### Old Roger is Dead and Gone to His Grave: The Curious Tale Behind the Nursery Rhyme
“Old Roger is dead and gone to his grave” is a nursery rhyme that has perplexed and entertained children for generations. Like many traditional rhymes, its origins and meaning are shrouded in mystery, leaving room for various interpretations and stories. The rhyme typically goes as follows:
Old Roger is dead and gone to his grave,
Hum ha, gone to his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Hum ha, over his head.
The apples grew ripe and ready to drop,
Hum ha, ready to drop.
There came an old woman to gather them all,
Hum ha, gather them all.
Old Roger got up and gave her a knock,
Hum ha, gave her a knock.
#### The Origins of the Rhyme
The exact origins of “Old Roger is Dead” are difficult to pinpoint, as is the case with many traditional nursery rhymes. Its roots likely stretch back to the 18th or 19th century in England, a time when oral storytelling and song were primary forms of entertainment and education for children. The rhyme’s macabre theme of death and the supernatural reflects the period’s common use of dark humor in children’s literature and songs.
#### The Story and Its Elements
The rhyme tells the simple yet eerie story of Old Roger, who has died and been buried with an apple tree planted over his grave. The apples grow, and an old woman comes to gather them. However, in a surprising twist, Old Roger rises from the grave and knocks her.
1. **Old Roger’s Death and Burial**: The initial verses establish the death of Old Roger and the planting of the apple tree, a symbol often associated with knowledge, life, and rebirth in various cultural narratives. This planting suggests a cycle of life and death, where Roger’s body nourishes new life.
2. **The Old Woman and the Apples**: The appearance of the old woman who comes to gather the apples introduces an element of folklore. In many traditions, old women in stories can represent witches, wise women, or simply figures of curiosity and mischief.
3. **Roger’s Knock**: The most intriguing part of the rhyme is Roger rising from his grave to knock the old woman. This act could be interpreted in several ways:
– **Supernatural Retribution**: Roger’s knock could symbolize a ghostly retribution against the living, common in folklore where the dead interact with or haunt the living.
– **Symbolic Gesture**: The knock might symbolize a boundary being crossed—the living encroaching on the domain of the dead or vice versa. It serves as a reminder of the thin veil between life and death.
#### Interpretations and Theories
Scholars and enthusiasts of nursery rhymes have proposed various theories about the meaning behind Old Roger’s knock:
– **Moral Lesson**: Some suggest the rhyme serves as a cautionary tale about respecting the dead and the sanctity of their resting places. The old woman’s act of gathering apples might be seen as disrespectful, prompting Roger’s response.
– **Cultural Reflection**: The rhyme could reflect historical attitudes towards death and the afterlife, encapsulating the period’s fascination with ghosts and the supernatural.
– **Humorous Undertone**: The rhyme might simply be an example of dark humor, meant to entertain children with a spooky yet amusing tale.
#### Conclusion
“Old Roger is Dead and Gone to His Grave” remains a curious piece of nursery lore, rich with potential meanings and interpretations. Its blend of the macabre and the mundane captures the timeless fascination with death and the unknown, wrapped in the playful context of a children’s rhyme. Whether seen as a moral lesson, a reflection of historical attitudes, or simply a humorous story, Old Roger’s tale continues to intrigue and entertain, reminding us of the enduring power of traditional nursery rhymes.
Old Roger got up and gave her a knock !
um ha gave her a knock
codger dodger or just plain dead old roger
dont give her a knock its battery n never knock
fact most nursery rymrs were down ritght creepy
