Hey Diddle Dinkety, Poppety, Pet Lyrics
A parade of London merchants in bright red coats with gold trim. The nonsense first line sets a marching beat, and the rest describes their fine clothes.
Hey Diddle Dinkety, Poppety, Pet
Hey diddle dinkety, poppety, pet.
The merchants of London they wear scarlet;
Silk in the collar, and gold in hem,
So merrily march the merchantmen.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/hey-diddle-dinkety-poppety-pet/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Chanted marching rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hey diddle dinkety, poppety, pet | March on the spot in time with the words. |
| The merchants of London they wear scarlet | Smooth down a pretend coat. |
| Silk in the collar, and gold in hem | Point to your collar, then the bottom of your top. |
| So merrily march the merchantmen | March around the room. |
What Does Hey Diddle Dinkety, Poppety, Pet Mean?
Merchants are people who buy and sell goods. Scarlet is a bright red cloth, silk is a fine shiny fabric, and the hem is the bottom edge of a coat or gown. The rhyme pictures the merchants dressed in their best, marching proudly together.
History and Origin
Walter Jerrold printed it as "Merchants of London" in The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (1903). London's merchant guilds dressed in rich colored gowns for grand occasions, such as the Lord Mayor's Show, a procession through the City that has been held for centuries.
Learning Activities
- Parade: dress up in red or gold scarves and march around the room.
- Fabric hunt: find something silky and something rough at home and compare them.
- Market talk: talk about what merchants sell and where people shop today.