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, Devera and Dick 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.
“Hickory Dickory Dock” is a traditional nursery rhyme, dating back to the 18th century London.
According to some sources the song war composed by Oliver Goldsmith from Dublin, for a nursery rhymes collection.
There are two different tunes for this song, one sung in the UK and one in the USA.
At its origin, most probably “Hickory Dickory Dock” was a counting-down song. Starting with couple of sounds that imitates the clock sounds, “Hickory, dickory, dock” is an elementary tool to help teaching children the time.
“Hickory Dickory Dock” Lyrics
Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock
