Hickory Dickory Dock — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory, dickory, dock.
Alternate:
Replace the line
"The mouse ran down!"
With
"And down he run"
Note:
Dickery, Dickery, Dare is often used as the second stanza to this rhyme.

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Learning from "Hickory Dickory Dock"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Hickory Dickory Dock" uses 12 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 Hickory Dickory Dock?
The lyrics to Hickory Dickory Dock are: Hickory, dickory, dock, / The mouse ran up the clock. / The clock struck one, / The mouse ran down! / Hickory, dickory, dock. / Alternate: ... Read the full 12-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Hickory Dickory Dock have?
"Hickory Dickory Dock" has 12 lines of verse.

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