A Diller, a Dollar Lyrics
Coming to school at noon instead of ten? That is the joke in A Diller, a Dollar, a short teasing rhyme about a pupil who keeps turning up later and later.
A Diller, a Dollar
A diller, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar!
What makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o'clock,
But now you come at noon.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/a-diller-a-dollar/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
What Does A Diller, a Dollar Mean?
A scholar is a pupil, and a "ten o'clock scholar" is one who arrives late to school. The rhyme pretends to ask why he is coming so soon, then reveals he used to come at ten and now comes at noon. It is gentle, funny sarcasm, the kind children quickly learn to recognize. "A diller, a dollar" is a bit of sound play and probably has no special meaning.
History and Origin
The rhyme has been used in English-speaking classrooms and homes since at least the 1800s, often to tease a sleepy child who is dawdling in the morning.
Learning Activities
- Clock practice: show ten o'clock and twelve o'clock on a toy clock and count the hours between them.
- Morning race: sing it while getting ready for school and see if you can be a "nine o'clock scholar".
- Spot the joke: ask why "so soon" is funny when he is actually late.