Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling, My Son John

"Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling, My Son John" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19709.

Lyrics
The most commonly used modern version is:


 * Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,
 * Went to bed with his trousers on;
 * One shoe off, and the other shoe on,
 * Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John.

Alternate versions include:


 * Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John
 * Went to bed with his britches on.
 * One shoe off, and one shoe on;
 * Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.


 * Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John,
 * Went to bed with his stockings on;
 * One shoe off, and one shoe on,
 * Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John.

Origins
The rhyme is first recorded in The Newest Christmas Box published in London around 1797. It may be derived from 'Diddle, diddle, diddle Dumpling', a traditional street cry of hot dumpling sellers.