Hickory Dickory Dock Lyrics
One mouse, one tall clock and a single chime. Hickory Dickory Dock has been used to teach counting and telling time since it was printed in the 1740s.
Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory, dock!
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock!
The older wording (The Real Mother Goose, 1916)
Hickory, dickory, dock!
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/hickory-dickory-dock/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes, Counting Rhymes
- First published
- c. 1744
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 1 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hickory, dickory, dock | Swing one arm slowly from side to side like a pendulum. |
| The mouse ran up the clock | Run two fingers up your other arm, from wrist to shoulder. |
| The clock struck one | Clap once loudly, or hold up one finger. |
| The mouse ran down | Run your fingers quickly back down your arm. |
| Hickory, dickory, dock | Swing your arm like a pendulum again. |
What Does Hickory Dickory Dock Mean?
The rhyme simply describes a mouse climbing a tall clock and running away in fright when the clock chimes. Its real purpose is sound and rhythm: "hickory, dickory, dock" copies the tick-tock of a clock.
Some folklorists think the opening words come from an old counting system once used by shepherds in the north of England, where numbers sounded like "hevera, devera, dick". There is also a legend about a mouse and the old astronomical clock in Exeter Cathedral, but no one has shown a real link.
History and Origin
The rhyme first appeared in print in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book, published in London around 1744, one of the earliest collections of nursery rhymes in English. Early versions used slightly different words, as you can see in the 1916 text below.
Modern teachers often add extra verses in which the clock strikes two, three and more, with a different animal each time. These are recent additions rather than part of the traditional rhyme.
Learning Activities
- Counting clock: sing it again and again, letting the clock strike one, two, three, and clap that many times.
- Paper plate clock: make a clock face with a paper plate and move a paper mouse up and down as you sing.
- Tick-tock rhythm: tap a steady beat on your knees to feel the clock's rhythm.