Joy,

I did a search and did not find it in my 1951 Oxford Dictionary of Nursery
Rhymes.  I know the history of "Ring Around the Rosy" -- black plague issue.
Back then the theme was to find scary things to get kids to go to bed.  This
one is definitely more up beat and adventurous.  However I have sailed that
route at least ten times and it can be a nasty voyage especially this time
of year.

The illuminated result is that the indigenous population did not an
immigration policy; even thought they had ability to establish and enforce
one.  The result has been the US (and the rests of the Americas.)

"Think forwards and learn from the past."

Jere