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"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 together again."

But who was Humpty Dumpty?

Today, most people think Humpty Dumpty was an egg. But none of the words of the nursery rhyme say this.

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Today, some historians say Humpty Dumpty was actually a cannonA heavy gun on wheels. used during the English Civil WarA series of wars in England from 1642 to 1651 between Royalists led by Charles I and Parliament (followers known as Roundheads) over religious freedom and how the country was run. . It was put on a wall, but when the wall was knocked down the cannon fell to the ground.

Others say there is no proof that any cannon was named Humpty Dumpty.

Humpty Dumpty is not the only nursery rhyme that might have a hidden meaning. Some say Ring a Ring O'Roses is about an illness, with people sneezing before falling down dead. Others say it is really about a game like musical chairs.

Yes! Nursery rhymes sound like they are just for fun, but they often began as ways to send hidden messages about events or powerful people.

No! Nursery rhymes are just fun songs sang by young children. We should not read too much into them.