Hickory, Dickory, Dock
Version 1
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck two,
And down he flew.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
(Mother Goose Club Version)
Version 2
Dickory, dickory, dock;
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Dickory, dickory, dock.
Source: Smith, The Little Mother Goose (1912)
Version 3
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck two,
And down he flew.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck three,
The mouse ran away.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck ten,
The mouse came again.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Source: Rimbault, Nursery Rhymes with the Tunes to Which They Are Sung (1846)
Version 4
Dimmitee, Dimmitee Dot,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
And down she come,
Dimmitee, Dimmitee Dot.
Source: County Folk-Lore (1893)
Version 5
Ena, Dena, Dinah, Dock,
Twenty mice ran up the clock,
The clock strikes one,
Down they run,
Ena, Dena, Dinah, done!
Source: Folk-Lore (1929)
Historical Background
With American origins, “Hickory Dickory Dock” was first published in “Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book” in 1744. The first line of the rhyme was originally printed “Hickere, Dickere, Dock,” and later as “Dickery, Dickery Dock” in “Mother Goose’s Melody,” published in 1765. The word “Hickory” originated from the North American Indian word “pawcohiccora,” a type of milk or oily liquor pressed from pounded hickory nuts. This rhyme teaches children the fundamentals of telling time.
Download the sheet music of this rhyme
