Rub a Dub Dub is one of the earliest nursery rhymes that are still in circulation today, and its simplicity has caused it to endure across the decades whether singing it to a child at bedtime, or between children playing. The first recorded publication was in 1798 in Christmas Box but references to this song date all the way back to the 14th century which is an amazing testament to its longevity.
The original lyrics were slightly different; rather than three men in a tub, it was three maids. There were still three men present – the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker – making this a rather salacious sideshow taking place at a fair. The professions of men have been adapted over the years too, but most people are familiar with this final version.
By 1830, the rhyme had been changed from maids to fools, which later still was altered to men, making it far more suitable for children!
Rub a Dub Dub Lyric
(1)
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they were?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker,
They all sailed out to sea,
‘Twas enough to make a man stare.
(2)
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker,
All put out to sea.
Rub a Dub Dub Music Sheet
