Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Hark! Hark! The dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town.
Some in rags,
And some in tags,
And one in a velvet gown!
History:
These words were frequently chanted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth
in the 16th century as homeless men and women begged her for food
and water.

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Learning from "Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark" uses 9 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 Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark?
The lyrics to Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark are: Hark! Hark! The dogs do bark, / The beggars are coming to town. / Some in rags, / And some in tags, / And one in a velvet gown! / History: ... Read the full 9-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark have?
"Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark" has 9 lines of verse.

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