The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #81350   Message #1751609
Posted By: Azizi
02-Jun-06 - 08:19 AM
Thread Name: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
Subject: RE: I'm Rubber. You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
Among other errors in my last post-the foster mother receives income for being a foster parent.

And since I'm posting this correction, here's an example of
"I Don't Want To Go To Mexico"

Shame, Shame, Shame.
I don't want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
There's a big fat policeman
at door, door, door.
He'll grab you by the collar
and make you pay a dollar.
I don't want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
Shame. *

* on the word "shame" the two children doing the handclap try to be the first one to slap or poke the other child on her {or his} forehead.

[collected by Azizi Powell, 1998-2006; from observations of and interactions with African American girls and boys 6-12 years old, various Pittsburgh, PA neighborhoods & 1999 African American girls 9 and 11 years old, Philadelphia, PA]

"Shimmy Shimmy China" is another example of this hitting or slapping action occurring in a handclap routine.

Shimmy, Shimmy China,
I know karate.
Shimmy Shimmy China,
Oops! I'm so sorry. *
Shimmy Shimmy China
Sittin on a fence
trying to make a dollar
outa 85 cents
She missed
She missed
She missed like this, like this, like this.

* on the word "oops" the children performing this midly competitive handclap routine try to be the first one to poke or slap another child or her or his forehead; the children continue the rhyme as if no violent action had occurred

[collected in 1998 by Azizi Powell; Pittsburgh, PA; from Shep, 8 year old African American boy; and his sisters- 9 year old Shayla and 12 year old Shan]

Btw, on the last line the boy said "he missed". And as explantion for that last line-on the words "like this, like this, like this" the children execute a foot crossing jump. If on the last phrase, the left foot is crossed in front of the right foot instead of the other way, that person is out.