Hey Diddle Diddle Lyrics

A classic English nonsense rhyme — also known as "The Cat and the Fiddle" — first recorded around 1765. Its surreal imagery (a cow jumping over the moon, a dish running away with a spoon) is the whole point: it is one of the best-known examples of deliberate nonsense in children's literature. Best for ages 2–6. Far from being meaningless, the impossible images invite children to notice what is real versus pretend, an early step in imaginative and abstract thinking. The strong, bouncing rhythm and tight rhymes (diddle/fiddle, moon/spoon) make it easy to memorize and a great vehicle for early phonological awareness. Ask "could a cow really jump over the moon?" to spark playful reasoning and giggles. For more on the developmental value of these rhymes, see [why nursery rhymes matter for brain development](/blog/why-nursery-rhymes-matter-for-brain-development) and [best animal songs for kids](/blog/best-animal-songs-kids).

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed,
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.