A TikToker has explained the dark meaning behind the well-known 'Humpty Dumpty' nursery rhyme, revealing it may not be the simple tale about an egg that you were sold. Watch her explain below:
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TikTok user and comedian Mackenzie Barmen (@mackenziebarmen) often posts comedic videos about popular nursery rhymes and fairy tales, breaking each story down to reveal its darker elements.
That includes 'Humpty Dumpty', which many of you will remember from your childhood as a simple rhyme about an anthropomorphic egg falling off a random wall.
Here are the lyrics:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again
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In her video, Barmen asks: "Do you have any idea what you're singing about?"
Pretending to be another character, she then says: "Who doesn't know Humpty Dumpty? He was an egg, and he fell off of a wall. And he cracked into so many pieces they could not put him together, so that was the end of him."
Barmen introduces a bit of history into the mix - specifically, the life of Richard III, whose horse was supposedly nicknamed 'Wall'.
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In a caption, she explains Richard III was the King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1483 until his death in 1485.
"King Richard III's horse was supposedly called 'Wall', off of which he fell during battle," she writes.
"He was bludgeoned so severely his men could not save him, becoming the last king to die in battle."
Ouch.
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Misunderstanding the point, her alter-ego says in the video: "So Richard III was an egg?"
That last part was, of course, only a punchline, but the idea that 'Humpty Dumpty' was inspired by the tragic real-life events of Richard III is one widely believed to be a real possibility.
Her video has since racked up 1.6 million likes and thousands of comments from people who have just had their minds blown and their childhood ruined.
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One user wrote: "That explains the children's book depiction of an egg dressed as a king on a wall that I saw as a kid."
Another said: "Learnt more about history on TikTok than I did in school."
A third added: "Fun fact: the rhyme never says he's an egg."
Many others said there was even another theory that the rhyme is about a cannon in Colchester, UK.
Responding to one comment, Barmen said: "History and multiple interpretations are so fun. It's all up for debate."
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@mackenziebarmenTopics: World News, News, TikTok