This Old Man
This Old Man is a nursery rhyme of unknown origin. The rhyme and its associated tune have become well-known in popular culture through several renditions and parodies. Pete Seeger recorded this song in 1953. The rhyme was originally better known in the United Kingdom than the United States; however, this changed with the 1958 film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. In fact, the usage of the song in this film was so popular that it led to a hit single by Mitch Miller titled The Children's Marching Song.
Since then, there have been several other utilizations of the rhyme or its tune. One such usage was by the U.S. television series Columbo, which utilized the song as a motif. Another usage was by the ending theme of children's television show Barney & Friends, which used the slower associated tune for the song I Love You. In addition, the thriller film Freeze also used a version of the song. The rap duo EPMD wrote the song Knick Knack Patty Wack in which they use the phrase 'Knick knack patty wack give a dog a bone'. Also was seen in a PAX promo for Diagnosis Murder.
Bob Dylan also recorded a rendition of the song included on the 1991 Disney charity album for pediatric AIDS called "For Our Children". Recorded and mixed by Andrew McCartney.
In the mid 1990's, the nu metal band, Korn, used this rhyme in their song "Shoots and Ladders" which talks about the supposed sinister meaning behind this and other nursery rhymes.
Rhyme
- This old man, he played one;
- He played knick-knack 'on my thumb' (or 'on a drum').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played two;
- He played knick-knack on my shoe.
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played three;
- He played knick-knack 'on my knee' (or 'on my tree').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played four;
- He played knick-knack on my door(Or on the floor)
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played five;
- He played knick-knack 'on my hive' (or 'on my knife'or 'making a dive' or 'on my thigh' or 'way up high').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played six;
- He played knick-knack with some sticks.
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played seven;
- He played knick-knack 'up in heaven' (or 'on my oven' or 'down in Devon').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played eight;
- He played knick-knack on my gate.
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played nine;
- He played knick-knack 'on my spine' (or 'in a line').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played ten;
- He played knick-knack 'once again' (or 'on my pen', 'on my cerumen' or 'on my hen').
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played eleven;
- He played knick-knack 'on the way to heaven' (or 'down to devon')
- With a knick-knack, paddy whack
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home
- This old man, he played twelve;
- He played knick-knack on my shelf.
- With a knick-knack paddy whack
- Give dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man,he played thirteen;
- He played knick-knack on my curtain.
- With a knick-knack paddy whack
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played fourteen;
- He played knick-knack in the autumn.
- With a knick-knack paddy whack;
- Give a dog a bone;
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, he played fifteen,
- He collects bronze coins marked 'Ich Dien'.
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack,
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, ten add six,
- He played knick-knack on my bricks,
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack,
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, ten plus seven,
- He played knick-knack on my bedding,
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, ten plus eight,
- He played knick-knack on my slate,
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack,
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, ten plus nine,
- He played knick-knack on my twine.
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack,
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.
- This old man, ten plus ten,
- He played knick-knack on Big Ben!
- With a knick-knack paddy-whack,
- Give a dog a bone,
- This old man came rolling home.