Talk:Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Songs, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to songs on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.

The explanation I have always been told is that it was a queen who frequently had miscarriages and still-births. Hence 'how does your garden grow' referring to her womb, and 'pretty maids all in a row' because she buried each child in her garden. I cannot however, remember which Mary this was or what the 'silver bells and cockleshells' referred to.

Mary I of England, that would be, who remained childless through several miscarriages. Mary I of Scotland had at least one child, James, later James I of England and James VI(?) of Scotland. Eriathwen 12:35, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Personal Analysis

whose "personal analysis" is that on the main article? why does it deserve to be there? Alveolate 20:02, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

I removed it as being rather unencyclopedic. In case any of it can be incorporated, a copy is below. -- ALoan (Talk) 22:21, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

Doing a little research on slang from this period, I prefer the following analysis:

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary" inferes that Mary did not follow the social mores of the time.

"How does your garden grow" - a garden party was a common social event of the time.

"With silver bells" - a belle is a popular, attractive female.

"And cockle shells" - cockle bread was known as an aphrodisiac.

And pretty maids all in a row - Maid is also an archaic word for an unmarried woman or a virgin.