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It's really amazing how many songs from children's movies, or just nursery rhymes teach an accurate history lesson. As always, no particular order to the list:
1) "Sister Suffragette" from Disney's Mary Poppins. I would be lying if I said that whenever this song pops in my head (which is far too frequently) I really, really want to create a program called, "Well Done, Sister Suffragette!" for Mary's Historical Programs. Anyway, despite Mrs. Banks debatable parenting skills, you simply can't deny what a catchy tune she has...no wonder she sings it all the way home. Also, when she mentions Mrs. Pankhurst being clapped in irons again and Mrs Whitman-Allen chaining herself to the prime-minister's car, that stuff totally happened. Too bad Katy Nana was such a killjoy.
2) "Virginia Company" from Disney's Pocahontas. Well, in 1607, a bunch of Englishmen sponsored by the Virginia Company sailed to the New World for Glory, God, and (the prospect of) Gold...also known as the 3 G's in college history classes. They even got the part about the Virginia Company saying whatever was needed to get them to sign up: "or so we have been told by the Virginia Company." Nicely done, Disney! Sadly, there pretty much isn't one other accurate part of this movie.
3) "Ring Around the Rosy"--Nursery Rhyme. I would apologize for not posting a video with someone singing, but each one was more disturbing than the next so it's really better this way. This seemingly harmless little ditty finds its roots in the days of Bubonic Plague. "Ring around the rosy" is referencing the rosy red ring-like rash that was one of the first symptoms. "Pocket full of posy" refers to using herbs to ward off the disease. The third line is debated as "Ashes, ashes" which could refer to burning herbs in one of these slightly terrifying doctor masks or it could also refer to burning corpses. It is also speculated the line is actually, "At-choo, at-choo" as in sneezing. Anyway you cut it, the last line, "we all fall down" is in reference to wait for it... dying. In a nutshell, the first three lines are about possible traits of Black Death, but in the end, if you got it, you died. seriously, take that in, "we ALL fall down." Not even a lone survivor.
4) "Sit Down, John" from 1776. I am madly in love with this movie. Madly, like obsessed. I first saw this movie when I was under six, so I'm grouping it with kid's movies. Yes, there is profanity (occasional and mild) and references to sex (Jefferson takes his wife "to bed" and scandalizes Adams...I legitimately thought they were taking a nap until I was 12-ish) Anyway, any song from this movie is historically accurate, but the amount of information handed out in the first ten minutes of this movie could very well be a record. Even if you zoned out on his talking, in this song alone, we know: John Adams is a royal (haha, get it) pain in the butt, it's hot and miserable, congress is in Philadelphia, the date is hanging in the background,...even the complaint about flies is dead on. Honestly, the only glaring wrong in this movie is when they all sign the declaration on July 4th. This will have to be a movie review at some point.
5) The Presidents Song by the Animaniacs. This was such a great show, full of satire way over little kids' heads. I miss it. I will give you that this song is, obviously, outdated, but it still has the brunt of our presidents and it has them in order, in a catchy tune. Some of what the Animaniacs accuse certain presidents of is embellished and/or common misconception, but they make up for it with historical accuracy elsewhere. For instance, you probably know by now that George Washington never actually cut down a cherry tree...but there is a story as to why that story was made up. However, Franklin Pierce, really had a weak chin.
6) "No Cats in America"- from An American Tail. I know what you are thinking, "There are TOO cats in America! How can this be historically educational?" Well, it's pretty simple. The cats represent the troubles from the "old country." I'm sure you have heard of immigrants thinking the streets of New York are paved with gold, well, I suppose if you are mouse "gold" could be "cheese." As the mice sing, "the streets are paved with cheese." Yes, the make it silly for children, but the idea of the mice (immigrants) fleeing the cats (problems) of the their country to come to America makes sense. This is something that sparks the interest to learn the real story.
7) "Territory Folk"- from Oklahoma! There was a major issue between ranchers and farmers in the territories throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Although I imagine such arguments were seldom resolved by fiery old women and vicarious dancing, here is one such example.
8) The Preamble- from School House Rock. Do I really need to explain why this is historically educational? After the bit of when the constitution was written, the sing it. Word for word.
9) "Honor to Us All"- from Disney's Mulan. Like other songs on this list, "Honor to Us All" adds a little silliness to the history. Mulan does not need a "great hairdo" but the jist of the song, especially, the magnitude of going to the matchmaker is spot-on. The concept of honor is still important to the Chinese culture, but in Mulan's time (she was supposedly a real person, btw) a girl married young and was often under the control of her mother-in-law. Being a good daughter-in-law was a way for a girl to bring honor to her family and, later, continuing the male ancestral line by "bearing sons."
Top Historically Educational Children's Songs
3) "Ring Around the Rosy"--Nursery Rhyme. I would apologize for not posting a video with someone singing, but each one was more disturbing than the next so it's really better this way. This seemingly harmless little ditty finds its roots in the days of Bubonic Plague. "Ring around the rosy" is referencing the rosy red ring-like rash that was one of the first symptoms. "Pocket full of posy" refers to using herbs to ward off the disease. The third line is debated as "Ashes, ashes" which could refer to burning herbs in one of these slightly terrifying doctor masks or it could also refer to burning corpses. It is also speculated the line is actually, "At-choo, at-choo" as in sneezing. Anyway you cut it, the last line, "we all fall down" is in reference to wait for it... dying. In a nutshell, the first three lines are about possible traits of Black Death, but in the end, if you got it, you died. seriously, take that in, "we ALL fall down." Not even a lone survivor.
4) "Sit Down, John" from 1776. I am madly in love with this movie. Madly, like obsessed. I first saw this movie when I was under six, so I'm grouping it with kid's movies. Yes, there is profanity (occasional and mild) and references to sex (Jefferson takes his wife "to bed" and scandalizes Adams...I legitimately thought they were taking a nap until I was 12-ish) Anyway, any song from this movie is historically accurate, but the amount of information handed out in the first ten minutes of this movie could very well be a record. Even if you zoned out on his talking, in this song alone, we know: John Adams is a royal (haha, get it) pain in the butt, it's hot and miserable, congress is in Philadelphia, the date is hanging in the background,...even the complaint about flies is dead on. Honestly, the only glaring wrong in this movie is when they all sign the declaration on July 4th. This will have to be a movie review at some point.
5) The Presidents Song by the Animaniacs. This was such a great show, full of satire way over little kids' heads. I miss it. I will give you that this song is, obviously, outdated, but it still has the brunt of our presidents and it has them in order, in a catchy tune. Some of what the Animaniacs accuse certain presidents of is embellished and/or common misconception, but they make up for it with historical accuracy elsewhere. For instance, you probably know by now that George Washington never actually cut down a cherry tree...but there is a story as to why that story was made up. However, Franklin Pierce, really had a weak chin.
6) "No Cats in America"- from An American Tail. I know what you are thinking, "There are TOO cats in America! How can this be historically educational?" Well, it's pretty simple. The cats represent the troubles from the "old country." I'm sure you have heard of immigrants thinking the streets of New York are paved with gold, well, I suppose if you are mouse "gold" could be "cheese." As the mice sing, "the streets are paved with cheese." Yes, the make it silly for children, but the idea of the mice (immigrants) fleeing the cats (problems) of the their country to come to America makes sense. This is something that sparks the interest to learn the real story.
7) "Territory Folk"- from Oklahoma! There was a major issue between ranchers and farmers in the territories throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Although I imagine such arguments were seldom resolved by fiery old women and vicarious dancing, here is one such example.
8) The Preamble- from School House Rock. Do I really need to explain why this is historically educational? After the bit of when the constitution was written, the sing it. Word for word.
9) "Honor to Us All"- from Disney's Mulan. Like other songs on this list, "Honor to Us All" adds a little silliness to the history. Mulan does not need a "great hairdo" but the jist of the song, especially, the magnitude of going to the matchmaker is spot-on. The concept of honor is still important to the Chinese culture, but in Mulan's time (she was supposedly a real person, btw) a girl married young and was often under the control of her mother-in-law. Being a good daughter-in-law was a way for a girl to bring honor to her family and, later, continuing the male ancestral line by "bearing sons."
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