Ide like to know why we teach our kids "Rub a dub dub three men in a tub" isnt this a bit strange?

Question

Ide like to know why we teach our kids "Rub a dub dub three men in a tub" isnt this a bit strange?

Answer 1

The oldest known printed version from the 14th century goes:

Hey! Rub-a-dub-dub! Ho! Rub-a-dub-dub! Three maids in a tub,

And who do you think were there?

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,

And all of them gone to the fair!

This is interpreted as describing otherwise respectable tradesmen attending a peep-show.

Another version runs:

Rub a dub dub,

Three men in a tub,

And who do you think they be?

The butcher, the baker,

The candlestick maker.

Turn them out, knaves all three!

I like the first one better, but I agree we shouldn't be teaching our kids that. Not that I ever thought about the meaning before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub-a-dub-d...

Answer 2

It, like many others, are cute, nonsensical rhymes to get children's interests in learning.  And it's I'D not IDE....is the 15th day of March, May, July, or October or the 13th day of the other months in the ancient Roman calendar.

I bet you don't know the origin of RING AROUND THE ROSIE, A POCKET FULL OF POSIES...it may seem nonsensical NOW, but it had meaning at one time.  I bet you can find fault with, HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE, THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON, too.