Nursery rhyme lyrics
Hey Diddle Diddle Lyrics
The words to Hey Diddle Diddle, with simple actions to do together and a little history for curious grown-ups.
Hey Diddle Diddle full lyrics
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Traditional, public domain. Many families sing slightly different versions.
Actions to do together
- Pretend to play the fiddle.
- Jump high like the cow.
- Make a real dish and spoon "run away" across the table.
What your child learns
- Enjoying silly, imaginative language
- Rhyme (diddle / fiddle, moon / spoon)
- Talking about what's real and pretend
Where does Hey Diddle Diddle come from?
Hey Diddle Diddle is a nonsense rhyme that has been printed in English nursery collections since at least the 1760s. Its silly images have made it a favourite for centuries.
Questions parents ask
What does Hey Diddle Diddle mean?
It's a nonsense rhyme. Its fun comes from the silly pictures it creates rather than a hidden meaning.
What is a fiddle?
A fiddle is another name for a violin.
