Highty Cock O! Lyrics
Edward rides off to London and York with a pussy-cat tied on one side and a little dog on the other, then trots away to visit his grandmother.
Highty Cock O!
Highty cock O!
To London we go,
To York we ride;
And Edward has pussy-cat tied to his side;
He shall have little dog tied to the other,
And then he goes trid trod to see his grandmother.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/highty-cock-o/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Chanted with a bouncing beat
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| To London we go, to York we ride | Bounce on your knee as if riding a horse. |
| pussy-cat tied to his side | Hold an imaginary cat against your hip. |
| trid trod | Tap your knees in a steady walking beat. |
What Does Highty Cock O! Mean?
The rhyme is a journey in six lines. It starts with a cheery shout, then names two big places, London and York, and says that Edward rides with a pussy-cat tied to one side of him. He is going to have a little dog tied to the other side too, and then he will go trid trod, which is the sound of a steady trot, to see his grandmother.
It is an easy rhyme for a knee-bouncing game, because the beat is regular and the last line is the one everybody waits for.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell prints these six lines in The Nursery Rhymes of England. He names no author and gives no date, and the book places the rhyme right after a note about a chasing game.
Rhymes about riding to a named town are common in the book, and this one is typical: a short beat, a funny picture and a happy end.
Learning Activities
- Knee ride: bounce a small child gently on your knee in time with the trot.
- Map it: find London and York on a map and trace the route.
- Two pets: choose soft toys for the cat and the dog and tie them on with a scarf.
- Trot sounds: try other sounds for walking, such as clip-clop, tap-tap and pitter-patter.