John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919 – May 20, 1996), better known as Jo… Read Full Bio ↴John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919 – May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor.

Born in Chelsea, London, Pertwee was educated at Frensham Heights School, an independent school in Rowledge, near Farnham in Surrey, and at some other schools from which he was expelled. After school, he went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), from which he was also expelled after he refused to play the small part of a wind in a Greek play.

Pertwee is best known for his roles as CPO Pertwee in the long-running radio comedy The Navy Lark (1959 - 1977), the third incarnation of The Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who (1970 - 1974), and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge. He also hosted the murder mystery quiz programme Whodunnit! between 1974 and 1978 for Thames Television. Pertwee also voiced the character of "Spotty" in the 1980s cartoon series SuperTed.

In 1972, he released a vocal version of the Doctor Who theme music entitled "Who is the Doctor", and in 1980 he released a single based on Worzel Gummidge entitled "Worzel's Song" from the album Worzel Gummidge Sings.

Polly Wolly Doodle
Jon Pertwee Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Polly Wolly Doodle' by these artists:

Burl Ives Polly Wolly Doodle Polly Wolly Doodle Polly Wolly Doodle Po…
Cedarmont Kids Oh, I went down South For to see my Sal Sing Polly-Wolly-Doo…
Countdown Kids Oh, I went down south to see my Sal Singing Polly…
Fred Penner Oh I went down south for to see my sal Polly…
John Leavitt Oh I went down South for to see my Sal Play…
Kidsongs Oh, I went down South for to see my Sal Play…
Leon Redbone Oh, I went down South For to see my Sal Sing…
Little Baby Bum Nursery Rhyme Friends Oh, I went down south to see my Sal Singing polly…
Peter (After each line in each verse) : Polly Wolly Doodle all…

Shirley Temple Oh, I eat watermelon and I have for years Sing Polly-wolly-d…
Shirley Temple (Children's) Oh! I eat watermelon and I have for years, Sing…
Shirley Temple Bill Robinson Oh! I eat watermelon and I have for years, Sing…
Temple Shirley Oh, I eat watermelon and I have for years Sing Polly-wolly-d…
The Countdown Kids Oh, I went down south to see my Sal Singing Polly…
Tom Roush Oh I went down South for to see my Sal Singin'…
Wonder Kids Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal Singing…
Wonder Kids Choir Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal Singing…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Jon Pertwee:

I Know An Old Lady I know an old lady who swallowed a fly I don't…
Who is the Doctor I cross the void beyond the mind The empty space that…
Who Is The Doctor? I cross the void beyond the mind The empty space that…

Worzel's Song Hang about my dears Won't keep you but a minute? I'm putting…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

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Search results not found

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@morabhut8192

3y↑55

My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf
So it stood ninety years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born
And was always his treasure and pride
But it stopped, short never to go again
When the old man died
Ninety years without slumbering
His life seconds numbering
It stopped, short never to go again
When the old man died
My grandfather said that of those he could hire
Not a servant so faithful he found
For it wasted no time and had but one desire
At the close of each week to be wound
And it kept in its place, not a frown upon its face
And its hands never hung by its side
But it stopped short, never to go again
When the old man died
It rang and alarmed in the dead of the night
An alarm that for years had been dumb
And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight
That his hour for departure had come
Still the clock kept the time with a soft and muffled chime
As we silently stood by his side
But it stopped short, never to go again
When the old man died
Ninety years without slumbering
His life seconds numbering
It stopped short, never to go again
When the old man died

._. nothing just because I wanted to sing along

@ptrombley444

6y↑21

GRAND FATHER'S CLOCK
music & lyrics by
Henry C work (1876)
arranged & recorded by
Tom Rouch

My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life's seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short never to go again when the old man died

In watching its pendulum swing to and fro,
Many hours he spent as a boy.
And in childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy.
For it struck twenty-four when he entered at the door,
With a blooming and beautiful bride;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life's seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
My grandfather said that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found;
For it wasted no time, and had but one desire —
At the close of each week to be wound.
And it kept in its place — not a frown upon its face,
And its hands never hung by its side.
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life's seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short never to go again when the old man died

It rang an alarm in the dead of the night —
An alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight —
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life's seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

All comments from YouTube:

@kathleenlenton6932

4y↑1.1K

My Dad passed away last week at the age of 92. He would sing this to me when he tucked me in at night. It's a most cherished memory.

@greymarv3587

4y↑40

My grandfather sang this just days ago at the dinnertable. He has his own grandfathers clock and now I feel sad when i hear it.

@carolinagirl220

4y↑23

Sorry to hear about you dad

@valeriecoley896

4y↑20

I’m 77y/o my Grandfather sang to us when we were little, so happy to have found it.

@WildlifePhotographer209

4y↑13

I feel bad

@DavidSmith-em3gt

4y↑10

Nice song Kathleen god bless ya dad and you to x from UK England

58 More Replies...

@the_epic_memer553

2y↑806

as a nightguard at a pizza place, this saved me from some weird looking puppet falling out of its box. idk why the puppet falls out when the song isn't played but if it means the doll doesn't get damaged i'll play it all night

@leafenbark6695

2y↑35

Hey how's the nights going? I've heard of rumors that nightguards used to go missing in old locations of the pizza place, hope you doing a good job bud

@the_epic_memer553

2y↑35

@Derrick Bohrtrum made it. quit the job tho after some weird malfunction made freddy move from stage to my hall. but other than that im fine

@madkirk7431

2y↑19

I love it when people roleplay in the comment of things that are related to a popular thing

@latifafauziahafrizon3678

2y↑9

@Curtis Warren BTW STOP BEGGING yeah took me awhile that it is Fnaf

@bukola2371

2y↑4

it makes sense because in fnaf 6 henry was an old man and the puppet is his son so lol

17 More Replies...

@valeriecoley896

6y↑437

I’m 75 y/o. My Grandfather sang this to us. So happy to have found it!

@averagetf2player277

4y↑12

Valerie Coley that’s good, how are you doing?

@valeriecoley896

4y↑13

DanielRBMC ! I’m doing well, thank you. Do I know you?

@valeriecoley896

4y↑5

Thank you Mirial 🙏🏻. I’m doing well, thanks for asking. Hope you’re well too 😉😊. Grandfather’s clock is on a Music Box?

@valeriecoley896

4y↑3

Mirial , thanks 🙏🏻. You’re the best. You’ll be the first to know when I get it🙏🏻😊😉❤️!

@UUdoubleU

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁 i know it's been 2 years since that comment but i'm still glad for you

17 More Replies...

@horizonwireless

2y↑83

Would love this on a music box… such a happy and lively song

@GroupNebula563

1y↑23

charlotte emily confirmed

@that_one_libra419.9

41w↑3

I got one recently, also came with this gift box that wouldn't open if the music box was playing. What is strange is that we I found it open the first night, nothing was inside. Probably nothing.

@AJjr636

25w

@@that_one_libra419.9what part of the song is the puppets music box melody?

@that_one_libra419.9

25w

@@AJjr636 From "90 years without slumbering..." to "when the old man died..."

@GnG07

24w

@@AJjr636 0:48

1 More Replies...

@ottobaron6392

4y↑262

This song was responsible for reviving the Long Case clock, and gave these clocks the names we know them by today. Prior to this song, this type of clock had fallen out of fashion, but between this song, and the centennial, these clocks made quite a comeback.

@jdga375

3y↑8

Fascinating. Thanks for the history lesson.

@Blue4uNowicka

3y↑6

Fascinating background info! Thank you. I actually fell in love with this song from my fisher price toy as a toddler. Now, as a musician I have come here to learn it.

@Knappa22

2y↑4

Interesting. I have one of these clocks in my house after my granny. It has the name Wm Hopkin Llandilo on the dial. No idea what it means (is this the maker or the owner?) or how old it is!

@ottobaron6392

2y↑3

@Knappa22 Willam Hopkin of Llandilo was a Welsh clock maker, who was born in 1848. Your clock could go as far back as the 1870s

@Knappa22

@Otto Baron Wow that's really interesting!

3 More Replies...

@BillyDBunny

5y↑170

I don't know if Tom Roush is a musician with a love of history or a historian with a love of music. This guy is a national resource.

@harrylane4

4y↑4

Por que no los dos

@BillyDBunny

4y↑3

@Harrison Lane Por supuesto. ¿Por qué no los dos? Estúpido de mi parte!

@BillyDBunny

3y↑2

La música trasciende todo lenguaje, y este es un gran ejemplo de maravillosa poesía y melodía.

@PayesX

3y↑1

@Billy D. Bunny Realmente lo es! Además de ser (Tom Roush) un gran recurso para conocer la música americana como extranjeros.

@BillyDBunny

3y↑1

Es maravilloso para mí porque no sé mucha música y tengo un mundo del que aprender.@⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

1 More Replies...

@circleo1992

2y↑121

If you think about it, The lyrics of this song might have actually inspired Scott to make the music box in FNAF 2. The song says that the clock stopped and never went again when the old man died. In FNAF 2, If the music box stops, the player dies. In addition, the line, "90 years without slumbering" references the fact that FNAF involves working a night shift. If you think about it, all the people who worked at the Freddy Fazbear's locations probably got insomnia. They were haunted by the horrors that they got while working, which prevented them from sleeping much.

@olivegem6853

1y↑14

That’s a cool way to look at it! I kinda feel like the parts where they describe how the clock is a great servant is like describing the puppet. It only wants the music box wound, always has a smile on its face. The idea that it’s a machine linked to a person’s soul is conceptually pretty similar to the franchise as a whole.

@craftusmaximus

48w↑3

I think you're thinking to much about it lol

Good observant tho

@GuilhermeTNT.-.

43w↑4

music isnt scott's, almost everything in FNAF 1 and 2 he bought because he hadn't money and wasnt a sound designer

@Fire8Pro_editz

42w↑4

Bros matpat💀

@jeandickman4193

2y↑81

My 89 year old mother had inhered her father's grandfathers clock. When he died she kept the clock at her house. When she died I got to have my favorite clock and it now stands graciously in my living room. I am 86 yrs. old (2022) now and love being able to pull up the chimes every day. At my mother's we sang this song a lot! Now I and my kids still sing it, a lot! I'm so glad, I love this terrific song, Thanks so very, very much!!! God bless and you're in my daily prayers now.
Jean Grasse Dickman 87 in the coming July

@olividaliasanchez567

1y↑2

87 why you put that in your comment because the 1987 is The Bite of 87

@penguinplus1238

@Olividalia Sanchez this person is mourning the death of a loved one are you dumb?

@olividaliasanchez567

1y↑1

@penguinplus123 I do what I do

@penguinplus1238

@Olividalia Sanchez no

@olividaliasanchez567

1y↑1

@penguinplus123 I'm sorry okay okay

@artemisarrow179

2y↑287

Imagine going back to the 1870’s and telling this guy that one day this song will be synonymous with haunted killer robots

@westonkirsch2344

2y↑4

No kidding

@myute.

2y↑24

"what's a robot good sir?"

@xX_Pokeman_Xx

2y↑12

@Orange If he knew Czech enough, he might know the Czech root word robota, but that wouldn't really help you because it meant "forced labor," so you'd STILL have to properly define robots. Could use the word automata though, since that has been a term since the 1600s and has roughly meant "lifeless device acting on itself" for the longest time.

@myute.

2y↑11

@xX_Pokeman2003_Xx "Why would forced labor be haunted and be murderous?"

@Tomlin4014

2y↑2

so if the clock stops when he dies...how would he react if i told him that?

9 More Replies...

@Kelichijouji

5y↑137

I was one of the saddened ones when you took this song down before and I messaged you about my newborn loving this song and it being the only thing that would calm her down some nights.

She's three years old now, and we just rocked while she listened to this song again. To this day, she loves it! Thank you so much! 💖

Edit to add: baby 3 is 3 months old. She's been fussy (was sick with Covid, like our whole house), and wouldn't stop crying. I thought of this song, and it out her right to sleep as well. I can't thank you enough for this!

@susanluthye6265

2y↑4

My grand daughter is also strangely calmed by this song. From birth to now, almost 7 months!

@alistairmcelwee7467

2y↑42

My father died last month and he sang this to me so many times. He was 82. Apparently his grandfather had sung it to him.I had no idea this song is so old. Thanks a bunch for posting this.

@transparent999

2y↑90

Song 10/10. I work as a night guard and this saves my ass from a puppet.

@dajingles6367

2y↑9

Wait, you work at where? I think I took my son there once. Said the puppet thing always stares at him.

@Kai.k_

35w

@@dajingles6367its a fnaf reference to charlie aka the puppet so basically this dude william afton killed a bunch of kids at his 1980 chuckie cheese pizzarie and there spirit went into the animatronics and charlie went into the puppet animatronic! 😂

@giovannieusebi955

35w↑2

@@AsgorexEditsr/wooooosh

@zainhammoud1448

18w

@@giovannieusebi955yep

@zainhammoud1448

18w

0:49

@charltonnorah964

1y↑13

I am so glad to have found this. My sister received one of those Fisher Price Teaching Clock. It had a nice melody. One night my mother wound up the clock and started singing words to the clock. She had a beautiful voice. She was a music person, piano and organ. She has been gone since 2020 due to Covid. Years later, after my sister had grown, she gave the clock to my brother for his sons. So when I saw one at a thrift store I knew I had to have it. Now hearing all the words, it brings my mother back to life, even for a few minutes.

@heatherrussell8255

I had that toy clock also.

@WhoisSupernerd

5y↑370

This song became very popular in Japan almost 90 years after it was composed. I thought that it is a Japanese song when I first heard it.

@GenuineDiscussion

4y↑21

And now it's in Five Nights at Freddys 2. How sad

@rust5427

4y↑7

Wait seriosuly? I guess dark songs is really popular in jp

@charlescourtney4402

4y↑9

When I was traveling through Asia, I had a layover atTokyo/Narita Airport. I remember hearing this song while waiting for my flight.

@the9of741

4y↑5

It even appeared in the video game, Nekopara vol.3. the girl (Neko), Maple, sang it beutiful, but instead of a ragtime country type, it sounded more classical.

@clawcross

The same in korea too

9 More Replies...

@morabhut8192

3y↑55

@jacklow9611

Thank you for posting the full lyrics, even though they are seen in the video.

@mrff5975

7y↑43

The last verse is just chilling every time I listen to it!
Great job Tom!

@MusicOfTomRoush

7y↑4

Thank You, Mr!

@billowen2354

2y↑12

In 1962, when I was born my father bought my mother a hand crafted Grandfathers clock. It took over a year for the works to be imported from Germany. It was the centerpiece of our living room as I grew up and dad wound it religiously every week. The clock wound down and stopped precisely at the time of his death. It is now in my home and my most prized possession. Thank you for the full song. It is rare to hear it all. The tune has been a favorite of mine since childhood.

@joybaxter5039

7y↑67

Thank you Tom for bringing back my wonderful childhood memories of a dear gentleman who played the banjo for us.

@MusicOfTomRoush

5y↑8

You're welcome!

@lildannym9988

@Tom Roush CFC can vvcvb. Bbbfgbbcv by b n

@rezrick9

7y↑155

Thank you Tom, I am 70, we listened to this song in music class when I was in grade school in Littleton, Colorado. Thank You very much!! Rick Marlowe

@MusicOfTomRoush

7y↑27

Rick Thank you for your generous comment! I hope that the music brought you fond memories, Tom

@janalamanna9224

4y↑7

I am 8 and I have been listening to it for my Whole life

@nowimanoob9890

4y↑4

@Jana Lamanna because of fnaf im guessing?

@jacktheflash8478

4y↑1

dahmagicman roit445 possibly

@UUdoubleU

4y↑1

@NOWIMANOOB fnaf 2 came out around 5 years ago, if they were listening for their whole life, they were listeniing before fnaf 2

2 More Replies...

@theblindingone7776

4y↑1.4K

"It doesn't affect all of the animatronics, but it does affect... one of them."

@gladiatoredit2782

3y↑36

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

@ThawBerry

3y↑44

-phone guy

@nichole162

3y↑8

No...

@VasiliBelikov

3y↑18

The Puppet

@keithbowers3919

3y↑37

Only fnaf players will understand

19 More Replies...

@michaelhalsall5684

2y↑8

I haven't heard this song since I was at primary school. I had no idea of its origin and I didn't know when it was written. This song still sounds good after all this time!

@Frankyz84

5y↑24

This was a song from my childhood, and now having heard it once again, i am adding it to my set list.

@oscillar.oscillator

4y↑354

1876-Nov 10 2014: It’s quite peaceful but a little sad
Nov 11 2014-present: WIND UP THE MUSIC BOX RIGHT NOW

@donuts-fv4rb

2y↑4

the fear

@orangelake2268

2y↑4

Vietnam Flashbacks

@nicolerobertson2654

2y↑3

Just get the heck out of the pizzeria, and set it on fire 😂

@somerandonamedz9991

2y↑1

@Nicole Robertson that’s the next game

@nicolerobertson2654

@Some rando named Z True lol

6 More Replies...

@arashikashu5421

27w↑3

My grandfather loved this song. If he'd lived just a little bit longer, he'd have made his 90th birthday. I've never actually heard a recording of it, just family sing alongs, so thank you for sharing.

@LivingCrusader

8y↑33

This is one of my favorite songs. Thanks for performing it and re-uploading it Mr. Roush.

@timprichard5137

4y↑14

Hearing this made me cry. It's been at least 30 years since I've heard this, as it was one of my favorites as a little child.

Bless you.

@er_dragosaurus_rex

4y↑3

This song made me cry too, i remember my childhood during 1860 when me and my friends sang it when we didn't know what to do

@jacktheflash8478

4y↑2

TeddyBear69 1860?

@kimlengning8859

4y↑12

I learned this song in elementary school. I never knew it more than one verse. Thank you for posting this!

@kylargraf6762

27w

My favorite song that my retired missionary Grandpa Bill Graf plays on the accordion for me. Thank you so much 💓! This is great!!!

@deewesthill1358

3y↑8

I'm nearly 70 years old and first heard this beautiful song at age 7 in my second grade class when our teacher taught it to us, but only right now have i found out it was written by the author of "Marching Through Georgia" and "Nicodemus The Slave". Those are such different songs.

@Clarinetboy82

6y↑19

I've heard a few country music stars perform this song. Your recording is the best I've heard. An aside, Rod Serling had an entire Twilight Zone episode based off of this song.

@froggiechar

2y↑3

I sure enjoyed your wonderful version of this great, old song! It's so amazing! Thanks for sharing it Peace and joy, Charles I've done this song on my own channel!

@jackcarter5101

Tom Roush died last year sadly

@cherylmavrikos6550

2y↑2

What a beautiful song! My mother, who is 90, and I always counted it among our favorites. Now it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for posting it! Precious memory!

@traineraquamarine4063

8y↑8

I have a question. I'm just beginning to learn how to play the guitar, and I wanted to know where I could find the sheet music for the song? I absolutely love your rendition, and I want to learn how to play the song because of you. Thank you for your time, and never stop making music! The world needs more music.

@duskfall6542

Trainer Aquamarine try Ecrouth (idk how to spell but its a music store and website)

@siremine2192

8y↑4

this song is absolutely beautiful. You did great Tom Roush!

@MusicOfTomRoush

8y↑1

Thank You Siremin!

@mihispemdedisti

7y↑6

I learned how to play this on the piano when I was a little kid. Even at a very young age, this song always made me sad and wistful. Nice to listen to it here.

@firi_best_boi

3y↑2

I played this in band for our concert in 4th or 5th grade, haven’t heard it since, so glad I found it again, nostalgia 100

@josephinetabone5297

8y↑8

I simply love listening to these songs. Well done Tom Roush!

@MusicOfTomRoush

8y↑1

You are welcome Josephine!

@denismack2374

4y↑1

Fantastic version, sir. You are a truly talented musician. Thank you for keeping this great piece of Americana alive. I respect your music and love the fact that you are keeping the music of that great American composer, Henry Clay Work, alive. This music is a great part of our American heritage.

I always cried when I heard this song as a child. I felt so bad for the Grandfather dying, as I had had lost my Grandpa when I was a boy. I remember the American Legion Color Guard firing a salute over his grave when we laid him to rest. He was a World War One veteran of the US Army, combat-wounded in France while serving with the AEF. We inherited his grandfather clock - I still have it and wind it every Friday. God rest his good soul.

A little-known sequel to this piece was made. It is even sadder as the clock gets thrown out, broken and burned.

@athull08

I like to think of this song as both American and British, because please remember, Henry Work was in the UK when he was inspired to write this song.

@merenaa.2746

2y↑5

I always used to play this on my cheap keyboard as a tween. I have always loved these old-timey songs. I remember a video of me as a baby of my great grandfather singing along to this song to a music box I was playing with. He passed away at 90 as well.

@jacklow9611

1y↑2

I've known this song since I was young, but it wasn't until fairly recently that I learned it had the fourth verse. I know the rest of it by heart, so now I'll have to listen to it over and over so I can learn the words of the fourth verse.

I never realized that it was written so many years ago.

@jennyleishman9617

30w

I love this song it never ages..we sang it as children and we still sing it, brilliant.

@jtimmons1588

3y↑1

I sang this alongside my mom as she played the piano as a kid in the1960s. Was a sad song then, and in my old age now, can still bring me to tears thinking about my two wonderful grandfathers, as well as my mom. Thanks for posting. Beautiful.

@davidrowinski2160

47w↑2

Thanks, Tom for doing this. It is rare to find a cover of all 4 verses.

@davidhambleton8576

7y↑35

Out of all the one's i've listened to, this and the sequel are by far the best i've ever heard and i've been in the industry 50 years. My late brother Eric, was a master on the Yamaha PSR 1500 16 channel Sequencer. I would have loved to have seen you and him compose this together.

@MusicOfTomRoush

7y↑5

Thank you David!

@doriskirkland9864

David Hambleto14

@davidhambleton8576

@Tom Roush Thankyou.

@davidhambleton8576

5y↑1

Come back and talk to me Tom. Out of all of the acquaintances i have on this bloody thing, you are the one that i really counted as a genuine friend. I remember our messages about each other and the things that had happened. Don't ever retire that Banjo or Axe. I'm always here mate even if there's 8,000 miles between us.

@chipsdubbo4861

@David Hambleton Not sure if you saw, but Tom recently released the sequel to this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0oAcJQCBgk

1 More Replies...

@KayGallaHitched

4y↑2

This is one of my all time favorite folk songs!!!

@eduardobraivein8496

6y↑6

Congratulations Tom! You've taught me that Tradition never dies!

@ottobaron6392

3y↑1

The song was originally published in 1876, during the centennial. This song single handely led to a revival of the long case clock, but possibly led to many of these venerable time pieces from the 18th and early 19th centuries being rescued.

@elizabethhjenkins6172

32w

It was a pleasure to watch this. I had not heard all the verses in quite some time. Well sung.

@nolanbowen8800

28w

When I was a kid we used to sing this great old song in school. I'd forgotten about it until Youtube showed it. It was wonderful to hear it and sing along with it after all these years.

@joijaxx

3y↑5

What a lovely memory from grade school chorus, thank you!

@debbiekerr3989

1y↑3

My great-uncle would sing this to me when I was a little girl. Such a gentle person and I still miss him. He died in 1998.

@rogertulk8607

Excellent rendition of a song I heard many times as a boy. Thanks for posting this

@jaredjadonkane300

3y↑7

Fabulous version, thanks.

@MusicOfTomRoush

Thanks, Jared!

@dhy5342

2y↑3

by Henry Clay Work
I don't know why, but this song raises some serious emotions in me. It's a beautiful song that tells a great story, and Tom's rendition of it is perfect.

@athull08

It's partially based on a true story. The real life clock that inspired this song is housed very near to where I live.

@lizday8140

3y↑4

My Grandmother had a song book...treasured old favorites...Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party was our second favorite, but this was the best!
I used to sing it with her while she played guitar or piano, and she couldn't get to the end of the chorus without crying.
We would both start laughing, but she would laugh and cry her way through the rest.
Now she has passed on a year and a half ago, at almost 90 years old, and I am the one crying - and laughing, in sweet memory of her...ALL the way through the song!

@sengreatsanin5354

Your grandma is the puppet!!

@maddalenacombs9809

2y↑2

Always loved this song as my father loved these clocks of his grandfathers. This song is so precious.

@TheSpikeg76

49w↑1

Best version ever. Amazing.

@jaehi8930

4y↑5

My great grandmother used to sing this and when think of her I play this song... rest up momma I love you 💞

@marialiglesias1699

3y↑2

I heard this song as sung by Korean duo Twin Follo. I never understood the lyrics but I love the melody. So glad to find this original English version. Thanks for posting.

@rmc2001

2y↑3

Was out today and heard this song being whistled. Havnt heard it since I was young but recognized it straight away. If I had any kind of singing voice I would have sung along with the whistler

@baritasaragih9226

4y↑3

My fav song since I was at a primary school. I like this tune very much up to this very minute. What a country vocal of Tom Roush ! Regards from Jakarta Indonesia. <3 <3 <3

@MusicOfTomRoush

Thank you!!!

@rinty04

5y↑24

We used to sing this at school in the 60's.. thanks for sharing

@MusicOfTomRoush

5y↑5

You're welcome!!!

@danielrobledo1793

History on the making! What a wonderful song!

@wtb1949

3y↑1

I remember learning it when I was a child and I always wanted one. It was the first purchase my spouse and I made when we bought our own house!

@mahag951

3y↑2

Growing up in Ghana 🇬🇭. We used to sing this song almost every other morning in school before classes began. #Memories ♥

@1Oldroot

19w↑1

ah yes, the good Ol 'classic. Rest in piece tom roush

@ruthysim

8y↑5

Love this song Tom!

@shannonn2569

3y↑2

This is still beautiful..I know how it feels when you lose someone it's beautiful cause of memories..but sad at the same time..

@BillyDBunny

7y↑19

Whenever I need a good cry, it is either this or the Velveteen Rabbit. Just awesome.

@allenmurray7893

We sang this in elementary school music class quite a bit. The only other time I've heard it is on an episode of "The Twi-Light Zone" with Ed Wynn playing the Grandfather. Tom, I think that you're a historian and a musician who loves history and music. Very nice video. Love your "Home On The Range".

@jackcarter5101

Tom Roush died in 2021 sadly

@kiranferns521

31w

@@jackcarter5101 Oh man how did he die? Covid?

@jackcarter5101

31w

@@kiranferns521 No, head injuries from a fall.

@ianedmonds9191

I learned this song in primary school in the UK. No idea why but it's stayed with me for 35+ years.

@salomejohn6869

3y↑1

I played this music on the violin. But hearing the lyrics is wonderful.

@TheSewDew

2y↑24

I absolutely adore this song. For some reason I hear Pop Goes the Weasel after listening to it? Eh, probably nothing

@lol_hi_there

2y↑6

Um... I think you should run

@KCandFriendsUSA

2y↑4

Hold up

@emberashes6809

2y↑4

Don't forget to wind up the music box
I'll be honest I never liked that puppet thing
It's always thinking It can go anywhere
I don't think the freddy head will fool it
Just
Don't forget the music box

@mariowoite8312

8y↑3

very beautiful song...thank you Tom.

@MusicOfTomRoush

Thank You Mario!

@enitoluwaji

3y↑1

My mom sings this so much, I felt it was depressing but I couldn't resist it. Love the song but I prefer I voice when she sings, I'm going have her sing it in a studio so I can listen to it, have my friends listen to it, and maybe my children and grandchildren

@skcordnasnioc0012

8y↑8

This is beautiful.. God bless you!

@coffeehubby

2y↑3

My father told me this story before the song came out. Perhaps it was a folk story that got passed around. But it's a favorite memory

@athull08

2y↑3

But the song was released in 1876

@CoRektOh

8y↑4

Damn. That was beautiful. Thank you Tom.

@kentuckylady2990

32w

Learned this in grade school in the 1950s. I would get a little teary eyed when singing it.

@casperdeghost3519

2y↑2

My dad passed Jan 2nd this was his fav song in the world..... We sung this every new years at our house

@caroljeanscott5571

1y↑1

That song is based on a real story. When I was in England back in 1970, I saw the actual clock and the story of the clock which was put to music at a later date.

@kn3448

28w↑1

My nan had a mantlepiece clock that was given to her as a little girl. It was only about eighteen inches tall and kept perfect time, never gained, never lost even after it's casing got damaged when one of my cousins knocked it off the mantle.
My nan died aged 98 and bequeathed her clock to my mother in her will. The clock only worked for about two weeks before it started losing time. The chime no longer operated properly and even when fully wound, would only work sporadically.
Mum took it to a repair shop and spent five hundred pounds on having the thing stripped, cleaned and repaired but even after all this care and attention the damn thing never worked quite right.
In the end mum sold it and managed to make back her money but how that clock behaved after my nan's death, the fact that it somehow seemed to be mourning her passing, still haunts me to this day.

@jmannky402

8y↑10

great to see this classic hasn't died!

@ch-xl3xm

1y↑1

We learned this song many years ago in school in Music Class a good memory.

@dawntobin6463

4y↑1

When we were little we had lovely singing sessions and my darling Dad used to sing this song...memories❤❤❤Thanks

@MusicOfTomRoush

You're welcome, Dawn

@jennarosezierke2416

6y↑2

I love songs like this.

@ptrombley444

6y↑21

@nowthatsjustducky

4y↑1

Looked this song up and found this video after reading the comments on another video showing off a Fisher Price Grandfather Clock; and looked that up because the tune had come into my head unbidden and I finally needed to look it up.

Now I can actually match up the lyrics with the clock's melody in my brain. Also, I was able to determine that this was the same tune, without the pauses, that was used for the novelty song, "My Father's Top Drawer."

Guess it is time to go look that one up and grab to put on my phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jpvstFOGs

@rsbagley3451

34w

I was given a piano a couple of days ago and the day it was brought to my home was the day the lady who had owned it died. She died that night. It made me think of this song .....a different situation as the piano will not die and actually needs some resurrecting , tuning and repair, but it seemed like such a coincidence and made me think how we can have some sort of deep relationship / attachment to our possessions

@susanluthye6265

2y↑3

This is the only song that calms my infant granddaughter.

@GroupNebula563

greetings, Henry’s mom

@Amanda-zn7ox

39w

I've always been charmed with grandfather clocks and clockworks, but also with a bit of anxiety. There were clocks all linked together in one of my elementary schools that ticked-tocked every minute and buzzed at the same time. Sound-sensitive mini me hated it. There was also a sentient grandfather clock in the Barbie Sleeping Beauty game that also scared me.

@Amanda-zn7ox

39w

Oh, also some about the pendulum for the anxiety. I also recently just remembered that my family had a wall pendulum clock. Idk, maybe something about that manifested in my nightmares or something.

@Amanda-zn7ox

39w

3:26 is also so powerful

@KosakaHonoka1393

22w

Learned this song from NekoPara
And this is definitely healing and relaxed
Very good job of singing it❤️

@Knappa22

Granny used to play this on the old pump organ/harmonium. It's a quintessential parlour song. Lovely memories

@concorde2003

5y↑18

This is the song that the Fisher Price Tick Tock Teaching Clock plays! Listening to this really chokes me up. Awesome.

@bencurry3044

3y↑5

wow. Someone else remembers that too. I used to have one, but now, the music part broke. It's really nostalgic to me.

@KCandFriendsUSA

5y↑83

There’s only one movie that needs this in their soundtrack

Take a guess

@Mrnotfa

5y↑4

:-)

@Mrnotfa

5y↑23

i Guess hummm...
A movie with ghostly crying kiddo that posess furry animal for Avenge their old life because they was killed by an immortal british Killer ?

Who know.

@Luna-Star_

4y↑2

hMmM i wONDeR

@last7509

4y↑3

yes. its the most incredible porn i have ever seen

@KCandFriendsUSA

3y↑2

This should be in a FNAF 2 sound hack mod

3 More Replies...

@LynnLight

3y↑2

My baby sitter, in childhood taught me When The Old Man Died, and I was surprised to find the words and music here on Youtube. I should not have been really. Never have I seen such an archive of everything, as here on Youtube.

@AussieAwesome

4y↑1

Can you please do an instrumental version of this

@flournoymason8961

6y↑6

IN the 19th century there was a theory that certain machines were aware of their movements and surroundings. Look up Moxons Master by Ambroise Bierce. It unlike this song is a horror story written about the same time as this song.

@user-qs2bk6op5m

3y↑1

I am japanese. In japan,the song translated to japanese is loved. I have listened to it since I was little, but I have just listened to it for the first time! I can't understand the words, but I am feeling the writer's mind.

@user-qs2bk6op5m

Also, the tender rhythm is so good.

@user-ez4uw5sb2m

Arts make most ordinary things special. They provide things that have not emotion with a life. Truth and facts can't bring us moving emotion. When some stories are got into the facts or objects, which lead them to make us moving. That's power of art. The granfathet's clock itself has no meaning or is no avail but with the beautiful melodies and lyrics his clock becomes most special.