Talk:This Old Man

message: I don't see how this rhyme is a rebus. I can't see any pictures in the rhyme, so how can it use pictures to represent words?
Am I missing something?
--JimmyTheWig 13:12, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: A Rebus?

message: The article claims the origins of the rhyme are unknown.
I was led to belive my some comments Flanders and Swan made in
a recording of one thier rveues that the tune often used for
it was French in origin (La Gaule)? would need a citation though..
ShakespeareFan00 22:17, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  In response to above - http://www.nyanko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fas/anotherhat_gall.html
appears to be a quote in the Flanders and Swan production that say's the tune is french
in origin, although it could be an intentional joke... ShakespeareFan00 23:22, 30 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  French Origins? 

message: I changed the claim that Korn's version of this nursery rhyme has profane words to say "it talks about the more sinister meanings behind nursery rhymes." I can not find anywhere that says Korn's lyrics have any profanity and all lyrics pages I have found do not list any.  The lyrics are a little distorted at times but they seem to be the same words used in the nursery rhymes.  They might have used profane words in live shows (most bands put a little something extra for the crowd) but not in the released version.    Billy Nair 19:54, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Korn's Version not Profane

message: Has no one noted the similarity between this tune and the 1830's popular American song "Sich A Gittin Upstairs"?
JD  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.8.30.114 (talk) 23:18, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Early American source? 

message: Why does not the article have the entire lyrics?  e.g., "He played eleven ... heaven..."
See this reference to the full lyric through twelve: http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/oldman.asp
This one would not make it into modern American public schools. Dogru144 (talk) 20:24, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: It's beyond the scope of this article to pronounce an "official" set of lyrics or to list all the regional and historical variants. That might be something for WikiSource. —C.Fred (talk) 21:07, 17 March 2013 (UTC)
thread_title: Controversial lyrics / why not entire lyric?

message: The way I learned it was, "He played knick-nack on my Devon (which I believe is a breed of cattle).  Rather lame, I agree.  I'm inclined to believe it is the original version.  (See Lectio difficilior potior, the principle that the more unusual word is the stronger reading.) (I learned it at school in 1958, soon after it was popularized in the film, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. I believe this wording was used in the hit version at the time.  Kostaki mou (talk) 02:03, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  He played knick-knack up in heaven 

message: The version I learned was "came marching home."  Makes more sense, but not as much fun (and Gary Larson wouldn't have been able to make his cartoon about the song).  Kostaki mou (talk) 21:10, 5 July 2013 (UTC)
thread_title: . . . came rolling home

message: Does the Roud Folk Song Index number really belong in the summary? It feels out of place. Perhaps it should go in the sidebar instead?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:5C2:201:4450:83C:DD7E:24F1:8170 (talk) 15:55, 17 July 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Roud Folk Song Index number 

message: I'm not sure whether or not this is worth mentioning, but there are versions of the song where seven is the last number, with the implication being that the old man died and went to heaven. If someone could find a source for this that would be great. 2A00:23C8:3F06:1700:92F:71F5:C8A3:6F98 (talk) 20:10, 1 July 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Early ending 

message: The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band quotes the knick-knack line in their song Humanoid Boogie (Album: The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse, 1968) M has it in their hit Pop Muzik. Lützeljeman (talk) 12:18, 3 December 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Quoted in popular music 

message: "Columbo’s unofficial theme tune is ‘This Old Man‘, which was first ad libbed into a scene in Any Old Port in a Storm, when Columbo hums it while making a phone call." (https://columbophile.com/columbo-facts-and-beginners-guide/) 2603:7000:39F0:8EC0:CDF8:94F0:695D:BB99 (talk) 00:49, 29 March 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  Columbo