If you thought that nursery rhymes you learnt in school were all that innocent, you're in for a shock. Or a surprise, depending on how dark your imagination is.

1. Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't a poem about racism. In fact, it's about how King Edward The Longshanks (remember that old dude from Braveheart?) levied heavy taxes on wool. A third of the sales revenue went to the king's treasury, a third went to the church and the farmer had only a third left for himself.

2. Goosey Goosey Gander

Goosey Goosey Gander, whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs and in my Lady's chamber.
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
So I took him by his left leg and threw him down the stairs.

Back in 16th century England, it wasn't easy being Catholic. You had to say your Latin prayers in secret, because doing so was outlawed, even within the safety of one's own house. Protestants actually got paid to catch Catholics in the act of devotion, more so if they caught a priest. One of the methods of executing them was to tie one end of their legs with a rope and throw them down a flight of stairs. And then repeat.