There are many theories about the meaning of the rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. One of the most popular explanations for the cat and the fiddle pertains to Queen Elizabeth I.
Hey diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
As with many nursery rhymes, there are many theories about the possible meaning of the popular rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. Scholars and laymen argue themselves in circles about where a particular rhyme originated and what it might possibly mean. However, no one is certain about the precise meanings of nursery rhymes because like many traditional forms of childhood entertainment, nursery rhymes were originally an oral tradition. One of the most popular explanations for the cat and the fiddle pertains to Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Hey diddle, diddle,
Hey Diddle, Diddle was originally published in 1765, as High Diddle, Diddle and reflects the popular use of nonsense phrases in songs and rhymes. Shakespeare himself used the word diddle in his writing. And the phrase hey diddle, diddle is considered similar to a colloquialism found in many traditional English folk ballads: ‘hey nonny no.'
The cat and the fiddle,
The cat is believed to represent Queen Elizabeth I who was nicknamed ‘The Cat’ because of the way she played or fiddled with her cabinet members, much like a cat will play with mice. An interesting quote by Elizabeth I states, “I may not be a lion, but I am a lion’s cub, and I have a lion’s heart.” Perhaps the nickname, given behind her back, was not unknown to Elizabeth.
The cow jumped over the moon, / The little dog laughed to see such fun,
The little dog was reportedly Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Some believe Elizabeth loved Robert others feel that they were simply very close friends. It is said that Elizabeth once referred to him as her ‘lap dog.’ It is suggested that the cow and the moon are also nicknames for members of Elizabethan court intrigue.
Court intrigue was a huge part of life in the Elizabethan era much as political intrigue is part of our world today. There was very strict protocol regarding the behavior of members of court towards each other and towards the Queen and it is not surprising that nicknames would have been given to the various players.
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
It is said that Elizabeth’s serving lady represents the dish and the spoon was the designation of the royal taster. These two servants fell in love and secretly eloped and ran away from the court. When they were captured, Elizabeth had them thrown into the Tower of London.
To learn more about nobility in nursery rhymes, check out Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, and Ride a Cock Horse.
