<Tr> <Th> Published </Th> <Td> 1642 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Songwriter (s) </Th> <Td> unknown </Td> </Tr> <P>' The Grand Old Duke of York' (also sung as The Noble Duke of York) is an English children's nursery rhyme, often performed as an action song . The Duke of the title has been argued to be a number of the holders of that office, particularly Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763--1827) and its lyrics have become proverbial for futile action . It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 742 . </P> <P> The most common modern version is: </P>

The grand old duke of york nursery rhyme meaning