The Stir has a great list of seriously creepy nursery rhymes. These are classics on the surface seem sweet, until you really think about the words. Here are few examples:

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.


Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?


Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.


Rock-a-Bye-Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all.



Ring-a-Round a Rosie

Ring-a-round a rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down.

(This was about the plague!)


Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

(she sounds fun!)