Hickory Dickory Dock

 "Hickory Dickory Dock" or "Hickety Dickety Dock" is a popular English-language nursery rhyme. 

The earliest recorded version of the rhyme is in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book, published in London in about 1744, which uses the opening line: 'Hickere, Dickere Dock'. The next recorded version in Mother Goose's Melody (c. 1765), uses 'Dickery, Dickery Dock'.

The rhyme is thought by some commentators to have originated as a counting-out rhyme. Westmorland shepherds in the nineteenth century used the numbers Hevera (8), Devera (9) and Dick (10) which are from the language Cumbric.

The rhyme is thought to have been based on the astronomical clock at Exeter Cathedral. The clock has a small hole in the door below the face for the resident cat to hunt mice. 

To download the easy alphanotes sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse went up the clock.
The clock struck one.
The mouse went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

A snake.
Hickory dickory dock.
The snake went up the clock.
The clock struck two.
The snake went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

A squirrel.
Hickory dickory dock.
The squirrel went up the clock.
The clock struck three.
The squirrel went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

A cat.
Hickory dickory dock.
The cat went up the clock.
The clock struck four.
The cat went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

A monkey.
Hickory dickory dock.
The monkey went up the clock.
The clock struck five.
The monkey went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

An elephant?! Oh no!
Hickory dickory dock
The elephant went up the clock.
Oh no!
Hickory dickory dock.