Old King Cole Lyrics
First printed in 1708, Old King Cole describes a merry king who calls for his pipe, his bowl and his three fiddlers.
Old King Cole
Old King Cole
Was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three!
And every fiddler, he had a fine fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he.
"Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee," went the fiddlers.
Oh, there's none so rare
As can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/old-king-cole/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- First published
- 1708
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Old King Cole was a merry old soul | Put a pretend crown on your head and sit up tall with a big smile. |
| He called for his pipe | Cup your hands around your mouth as if calling someone. |
| And he called for his bowl | Hold out both hands like a bowl. |
| And he called for his fiddlers three | Hold up three fingers. |
| Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee | Play an air fiddle, sawing your arm back and forth. |
What Does Old King Cole Mean?
It is a happy rhyme about a king who loves music and company. Everyone is called in, the fiddlers play, and the rhyme ends by saying nothing can compare with King Cole and his band.
The "pipe" may be a musical pipe rather than a tobacco pipe, and the "bowl" was a large drinking bowl, both part of the royal party.
History and Origin
The rhyme was first printed in 1708 in Useful Miscellanies by the English writer William King.
People have long wondered whether King Cole was real. Candidates include Coel Hen, a legendary king of ancient Britain, and a wealthy cloth merchant from Reading. The town of Colchester also has a local legend linking its name to King Cole. None of these connections can be proven.
Learning Activities
- Royal band: give three children pretend fiddles (or real shakers and drums) and let one child be King Cole calling them in.
- Make a crown: decorate a paper crown and wear it while you sing.
- Count to three: use the fiddlers three to practice counting and holding up fingers.