Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Sinkin' o' the Cheerio
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 03:00 PM

A friend of mine says she once heard a funny mock-nautical ballad, possibly a parody, called THE SINKIN' O' THE CHEERIO.

It was actually about a method of toilet-training little boys, by dropping a few Cheerios in the toilet, and encouraging the boy to use them as targets.

In case anyone who reads this comes from a part of the world where Cheerios don't exist, click here.

Or if you are skeptical, as I was, that anyone really uses this method, click here or here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sinkin' o' the Cheerio
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:30 PM

Jim-

Would this ditty be to the tune of the "Sinking of the Titanic"?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: SINK THE CHEERIO (Pete Sutherland)
From: Shawn McBurnie
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 01:09 PM

SINK THE CHEERIO
Pete Sutherland

Oh me name is Aidan Murphy and I'm but three years of age
I'll tell you folks I'm passin' through me toilet training stage
Me dad says, Dear, whene'er ye hear the call from down below
Set sail for the nearest bathroom and sink the cheerio

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
Set sail for the nearest bathroom and sink the cheerio

Now the thing they call the cheerio, I've eaten 'em by the score
But to toss one in the toilet it grieves me heart full sore
But target practice bein' me trade, me hunger I'll lay low
And train me guns upon it and sink the cheerio

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
Train me guns upon it and sink the cheerio

Well when first I went to pee, me boys, the place was quite a wreck
And many's the time me poor old Mam would have to swab the deck
Indeed 'twas she did first decree the way that things should go
And bade me stand upon me stool and sink the cheerio

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
She bade me stand upon me stool and sink the cheerio

Now the sinkin' of the cheerio is no an easy task
A bit of oat designed to float, so stubbornly does it bask
Like an arrow through a bullseye ye must direct your flow
Takes much coordination to sink the cheerio

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
Takes much coordination to sink the cheerio

Well when first unto the cereal aisle me folks and I did stray
I stepped up to a grocery boy and to him I did say
Avast, me gallant grocery boy, I'll bet ye didn't know
Ye now behold the sailor bold that sank the cheerio!

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
Ye now behold the sailor bold that sank the cheerio!

So come all me jolly playmates and listen unto me
Be proud of your pea-shooters* as ever a lad should be
For someday when we're big boys, to some tavern we will go
Fill up the bowl again, me boys, and sink the cheerio!

Sink the cheerio, me boys
Sink the cheerio
Fill up the bowl again, me boys, and sink the cheerio!


* Not necessarily spelled this way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 04:18 PM

Bravo, Shawn!

Looks like you signed up just to post this. Did Sherry L. put you up to it? It was for her I originally asked! Well, for myself, too. I enjoyed reading it. Don't think I'll have the courage to sing it at the Dubliner, though, even if I knew the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 10:36 PM

Oh, I think I'll try this one with Roll & Go at the Mystic Sea Music Festival this year.

Rack up another musical marvel for Pete Sutherland.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Bob Landry
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 10:42 PM

Love it. Think I'll teach it to me two grandsons (ages 4 and 2)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Franz S.
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 11:05 PM

Here's a link to the tune:

Sink The Cheerio

Dang blue clicky didn't work this time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:07 AM

Ah, Pete! What a great singer-musician! BTW, can anyone show me the lyrics to "Susan's Song"? I'm not sure of the title but the chorus goes: I know as many tunes as the man in the moon
       ?
       But I'd give up my fiddle if once more I could hear
       My dear Aunt Susan sing.

       (Song written by Pete Sutherland)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:15 AM

Correction: The third line should read "If but once I could hear"...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:20 AM

Wish I'd had this about 13 years ago!!

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sink the Cheerio (Pete Sutherland)
From: Shawn McBurnie
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:38 PM

Jim -

Yep, Sherry asked me, which prompted me to search and then post here. Apparently she'd heard it from me in the first place - I got it from Laura MacKenzie, who I think had picked it up from the man himself at a song circle in Vermont. Believe he wrote it for Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy. (I notice the YouTube gives young Murphy a different first name; perhaps to spare the real one embarrassment?)

I've forgotten my old login, but I lurk here enough to consider myself a 'Catter - became a fan of the DT in the mid-'90's and have been learning songs here ever since. (Been a fan of Pete Sutherland for a bit longer. Can he write - and sing - or what?)