Ding Dong Bell Lyrics
An early version of Ding Dong Bell was written down around 1580, before any of Shakespeare's plays. In the words sung today, a cat falls into a well and a boy called Johnny Stout pulls her out.
Ding Dong Bell
Ding, dong, bell,
Pussy's in the well!
Who put her in?
Little Tommy Lin.
The rest of the rhyme
Who pulled her out?
Little Johnny Stout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To try to drown poor pussy-cat.
Who never did him any harm,
But killed the mice in his father's barn!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/ding-dong-bell/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- First published
- 1580 (earliest version)
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Ding, dong, bell | Swing both arms like ringing a big bell. |
| Pussy's in the well! | Point down and look worried. |
| Who put her in? | Shrug with palms up. |
| Who pulled her out? | Reach down and pull with both hands. |
What Does Ding Dong Bell Mean?
The bell rings an alarm: a cat has fallen down a well. One boy is to blame, but another boy, Johnny Stout, pulls her out, and the rhyme scolds the naughty boy because the cat never did him any harm and kept the mice away from the barn.
It is a small lesson in kindness to animals, and it has a happy ending, as the cat is rescued.
History and Origin
An early version, "Jacke boy, ho boy newes, the cat is in the well", was written down by the organist John Lant around 1580. Shakespeare used the words "ding, dong, bell" in several plays, including The Tempest. The version with Tommy and Johnny appeared in nursery rhyme books in the 1700s.
Learning Activities
- Bell ringing: ring a real bell or tap a glass for each "ding, dong".
- Kindness talk: talk about Johnny Stout, the hero, and how we look after animals.