Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” was first published in 1744. There are various theories with regard to its meaning. The most likely is it refers to Queen Mary of England. The daughter of Henry VIII, she succeeded after her brother Edward died. She is best known for trying to restore Catholicism after her father had broken with the Church. Her reversal of course would be “contrary” to the situation when she took the throne. “How does your garden grow?” could be a reference to all the people she executed making graveyards grow. “Silver bells and cockle shells” might be torture devices. “Pretty maids all in a row” are the Protestants waiting to be executed. Mary was known as “Bloody Mary” because of her persecution.
Another theory is the poem is about a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in Spain. Mary would be the Virgin Mary. The “silver bells” are church bells. “Cockle shells” are the badges worn by pilgrims. The “pretty maids” would be nuns. In yet another explanation, Mary is Mary, Queen of Scots. “Cockle shells” are her unfaithful husbands who cuckolded her. The “garden” might be Mary’s womb, which was barren. The question would be a taunt. Harsh. No matter what version is true, it still makes singing it with your child a bit creepy.
https://americansongwriter.com/meaning-of-mary-mary-quite-contrary-song-lyrics/
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