Song Video
Lyrics
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To fetch her poor dog a bone;
But when she came there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe;
But when she came back
He was smoking a pipe.
She went to the grocer's
To buy him some fruit;
But when she came back
He was playing the flute.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
But when she came back
The poor dog was dead.
She went to the undertaker's
To buy him a coffin;
But when she came back
The poor dog was laughing.
She went to the hatter's
To buy him a hat;
But when she came back
He was feeding the cat.
The dame made a curtsey,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, "Your servant".
The dog said, "Bow wow!'.
Information About Old Mother Hubbard
"Old Mother Hubbard" is an old English nursery rhymn, the oldest record of which dates back to a version by Sarah Catherine Martin, and was published as part of "The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog" by J. Harris in 1805. It is possible this version was based on or expanded on a similar rhyme called "Old Dame Trop" published in 1803.
The first written copy of the poem can be viewed at Oxford University in the UK.
Old Mother Hubbard's origins are disputed, but one theory suggests that the rhyme refers to Thomas Cardinal Wolsey refusing Henry VIII a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
The first written copy of the poem can be viewed at Oxford University in the UK.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
This version is quite long
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
To give her poor dog a bone,
But when she got there, the cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread,
But when she came back
The poor dog was dead.
She went to the joiner's
To buy him a coffin,
But when she came back
The poor dog was laughin'.
She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe,
But when she came back
He was smoking a pipe.
She went to the alehouse
To get him some beer,
But when she came back
The dog sat in her chair.
She went to the tavern
For wine white and red,
But when she came back
The dog stood on his head.
She went to the hatter's
To buy him a hat,
But when she came back
He was feeding the cat.
She went to the barber's
To buy him a wig,
But when she came back
He was dancing a jig.
She went to the fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit,
But when she came back
He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailor's
To buy him a coat,
But when she came back
He was riding a goat.
She went to the cobbler's
To buy him some shoes,
But when she came back
He was reading the news.
She went to the seamstress
To buy him some linen,
But when she came back
The dog was a-spinning.
She went to the hosier's
To buy him some hose,
But 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."