The Old Mother Hubbard song is one of the oldest and longest English nursery rhymes. It was first printed in 1805. However, the exact origin of the rhyme is still disputed. The first published version is attributed to Sarah Catherine Martin. The rhyme has many versions, with more quatrains added to the end of the rhyme. There have been sequels released subsequently with more quatrains added. The rhyme was made popular by John Harris’ publications. His publication marked a shift from moral works for children to imaginative entertainment. The Mother Hubbard series played a crucial role in this. Since the 1930s, there have been several translations and adaptations of the rhyme throughout Europe. The rhyme has French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Italian and Russian versions. The Old Mother Hubbard is a classic nursery rhyme which is recited all over the globe!
Old Mother Hubbard Lyrics In English
The lyrics of the Old Mother Hubbard poem are:
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Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the baker’s
To buy him some bread;
When she came back
The dog was dead!
She went to the undertaker’s
To buy him a coffin;
When she came back
The dog was laughing.
She took a clean dish
to get him some tripe;
When she came back
He was smoking his pipe.
She went to the alehouse
To get him some beer;
When she came back
The dog sat in a chair.
She went to the tavern
For white wine and red;
When she came back
The dog stood on his head.
She went to the fruiterer’s
To buy him some fruit;
When she came back
He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailor’s
To buy him a coat;
When she came back
He was riding a goat.
She went to the hatter’s
To buy him a hat;
When she came back
He was feeding her cat.
She went to the barber’s
To buy him a wig
When she came back
He was dancing a jig.
She went to the cobbler’s
To buy him some shoes;
When she came back
He was reading the news.
She went to the sempstress
To buy him some linen;
When she came back
The dog was spinning.
She went to the hosier’s
To buy him some hose;
When she came back
He was dressed in his clothes.
The Dame made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The Dame said, Your servant;
The dog said, Bow-wow.
This wonderful dog
Was Dame Hubbard’s delight,
He could read, he could dance,
He could sing, he could write;
She gave him rich dainties
Whenever he fed,
And erected this monument
When he was dead.
What Will Your Child Learn From Old Mother Hubbard?
Your child will be encouraged to have an active imagination and to broaden their horizons. The Old Mother Hubbard poem talks about a lady and a dog from an imaginary world where the dog can talk, and the woman brings the dog anything he needs. Children often have overactive imaginations, and can come up with some of the most original and out-of-the-box ideas and pictures.
Theme Of Old Mother Hubbard
The theme of the Old Mother Hubbard song is that of an imaginary dog and a woman who goes out of her way to feed the dog and make it feel at home. The theme is imagination and intrigue. The rhyme inspires us to broaden the horizons of our minds and think of the unimaginable. Hence, we can say that the theme of Old Mother Hubbard is that of imagination and fascination.
Rhyming Scheme Of Old Mother Hubbard
The rhyming scheme or pattern of the Old Mother Hubbard rhyme:
The rhyming scheme of the introductory paragraph is aab ccb.
The rhyming scheme of the following verses is abcb.
Words That Your Child Will Learn From Old Mother Hubbard
Your child will learn a lot of new words from the rhyme:
- Cupboard: A piece of furniture used for storage.
- Bare: Not clothed or covered.
- Baker: A person who makes bread and cakes.
- Undertaker: A person whose work is preparing bodies for burial or cremation.
- Coffin: A long and narrow wooden box used to bury or cremate bodies.
- Tripe: The first or second stomach of a cow used as food.
- Alehouse: An inn or public house.
- Chair: A seat for one person.
- Tavern: An inn or pub.
- Fruiterers: A retailer or seller of fruit.
- Flute: A wind instrument.
- Tailor: A person who works to make fitted clothes.
- Coat: An outer garment with sleeves.
- Hatter: A person who makes and sells hats for a living.
- Barber: A person who cuts men’s hair and shapes their beards as a profession.
- Jig: A lively dance with leaping movements.
- Cobbler: A person who mends shoes.
- Sempstress: A woman who sews and earns her living by sewing.
- Linen: A type of cloth woven from flax.
- Hosier: A manufacturer or seller of hosiery.
- Hose: A flexible tube used for watering plants or fighting fire.
- Curtsy: A woman’s formal greeting in front of others.
- Dame: An elderly or mature woman.
- Delight: To be pleased greatly.
- Dainties: Tasty goods.
Suggested Activities
Engaging your little one in fun activities can really help upgrade their skills and learn new things about the interesting world around them. You need to make their learning experiences interesting and fun to keep them interested. Below are a few fun activities that you can do with your little one.
1. Learn Professions
- We can see that the rhyme mentions a lot of different professions. You can teach your little one about different professions each day.
- Rent clothes or make some on your own of one profession each day. You and your little one can learn more about what professionals of a profession do. For example, on day 1, you can dress up as a baker and learn how to bake. You can then dress up as a teacher, a policeman and so on!
2. Writing Rhymes
- The Old Mother Hubbard has many versions, as people have made this classic nursery rhyme their own.
- Come up with your own version along with your little one. You can pick up any other profession or item and make this rhyme your own!
FAQs
1. What Is The Old Mother Hubbard Song Based On?
The Old Mother Hubbard song is based on pure imagination. The song was written with the purpose of allowing children to explore an imaginary world.
2. Is The Old Mother Hubbard Song Useful For Children?
Yes, it is useful as it allows our little ones to think outside the box and broaden their horizons. Innovations and ideas come when you think outside the box; hence, children must have the power and skills to envision the impossible!
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