The earliest versions of this rhyme published differ significantly in their wording. Dating back to the 14th century,the original rhyme makes reference to maids in a "tub" – a fairground attraction similar to a modern peep show.
The rhyme is of a type calling out otherwise respectable people for disrespectable actions, in this case, ogling naked ladies – the maids.
The nonsense "Rub-a-dub-dub" develops an phonetic association of social disapprobation, analogous to "tsk-tsk," albeit of a more lascivious variety.
The nursery rhyme is a form of teaching such associations in folklore: for individuals raised with such social codes, the phrase
"Rub-a-dub-dub" alone could stand in for gossip or innuendo without communicating all of the details.
Nursery Rhyme To Popular Culture
Popular Culture: Reggae
The term "Rub-a-Dub" comes from a dance style where the man and woman rub up very close together and grind their hips to the beat.
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