Sad Children’s Songs
Have you ever really listened to the words of your favorite children’s songs? The farmer’s wife cuts off the tails of the Three Blind Mice; the cradle falls from the tree-top – baby and all; Clementine drowns as does Aunt Rhody’s Grey Goose.
Many of the adults in my classes are uncomfortable with these songs. Why would we want to expose our children to such violence and sadness? Perhaps we should alter the lyrics or maybe just avoid those songs altogether. Parents and teachers have been debating the issue for generations. Ruth Crawford Seeger ‘s seminal 1948 book American Folk Songs for Children devotes four pages to the question. Mrs. Seeger’s position is that these songs are not only appropriate but are, in fact, helpful for children. They allow children to work out their feelings and fantasies in a safe non-threatening way.
I have a foot in both camps. In my classes Juba sees a yellow cat instead of killing it but on the other hand I let a merry-go-round full of laughing children collapse. You should see the parents’ raised eyebrows the first time that song is presented in class.
What are your thoughts?
