A seemingly scary nursery rhyme: a children’s song that gives you the chills when you hear it
When you think of children’s songs, you probably picture the cute tunes kids sing in daycare or kindergarten.
But did you know that some of them have chillingly scary lyrics when you listen to the whole song? In this article, we’ve gathered nursery rhymes that turn out to be frightening once you dig into the lyrics.
You’ll also learn the intriguing backgrounds behind these songs—not just the scare factor—so if there’s a nursery rhyme you’ve always wondered about or never quite understood the meaning of since you were a child, be sure to check it out!
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Actually scary nursery rhymes: children's songs that give you the chills when you listen (11–20)
Abuku-tattachildren’s song
Abukutatta is a traditional children’s song where everyone sits around a pot in a circle and sings.
Pretending to “munch, munch” on whatever’s bubbling away in the pot is the fun part of the song! But then, once the cupboard is locked and everyone’s asleep, you hear an eerie knocking sound—“ton-ton.” With the shout, “It’s the sound of a ghost!” the game suddenly turns into a full-on game of tag.
Some say it hints at a chilling ritual of human-eating, but it’s that very thrill that makes the play so enjoyable.
Slip into the role of a character in the story and revel in the heart-pounding chase to your heart’s content.
Caro's eyeballchildren’s song
Once you hear it, you can’t forget it—Kyaro no Medama is a nursery rhyme with strikingly odd lyrics.
It sings of children’s mischievousness and curiosity and is sung in various regions as a warabe-uta, but its content—“cauterizing a frog’s eyeballs”—is shockingly cruel.
It goes far beyond mere mischief; when you think carefully about the meaning, you realize it’s an extremely frightening song.
Even so, its lively rhythm makes it perfect for hand-play games and easy for children to enjoy.
While we can take it as a glimpse of the innocent side of children in the past, we should also use it as an opportunity to teach the children in front of us about the importance of life.
little foxGerman folk song
Originally a German folk song, “Kogitsune” is beloved in Japan as an autumn song.
It’s no exaggeration to say that everyone has sung it at least once—it’s a familiar tune.
What’s interesting is that the world depicted in the Japanese lyrics is completely different from that of the original German lyrics.
While the Japanese version features an adorable little fox putting on makeup, the original tells a didactic story warning against theft.
Once you know that background and listen again, the somewhat wistful melody may resonate even more deeply.
Discussing the differences in lyrics across countries and cultures with your child is also a wonderful way to enjoy the song’s depth!
My shoes are squeaking.Lyrics by Katsura Shimizu / Music by Ryutaro Hirota
Kutsu ga Naru (The Shoes are Ringing) brings to mind a heartwarming scene of children cheerfully walking along.
Written by lyricist Katsura Shimizu and composed by Ryutaro Hirota, it’s a classic that everyone knows.
However, some interpret the lively footsteps as evoking “soldiers marching off to the battlefield,” or even feel a slightly chilling notion that the innocent children might be led away somewhere.
Precisely because the melody is so bright and playful, imagining the meaning hidden beneath can make the familiar song sound a little different—how curious that is.
Listening from an unusual perspective might be a new way to enjoy this song!
Rainy moonLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Shinpei Nakayama
“Amefuri Otsuki,” which depicts a bride going off to be married alone on a rainy night, is a children’s song with a hauntingly melancholy atmosphere.
When you read the lyrics closely, the image of a bride setting off by herself evokes a curious, slightly mysterious feeling.
Some say that behind it lies a poignant theory: the song as a requiem for a departed daughter.
On the other hand, a heartwarming anecdote survives that the author modeled it on his own wife, who came to him as a bride in the rain.
As you listen, try to imagine the different possibilities and let your thoughts wander through the world the lyrics create.
An Apple’s SoliloquyLyrics by Toshiko Takeuchi / Music by Mitsuaki Kōyō
Ringo no Hitorigoto (The Apple’s Soliloquy) portrays the charming monologue of an apple.
Though beloved for its sprightly melody, the lyrics carry a certain melancholy.
Some interpret the apple, shipped by train from the northern country and thinking of its grandfather back home, as mirroring the fate of a young woman who has left her rural hometown to work in the big city.
Learning that the lyricist, Toshiko Takeuchi, wrote the song while battling illness may make the nostalgia woven into the words feel even more poignant.
Once you know the background and listen again, this familiar children’s song may reveal a completely different story.
Savor that contrast for yourself!
Actually scary nursery rhymes: children's songs that give you the chills (21–30)
Please let me pass.children’s song
A children’s play song said to have originated at shrines in Saitama and Kanagawa Prefectures, with lyrics believed to have taken shape in the Edo period.
In addition to being used in childhood games, in some regions it serves as the melody for acoustic pedestrian signals, so many people may find it familiar.
The lyrics, which evoke a sense of shadow, and the minor-key melody have long fueled urban legends that suggest themes like spirit abductions or human sacrifices.
There’s even a theory that it points to a single road leading to a discriminated community.
Despite being a nursery rhyme, it exudes a striking eeriness.