# Old King Cole

"Old King Cole" is an English nursery rhyme first recorded in 1708–09, about a merry king who calls for his pipe, his bowl and his fiddlers three; who the king "really" was cannot be reliably established.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | 1708–09 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/old-king-cole/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe in the middle of the night,
And he called for his fiddlers three.

### Verse 2 (en)

Every fiddler had a fine fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there's none so rare as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.

## Common questions

**How old is "Old King Cole"?**

Its first recorded appearance is in 1708–09, in William King's "Useful Transactions in Philosophy". The merry king, his pipe and his fiddlers three have been part of it from early on.

**Was there a real King Cole?**

The Wikipedia article concludes he cannot reliably be identified with any historical figure. Candidates that have been suggested include the legendary British king Coel Hen — whose name does translate roughly as "Old Cole" — and a cloth-merchant character from a 1590s story, but no real connection to the rhyme has ever been shown.

**What are "his fiddlers three"?**

Three court musicians the merry king summons to play for him. The line has become the most memorable part of the rhyme — a small, cheerful image of a king who wants nothing more than a pipe, a bowl and some music.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Old King Cole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_King_Cole)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16827352