Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water,
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
He went to bed and wrapped his head,
In vinegar and brown paper.
 

This rhyme was first published around 1765

There are several ideas as to its meaning

1. It is about the stupidity of people. Jack and Jill are names that have commonly and historically been used to represent a men and women. Water is generally found in valleys and not on top of hills. Vinegar and brown paper were traditionally used to draw out bruises.

2. It refers to the time of terror immediately following the French Revolution when those that had climbed to the top of society came tumbling down and were lucky if they kept their heads. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were not luck and were executed by guillotine.