Doctor Who Episode 9 was very lite on seriable elements, but it did contain a haunting nursery rhyme referencing the central story arc. But what does it mean? Have another listen below.
Here are the complete lyrics:
Tick tock goes the clock
And what now shall we play?
Tick tock goes the clock
Now summer’s gone away? (Missing from video)Tick tock goes the clock
And what then shall we see?
Tick tock until the day
That thou shalt marry meTick tock goes the clock
And all the years they fly
Tick tock and all too soon
You and I must dieTick tock goes the clock
We laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the DoctorTick tock goes the clock
He cradled her and he rocked her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Doctor…
HT: Doctor Who TV
It’s a pretty clear that warning about the Doctor’s looming death and presumably River Song’s involvement (“he cradled her and he rocked her.”) Not the meatiest seriable element, but at least they didn’t neglect us completely.
More interestingly for me is the fact that the Doctor knows when he ‘dies’ (as per LKH), and Amy and Rory know, but they haven’t communicated that knowledge to one another. I guess that goes back to the whole ‘too much foreknowledge’ line of thought.










And the new part:
Tick, tock, goes the clock. ’till River kills the doctor…
Well-loved.:
12
Thanks, we have that one coming up.
Like:
0
But Amy did tell the Doctor about his death. In “The Almost People” she tells him, “You invited us all to watch.” She thought she was talking to the Ganger at the time, but they had already switched.
Like:
5
Nicole: That’s true, but I don’t believe he knew when he was going to die. I’ll need to check the seriablechives to be sure but I thought he discovered his D.O.D in LKH..
Like:
0
and the final part :
tick tock goes the clock
he gave her all he could give her
tick tock goes the clock
now prison waits for river
Well-loved.:
10
THis song is creepy, especially since little girls dolls sing it.
Like:
3
I don’t like it
Like:
0
This is fantastic, be we are still missing the proper verse where the line
’till River kills the Doctor’
is sung. I’ll look through it and see what I can find. Post it here if I do.
Like:
0
Tick-tock goes the clock
He cradled and he rocked her
Tick-tock goes the clock
Till River kills the Doctor
Like:
1
The doctor found out when he was gonna die from the tesselecta (or however you spell it) in the episode “Let’s Kill Hitler” I don’t remember if they straight out tell him or if he steals the info but he does get it from them. Also there is a wide gap in time from the episode with Craig and the cybermen (sorry, idk the name of the episode) and “The Weding of River Song” so he could have found out a lot in that time. Just sayin’
Like:
1
I thought you say it ‘tessilecta’. And you spelt wedding wrong. Two d’s. And does anyone know where you can buy doctor who DVD’s? I can not find any series 2, 3, 5.
Like:
0
You can buy all the new seasons at play.com
Like:
0
It’s on Netflix if you have it, but they don’t have season 7 or 8 on Netflix yet. When I saw that, I went into a ragequit.
Like:
1
I was just reading through and they havent started season 8 yet it starts up again in november besides you can always watch season 7 ondemand or on the computer
Like:
0
I always thought it was tesselector, but maybe I’m just weird.
Like:
0
I love how haunting this song is it realy makes you feel deep fear when you listen to it. And being sang by children makes it seem more sinister because it shows the dark backround of Doctor Who even though it has many childlike themes. Every monster is based on a childhood game and everything in the show has a childlike side and makes it scary it’s fantastic.
Like:
3
I have no fear hearing this song! In fact I love it!!! Oh and you mean sung not sang
Like:
0
Just like hung, not hanged.
Like:
0
Actually, it is ‘hanged’ when referring to humans…
Like:
0
Nicole is right. Amy tells the Doctor that he is going to die and he can conclude that it is that day because he also got an invitation he just didn’t watch himself die.
The Tesselecta episode is just for him to confirm the information and a way to make sure everyone knows that he knows. (for those who didn’t realise he was told in the Almost people episode.)
Like:
1
I love this song. My friend and I looked up the lyrics and now we sing it just to freak people out. The child’s voice makes it so siniter. The line ’til you and I must die’ sends chills down my spine.
Like:
4
I think the song is brilliant its so sinister because of the children singing and it foreshadows so well.
Like:
0
THE DOCTOR LIVES.
Like:
2
spoilers
Like:
9
But he does.
And theres another verse that i fust found:
“tick tock goes the clock
he turned away from violence
tick tock goes the clock
at the fall of the silence”
not sure that is completely right. Go Doctor Who!!!
Like:
1
No its
‘Doctor Brave and good
he turned away from violence
when he understood
the falling of the silence,
Like:
1
Tick Tock goes the clock
And what now shall we play?
Tick Tock goes the clock
Now summers gone away?
Tick tock goes the clock
and what then shall we see?
Tick tock untill the day
That thou shalt marry me
Tick tock goes the clock
And all the years they fly
Tick tock and all too soon
You and i must die
Tick tock goes the clock
We laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the doc…
Tick tock goes the clock
He craddled and he rocked her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Doctor
Tick tock goes the clock
And what now shall we play?
Tick Tock goes the clock
Now summers gone away
Tick tock goes the clock
and all the years they fly
Tick tock and all to soon
Your love must surly die
Tick tock goes the clock
We laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Till River kills the doctor
Doctor, Brave and good, he turned away from violence,
then understood the falling of the scilence.
Like:
4
You forgot the final line.
tick tock goes the clock
he gave her all he could give her
tick tock goes the clock
now prison waits for River
Like:
0
The doctor is smart and cool if he did die even though he didnt it would mess up the way i looked at the show I am a big docter who show lover
Like:
0
tick tock goes the clock
if the doctor dies people will cry
tick tock goes the clock
the people who cry have to learn that everyone will die
Like:
1
doctor who rocks
Like:
1
the 11th doctor is sooooooooooooo cute i want to kiss him
Like:
2
ewwwwwwwww
Like:
2
I don’t know if anyone else noticed this but the lines ‘Tick tock until the day
That thou shalt marry me’,
That might refer to the episode before where The Doctor promised to marry River Song (Melody Pond).
I’m not sure but I think River hinted at them being married in an earlier episode (I don’t remember).
Like:
3
lets kill hitler.
- mels talks about her dreams of getting married to the docter.
- jonothen says okay, when you get well i’ll phone your parents…
- mels says, why would you phone them when you can ask them right now
- amy and rory look at eachother to realize who mels/meody/river is.
Like:
1
Silence in the Library.
Like:
1
Yeah, good one. Except a religious group isn’t in the library.
Like:
0
In the season 5 episode, “The Time of The Angels,” The Doctor tells Amy that in the future he marries River.
Also, I love how the Doctor cheats death in the tessilector!
Like:
0
Tick tock goes the clock
He craddled and he rocked her
Tick tock goes the clock
Til River kills the Doctor
Tick tock goes the clock
We laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Doctor
This is a part missing close to the end of the song,at least is how it is in the season 6 soundtrack…
Like:
2
One of the lines written here should be
“He cradled and he rocked her”. As heard at the end of S6E9.
Like:
1
I had the greatest idea. Since the doctors from 1 to 11 go down in age, shouldn’t the next one be adolescent? Or at least ginger?
Like:
4
YES!!!!!!!!! THE TWELFTH DOCTOR MUST BE GINGER!!!!!!!
Like:
4
Wouldn’t it be weird if the 12th Doctor were a girl?
Like:
0
I’ve been saying just that! 11 always goes on about the Corsair becoming a naughty girl, after a few of his later regens, so I think 12 should be a girl, just to be weird. Personally, I think him being ginger should be saved for 13….
Like:
1
Me and my friend think a female Doctor would be EPIC!!!
Like:
0
It could happen, in the season 6 episode “The Doctor’s Wife” The Doctor says that Timelords can change their gender when regenerating into a new person.
Like:
0
But it would also be weird because he’s already married…
Like:
0
Yeah, I love the part at the ending of season six where the Doctor’s like, “Still not ginger!” That part cracked me up.
Like:
0
In S2E1 the Doctor says he wants to be a ginger.
Like:
0
RUPERT GRINT FOR DOCTOR!!!
Like:
0
Like:
0
Neil Patrick Harris as the doctor. End of story.
Like:
3
:O THAT WOULD BE AWWWWWWWESOME!
Like:
0
I am like one of the BIGGEST Doctor Who fans EVER!!! This song is so creepy. I’m thinks of dressing up from world war II for halloween, have a gas mask and stuff (Doctor Who Season 1(or 2)). I’ll go around saying “Mummy? Are you my Mummy?” And then sing this nursery rhyme as well. ‘Bow ties are cool’!!!!!
Like:
3
so the full song is:
Tick tock goes the clock
And what now shall we play?
Tick tock goes the clock
Now summer’s gone away?
Tick tock goes the clock
And what then shall we see?
Tick tock until the day
That thou shalt marry me
Tick tock goes the clock
And all the years they fly
Tick tock and all too soon
You and I must die
Tick tock goes the clock
We laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Doctor
Doctor,
Brave and good
He turned away
From violence
And he
Understood
The falling of
The silence
Tick tock goes the clock
He cradled and he rocked her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Doctor
tick tock goes the clock
‘til river kills the doctor
Tick tock goes the clock
He gave all he could give
Tick tock goes the clock
Now prison waits for river
Tick tock goes the clock
And all the years they fly
Tick tock goes the clock
And all to soon your love shal surely die
Like:
1
The 11th Doctor is so cute! I love Rivtor. Yes I am a pairer. You know River Doctor. Doctor Who is awesome!!!!!!
Like:
1
Doctor Who is awesome! In series 7 Matt Smith is still playing the Doctor.
Spoilers!
Like:
1
He also plays in the eighth season. Not a spoiler if you’re up to date.
Like:
0
aaaactually….
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/06/01/matt-smith-leaving-doctor-who/
Like:
0
Can someone explain what/who ‘we laughed at fate and mourned her’ is talking about? I’m trying to make a gifset and I’m having trouble deciphering this line. -_____-
Like:
1
It’s talking about River (I think) and the Doctor being able to travel in time and alter fate.
Like:
0
In Silence In the Library/ Forest of The Dead with ten, when River legitly dies is what that’s referring to. The reason “We” laugh at her fate is because of the irony of their opposite timestreams, and yet, even though we don’t know her yet, we mourn her passing.
Like:
1
That episode was really weird… wouldn’t it suck if you were eaten by a shadow?
Like:
0
This song is creepy
Like:
1
Sarah, I assume it’s talking about River. Fate means she does it, and we mourn her because of those actions.
Like:
1
I don’t know if this was mentioned, but look at the lake name. You know, the whole “Silence, Doctor. Silence will fall!” thing. The lake name is Lake Silencio. Just wait for that to sink in. I know it’s completely irrelevant, but just a little fun fact.
Peace,
Amelia
Like:
1
Who likes the new companion Clara? She’s impossible! Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool to die and be resurrected into another time without realizing it. But Clara’s first long-distance travel in the TARDIS was really weird. I didn’t really like the Rings of Akhatan.
Like:
0
My friend, Rosie, said she heard about the directors giving Clara some the traits of the former companions. Clara’s Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, and Amy Pond all wrapped up in one sweet, pretty present. Clara Ozwin Oswald, the impossible girl.
Like:
0
If Amy Pond is the girl who waited and Clara Oswald is the impossible girl, who is Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, and Donna Noble? And also, what happened to Captain Jack Harkness?
Like:
0
Rose is the Bad Wolf. She creates herself.
Martha is the woman who walked the Earth.
Donna Noble is the most important woman in the history of creation.
And Jack….well, watch Torchwood.
Like:
4
Kay thanks! Also, I’m watching Torchwood right now. It’s pretty good.
Like:
0
Just so you’d know, if you are watching Torchwood on Netflix, it doesn’t have Season 4 ‘Miracle Day.’ You learn more about what happens to Jack after you see him in Doctor Who series 4 ‘End of Time Part 2.’
Like:
0
Also jack is face of boa
Like:
0
Why is Donna Noble the most important girl? I’m sorry, I didn’t watch season 4 because I became a Doctor Who fan just recently, so I’m currently trying to watch the newer ones, but also get in some older ones too.
Like:
0
The DoctorDonna. That’s all I’m going to say.
Like:
0
Has anyone thought at any time that Richard Hammond from Top Gear would make a great doctor who? I just wanted to throw that into the mix.
Like:
0
This proabably has nothing to do with any thing but the Doctors human name is John Smith and hes played by Matt Smith. I think if Matt has a son he will name him John. Just think of the awesomeniss of being the boy whos dads the Doctor and your own name is the same as the Doctors.
Like:
1
that also would be a bit weird think about it………………I just thought about what if he was the next Dr.?
Like:
0