{"id":12649,"date":"2021-09-05T13:59:29","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T13:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=12649"},"modified":"2024-03-16T14:41:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T14:41:35","slug":"diddle-diddle-dumpling-my-son-john","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/diddle-diddle-dumpling-my-son-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
First Published<\/td>1882<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Arthur Lloyd<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN19709<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Arthur Lloyd<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Gilliam, Marvin; USA : Virginia; 1929-35
Pirie, Mrs; Scotland : Banffshire; 1929-35<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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My son John was a fast young fellow,\nEverynight came home half on,\nWith regret I have to own it,\nFond of sprees was my son John;\nThough each day I'd reprimand him,\nLast week he came home at one,\nStumbled upstairs to his bedroom,\nVery tight was my son John.\n\nDiddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,\nHe went to bed with his trousers on,\nOne leg off and another leg on,\nDiddle,diddle, dumpling, my son John.<\/em>\n\nAnd so bad was this young fellow,\nCould not see what he had done,\nWhat a sight too for a father,\nWicked boy was my son John.\nTo his bedroom I ascended,\nThere he was indeed quite gone,\nOn his couch in sleep reclining,\nHalf attired was my son John.\n\nSoda water in the morning,\nBreakfast, afternoon at one\nLooking bleary in the optics,\nDown at two came my son, John,\nQuite oblivious of his conduct.\nAsked indeed what he had done,\nHow did I come home last night Dad?\nVery drunk,said I son John.\n\nJohn said father, pray,forgive me,\nI'm ashamed of what I've done,\nI'll take the pledge and no more drink,\nHe's kept his word, has my son John,\nIf you drink in moderation,\nOf objections I have none,\nIf you can't then my advice is\nTake the pledge like my son John.\n\nDiddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,\nNow never goes to bed with his trousers on,\nNever gets tight and he's never half on,\nA teetle, teetle tot'ler is my son John.<\/em><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The chorus of this song, Diddle diddle dumpling,  <\/em>is a well-known nursery rhyme which goes back to 1797 or earlier, probably based on the street cry of hot dumpling sellers. The longevity of the nursery rhyme may in turn be partly due to its appearance in this song. It was written, composed and sung by Arthur Lloyd <\/a>, though to be strictly accurate I think we can say that Lloyd wrote the verses, having adopted a traditional chorus.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Jan. 11, 1880; The Era <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The song enjoyed some popularity at the time, so much so that a contemporary report in the Daily Telegraph<\/em> (June 18, 1880) complained that otherwise an idyllic day at Henley Regatta was ruined by crowds who sang this and other music hall songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the classification system I started out with (but I’m using less and less) this would count as a traditional song that existed before the Halls, but its persistence may have been influenced by its popularity as a music hall song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to be confused with the later parody also called Diddle diddle dumpling<\/em> sung by Lupino Lane<\/a> (link is to a YouTube video).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n