Rub-a-dub-dub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Rub-A-Dub-Dub" |
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Nursery rhyme | |
Published | 1798 |
"Rub-A-Dub-Dub" is a classic English language nursery rhyme that many children know. It first appeared a long time ago, at the end of the 1700s. This fun rhyme was first printed in a book called Hook's Christmas Box, in its second volume. Back then, it was called "Dub a dub dub."
This rhyme is also listed in the Roud Folk Song Index with the number 3101. The Roud Folk Song Index is like a huge library that keeps track of traditional songs and rhymes from around the world.
The Rhyme's Words
Like many old rhymes, "Rub-A-Dub-Dub" has a few different versions. The most common one you hear today goes like this:
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
And all of them out to sea.
Who Are the Characters?
The rhyme talks about "three men in a tub." These men are:
- The butcher: Someone who sells meat.
- The baker: Someone who bakes bread and cakes.
- The candlestick maker: Someone who used to make candles, which were very important for light before electricity.
These jobs were common in towns and villages a long time ago.
What Does It Mean?
The rhyme paints a funny picture of these three important people all together in a tub, floating "out to sea." It's a simple, playful rhyme that doesn't have a deep hidden meaning. It's mostly for fun and to help children learn about different jobs and sounds.