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Diddle Diddle Dumpling — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Diddle, diddle, dumpling,
my son, John,
Went to bed
with his trousers on,
One shoe off
and one shoe on!
Diddle, diddle, dumpling,
my son, John!

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Learning from "Diddle Diddle Dumpling"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Diddle Diddle Dumpling" uses 8 lines to create a memorable verse — proof that effective poetry doesn't need to be long. Pay attention to the meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is what makes the rhyme stick in your head.

Songwriters and poets can borrow these patterns. Try writing your own lyrics using the same rhyme scheme and line length as this nursery rhyme. You can also use words from the poem above as starting points — click any word to find rhymes or look up its definition, then build from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to Diddle Diddle Dumpling?
The lyrics to Diddle Diddle Dumpling are: Diddle, diddle, dumpling, / my son, John, / Went to bed / with his trousers on, / One shoe off / and one shoe on! ... Read the full 8-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Diddle Diddle Dumpling have?
"Diddle Diddle Dumpling" has 8 lines of verse.