Children's Street Songs

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Debbie
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 12:25 AM

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 01:22 AM

Three of my favorites:

I should worry, I should care
I should marry a millionaire.
He should die, I should cry
I should marry another guy

(jumping rope)

and
I should worry
I should fret
I should marry
A suffragette.


or

Marguerite, go wash your feet
The boards of Health
Is across the street.


The joys of a Brooklyn upbringing!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: LNL
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 01:25 AM

When I was growing up, we all jump-roped to "Down by the river, where the green grass grows." My grandma taught me "1-2-3 O'Leary," so I always bounced a ball with that.

I was a counselor at a camp about three years ago, and the campers (good-natured high school students) played a surprising amount of games during break time. Not surprisingly, they weren't all innocent little rhymes. For example, Little Sally Walker has been reincarnated! She's now a circle game, with the chant:

"Little Sally Walker,/walking down the street.
She didn't know what to do, so/she jumped in front of me and said:
'Hey, girl, shake that thing,/shake that thing like it ain't no thing.
Come on, girl, shake that thing,/shake that thing like it ain't no thing."

And another favorite circle game:

"Here we go, ridin' that pony, riding around on that big fat pony.
Here we go, ridin' that pony, this is how we do it:
Front to front to front, oh, baby
Back to back to back, oh, baby
Side to side to side, oh, baby
This is how we do it"

Of course, both games were stopped more than once when campers became too...involved!

We also did the fairly innocuous "Wisconsin Milk" song, and a ton of other call-and-responses that don't quite qualify as street games.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,truelinor
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 02:35 PM

I have sung this song as long as I can remember and I ask about it on another board (IMDb) and some one gave me this site. The rest of the second verse, as I remembeer it goes:

I'm sorry playmate,
I cannot play with you,
My dolly's got the flu,
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo,
Ain't got no rain barrel,
Ain't got no cellar door,
But we'll be jolly friends,
Forevermore.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:08 PM

The Salvation army free from sin
Went to heaven in a cornbeef tin
The cornbeef tin began to smell
And the Salvation Army went to...
Helensburgh Castle stands upon a rock
If you want to pass it, you've got to show your....
Cocktail Ginger Ale, half a pint of water, stick it up your....
Ask no questions tell no lies
Shut your mouth and you'll catch no flies.
                  --------------
Mary Queen of Scots got her head chopped of
Head chopped off.
Head chopped off.
                  --------------

Queen Mary, Queen Mary
Ma age is sixteen
Ma faither's a fairmer on yonder green
He's plenty o' money tae dress me up braw
But there's nae bonny laddie will tak me awa.
                  ---------------

My Maw's a millionaire
Blue eyes and curly hair
Down amomng the Eskimos
Teaching them how to blow their nose
My maw's a millionaire
                  ---------------
These are all songs and fragments from kids rhymes, skipping and otherwise from my childhood.

John

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:39 PM

LNL, please tell us about "Wisconsin Milk." I grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and these things are very important to me.
-Joe Offer, now in California-

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:42 PM

Guest truelinor, the song you're looking for is in the DT. Just put Playmate in the box at the top and you'll find it. It used to be played on the radio a lot in the 50s, especially children's request sessions.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: LNL
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 02:57 PM

Sure thing. It's a call-and-response song. Here's the version we did. First, ya find a partner.

Leader: Give me a long M!
Everyone: Mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Leader: Give me a short M!
Everyone: M! (clap on beats for next two lines)
Don't gimme no pop, no pop
Don't gimme no tea, no tea;
Just gimme that milk - moo moo moo moo (Your partner extends his/her thumbs to resemble udders, 'milk' them while you sing the moo's)
Wisconsin milk - moo moo moo moo (Partner 'milks' your thumbs on moo's)

I did a search for other versions; one version is on this site:

http://www.irho.org/hcc.php


If you go to GLACURH cheers, there's a collection of songs that look like they're used during college freshmen orientation. We used most of these songs at the camp, as well.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: LNL
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 02:59 PM

Forgot to add - the rest of the song goes through M-I-L-K, with a sometimes-added verse "Give me a long milk!" "Chocolate!" "Give me a short milk!" "Skim!"

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Flash Company
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:26 AM

There was a record from Topic in the days of vinyl called 'The Singing Streets' featuring street songs of Manchester & dublin sung by Ewan McColl & Dominic Behan. It may be about on CD somewhere, I have never looked for it.
My Old Man , who was raised in the Ancoats area of Manchester vouched for much of the Manchester content when he heard it, things like:-
In Miller Street, in Miller Street,
Thy never wash their dirty feet,
They're growing spuds & sugar beet
Inside their mucky earholes!

FC

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,ginger
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 05:30 PM

When I was growing up the jump rope song to Teddybear lullabye went like this:
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around,
teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground,
teddy bear , teddy bear go upstairs ,
teddy bear , teddy bear say your prayers,
teddy bear teddy bear turn out the light,
teddy bear , say good night.

We also did actions while jumping, ie: turned around in a circle,
touched the ground, picked up high knees to go up stairs,
folded hands to say prayers, flicked a finger to turn out the light,then jumped out of the rope to the side to say goodnight, this ended your turn. That sure was alot of fun! I came to this site to learn others to teach my daughter.Thanks alot everyone!

ginger

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Lighter
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 05:39 PM

My grandmother grew up in the 1890s, though not in Brooklyn. Her version of the "Board of Health" rhyme was

Punky feet, punky feet,
The Board of Health is across the street.

The tune was essentially Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" (the Alfred Hitchcock theme).

Believe it or not.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Celeste
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:55 AM

Murray,

I grew up in South Philadelphia in the 50s and early 60s. I was one of those girls singing rhymes while jumping rope. So it was going on up until '64 at least.

And Alan, You asked if anyone remembers the song starting "Standing on the corner, not doing any harm along came a copper and grabbed me by the arm ...."

I know that as the Wiffer Woffer song. I went into my daughter's school when she was in third grade and taught it to the class.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 01:47 PM

Mentioned before, I think, but an interesting little book is "Songs and Sayings of an Ulster Childhood," 1983, Alice Kane, ed. Edith Fowke. The copy I have was printed in Canada by McC and S, but I believe that there is a UK edition. Many street rhymes.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From:
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:24 AM

I am searching for a song, the lyrics are something like this., "oh, pretty or little playmate come out and play, bring your dollies three, slide down my rainbow," some of the lyrics that I recall. If you can be of any help to find this song, it would be greatly appreciated...thank you...Gloria

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From:
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:24 AM

I am searching for a song, the lyrics are something like this., "oh, pretty or little playmate come out and play, bring your dollies three, slide down my rainbow," some of the lyrics that I recall. If you can be of any help to find this song, it would be greatly appreciated...thank you...Gloria

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Shamiere
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 02:25 PM

My husband actually taught my daughter's a song that he remembered as a child in the late 60s/early 70s.

Hey you, over there, with the nappy nappy hair.
My back is achin' my pants too tight, my bootie shakin' from the left to right
M' Gowa, Black Power, yo' mama needs a shower.
Destroy, little boys, soul sister number nine, sock it to me one more time.
Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 02:50 PM

Beanz49, the song is "Playmate," it is in the DT under that title. Enter playmate into the Search blank.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 03:38 AM

As a Primary School ( 4 to 11 years ) teacher, I was fascinated by the clapping songs done by the older girls ( 9 to 11 ) in the school yard, and about 7 years ago I videod a number of them performing a collection of pieces. At the moment, it seems out of fashion to perform these songs - at least in my school.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Neighmond
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 04:41 AM

I never seem to hear them anymore, but I seldome see younger children outside.

Here's one from my misspent youth:

Sadie sunflower, growing up high
as all little girls and boys must die
Except (say a name) Who is the best girl!
Hang down your head in shame!
Tell us girls your lover's name!

(The named girl then tells a name.)

(Boy's name) is a fine young man!
Came to the church with his ring on his hand!
The bride puts on her wedding dress
and (calls the boy?) she loves the best.

Stop the wedding! I am sick!
Call the doctors quick, quick, quick!
Ask the doctor if I'll die
We all die after awhile.
You'll be sorry when I die
for all the times you made me cry.



There are more parts to it but I am lucky I remembered that much.

Chaz

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jun 04 - 01:51 PM

A good selection of children's rhymes i the book, "Doctor Knickerbocker and Other Rhymes, a Canadian Collection," by David Booth, illus. Maryann Kovalski, 1993, Kids Can Press Ltd.
Three of them-

I'm a little acorn brown.
Lying on the cold, cold ground.
Everybody steps on me,
That's why I'm a nut, you see.

I'm a nut, tuh, tuh,
I'm a nut, tuh, tuh,
I'm a nut in a rut, you see.

I call myself on the phone
Just to see if I'm at home.
I ask myself on a date,
Yje latest time is half-past eight.

I'm a nut, tuh, tuh,
I'm a nut, tuh, tuh,
I'm a nut in a rut, you see.
---
When I eat my Smarties, I eat the blue ones last.
I suck them slowly, I crunch them very fast.
I never eat the chocolate, I always eat the shell.
When I eat my Smarties, I eat them very well.
---
Sweetly sings the donkey
As he goes to the grass,
He who sings so sweetly
Is sure to be an ass.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 09 Jun 04 - 11:05 PM

From south Yorkshire, late 50's Junior school - 7 to 11 year olds.

Wallflowers Wallflowers, growing up so high
We are all pretty maids and we don't want to die
Except for xxx xxx she's the chosen one
Turn your back,xxx (first name only)


This was a circling game - almost a ritual and I can't remember the end of the rhyme ( its beat was ti tum ti tum ti tum) or the finish of the game - as the girls circled clockwise (boys were not allowed)as each name was called the girl turned clockwise so she was facing outwards with her arms crossed - the girl on her left lifted her arm up to facilitate the turn.

The end was dangerous - there were sprained wrists and ankles from playing wallflowers. It might have been spinning around faster and faster until someone fell down - possibly.

There was also 'the big ship sails' - where a line of girls threaded under the arms of those at the end of the line - the last girl put her right hand on a wall or held a post to make the first arch. The leader went through each arch, drawing the rest after her, and the row gradually was twisted from facing left with linked hands to facing right with crossed hands. The line broke up when they were all turned - one of our teachers said that it was a chasing game - that when the line broke the girl with her hand on the wall or post had to chase the others, and when caught they formed a line - the last one caught was the one to put her hand on the wall and be the chaser next time, and the one to lead the line.

Skipping - 'lady in a tight skirt can't do this' - jump up and kick forwards and backwards, 'lady in a tight skirt can't do that' - kick out sideways, 'and this and that' - repeat with jumping until failure.

'All in together girls, never mind the weather girls when I count to thirty you've got to be out five ten fifteen twenty twenty five thirty'everyone had to run out of the rope.
Then you have to be in - everyone had to run back and start to jump again - then 'when I say your birthday you have to be out January etc'

If you stopped the rope - some of which were long and heavy, you had to take over from the longest serving turner and they joined in the skipping.

Anne

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,guest mick
Date: 10 Jun 04 - 12:12 PM

anyone remember this one?
When I was young my life begun
the day I went to sea .
I jumped aboard a pirate's ship
and the captain said to me,
I wanna go this way that way forward and backway
Over the Irish sea
With a bottle of rum to warm me tum
And that's the life for me.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 10 Jun 04 - 03:04 PM

The Lomax series on Rounder, 1951 recordings of Scottish Children' Songs, is just being released. I can't say if it's much good, I made it!!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: jack halyard
Date: 10 Jun 04 - 04:57 PM

My kids at the childcare centres I work at are singing;

one two three,
Mummy caught a flea,
Put it in the teapot to make a cup of tea,
Flea jumped out,
Mummy gave a shout,
In came daddy with his shirt hanging out.

We're off, we're off,
We're off in a motor car,
Fifty coppers are after us,
And they don't know where we are.

Twinkle twinkle Vegemite,
On a sandwich brown or white,
If you drop it on the ground,
It will turn your carpet brown,
Twinkle twinkle Vegemite,
I'm OK and you're alright.
( for Americans, Vegemite is a thick, brown, yeast-based goop children seem to enjoy on bread.)

And finally a set of words composed by Adie, a four year old, that's become a local classic.

Tyrannosaurus Rex is built like a tree,
When I saw him coming, I had to have a wee,
I was so scared I had to flee,
What would he do to me.

Use a downhill bass line like "16 tons" or "Hit the road,Jack" and sing the melody uphill and you have the tune. Key usually Em.

                              Your good health, folks,

                               Jack Halyard

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 08:26 AM

That's a counting song, Mick

When I was one, I had some fun
the day I went to sea .
I jumped aboard a pirate's ship
and the captain said to me,
We're going this way that way forwards and backwards
Over the Irish sea
With a bottle of rum to warm me tum
And that's the life for me.

When I was two, I lost my shoe
the day I went to sea etc

Make up your own rhymes - clean for adults, lavatorial for kids!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 06:07 PM

The local Girl Guides sang a version of the Pirate song but they sang
'We're going north, south, east, west.....'
with foot pointing actions for each direction - north=to the front, south=toe to the ground behind you, east=toe out to the right, west=toe behind your left foot, and then when you get to 'UP the Irish sea' you do a lovely high kick!
Great fun.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Vanessa
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 09:44 PM

I cant belive kids are still singing this:
like
........................
I hate u u hate me (barney)

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: LadyJean
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 12:23 AM

Overheard from two little girls on a bus:
Oh my don't cry mama's having a baby (move arms as though rocking)
Daddy's going crazy(twirl fingers beside head.)
If it's a boy I'll give it a toy.( As though handing a toy.)
If it's a girl I'll give it a curl. (Draw a curl on forehead.)
Wrap it up in toilet paper, send it down the escalator.

From my grade school days:
Whistle while you work.
Cyril is a jerk.
Mussolini bit his weenie
Now it doesn't squirt.
(Mussolini had been dead a good 20 years when I heard this.)

From My mother, whose family came from Cincinnatti, which has a large German population.

Oh the Dutch company is the best company, that ever come over from Old Germany
There's the Amsterdam Dutch, and the Potsdam Dutch, and the Rotterdam Dutch, and the goddam Dutch.
Oh! God save the Irish! God save the Irish! God save the Irish, they're a damn fine race.

Mother also sang the song I learned as Three Jolly Fishermen as Three Wandering Jews. In my version they went to Amsterdam. In mother's version they went to Damascus. The punchline to the song is the same. The song has you singing "Amster- Amster- dam dam dam" or "Dam dam as as cus cus cus", you aren't really saying a four letter word, except you really are.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:44 AM

To the tune of "This Old Man" aka "Barney Song"

I love you,
You love me,
Barney gave me H.I.V.
With a hug and a kiss and a little bit more,
I got A.I.D.S. from a dionsaur.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 03:18 AM

Nineteen miles to Blackberry Cross,
To see a Black Man ride on a white horse.
The rogue was so saucy he wouldn't come down
To show me the road to the nearest town.
I picked up a turnip and cracked his old crown,
And made him cry turnups all over the town

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 08:55 PM

There is a lot of documentation on "Water, Water, Wallflowers 2" in the DT. This game has a long history in the UK and Ireland. Usually it is catalogued under the title "Down She Comes As White As Milk."
In the United States, Newell published this version from New York, in 1883, with music:

Water, water, wild flowers, growing up so high;
We are all young ladies,
And we are sure to die,
Excepting Susie Allen.
She is the finest flower,
Fie, fie, fie for shame;
Turn about and tell your beau's name.
(The girl complying, the ballad proceeds-)

Mister Nobody is a nice young man,
He comes to the door with his hat in his hand.

Down he comes, all dressed in silk,
A rose in her bosom, as white as milk.

She takes off her gloves, she shows me her ring,
Tomorrow, tomorrow, the wedding begins.

Newell, W. W., 1883 (1963, Dover), Games and Songs of American Children, No. 12, pp. 67-68.
Newell commented: "This round is remarkable for being introduced, wherever it occurs, by a stanza with a different melody, whereby the ballad is turned into a game. By this introduction the hero and heroine of the action are selected.
""Little Sally Waters," or "Uncle John," having been first played, the round proceeds about the couple standing in the ring:" At this point, Newell introduces a version of "white as milk" that was played in Massachusetts "before 1800."

See comments and "Water-Flower" version, posted by Azizi, thread 6108:
Wade in the Water

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: celticblues5
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 12:52 AM

My kids did several of those mentioned above, such as Miss Mary Mack and the sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G song. They also adored -

"There's a place in France
Where the naked ladies dance
And the men can see it all
Through a hole in the wall
But the men don't care
'Cause they're in their underwear
And the ladies are wearing
Their B-R-As!"

I think kids are still getting a lot of the traditional songs, thanks in part to groups like Sharon, Lois, & Bram, and thanks in part to elementary teachers - those school song books still have a lot of the oldies.

Some years ago I heard Jean Redpath (maybe on PHC) sing a medley of traditional street songs, starting with "Up Against the Wall, the London Ball," and ending with "I've a Laddie in Americay." In between was a little bit of a song that had to do with a child who was taking her dad some dinner - wonder if anyone knows the complete lyrics - all that I can remember are little bits -

"[name] stole me new topcoat, me new topcoat, me new topcoat, [name] stole me new topcoat, and [name] tore the linin"

and "ah ha ha, ye needna run, ye needna run, ye needna run, ah ha ha, ye needna run, for ye'll get yer licks in the mornin'

and "My mother says that I must go with my father's dinner-o" and something about a "bawbee bake."

Possibly these are two different songs and I'm just merging them in my memory. Can anyone help with the lyrics to this (these)? Also, I was under the impression that a bawbee was a coin - ? Did I hear the word incorrectly in the Redpath song, or are they two different words or the same word with two different meanings?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 10:20 PM

mailman mailman
do your duty
here comes a lady with an
african booty
she can do the pom pom
she can do the twist
most of all she likes to kiss

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 10:54 PM

Ill never forget my 7 year old daughter singing in the street after school.
Oh Ah I lost my bra
I lost my bra
In my boyfriends car..

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 08:44 AM

I heard it as:

Ooh ,aah,
Cantona
I lost my knickers
In my boyfriends car

This would pretty much date it to the period when Eric Cantona was playing for Man U (say 1995-2000?)

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,srich
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 10:22 AM

Several excellent books have been mentioned on this thread. I must include "Step it Down" Bessie Jones. This book is loaded!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 10:33 AM

Say what you will
School dinners make you ill;
Robin Hood was sick on shepherd's pie,
So throw your din din
In the pig bin
Or else you'll die.

(London about 50 years ago).

Quick, quick, the cat's beeen sick.
Where? Where? Under the chair.
Hasten, hasten, fetch a basin.
Too late, too late, it's all in vain
The cat has licked it up again

(current)

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 01:44 PM

Here's another children's rhyme that mentions "bra"
Group                Bang Bang Choo Choo Train.
                Watch Kadisha* do her thang.
Soloist #1        I can't,
Group                Why not?
Soloist #1        I can't.
Group                Why not?
Soloist #1        Because my back is aching.
                My bra's too tight
                And my hips keep movin                                                from the left to the right.
Group                Her back is aching
                Her bra's too tight
                Her hips keep movin from                                        the left to the right

* personalize name
[This is a foot stomping cheer that I collected from African American girls in Pittsburgh, PA area,1999}

Somewhat like Guest's Dec 2, 2004 rhyme, when I was growing up in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1950s we jumped rope to "Postman, Postman do your duty/here comes Debby*, an American beauty/she can wiggle/she can wooble/she can do the split/but I betcha 5 dollars she can't do this.
We would then do actions and chant "lady on one foot, one foot/one foot/turn around/lady on two foot/two foot/two foot/touch the ground etc {it would continue with lady on three foot meaning two feet and one hand on the ground, but I don't remember what the rhyming word was. It ended with lady on four foot {both hands and both feet touching the ground and we would say something like "jump out now", This was said if the person jumping had lasted that long without missing,which I usually didn't.

In the 1980s Pittsburgh, PA my daughter and her friends used the African booty line. "African booty" means "big butt"-and is a compliment. But my daughter and her friends said, "She can wiggle/she can woogle/she can do the flips {or "she can do the splits"}. And they didn't add the "lady on one foot" parts.

I think we had more fun way back then.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: *Laura*
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 05:19 PM

When I was about four I seem to remember us singing:

'Dan, dan the dirty old man,
washed his hair in the frying pan,
combed his hair with the leg of a chair...'

then I'm not sure - maybe it just went 'Dan dan the dirty old man' again.

And also -

Elvis Presely
Girls are sexy/God damn sexy (depending on how 4 we were!)
Sitting in the back seat
Drinking Pepsi!

And possibly one of my first tastes of swearing - that rhyme you do (like eeny meeny miny mo) for deciting who's 'it' in a game of tig - was
'Ip dip dog shit
fuckin bastard,
dirty git" - I doubt we knew what any of the words meant though!

xLx

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 05:36 PM

Hi Laura,
I remember
Dan, Dan, the dirty old man,
Washed his face in a frying pan,
Combed his hair with the leg of a chair
And......
I forget. But there's definitely another line there. Something like Went to bed in his underwear!
Cheers,
Robyn

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: *Laura*
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 05:38 PM

Oh that's it - it's washed his face, not his hair. I thought that sounded a bit funny.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: sue exhull
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 05:43 PM

Hi the version we said was
Dan Dan, dirty old man, washed his face in the frying pan,
combed his hair with a donkeys tail,and scratched his belly with his big toenail   
I think that was it anyway!!!!

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 06:29 PM

The songs about "Dan, Dan" are folk versions of the famous 1840s minstrel song, "Old Dan Tucker":

Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man,
Washed his face in a frying pan.
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel,
Died with a toothache in his heel.

Evidently the original appealed jus as much to kids 150 years ago.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: beetle cat
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 11:36 PM

oh man.
Laura, thats a pretty harsh version of that counting out rhyme.
I knew it as;

'Ip dip dog shit
(I say you're it!)'

but my favorite counting out rhyme of all time was

(person 1) my mother punched your mother, what color was the blood?
(person 2, the person it lands on, states a color. for example, if they say purple, the 6th person in the circle is out cause there are 6 letters in purple)


Animaterra
I loved the miss Susie one, but I remember it as miss Lucy.

and also, the telephone song.. something like;

1:          hey (name)
chorus: someone's callin' your name!
1:          hey (name)
chorus: and I hear it again!
             there's someone on the telephone,
(name): if it isn't (new name) tell 'em I'm not home!

and on and on and on and on. we could do that for hours.

another favorite was the Lamb Chops theme song.
"some people started singing it not knowing what it was...."

but don't think that these fun songs stop as soon as you leave elementary school!!!!
I'm learning tons of new obscene songs at the University!

(B double E double R U N- BEER RUN... etc..)

or..
heres to (name) she/he's too blue
he's a pisspot through and through
he's the devil so they say
tried to go to heaven but he went the other way!!!..

Im wondering if it will ever stop..
extended education is just an excuese for extended immaturity and obscenity.

but not to worry folks, the tradition is alive and well.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 08:54 AM

Here's one I recall

Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.

I also recall a ball bouncing game with this rhyme

one two three oleary,
Charlie is my sisiters dearie...
bounce up, bounce down,
off the wall and spin around.
One two three oleary,
Charlie is my sisters dearie.


There was also one that began

Keep the kettle boiling,
don't be late..

but I cannot remember the rest..it was a skipping rhyme.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 10:01 AM

OK, someone has to post it:

Pus and matter custard,
Green snot pie,
All mixed up with a dead dog's eye,
Slap it on a butty
Nice and thick
And wash it all down
With a cup of cold sick.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 11:04 AM

We still sing Welia Welia Walia at Irish gigs - Usually get good audience response too ! Children always did have a strange sense of humour !

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: GUEST,joe_f
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 09:09 PM

celticblues:

When I was little, in California, 1940s, the first dirty song that every little boy learned was



There's a place in France

Where the women wear no pants

And the men go round

With their wienies hanging down.



I gather that it was pretty universal in the U.S. Once I was at a circus, and at the end of one of the acts all the elephants defecated in unison. Meanwhikle, the band played the tune of the above song, and I immediately understood that that was appropriate for the dirty part.

Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
From: Cruiser
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 05:36 PM

This is a song my girlfriend used to play on her piano and sing when we were in grade school, often just before we walked to school together (way back in the 50s).

Doctor, doctor, can you tell
What will make poor Ronnie well?
He is sick and going to die
That will make poor Nancy cry.

Nancy, Nancy, don't you cry.
He'll get better by and by,
A bottle of ink to make him stink
A bottle of wine to make him shine


Does anybody know the melody of this ditty and what song it was derived from, if any?

Cruiser