early folklorists tended to reflect contemporary theories and beliefs, including the view that singing games were a form of pagan survivalism, which led alice gomme to conclude that "london bridge is broken down" reflected a memory of child sacrifice, or 'devolution', which assumed that children's songs must have devolved down to children from adult culture and did not allow for innovation by children themselves. the origins of most are obscure and have been evolved by children over many generations.