Historical Background

“Cock-a-Doodle Doo” was the first utterance of a young sixteenth-century English girl who was left mute after witnessing her brother’s murder. The girl’s playmates mocked her condition, teasing her with the words, “Cock a doodle dooe, Peggy hath lost her shoe.” Tired of being ridiculed, she miraculously repeated the words back to her offenders. After regaining her speech, the little girl was taken to court to testify about brother’s murder, and identify the assailant. The first known version of “Cock-a-Doodle Doo” as it is known today was first published in 1765. The latter three verses were later added after being collected by James Orchard Halliwell.