The origin of “Cock a doodle doo” dates back to 1606 to an English murder pamphlet.
The first part of the rhyme was: To mock the cockerel’s crow.
The earliest version of the actual song was published in 1765 in Mother Goose’s Melody. It used to be a very popular nursery rhyme in the mid-nineteenth century England, part of James Orchard Halliwell’s English Nursery Rhymes Collection.
The word fiddle (fiddlestick) used in the song most probably refers to an old type of a violin.
“Cock a Doodle Doo” Lyrics
Modern Version
Cock a doodle do!
My dame has lost her shoe,
My master’s lost his fiddlestick,
And knows not what to do
“Cock a Doodle Doo”
Original Version
Cock a doodle do!
What is my dame to do?
Till master’s found his fiddlingstick,
She’ll dance without her shoe.
Cock a doodle do!
My dame has found her shoe,
And master’s found his fiddlingstick,
Sing cock a doodle do!
Cock a doodle do!
My dame will dance with you,
While master fiddles his fiddlingstick,
And knows not what to do