"Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling, My Son John" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19709.
Lyrics One modern version is:
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John, Went to bed with his trousers on; One shoe off, and the other shoe on, Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John. (2nd ed. 1997)
Alternate versions include:
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John Went to bed with his britches on. One shoe off, and one shoe on; Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.Wright, The Original Mother Goose (1916), as quoted on mothergooseclub.com
Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John, Went to bed with his stockings on; One shoe off, and one shoe on, Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John.Smith, The Little Mother Goose (1912), as quoted on mothergooseclub.com
Origins The rhyme is first recorded in The Newest Christmas Box published in London around 1797. It may be derived from 'Diddle, diddle, diddle Dumpling', a traditional street cry of hot dumpling sellers.
References
BBC 'Inside number 9' TV episode with the same name Sky's British black comedy 'Hunderby', set in the 1830s, features the song as evening entertainment accompanied by a traditional crumhorn. The song "Nursery Rhyme" by The Archies features the song's lyrics in its chorus.