While nobody knows definitively what "Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone" is supposed to mean, it's suspicious how much it sounds like what you might say to teach someone how to play a rhythm. Perhaps on your shoe, or your knee, or the door?
lyrics
Well this old man's gonna play a little rhythm,
Gonna play a little rhythm on the kitchen floor,
Well this old man's gonna play a little rhythm,
Gonna play a little rhythm when I count to four.
(One, two, three) It goes:
Knick
Knack
Knick
Knack
Knick knack
Knick knack
Knick knack paddywhack
Knick knack paddywhack
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone
Well this old man, he played one,
He played knick knack on my thumb,
With a knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone....
Well this old man, he played two,
He played knick knack on my shoe,
With a knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone...
Well this old man, he played three,
He played knick knack on my knee,
With a knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone...
Well this old man, he played four,
He played knick knack on my door,
With a knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
Knick
Knack
Knick
Knack
Knick Knick
Knack Knack
Knick Knick
Knack Knack
Knick knack paddywhack
Knick knack paddywhack
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone
Knick knack paddywhack give a dog a bone
credits
from Dinosaurs & Dogflowers,
released December 23, 2020
Music and Lyrics: Traditional, arr. Eric Pazdziora
Eric Paździora is a composer whose music has been performed and published around the world. Reviewers have described his
compositions as “fresh, exciting, and well-crafted” (Pastoral Music) and “an instant classic” (Global Christian Worship). He holds a doctorate in music composition from the University of Maryland.