This Old Man Lyrics

"This Old Man" is a cumulative English counting song traced to around 1906, pairing each number from one to ten with a rhyming phrase and a repeated "knick-knack" chorus. It's well matched to ages 3-8, as children build up from simple counting to following a longer cumulative structure verse by verse. Early-childhood educators often favor cumulative songs like this one because each new verse reinforces the ones before it, giving children repeated practice with number sequencing while also strengthening memory as the song grows longer. The nonsense rhymes paired with each number, like "he played knick-knack on my thumb," also make the counting playful rather than rote, helping numbers stick through humor and rhythm. Because the song can be sung with actions tied to each rhyme, it also encourages movement alongside counting practice. Its long-standing popularity in English-speaking classrooms and homes has made it a familiar shared song across generations. For more on how songs like this build number skills, see [the connection between music and math for children](/blog/music-and-math-connection-children).

This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb.
With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe.
With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played three,
He played knick-knack on my knee.
With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on my door.
With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.