Of mice and men

 

Of mice and men

Hickory, Dickory Dock,

The mouse ran up the clock;

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down,

Hickory, Dickory, Dock.

This nursery rhyme has been sung and chanted to children since about 1744. It is thought to have had its origins in chants used for counting out players from a game, rhymes like ‘one potato, two potato’ or ‘eeny meeny miny moe.’

It has a simple and repetitive rhythm, much like the ticking of a clock. At the beginning, the mouse runs up the clock. When the clock strikes the hour, the mouse runs down again. Some longer versions number all the hours, with actions to suit the words.

Hickory, Dickory Dock,

The mouse ran up the clock;

The clock struck two,

The mouse went ‘boo,’

Hickory, Dickory Dock,

 

One version, on reaching twelve says:

Hickory, Dickory Dock,

The mouse ran up the clock;

As twelve bells rang,

The mouse he sprang,

Hickory, Dickory, Dock.

In another version, at the twelfth hour, the clock asks the mouse why he is running away. The mouse replies that he fears the clock.

Hickory, Dickory Dock,

‘Why to scamper?’ asked the clock;

 ‘You scare me so,

I have to go!’

Hickory Dickory Dock.

The rhyme is associated with the 15^th century Exeter Cathedral Astronomical clock in England which is believed to be its source and inspiration. The clock shows the hour, the day and the moon’s phase. Below the clock face there is a door leading to the room that houses the clock mechanism.

Exeter Cathedral Astronomical 

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

 The animal fat used to grease the mechanism attracted mice, so in the late 16^th century Bishop William Cotton paid carpenters to cut a circular hole near the bottom of the door. This allowed his cat access to keep the clock free of rodents.

 

                                 The door leading to the clock room 

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons