Examples Of "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine" Children's Recreational Rhymes And Action Songs

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the English language recreational rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine" (and similar titles).

This post presents some (word only) examples of the rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine".  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/10/what-word-knickerbocker-means-in.html for Part I of this pancocojams post. That post presents information about the origin and meaning of the word "knickerbocker".

That post also includes information about the meaning of the phrase "number 9" in British culture and in United States' culture.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/10/doctor-knickerbocker-number-9-videos.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases some YouTube videos of the rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine".  

****
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and folkloric purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
"DR. KNICKERBOCKER NUMBER NINE" RHYME/SONG EXAMPLES
These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Example #1
DR. KNICKERBOCKER 
(performed by The Wiggles, 2017)

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Lachy, Emma & Simon, All]

Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine

He likes to dance and he keeps in time

So 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

 

[Verse 2: Lachy, Emma & Simon, All]

Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine

He likes to dance and he keeps in time

Now lеt's get the rhythm of the hips

Now wе'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

 

[Verse 3: Lachy, Emma & Simon, All]

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

[Verse 4: Lachy, Emma & Simon, All]
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

Let's get the rhythm of the number nine

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
-https://genius.com/The-wiggles-dr-knickerbocker-2017-lyricsDoctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
-snip-
This is how these lyrics are written on this page.

****
Example #2- Dr Knickerbocker!

Dr. Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker Number 9
Sure got drunk on a bottle of wine
Let’s get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)
Now we’ve got the rhythm of the hands (clap clap)

Repeat verse with

-the feet stomp stomp
-the eyes blink blink
-the knees (knock knock)
-hips (ooh ooh slaps each hip)

End with “Dr. Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker Number 9
- https://www.elargonauta.com/media/pdf/muestra_69085_1.pdf [no publishing date]
This is how this rhyme was written in that pdf

****
Example #3
"Lyrics

(Folk song)

Dr. Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine.

Just got back, and I’m feeling fine.

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the eyes

Now let’s get the rhythm of the eyes

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hips (whoo-ee)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hips (whoo-ee)

Now let’s get the rhythm of the number nine!

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!"
-https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2014/05/dr-knickerbocker.html Dr. Knickerbocker (no publishing date given; retrieved October 9, 2025)

****
Example #4
"I remember some sort of game where we all stood in a circle and sang:

Dr. Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker Number 9

He sure got sick off a bottle of wine!

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands

Now you got the rhythm of the hands

Now let’s get the rhythm of the feet

Now you got the rhythm of the feet

Now let’s get the rhythm of the number 5!

 

This was followed by counting by 5’s to 100 and the person who got 100 would be out."
-KRC, Guest, Dec '05, https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-hand-clapping-and-jumprope-rhymes-do-you-remember/337151?page=1

****

"Doc - tor —- KNICKERBOCKER, KNICKERBOCKER, Number Nine

 

Got MIGHTY SICK on the BUMPETY LINE!

 

Now let’s get the rhythm of the hands (( Clap Clap )) Now YOU’VE got the rhythm of the hands (( Clap Clap ))

 

Now let’s get the rhythm of the NUMBER NINE!”

 

There’s a whole bunch more to it . . . but is this familiar to anybody else?"
-Consistent-Ad-910l 2024, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/GenX/comments/1fvqjvf/does_anyone_remember_the_words_to_hand_clap_songs/

****

This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.