Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling, My Son John
"Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling, My Son John" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19709.
Lyrics
The most commonly used modern version is:
- Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,
- Went to bed with his trousers on;
- One shoe off, and the other shoe on,
- Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John.
Alternate versions include:
- Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John
- Went to bed with his britches on.
- One shoe off, and one shoe on;
- Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
- Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John,
- Went to bed with his stockings on;
- One shoe off, and one shoe on,
- Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John.
Origins
The rhyme is first recorded in The Newest Christmas Box published in London around 1797. It may be derived from 'Diddle, diddle, diddle Dumpling', a traditional street cry of hot dumpling sellers.