow White had to die! interesting! i’ve often wondered too why fairy tales have such morbid themes… and how they came to be labelled as “children’s classics”? talk about Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood… even Snow White had to die!

]]> By: Eina http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-9638 Eina Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:25:49 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-9638 Haahahaha, I learned this in my Children's Lit class. Very interesting, I must say. Although to be honest, when I was a kid, I never bothered asking if Humpty Dumpty died or not. I was just content singing the rhyme. XD Haahahaha, I learned this in my Children’s Lit class. Very interesting, I must say. Although to be honest, when I was a kid, I never bothered asking if Humpty Dumpty died or not. I was just content singing the rhyme. XD

]]> By: Samjuan http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-9163 Samjuan Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:42:33 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-9163 Yung kay James Finn Garner? Astig nun. Haha. Yung sa akin natiyempuhan ko lang na pakalat-kalat sa isang book sale sa mall Yung kay James Finn Garner?
Astig nun. Haha.
Yung sa akin natiyempuhan ko lang na pakalat-kalat sa isang book sale sa mall

]]> By: ayn http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-9130 ayn Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:34:47 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-9130 haha, she wakes up after her baby daughter sucks the splinter [whatever it was that pricked her finger] from her thumb. poor sleeping beauty. at least she sleeps through the birth of her twins... AND THEN...the prince comes back and takes her to his kingdom where his wife is, well, angry and not to mention an ogress so she decides to eat her husband's illegitimate children for dinner... tsk. tsk. of course, it still ends happily ever after. but what fun those old versions were. haha. haha, she wakes up after her baby daughter sucks the splinter [whatever it was that pricked her finger] from her thumb. poor sleeping beauty. at least she sleeps through the birth of her twins…

AND THEN…the prince comes back and takes her to his kingdom where his wife is, well, angry and not to mention an ogress so she decides to eat her husband’s illegitimate children for dinner…

tsk. tsk.

of course, it still ends happily ever after. but what fun those old versions were. haha.

]]> By: Yoshke http://www.yoshke.com/2008/07/21/thank-god-for-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/#comment-9123 Yoshke Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:41:54 +0000 http://www.yoshke.com/?p=257#comment-9123 Yeah. something we failed to notice when we were young. :) Yeah. something we failed to notice when we were young. :)

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