Old Mother Hubbard is a an old nursery rhyme here presented with lyrics and illustrations from the picture book published around 1930, signed by Frank Adams.
We don't know who wrote this still very popular nursery song. It was first printed in 1805 although the rhymes very popular at least for a half of the century at the time of publishing. The printed version is attributed to Sarah Catherine Martin (1768-1826) who supposedly wrote quatrains after the first three which already served for a musical variant by Samuel Arnold (1840-1902) almost a decade ago. Arnold's version differs from Martin's with depicting 'poor children' instead of 'the dog' and was printed in 1797. We can also add that the verse with coffin-laughn rhyme was also used by Arnold in another old nursery rhyme Old woman Who Lived in a Shoe, just like the verses with going the butcher and to the undertaker were already preent in Old Dame Trot and her Wonderful Cat, printed in 1803.
Let's enjoy the song and vivid illustrations by Frank Adams.
Old Mother Hubbard (lyrics)
Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To give the poor dog a bone: When she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the baker’s To buy him some bread; When she came back The dog was dead!
She went to the undertaker’s To buy him a coffin; When she came back The dog was laughing.
She took a clean dish to get him some tripe; When she came back He was smoking his pipe.
She went to the alehouse To get him some beer; When she came back The dog sat in a chair.
She went to the tavern For white wine and red; When she came back The dog stood on his head.
She went to the fruiterer’s To buy him some fruit; When she came back He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailor’s To buy him a coat; When she came back He was riding a goat.
She went to the hatter’s To buy him a hat; When she came back He was feeding her cat.
She went to the barber’s To buy him a wig When she came back He was dancing a jig.
She went to the cobbler’s To buy him some shoes; When she came back He was reading the news.
She went to the sempstress To buy him some linen; When she came back The dog was spinning.
She went to the hosier’s To buy him some hose; When she came back He was dressed in his clothes.
The Dame made a curtsy, The dog made a bow; The Dame said, Your servant; The dog said, Bow-wow.
This wonderful dog Was Dame Hubbard’s delight, He could read, he could dance, He could sing, he could write; She gave him rich dainties Whenever he fed, And erected this monument When he was dead.
This, of course, is just one of numerous possiblities to sing this lovely nonsense song which played its part at education of children for several centuries. Learning should not always be moralistic but it must be fun!