✦ A Nursery Rhyme ✦
Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and he called for his fiddlers three. A rhyme about a king who loved music and good cheer.
Read aloud by Storyland Classics ✦ 46 seconds ✦ Watch on YouTube
✦ The Rhyme ✦
Traditional English nursery rhyme. Public domain.
Old King Cole was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler had a fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he; Oh, there’s none so rare as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three.
✦ About the Rhyme ✦
“Old King Cole” was first printed in the early 1700s. Some people believe he was a legendary king of ancient Britain, but no one knows for sure.
A merry king who calls for music is a happy picture, and the rhyme’s bouncing rhythm makes it fun to march or clap along to.
✦ Talk About It ✦