“Aiken Drum” is a very well known Scottish nursery rhyme, dating back to 1820. Its origin is related to the Battle of Sheriffmuir (1715).
The song was first published in James Hogg’s Jacobite Reliques a collection of songs about Jacobite Risings.
Aiken Drum is also a popular character in Scottish literature, such as Saga of Pliocene Exile (a science fiction novel by Julian May), Taltos (a novel by Anne Rice), Brounie o Blednoch (poem by William Nicholson, 1825)
A reference about Aiken Drum in “The Antiquary”, (a novel by Sir Walter,1816), suggest that the lyrics were known even back in 19th century.
There was also a singing-game inspired by Aiken Drum, in which the player, similar with the lyrics could decide what Aiken Drum is made out of and the lyrics would be modified to the player’s choice.
“Aiken Drum” Lyrics
There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon,
There was a man lived in the moon,
And his name was Aiken Drum.
∼ Chorus ∼
And he played upon a ladle, a ladle, a ladle,
And he played upon a ladle,
and his name was Aiken Drum.
And his hat was made of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese,
And his hat was made of good cream cheese,
And his name was Aiken Drum.
And his coat was made of good roast beef, of good roast beef, of good roast beef,
And his coat was made of good roast beef,
And his name was Aiken Drum.
And his buttons made of penny loaves, of penny loaves, of penny loaves,
And his buttons made of penny loaves,
And his name was Aiken Drum.
And his waistcoat was made of crust pies, of crust pies, of crust pies,
And his waistcoat was made of crust pies,
And his name was Aiken Drum.
And his breeches made of haggis bags, of haggis bags, of haggis bags,
And his breeches made of haggis bags,
And his name was Aiken Drum.