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Subject: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 10 Oct 02 - 04:12 PM I first heard this rhyme over twenty years ago from some very young Canadian friends of mine. But over time I've lost it and can't bring it back. I've not seen it in children's books, although there were a few references to it on Google, but no lyrics. I would be curious to know if it is ever sung or just chanted. Can someone provide me with this little piece of my missing memory? Thanks very much. T.O.M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: Ballyholme Date: 10 Oct 02 - 04:53 PM Could it have been "Sean, Sean the Leprechaun"? I recall a Belfast singer/songwriter by the name of Donough McManus writing a song with that title in the late 60s/early 70s. I think the Irish Rovers may have recorded it at the time. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:23 AM Thanks, Ballyholme. Anyone know about this? As I recall the chant, it only had about two verses or so. Something about "britches on", etc. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: Jim Dixon Date: 14 Oct 02 - 10:09 AM Rosemary Clooney recorded a song called "Shaun, Shaun, the Leprechaun" (sic) in 1954. (I suppose Americans in those days didn't know how to spell "Sean".) It is included on her 7-CD compilation set "Memories of You", Bear Family CD 15914, 1998. I transcribed this from a sound sample:
And all the children look for him, toora-loora-lee. So look for Sean the leprechaun and do just what you're told, And, toora-loora-loora, he'll give you a pot of gold. He can make it rain by just blowing a note upon his silver horn. The sun won't shine till you fill up his hat with a ... A 1972 LP titled "Golden Hour Of Children's TV Themes" contains a song called "Shaun the Leprechaun". This little rhyme (with various spellings) was found on several pages of children's rhymes:
Sean, Sean, the leprechaun Danced through the forest with a green suit on. You can chase him all day long. Come too close, and poof! he's gone. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 14 Oct 02 - 02:59 PM Thanks, Jim. The little rhyme comes close to what I remember rather than the song. I appreciate it. Anyone else out there know this rhyme, or any more verses? T.O.M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: Jim Dixon Date: 17 Oct 02 - 09:33 AM While checking out all the variant spellings of Sean, I forgot about John! Sharon, Lois, and Bram, who specialize in children's songs, have something called "John, John the Leprechaun" on their album One Elephant Went Out to Play. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 18 Oct 02 - 09:01 AM Thanks, Jim. I had come across that reference on my Google search, but once again, no way to access lyrics. It is strange how these things lodge in one's mind. I hadn't thought about this little rhyme for decades until I heard that one of those "children" was getting married and then I had this memory but it was only an echo. I appreciate your efforts. This rhyme is behaving just like a leprechaun! I can't catch it. T.O.M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 07 Mar 04 - 12:25 PM From a recent Google search: Sean Sean the leprechaun, Went to school with nothing on, Teacher said, I don't care, Give me back my underwear. From what I could tell from reading the context, this version comes from the Toronto area, which happens to be where I also heard something similar many years ago. I was reminded of this again when I was looking at the thread on children's street rhymes. Anybody have any other versions? T.O.M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST,blob Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:50 AM john, john, the leprachaun went to school with nothing on, the teacher said that thats not fair and to give him back his underwear ......also...... john,john, the leprachaun went to school with nothing on the teacher told him what to wear put on polkadotted underwear |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:42 AM Thanks, Guest, blob, (!) I should have gotten back to my own request here. A couple of years ago, I had occasion to ask my original source about this and she told me how the verse went, which is what you have given us. From Toronto: John, John the Leprechaun Went to school with nothing on. Teacher said, "That's not fair Give him back his underwear!" John, John, the Leprechaun Went to school with nothing on. Asked the teacher what to wear. "Polka dotted underwear!" |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: John Minear Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:45 AM That last "Guest" was me - John Minear. For some reason I wasn't logged in properly. I would welcome any additional verses to this rhyme. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SEAN THE LEPRECHAUN (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Wilfy MacManus Date: 01 Oct 09 - 05:36 PM SEAN THE LEPRECHAUN By D. MacManus 1. At the bottom of my garden, among the autumn leaves, Is the home of Sean O Rafferty and his little band of thieves. Every night about twelve o'clock, he leaves his tiny house In a carriage made of gold and sage, drawn by a mouse. CHORUS: And Sean, Sean, the leprechaun, Roams about before the dawn, For when the moon is bright and full, He dances on the fairy hill. 2. Down in the misty glen, the little men are seen, Dancing round a fire red, in their suits of green, And as the stars shine in the sky, they all dance in a ring. As magic music fills the air, they all begin to sing. CHORUS 3. But suddenly the music stops, an owl hoots in the trees, On and on through country lanes, they travel like the breeze, Until they come into a town, where everyone's asleep, To steal from men their hoarded gold, and make the misers weep! CHORUS 4. Before the sun comes up to see what's happened in the night, The leprechauns are home again, hidden far from sight, But if you listen hard enough, I'm sure you'll hear the sound Of little folk and fairies, playing underground. CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST,Ballyholme Date: 01 Oct 09 - 07:32 PM Wilfy? Any relation to the composer? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:57 PM Dawn Dawn the leprechaun Went to school with nothin' on Teacher told her what to wear Polka dotted underwear I have 2 friends named Dawn Dawn the Leprechaun. It's fun to tease them. Kuz they blush every time! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 24 Jan 10 - 08:17 PM Another version ive heard from my dad whos name is sean. Sean, Sean the leprechaun Went to school with nothing on Told the teacher "that's not fair! Give me back my underwear." Apparently this was part of a recorded song, but he hasen't been able to find it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 30 Jan 10 - 12:28 PM john john the leprechaun went to school with nothing on teacher teacher that not fair ill pull down my underware |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 30 Jan 10 - 05:33 PM sean sean the leprechaun went to school with somethin on teacher teacher thats not fair ill pull down his underware |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John, John, the Leprechaun From: GUEST Date: 27 Nov 10 - 04:10 AM Jon Jon leprechaun Went to school with nothing on told the teacher what to wear polka doted underwear |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,ela430 Date: 10 Feb 11 - 06:06 PM john,john the leprachaun went to school with no pants on,teacher teacher that's not fair give me back my underwear! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST Date: 03 Jun 11 - 04:00 PM Circa 1978 my first day of kindergarten class - "Sean Sean Leprechaun went to school with nothing on. Asked the teacher what to wear, Polka dotted underwear! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST Date: 28 Jul 11 - 04:51 PM "In Living Color" did a version that had Sean ending up in the orad run over by a car, or something like that. Part of the running gag about the Irish singer hired for happy events but always singing depressing songs. I'd like to find those lyrics. :-) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST Date: 10 Jan 12 - 05:02 PM I always remembered it as John the Leprechaun on In Living Color: John, John, the Leprechaun He looked for his gold, but it was gone He looked up high, and he looked down low He looked in the street and... OH NO! He got hit by a truck and he was lying on his side A fat man molested him and he died, That's IT! I don't know if those are the real lyrics or just how I remember it but I do remember the last line word for word. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Jennifer Date: 23 Apr 13 - 05:17 PM I just looked this up, because when I was in Kindergarten in Montreal, I made up this song to tease a little boy I liked. I was 5 years old. It went: Sean, Sean the leprechaun, Went to school with nothing on, He cried: Teacher! Teacher! That's no fair! Give me back my underwear! Now that I am 30, I was wondering if I had heard this song somewhere, or if, indeed, I did make up this rhyme as I thought I did? If anyone knows where this rhyme came from please contact me, you can fine me on facebook: Jennifer Uriel. Thanks! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,MississaugaSean Date: 02 Sep 16 - 02:22 AM A girl named Jessica Hogan in my elementary school back in the early 1990's Mississauga(suburb of Toronto) defaulted to this to try torturing me way back. 33 year old now, and it randomly came to mind this week. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Mark Date: 01 Nov 19 - 09:02 PM Sean, Sean, the Leprechaun He looked for his gold, but it was gone He looked high, and he looked low He looked around the freeway, and... OH NO! He got hit by a bus, And knocked right out Of his cute little buckled shoes And he was paralyzed from the neck down And moved to a home for vegetables On the outskirts of town And one night that crazy-assed janitor Molested him in his sleep and he died and that's it! https://youtu.be/UrslPfJPJs8?list=RDwhQ62Ggudlk&t=459 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Teena Date: 08 Dec 19 - 05:31 PM John John the leprechaun went to school with nothin' on Teacher said "That's not fair, give him back his underwear " |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,keberoxu Date: 08 Dec 19 - 08:32 PM When I saw the thread title, I was startled: it made me think of Declan MacManus, and is that not the real name of Elvis Costello? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Damon Date: 27 Mar 20 - 05:00 PM Isn't that used as a disparaging remark to ridicule a boy named John? It is. And no one here is saying that. This is a good way to ruin any boys childhood who is named John. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHAUN, SHAUN, THE LEPRECHAUN From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Mar 20 - 01:19 PM You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive: SHAUN, SHAUN, THE LEPRECHAUN Words and music by Kay Twomey, Fred Wise, & Ben Weisman, ©1954. As recorded by Rosemary Clooney with The Quartones and orchestra directed by Sid Feller, Columbia (J-213), 1954. 1. There's a tiny man in a little green coat who came from Ireland. He crossed the sea in a little green boat with a shamrock in his hand. CHORUS: Oh, Shaun, Shaun, the leprechaun lives in a big old tree, And all the children look for him, toora-loora-lee! Go look for Shaun the leprechaun and do just what you're told, And, toora-loora-loora! He'll give you a pot of gold. 2. He has ears so big that they're tied in a knot or else he'd trip and fall. He goes to sleep in a hickory knot so you can't see him at all. CHORUS 3. He can make it rain by just blowing a note upon his silver horn. The sun will shine if you fill up his hat with a dozen grains of corn. CHORUS 4. If he comes your way, tell him: "How do you do?" and show him how you feel, 'Cause he'll be gone in a wink of an eye if you don't believe he's real. CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: GUEST,Sean Daniel Date: 05 May 20 - 06:33 AM I found it interesting to read MississaugaSean's account as my name is Sean also and I grew up in Mississauga (suburb of Toronto) and I heard this same rhyme bandied about (though not directly at me,from memory). I am now 47 years old, so i heard this back in he 1970s. How strange that there is a folk memory of this verse in the Mississauga area from the 70s/80s. When i first googled 'Sean, Sean, the leprechaun, went to school with nothing on'I assumed it would reveal an internationally recognised rhyme. But maybe it was just invented by someone in Mississauga or Toronto. and it never really spread much further. I now live in Australia, however! Cheers, Sean |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sean the Leprechaun (D. MacManus) From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Feb 21 - 11:16 PM An interesting but corny dance to this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2FxFuHJ2Vg And here's a kids' version that I really like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drtz1pHl-sI I am of the impression that transcriptions from Jim Dixon are infallible, so I refer you to the post above for the lyrics. |
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