最近陪着小宝宝听了许多儿歌，很有感触。儿歌真是个小世界，无论从历史来，从民俗来，中英文儿歌完全可做个比较研究课题。（读过一篇分析humpty-dumpty的文章，也是大开眼界）

 
随便举几首儿歌的例子。有的英文儿歌十分戏剧化，如这首三只特立独行的猪，竟然落得悲惨下场，和一般以为西方通用的好莱坞儿童剧风格迥异。而其中“如果……就会die”的句式，更是在麦兜故事中早有影射：

Oh, there once was a sow, who had three little pigs,
Three little piggies had she.
The old sow always went "Oink! Oink! Oink!"
And the piggies went "Wee! Wee! Wee! Wee!"
 
Now, one day one of the three little pigs
To the other two piggies said he.
Why don't we always go "Oink! Oink! Oink!"
It's so childish to go "Wee! Wee! Wee! Wee!”
 
These three piggies grew skinny and lean,
Skinny they well should be.
For they always would try to go "oink, oink, oink."
And they wouldn’t go "Wee! Wee! Wee! Wee!"
 
Now, these three piggies they up and they died.
A very sad sight to see.
So don't ever try to go "Oink! Oink! Oink!"
When you ought to go "Wee! Wee! Wee! Wee!"

 
有的英文儿歌十分感伤，如著名的划船这首。人生如梦的概叹，在明快的节奏和快乐的气氛中随口吟出，令人猝不及防。

 

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

 

另外一首，是《暖暖内含光》里面提过的，两个恋人为忘记失恋痛苦而选择失忆，结果却是再次相遇相恋，联想影片情节，更是令人动情。

 

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine.