Three silly men in a tub, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker

Rub a Dub Dub

Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
And all of them out to sea!

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Posted in All Rhymes, Daily Life & Objects, Humor, Mother Goose Classics, Nonsensical, People & Characters, Songs & Verses

Tagged baker, bathtime, butcher, candlestick, sea, three, trades, tub

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Meaning

“Rub a Dub Dub” describes three tradesmen together in a tub—a playful, nonsensical image for children. However, the original meaning was salacious: early versions featured “three maids in a tub,” referring to a fairground peep show spectacle, with the butcher, baker, and candlestick maker watching. Over time, the rhyme evolved to suggest the tradesmen themselves were behaving foolishly, and became a harmless nursery rhyme for bath time and play.

Origin

First published in 1798 in London’s “Christmas Box” as “Dub a dub dub,” early versions referenced “three maids in a tub” at a fair—an attraction at public events akin to a peep show. Respectable tradesmen watching were being called out for improper behavior. By the mid-19th century, the rhyme was child-friendly, focusing on the tradesmen in the tub.

Time Period

The earliest documented edition dates to the late 18th century, although the phrase and concept may date back to fairs and carnivals as far as the 14th century.

Why It Became Popular

The catchy, repetitive rhythm and bath-time imagery made it ideal for children’s songs. Evolving from a social satire to playful nonsense, it lost controversial meaning and became firmly part of nursery rhyme traditions.

Structure and Style

Meter: Bouncy, trochaic rhythm
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDB
Line Count: Five lines (varies by version)
Style Notes: Repetitive, sing-song, action rhyme

Themes

Trades and professions
Playful nonsense
Satire and social commentary (historical)
Bath time and carnival imagery

Language Notes

The phrase “rub-a-dub-dub” was once an innuendo but is now simply playful sound. References to the butcher, baker, and candlestick maker poke fun at familiar professions.

Moral or Lesson

In its current form, the rhyme is simply for entertainment. Historically, it satirized the foolish or inappropriate behavior of those publicly ogling carnival attractions.

Historical or Cultural Notes

The earliest rhymes served as social critique. In modern collections, they’re recited for fun and sometimes used as bath songs or playful games with children.

Notable Variants

Early versions featured “three maids in a tub”; others called the men “fools” or “knaves” and included “Turn them out, knaves all three.” Some editions invented silly reasons for why the men are in the tub (“jumped out of a rotten potato”).

Appearances in Media or Literature

Regularly collected in nursery rhyme books, featured in bath time products and educational material, as well as in discussions on the origins of British folklore.

Suggested Activities

Bath-Time Chant: Sing the rhyme during playtime in the bath.
Role Play: Act out the tradesmen in the tub with dress-up or puppets.
Discussion: Explore the historical evolution from satire to children’s verse.
Art Project: Illustrate the “three men in a tub” or design carnival posters.

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