Dr. Knickerbocker Number 9 is a dancing and counting nursery rhyme recently made famous by the Wiggles on their album, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing Songs. Although it should be noted they did not write the rhyme, it has been around for many years and a quick search will show you many artists that have recorded it themselves well before ‘The Wiggles’.
It is a lively and interactive song encouraging children to engage in silly body movements and actions. It is often used as a brain break activity in classrooms to provide a fun and energetic break from learning.
Children enjoy the interactive nature of the song and the opportunity to move and dance while singing along.
I have written a little more about the song’s history and the Knickerbocker further on if you want to find out more!
Lyrics for Dr. Knickerbocker Number 9
The song is one verse sung in repeat with a few elements added. Lyrics are accompanied by actions corresponding to the body part mentioned. This song has many variations, and some might not have these lyrics.
Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and keep in time
Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet( stomp)
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the feet
Now let’s get the rhythm of the number nine
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and he keeps in time
Now let’s get the rhythm of the hips
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hips
Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the feet
Now let’s get the rhythm of the number nine
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and he keeps in time
Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hands
Now let’s get the rhythm of the hips
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hips
Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the feet
Let’s get the rhythm of the number nine
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and he keeps in time
Now let’s get the rhythm of the head
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the head
Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hands
Now let’s get the rhythm of the hips
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hips
Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the feet
Now let’s get the rhythm of the number nine
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
What are Knickerbockers?
Knickerbockers are a type of pant that end just below the knee. They are tight around the waist and do up like a pair of pants, but are baggy and loose around the thighs and knees, becoming tight again just below the knee.
They are thought to be of Dutch origin and brought to the rest of the world when the Dutch settled in the US, specifically New York.
The word Knickerbocker was also used to refer to the baseball team the New York Knickerbockers one of the first official baseball teams that played under similar rules to the ones we use today. When baseball turned professional, the club was dismantled around 1870.
Today however one professional team in New York still uses the moniker – but most of us just know them as the New York Knicks, although there full name is the New York Knickerbockers!
Who is Docter Knickerbocker? Is he Real?
No, Mr Knickerbocker is not a real person. He was a made-up fictional character that Washington Irving created to depict the early Dutch founders of New York in his book History of New York (1808).
Whether this song is about that fictional character or the original baseball team by the Knickerbocker name is another questions however!
Why is Docter Knickerbocker at Number 9
Whether just a co-incidence or not – the original baseball team the New York Knickerbockers were also called the ‘Knickerbocker Nine’.
Having been at many sports games, this leads me to hypothesize that perhaps the song started as a sporting chant about the Knickerbocker Nines? And gradually over time turned into the song and tune that we know and love today?
As with many Nursery Rhymes, their oral nature has led to many details about their origins never being recorded so my hypothesis may be incorrect. So please use your own judgment when making statements about the origins of this rhyme.
