ELI5 Nursery Rhymes - why so morbid?

Why are nursery rhymes so morbid? Is Ring Around the Rosie really based on the bubonic plague? Why were they used as anti-authority memes? Where does the term Mother Goose rhymes come from?   ... We explain like i'm five!   Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community as always and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: bon7bon2000, the_original_retro, largosan, noplaytime, iateurcrayonz, mecaenas, smithy2997 & wannabebunny To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Send us an e-mail: [email protected]