Rub-a-Dub-Dub Lyrics
Three men in a tub: the butcher, the baker and the candlestick-maker. Rub-a-Dub-Dub is a favorite bath time rhyme, and it doubles as a lesson in old jobs.
Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub;
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker;
Turn 'em out, knaves all three!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/rub-a-dub-dub/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 1 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Rub-a-dub-dub | Scrub your arms like you are washing in the bath. |
| Three men in a tub | Hold up three fingers. |
| The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker | Chop, knead dough, then hold up a pretend candle. |
| Turn 'em out, knaves all three! | Point to the door with a big grin. |
What Does Rub-a-Dub-Dub Mean?
"Rub-a-dub-dub" copies the sound of scrubbing, and here three tradesmen are squeezed into one tub. A candlestick-maker made candles and candle holders, an important job before electric light. "Knaves" meant rascals, so the last line is a cheerful "out you go, you three rascals!"
History and Origin
The rhyme has been printed in nursery books since the 1700s, and "the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker" became an everyday English phrase for ordinary working people.
Learning Activities
- Bath toys: put three toys in the bath and give each a job.
- Old jobs: talk about jobs that were common long ago, like candlestick-maker or blacksmith.
- New verse: swap in modern jobs: the pilot, the plumber, the pizza delivery driver.