What’s up with old folk songs used as kids songs?  Did you ever listen to the words?  We have a Nursery Rhyme CD, and “Little Brown Jug” is one of the songs….(Taken from Wikipedia read on),

“Little Brown Jug” is a song written in 1869 by Joseph Winner, originally published credited to “Eastburn” (Winner’s middle name).

Original 1869 sheet music cover

It was originally a drinking song. It remained well known as a folk song into the early 20th century. Like many songs which make reference to alcoholic beverages, it enjoyed new popularity during the Prohibition era. In 1939 bandleader Glenn Miller recorded and broadcast his swing instrumental arrangement of the tune with great success, and the number became one of the best known orchestrations of the American Big Band era.

The song’s lyrics are about a man and his wife and their hard life due to alcoholism; however, the tone and tune are bright and cheerful.

[edit] Original lyrics

Me and my wife live all alone

In a little log hut we call our own;

She loves gin and I love rum,

And don’t we have a lot of fun!

Chorus

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,

Little brown jug, don’t I love thee!

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,

Little brown jug, don’t I love thee!

There’s more, but you get the point.  And it’s especially odd because the CD and of course, this song is sung by a choir of children.