Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 15 Jul 24 - 05:14 PM In 'Brigg Fair - A memoir of Joseph Taylor' (edited by Peter Collinson), E Marion Hudson recalls a walk with her great grand-father, the singer Joseph Taylor, in Saxby-All-Saints, Lincolnshire. When we got nearly to the end of the street, we climbed a tiny track and through a small gate into a field where, at the top, was a large flock of sheep with the shepherd. Obviously he was expecting us as he was leaning on his crook waiting to count his sheep. Grandpa, with his usual courtesy, introduced us. Then the mystery was solved! The shepherd hooked his crook over his left arm holding his stick in the same hand and a knife in the other, began to count: “Yan, tan, tethera, pethera, pamp, “Sethera, lethera, hoverer, covera, dix” (being ten) “Yan-a-dix, tan-a-dix and so on up to “Bumfit” which is fifteen then “Yan-a-sethera” and so on until he came to twenty which is “Figgit”. At this point he made a notch on his stick. He repeated the programme until all the sheep were counted then adding the Figgits and extra numbers found the total. It was an unforgettable experience. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Campjo Date: 12 Jul 24 - 05:02 PM The version I recall (Norton on Tees) Went Eeny meeny makkerakka Aero dominakka Allabakka chuckalakka Rom Pom push |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 03 Jun 24 - 05:03 AM That's the version I know, well done, never thought I'd see it written |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 16 Mar 24 - 06:05 PM Round about the mid-fifties when I was 11, in Greenwich/Charlton, SE London, we used to sing: Eenie meenie mackaracka Dare or die dominacka Chikka bakka lollipop Oom boom push (which got changed to shove occasionally) |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Bugsy Date: 14 Feb 23 - 02:28 AM Being a catholic myself, I Never used this rhyme in earshot of my parents. No expletives passed my lips until I was well out of earshot in the woods! Cheers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Steve Shaw Date: 13 Feb 23 - 08:42 AM Eve? :-) We were good Catholic kids and the staff room window was wide open. The word "shit" was never uttered! <> halo emoticon > |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Bugsy Date: 12 Feb 23 - 09:22 PM eve Shaw, "Ip dip dip My blue ship Sails on the water Like a cup and saucer Ip dip dip You are IT!" Brought back memories of when I was a little nipper in Stevenage New town. Most of the kids from our street were from the East End. The rhyme they used was "Ip, Dip, Dog, Shit, You, Are, Not, It!" Ah... the memories. Cheers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Bugsy Date: 09 Feb 23 - 11:13 PM This is what I remember from early childhood. I went into a China shop to buy a loaf of bread he put me in a pillowcase and this is what he said, "Eanie meanie macker racker rare eye dominacka chicka racka lollipoppa om pom push!" The rhyme was used when playing "Spuds" to decide who went first/last, in whichever game we were about to play. CHeers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Joe_F Date: 28 Jan 23 - 09:02 PM When I was in grade school (southern California, 1940s) we had Eeny meeny miney mo, Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, make him pay Fifty dollars every day. My mother told me to choose this very best ONE. We knew that the original had "nigger" but that that was a bad word. I imagine we got that information from the grownups. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 28 Jan 23 - 07:21 AM This sticks in my head from childhood isaka dominaka chickeraka lollipoppa rom pom push Does anyone else remember it and have any idea of its origins? Miltz |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Steve Shaw Date: 16 Jan 23 - 05:25 AM Ip dip dip My blue ship Sails on the water Like a cup and saucer Ip dip dip You are IT! (Or "not it," or other extensions of that last line...) Used in the playground, usually by the Alpha Boy, when picking a team. He points to a different kid on every syllable. He could nefariously alter that last line if he could foresee that "it" would be an undesirable member of his team! Alternate "captains" would use the rhyme repeatedly until everyone had been picked. Naturally, if you were like me, i.e., the three-legged carthorse of football, you would, humiliatingly, be the last one picked... From Radcliffe, Lancashire, in the 1950s. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 16 Jan 23 - 04:38 AM Eeny meany macka racka rare rye dumbaracka chickapopa lollipopa rum tum tush. Sang this as a child round about 1960. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Ronald.thorne Date: 11 Sep 20 - 05:37 AM I first learned this at lilac Gardens, Rush Green, Romford, in 1945 just after the end of the war. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 20 Oct 19 - 02:29 PM My Grandfather used to say this. Ar ai shackeri, shackerackeroni, Oni pony, om pom piney, Allawallawaxy, Chinese Chink. The first half I've seen other people write here sounds familiar, but I don't remember him saying it. He was born in 1918 and grew up in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,cath Date: 14 Jun 19 - 11:16 AM we had. eeny meeny miceracca rare ry dominacca eenie meenie miceracca rom pom pusha this is how I learnt it as a child. while eating with a spoon and pusher. the pusher was a shaped utensil for pushing food onto the spoon. this goes back to my grandma when she was young. she was born in 1920 |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 08 Nov 18 - 11:23 AM Wow I thought I would never find this written down! My mother used to Sing/say it to me over 50 years ago. I thought she had made it up herself lol! Where does it come from and what does it mean? Susan |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Mark Date: 31 Aug 18 - 07:09 AM Hi, I was at primary school in South Wales and learned it like this: Eeny meeny mackeracca, dare dai dominacca, chickeracca pom pom, push out you are not it. It looks like there are a huge number of variations to this. We always used it just as a way of choosing teams or who was It. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Margie Date: 21 Feb 18 - 02:15 AM I learned this version at school in East London, South Africa in the 1950s/1960s. It was only recited and wasn't written down so I'm unsure of the spelling: Eena meena macca racca Ree rye dominacca Chicka racca aller pacca Om pom push |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 10 Sep 17 - 07:34 PM Eenie Meenie Makka-Rakka; Dare, die, dominakka; Chikka-rakka, om bom BUSH! Wales, Pontypridd, 1982, from father who said he learned it in his childhood, same area, 10-20 years before. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: FreddyHeadey Date: 12 May 17 - 05:56 PM When people add the variant they've learned it would lovely if they could mention the rough date they knew it & the district |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,CH Date: 10 Mar 17 - 09:55 PM Learned this from my Dad as a child (late 1960's) no idea of spellings or meaning. His grandchildren have learned it too, I didn't realise that so many people knew a similar rhyme until now :) Eeny meeny mackeracka Rare row domanaker chika pocker ollie pocker om pom push Arr Arr chickara Rooney Pooney Ping pong parney Walla walla waxy Chinese chick |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: keberoxu Date: 03 Mar 16 - 03:11 PM This was lacking in my childhood, I feel deprived. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Pebutsu Date: 03 Mar 16 - 02:30 PM Jake Thakray the late folk singer remembered it as a shepherd's sheep-counting rhyme: Yan, Chan, Tether, Mether, Pip Aysar, Saysar, Acker, Conder, Dick, Yanadick, Chanadick, Tetheradick, Metheradick, Bumfit Yanabum, Chanabum, Tetherabum, Metherabum, Jiggit. The shepherd would then drop a pebble in a tin and start over. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 24 Feb 16 - 08:25 PM My Nottingham Mum's version, which she would say (in the 1930's) --with hand clapping, I believe-- was Eeny meeny mackeracka rare aye donnapacker chickapacker allapacker om pom PUSH! |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 15 - 03:56 PM Eeny meny micaraca Rare rie domeraca Chi caraca rom Pom push a Are are pony Allaballa webster Eapadore eapadore chinese chuck chuck Out goes you with a one two and a three My aunt taught me this when I was a child and my grandchildren now say it |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 05 May 14 - 05:46 PM Ar ai sugar ai Icker acker ony, ony pony om Pom piney Alla walla whiskey Chinese chin |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Rumncoke Date: 03 Sep 13 - 04:34 AM The English version is 'catch a tinker by his toe'. There are versions in the Oxford book of nursery rhymes. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,joan borland Date: 02 Sep 13 - 09:53 AM i can sing this ded fast... |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,ageing folky Date: 31 May 13 - 07:44 PM I remember it as eene meene mackaracka Rare rye dominacka Chicka packa lollypoppa Om pom poosh I might not have spelt it correctly but that's how I remember it from some 55-60 years ago |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Paddy Cake Date: 31 May 13 - 03:58 AM Here's an item of interest: Cocteau Twins recorded a song called "Donimo" on their 1984 album, Treasure. In the chorus of the song, Elizabeth Fraser distinctly sings "Eena meena eye rye mackaracka. Eeena meena eye rye dominacka." Check it out on YouTube. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Steve Shaw Date: 03 Feb 13 - 08:36 PM Interesting how the versions vary, though you could surmise that much of it is just nuance/imperfect memory/hard-to-write-down words. But there is a definite dichotomy between those with "lollipop" or similar and those without. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Dominacka Date: 03 Feb 13 - 08:18 PM Eeny meeny mackaracka Rare rye dominacka Chickalacka lollipoppa Om Pom push From my nan born in 1920s west London |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Chippy (interesting prignosser) Date: 13 Dec 12 - 09:08 AM Ive heard of these ones... [1] ip skip sky blue definitely not you [2] eenie meenie makaraka rare rai dominaka chikapaka lolipaka rom pom push [3] eeni meenie miney mo catch a granny by the fanny if she moves pull her boobs eenie meenie miney mo |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: blinddrunkal Date: 09 Jul 12 - 08:10 AM my mother's version - which she claimed was in the Irish language (and mothers never lie) was eena meena mackarake rare rye dominaka iney finey pim pom piney carra carra waska. The Indian version I've heard was by Asha Bhosle, titled "ina mika dika" and is on a record (or cd perhaps) called "Bollywood an anthology of songs from Popular Indian Cinema" on Silva Screen Reords. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 08 Jul 12 - 02:21 PM eena meena mackaracka rare rah dominacka chickabocka lollipopper om pom push |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Alan T Date: 13 Mar 12 - 09:11 PM My great uncle Albert who lived from 1902-1979 used to tell me Eeni meeni mackeraca er rye dominacka chicka packa lullapacka rum pum push followed by a 2nd verse that started Er rye chicka rye chickie rickie .... Sorry but I cannot remember the rest but it held me mesmerised as a young boy. Anyone else know the 2nd verse? (spelling is as it sounded to me and may not be correct) |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: Azizi Date: 25 Nov 11 - 10:51 AM GUEST,tomkin Date: 05 Jul 11 - 01:40 PM I've just read your post which included the url for the Indian fun parody of that English children's counting rhyme and jazz musicians. Thanks for sharing that interesting find! |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Kelly Maxwell Date: 24 Nov 11 - 01:42 PM i got another one my sister sung it: my boyfriend gave me an apple my boyfriend gave me a pear my boyfriend gave my a kiss on the lips and threw me down the stairs. i gave him back his apple i gave him back his pear i gave him back his kiss on the lips and threw him down the stairs. the next day we went to the sweet shop to buy some bubble gum and when he wasn't looking i stuck it up his bum. then we went to the movies to watch a horror film and when i wasn't looking he kissed another girl. i threw him over london i threw him over france i threw him over belgium bridge and ripped his underpants. (pants is pronounced Parnts to go with france |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Kelly Maxwell Date: 24 Nov 11 - 01:30 PM i know one i used to say it when I was 10 it goes: Eenee Meenee Mackaracka Dare Die Dominicka Chickalakka Lolipoppa Oom Poom Push Split |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Ben Date: 25 Oct 11 - 04:42 PM Dot eena mena maka raka rare roe domino, all a pack o' doodle lack a rum tum toot. Ugila bugila boo. I die chucka die, chucka die chooney, oony poony umm pum piney. Alla balla west to the chinese chink! Thats how i've always known it |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 05 Jul 11 - 10:08 PM The poster, of course, is gargoyle.... MR. TomKin
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Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,tomkin Date: 05 Jul 11 - 01:40 PM Indian version of the rhyme from a 1957 film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BRuNAcl83A |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Alan (originally from Kent) Date: 27 Jun 11 - 03:32 PM I got the rhyme from my mother or at least my interpretation of what she was saying, it went, eeny meeny macca racca rare ol domino acca pacca touriacca rom tom tush. it seems of all the variations the first line stays pretty near the same. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: CheshireCat Date: 31 May 11 - 09:19 AM Those of a certain age may remember a series called "The Comedians" which was broadcast on UK TV from the late 60s and into the 70s. It featured a collection of old-fashioned stand-up comics and launched a number of them into long and successful careers. The comedians included Mike Reid, Les Dawson, Frank Carson and others. In the popular northern club-circuit style of the time, the humour was not something many people would applaud these days - racial jokes were popular, and were even told with glee by Charlie Williams, the only black comedian on the show and a rarity in the profession at the time. Frank Carson, a northern Irishman, told Irish jokes. Bernard Manning was abusive towards everyone, which made him very popular at the time. Anyway, the point of all this is that one of the Comedians - I think it was Frank Carson, but I'm open to correction - released a single based on that rhyme around 1970, which received some airplay on BBC Radio 1 - then the coolest station to listen to, despite employing Tony Blackburn. The lyrics went: Eenie meenie mackeraka, om pom packeraka Eenie meenie mackeraka, om pom push (x2) Ip dip, chibberdy dip, you clap your hands and begin to skip Ip dip, chibberdy dip, you can't wait around all day. ... and that was pretty much it. The "ip dip" bit suggests the lyrics (so to speak) were written around childish methods of deciding who was "it". I can't find any reference to the song (so to speak) but I know that I could never imagine anything quite like it, so it must be real. Anyone else remember this odd cultural item? |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,olivia kwiatkowska Date: 31 May 11 - 08:42 AM i have one... eeny meeny macka racka, rea ro dominacka, chicker bopper, lolliepopper popo rum pum push |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 09 Apr 11 - 06:15 PM When my Grandmother got upset because we were about to do something that might hurt us she would blurt out "eeka meeka meeka makka mukka" although I am not sure because I sometimes remember it as smucka mu bucca ma boo. When she was not upset she could not remember it and said she did not know what it meant. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 25 Mar 11 - 07:14 PM The version taught to me in Ireland in the 1970's was: Eeny Meany Macka Raka, Ray Row Domino, Acka Packa Juli-acka, Tim Tom Tush! It's interesting to see how it's a variant of the older one's above. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Hannah and Benedicte Date: 22 Mar 11 - 05:52 AM ennie meanie maca raca rare ro dominaca chicka boca lollipoppa om pom pear push |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST Date: 02 Mar 11 - 09:16 AM I grew up learning "Inna minna mink monk ooja tuskins uzza buzza mekka tisha ah vi vex." Apparently my grandmother was taught it by a german nanny that would have been the turn of the century. |
Subject: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes) From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 04 Feb 11 - 11:55 AM My mum who was from Cork recited much the same thing, but she assured me with a perfectly straight face that it was Chinese! |
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