A First Series of Hymns and Songs/Descriptive Songs/Old King Cole

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Old King Cole (nursery rhyme).

47. Old King Cole.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
And he call'd for his pipe, and he call'd for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Ev'ry fiddler had a fine fiddle,
A very fine fiddle had he.
Then twee tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee, went the fiddler;
And so merry we'll all be.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
He call'd for his pipe, and he call'd for his bowl,
And he call'd for his harpers three.
Ev'ry harper had a fine harp,
And a very fine harp had he.
Then twang, twanga-twang, twanga-twang, went the harper;
Twee, tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee, went the fiddler;
And so merry we'll all be.

In the third verse the King calls "for his pipers three."

Then too, tootle-too, tootle-too, went the piper;
Twang, twanga-twang, &c.
Twee, tweedle-dee, &c.

In the fourth verse he calls "for his drummers three."

Then rub, rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub, went the drummer;
Too, tootle-too, &c.

Imitating each different instrument in its turn.

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