26 Dec 07 - 08:27 AM (#2222658) Subject: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Helen My Dad used to sing a song to my brother in about 1938, which had the opening lyric "There was a china man with pig tail spic and span ha ha ha ha he he..." Unfortunately that's all I know of the song and would really like to find out the name of it. Any help would be appreciated, thank you. |
22 Dec 09 - 08:41 PM (#2794709) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Stoke-on-Trent My Drandad (Clifford Owen) sang me this version: There was a man from Chinatown his name was Licka Lacka Lee Law Chan His head was tall and his feet were small and this little man had no nose at all Licka Lacka Lee Law Hey Indora Icky Picky Pikey OK They rolled him in the park one day and frightened all the kids away They rolled him here, they rolled him there, they rolled him in a bamboo chair. Licka Lacka Lee Law Hey Indora, In-Di-Ora, Icky Picky Pikey OK Crappy lyrics but great memories :) |
23 Dec 09 - 03:22 AM (#2794824) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Paul Burke I think I asked about this song a while ago. All I know is: There was a Chinaman With pigtails spick and span Ah hah ha ha ha ha Who never would go out When there was rain about Ah hah ha ha ha ha For rain, he used to say, Washed pigtails all away Ah hah ha ha ha ha ha ha So indoors he would stay On every rainy day Ah hah ha ha ha ha .... Just walk along the street And him you're sure to meet Ah hah ha ha ha ha You're sure to find him there, He walks without an air Ah hah ha ha ha ha The tune is George Formby-ish. |
04 Jan 10 - 09:49 AM (#2802950) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest My Great Grandma used to sing this song to me and I would dearly love to find the lyrics. She sang it something like this: In China there lived a China man, his name was Ching-a-rie-Ching-a-rie Chan, His legs were long and his feet were small, this ChinaMan couldn't walk at all...singing, Ching-a-rie, ching-a-rie Chan, riddle me this and (?)... Scallopy, wallopy chinaco See why I need the lyrics, my memory fails me |
17 Jan 10 - 08:31 PM (#2814646) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,guest.... My grandfather used to sing this one to all the grandchildren back in the 70's & 80's :) Chick a chaloo chaloo chapan wallapa wallapa China Man... There once there was a China man, his name was Chicka chaloo chapan His head was big and his feet were small, so the poor China man couldn't walk. Alas the China man to die and in his coffin he did lie They sent the coffin to Japan and that was the end of the China man. :) |
21 Jan 10 - 10:04 PM (#2818172) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,julianne This is one of the first songs I learned from my mother around 1940: In China lived a little man His name was Chingalanga Chingalanga Chang His legs were short and his feet were small And this little man couldn't walk at all Cho: Chingalanga Chingalanga Chingalanga Chang Raygo Daygo Happy man Cudo Disco Codeo Gallopy a Wallopy a Chiney go Miss Skyhigh was short and fat She had money and he had none Under her window he would sat Playing a tune on his little tum tum Miss Skyhigh heard his notes of love She held the washbowl up above She let it fall on Chingalanga Chang And that was the end of the happy man. |
05 Mar 10 - 05:02 PM (#2857057) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Ash my grandma taught me a version of this song, though it went a little different: in all japan there lived a man: his name was chika-racka-chi-chai-chang. his legs were long, his feet were small, the poor old man couldn't walk at all, and they were singing; chicka-racka-chi-chai-cho-chocalorum-winnopy-nag-catgo-toogo-ittycattykittyco-eyetipietichaitipieti-chaiingco. the servants used to carry him out on their backs and the folks did shout: "here he comes! there he goes! the poor old chap with the funny funny nose!" and they were singing: chicka-racka-chi-chai-cho-chocalorum-winnopy-nag-catgo-toogo-ittycattykittyco-eyetipietichaitipieti-chaiingco. lol epic |
14 Mar 10 - 11:41 AM (#2863927) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Katie B Ok so my version I was thought when I was young is nothing like this.... The once was a china man called chickaraca chickaraca chichickalora bombilora willy willy wack ohko ohko tiddy fi tiddy fi chinese talk they took him on a motor car told him not to go to far the word was said he fell on his head and that was the end of the china man |
23 Mar 10 - 11:31 AM (#2870047) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Kimberly We have a family song that has been passed down it goes: Ohhhhhhhh-- I know a man in China town and his name is Chili-o, Chili-o Chan, his legs are long and his feet are short, and this is the way the China-man talk. Ohhhhhhhh-- Chicka-la-leach a-lietch-a-low, chicka-la-Romeo in a bananna-co, wall-la-ka wall-la-ka China Sea, in a banana-co walcho. |
05 Apr 10 - 05:22 PM (#2880232) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST my grandma used to sing this to me. In China there lived a little man, his name was ching a ling ching a ling chang his head was big and his feet were small -- this little man can't walk at all ching a ling ching aling ching a ling chang he'd go I'd go happy man. Buggle apress a bandy oar. Gullup and whallup and shine thee oar. Mrs. Gowigger with words of love, raised the window high above, down there came a ching a ling chang -- that was the end of the China man. ching a ling ching aling ching a ling chang he'd go I'd go happy man. Buggle apress a bandy oar. Gullup and whallup and shine thee oar. |
20 Apr 10 - 12:06 AM (#2890383) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest ..Sonja I was taught this song as a kid in primary school back in the 60's and we sang it like this: There lived in China a very fine man, his name was chickeraka ching chine chang His legs were big and his feet were small, this little man couldnt walk at all Chickeraka ching chine chang chickerony ala ala fact and oak oak orner itty kitty caterpillar rickaby ickaby oak oak oak |
28 Apr 10 - 01:13 AM (#2895701) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My second grade teacher taught this version of the song: Once in a China there lived an old man Whose name was chica raka chic chac cho He brushed his teeth with the horses tail And combed his hair with a big shoe nail Chica raka Chica raka Chic Chac Cho itti pie kitty pie ee ay oh.. |
17 May 10 - 08:00 AM (#2908459) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST Once in China there was a funny man his name was chikaraka chou chai chan his body was long his legs were short the poor little man could hardly walk, chikaraka chou chai chan chatty borra umdiddle ora alow wallow waxi oki doki hit him on the boki itchi gotchi itchi gotchi twinkle, There are more verses to this but can't remember them and there seems to be many different versions to this?? |
17 May 10 - 04:40 PM (#2908721) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: civilservant So what is it about Chinese people that you need to insult them with these lyrics? |
26 May 10 - 04:38 PM (#2914869) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,grannylake There was a poor old China man, his name was Chinka-chaloo-chahan, His teeth were short, his nose was long and this is the way he walked along. Chinka-chaloo-chaloo-cha-pan, al-up-ee, al-up-ee, chinka-cha-lol-up-ee, Chinka-chaloo-chaloo-cha-pan, al-up-ee, al-up-ee, Chinaman. At last, this poor o;d man he died, and in his coffin he did lie, They sent his coffin to Japan and this is the way his epitaph ran. Chinka-chaloo-chaloo-cha-pan, al-up-ee, al-up-ee, chinka-cha-lol-up-ee, Chinka-chaloo-chaloo-cha-pan, al-up-ee, al-up-ee, Chinaman. |
06 Jun 10 - 05:22 PM (#2921973) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST my dad used to sing this one to me there was an old man from china town his name was inki pinki poo pa chan he had long legs and a turned down nose...the poor old man with the turned up toes. inki pinki poo-pa chan chickalo-ra bobtailo-ra paddywaddywack oko doko witamonatoko wittama dittama cheerioko |
07 Jun 10 - 07:53 AM (#2922274) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,guest Our family song goes like this: There once was a funnly little Chinese Man whose name was Chikka Lakka Lee Chor Chan. His head was big and his feet were small but the funny little Chinese man he couldn't walk at all. Oh - Chikka lakka lee chor chor chikkalorum indiorum paddy waddy whack. Oko boko paddy waddy whacky, ah moo! They took him up to the top of a hill and they tossed him about with a good free will. They tossed him here and they tossed him there and they tossed him in to a bamboo chair. Oh - Chikka lakka lee chor chor chikkalorum indiorum paddy waddy whack. Oko boko paddy waddy whacky, ah moo! ------ My daughter is just learning it so the tradition continues!! |
18 Jun 10 - 03:07 PM (#2930700) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Virginia Matthews We have yet another version of this song, it goes like this: once in china there lived a funny man his name was chicarakka chin chan man his hair was long and his feet were short and this little man couldn't walk or talk oh, chicarakka chicarakka laura laura bom diddy eyedi widdy widdy whack. Oko loco hit him on the boco diddy by diddy by Chinese talk they marched him up to the top of the hill then rolled him down like a beechams pill oh, chicarakka chicarakka laura laura bom diddy eyedi widdy widdy whack. Oko loco hit him on the boco diddy by diddy by Chinese talk there are more verses but sadly I can't remember them :-( |
18 Jun 10 - 03:14 PM (#2930703) Subject: RE: Chingaling Chan From: GUEST,cybersosie My Mother's version : In China was a happy man, His name was Chingaling, Chingaling Chan, His head was big and his body was small, The poor little man couldn't walk at all. Miss Kyo was a Chinese maid, Of Chingaling Chan she was much afraid, Under her window he would go, To play a tune on his little banjo. Miss Kyo heard his notes of love, She raised her little shoe from above, She let it fall on the happy man, And that was the end of Chingaling Chan. |
04 Jul 10 - 12:07 PM (#2939613) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,guest - Texas Lots of different versions of this song! My mother would sing a version of this when my brothers and I were children - 1950's. She also loved to sing Johnny Rebeck to us. These are the words she taught us: There once was a Chinaman, who lived in old Japan, His name was Chick-a-rie, Chick-a-rie Chan. His feet were long, his toes were short And this is the way the Chinaman talked, (refrain) "Chick a churie, che-li-che-lo, chick-a-rie romeo in a banana go Wallago, wallago, chan-a-sea, in a banana go, wallago chow" This Chinaman he had great wealth He lived in a mansion all by himself His neighbors built for him a boat And in it they put the Chinaman afloat (refrain) The Chinaman he did die and in his coffin he did lie. They sent him back to old Japan And this is the way his epitaph ran (refrain) |
07 Jul 10 - 12:48 PM (#2941243) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,The Angry Scottsman My grandfather used to sing a version of this to me all the time. I it used to make me laugh and I loved it. I can't remember it 100% but here goes: Once in China, there lived a great man His name was Chickeri-Chee-Chi-Chan His legs were long and his feet were short, The poor old man couldn't walk or snort! Oh, Chickeri-Chee-Chi-Chan, mungo-loro Hock-o Poke-o, hit-em-on-the-coco! Nucker-i Bucker-i, Chee-Chi-Chan wack-em, pack-em, stack-em on their back-ums! It was something like that, I know he had more rhyming non-sense after that and some more verses, but I don't remember any more, and he is no longer alive to ask. |
17 Jul 10 - 08:56 PM (#2946942) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Brian My Grandmother used to sing a version of this to us when we were young in the 70's in VA. There once was an old China Man His name was Chinka Chaloo Cha Lan His Teeth were short, his hair was long and this the way he walked along. Chinka Chaloo Chaloo Cha Lan, Cholopy olapy Chinka Cha Lolipy Chinka Chaloo Chaloo Cha Lan |
17 Aug 10 - 07:27 PM (#2967498) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My mom sang it like this: There once was a man a funny little man His name was kinko kine-a- man His legs were tall and his feet were small And the poor little msn couldnt walk at all Sing ching- GA-lora, ching- GA-lora ching- GA-lora hidey - pok- aWAY! Why are there so many bizarre versions of this song??? |
19 Aug 10 - 01:46 PM (#2968744) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST There once was a man, a funny little man, his name was Chingco china man His legs were tall and his feet were small, and the poor little fellow couldn't walk at all. Sing chingalor chingalor chingalora hidy chuckaway Iddy oddy ocka, hit him in the poka Iddy oddy ocka , um pa pa |
04 Oct 10 - 09:50 PM (#2999755) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,eddie and remi. this ia what i was taught in the 70's in melb primary school. there lived in china a very old man and his name was chicker racker ching chong chang his legs where long and his feet were short that poor little man couldn't walk at all chicker racker ching chong, chi chicker roany ala bala fat man, oak co coney ichty kitchy catapillar ica bok, ica bok oak co coney. |
03 Nov 10 - 03:58 PM (#3022785) Subject: tRE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Samantha My nanny sang to me: Once there was a chinaman |
04 Nov 10 - 02:59 AM (#3023148) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Stephen What a racist thread! |
04 Nov 10 - 03:12 AM (#3023149) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer Hi, Stephen- Well, the song is certainly racist. Whether the thread is racist or not, is another matter. Whatever the case, racist or not, the song in question is certainly a real folk song and a very good example of the folk process, how a song may take many different paths and develop many different versions. But you're right...I cringe every time this thread comes up on the Forum Menu. -Joe- |
04 Nov 10 - 12:54 PM (#3023487) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Stephen Hi Joe Thanks for your constructive answer. I agree that Mudcat is not racist and sometimes very progressive. However a lot of people happen upon this site and a thread like this doesnt give a good first impression when they look at Mudcat. My own personal view of such playground songs is that they can lead to bullying and worse. |
07 Dec 10 - 02:35 PM (#3048234) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Jonathan My Grandmother used to sing this to my sister and me back in 1970s There was a wee man from china town And his name was Chickalicka Brown His head was big and his feet were small So the poor wee man couldn't walk at all. Chickalicka Chickalicka chi chickalorum Chi chickalorum itchy kitchy coo Oko moko setim ona poko Itchy koo itchy koo ee eye o They took him up to the top of a hill And rolled him down on a beechams pill The beechams pill was far too small So they rolled him down on a tennis ball |
17 Jan 11 - 11:35 PM (#3076883) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Linda There was a man in Chinatown His name was Icka Chicka Chai Cho Cahn His legs were long and his feet were small The poor old man couldn't walk at all. Icka Chicka Chai Cho Chuck Chicalora Bobtail Dora paddy whack whack Hit him on the po po Hit him hard, hit him hard There he goes,there he goes down the street. |
03 Feb 11 - 02:35 PM (#3088028) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,guest Wild; who knew how this song has passed around the globe? I've always been a bit embarrassed by it, but like many my grandfather used to sing this to us. The version I remember goes, Once there was a Chinaman, His name was Chicka-chaloo-cha-pan, His nose was short and his teeth were long, And this was the way he walked along, Chicka-cha-loo, cha-loo, cha pan! Hobbity-hobbity Chinaman. Then this poor old man he died, And in his coffin he did lie. They shipped his coffin to Japan, And that was the end of the Chinaman! Chicka-cha-loo, cha-loo, cha pan! Hobbity-hobbity Chinaman. |
18 Feb 11 - 12:09 AM (#3097680) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,ED is there any way to find the origin of this song because several of you have heard near identical versions to the song i heard |
10 Mar 11 - 08:54 PM (#3111390) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Mtm I would really love to know the origin of this song too. Again, to me it was a silly weird song my mother used to sing back in the 60's and 70's when my sister and I were very young. Our version very similar. In China once there lived a man, His name was Chik-a-lee Chik-a-lee Chan His feet were long and his toes were short, And this is the way the Chinaman talked... Ohhhhhh.... Chik - a - lee lee Chi Lie Chi Low, Chik - a - la Romeo ena banana, Koa - la, Koa - la Ka Chant A Geese Enabanana go ouch e-owww. The Chinaman, he had plenty of wealth, He lived in a mansion all by himself, His neighbors next door, they bought him a boat, And sent the poor Chinaman afloat. Ohhhhhh.... Chik - a - lee lee Chi Lie Chi Low, Chik - a - la Romeo ena banana, Koa - la, Koa - la Ka Chant A Geese Enabanana go ouch e-owww. The Chinaman, oh he did die, And in his coffin he did lie, They sent his body to Japan, And that was the end of the Chinaman! Ohhhhhh.... Chik - a - lee lee Chi Lie Chi Low, Chik - a - la Romeo ena banana, Koa - la, Koa - la Ka Chant A Geese Enabanana go ouch e-owww. |
29 Mar 11 - 09:28 PM (#3124492) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,john tudor dad sang us this song handed down to his family from the ballarat goldfields there once was a jolly little chinaman with a nid nod nid nod nid youve never seen such a little chinaman with a nid nod nid nod nid, down to the woodshed he went one day ,went one day,went one day to gather little sticks together so , so just to gather little sticks together so and his dear little wife she would say oh! with a nid nod nid nid nod nid nod nid nod nid nid nod nid nid ha! ha! a diddly ha!ha! ha! with a nid nod nid nod nid |
05 May 11 - 01:12 PM (#3148643) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST I had it as Once in China I met a funny man his name was Chicaracka Chu Chi Chan His arms were long - his legs were short the poor old man could hardly walk Chicaracka Chu Chi Chai Chickanora punchinorra ala wala winkle Chicaracka Chu Chi Chai Chickanora punchinorra ala wala winkle This old man he went to sea to see the sights of the Kangaree The ship got lost and so you see The poor old man got drownded Chicaracka Chu Chi Chai Chickanora punchinorra ala wala winkle Chicaracka Chu Chi Chai Chickanora punchinorra ala wala winkle |
30 Aug 11 - 11:22 AM (#3215185) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Lau Lau My grandad taught me this song, I am reading it at his funeral next week. I remember telling this poem to a pair of chinese exchange students asking them to translate it as I really thought it was in the chinese language! (well i was only 11) :0) There once was a China Man, His Name was Chicka Lacka Lee Chaw Chan, his head was big and his feet were small and this little china man, he couldnt walk at all.... ohhhhhhhh.....Chicka Lacka Lee Chaw, Chaw Chicka-lorum, Ind-eye oram, Parra parra why oko poko parra parra why-ki Armoo! |
23 Sep 11 - 09:35 PM (#3228102) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST here's how i heard it in the 50's at camp china man had a wife led him such an awful life cut his pigtails off so long sold them for a chinese song chikerack a chee chy cho chickalarro bungo lorro piggy wiggy wago hoco poco hit em on the coco chitterbee chitterby chee chi cho |
25 Sep 11 - 09:17 PM (#3228973) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,People!!!!!! My Mimi sang this to me, you ha In China there lived a wee little man His name was Ching Ling Chin Ling Ching Lin Chan His eyes were big and his feet were small This little man couldn't talk at all Chorus; Ching Ling Chin Ling Ching Chan He go I go happy man He go singo banjo Gallopy wallopy China man Mrs. Goligh was short and stout She had money and he had none So under her window he would go To play her a tune on his old banjo Ching Ling Chin Ling Ching Chan He go I go happy man He go singo banjo Gallopy wallopy China man Mrs. Goligh |
07 Nov 11 - 11:42 AM (#3252083) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Bev McBride We had a version of this song which has passed through the generations...we wanted to research tongue twisters for a project that my son is doing and I am amazed at all the versions I have found on this site. In China there lived a Chinaman, his name was chickaracka-chee-chan-chan. His feet were long and his legs were small and the poor little man couldn't walk at all. So they took him up to the top of a hill And they rolled him down like a rolling pin. With a.... Chicka-racka-chee-chan-chor-chickalorum, pongo-lorum,many-pee-cat, Cat go to go etty-ketty-catty-go, aye Japan Chinaman, chinese coo. Would love to know the origins of this if anyone has a clue!! |
26 Nov 11 - 05:57 PM (#3263959) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Anne - Bournemouth, UK My Grandma used to sing this to me in the 1950's - I wish I knew its origin. She also used to sing Chin Chin Chinaman Muchee Muchee Sad! Chickaraka Ching Chang Chai chaka lora Onko Pora, Icki Picki ay Oko Choko Itti itti arti ko Ittipa Ittipa Ee ang koo |
13 Dec 11 - 09:13 PM (#3273396) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,ginner18 From what I remember my mom used to sing to me when I was 4 or 5.(I'm 70 now)
His legs were short, his feet were small, this little man couldn't walk at all. Miska Hi was short and fat, she had money & he had none, under her window he would go and play a tune on his little banjo. Miska Hi with notes of love, held her washboard high above, let it fall on Chingling Chan and that was the last of the China man. |
02 Jan 12 - 11:55 PM (#3283847) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Patsy ok Ginner, the chorus Mom sang was something like this:
Ride-o deigo- happy man, He rode disco cordeo, galloping, walloping chineo..... |
03 Jan 12 - 12:03 AM (#3283849) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,999 May I suggest it didn't originate in China? |
03 Jan 12 - 12:59 AM (#3283865) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Reply to guest 999 Very funny....only to you maybe |
03 Jan 12 - 01:04 AM (#3283866) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Me This song has nothing to china (in general)...it was just a song our mom sang to us.If you have a problem with that,take it to a higher court. |
03 Jan 12 - 01:44 AM (#3283873) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,999 You see nothing wrong with racism. I'm sure it's a hit with your Chinese friends. I get it. Now, kindly get stuffed. |
03 Jan 12 - 02:27 AM (#3283883) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer Well, we do wonder why these "Chinaman" songs come up so frequently, and why people seem to think they're cute. They're also very bigoted songs, a product of another age that has gone by. -Joe- |
03 Jan 12 - 02:51 AM (#3283894) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Can this thread just drop off? I'm offended every time it comes up. |
03 Jan 12 - 09:08 PM (#3284438) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Ginner If this thread offends you...why do you click on it? It doesn't just..come up. This was just a little song my mom used to sing to us kids. Was curious when & why it originated. There was no bigotry or racist comments in it...click on something else or get a life. |
03 Jan 12 - 10:24 PM (#3284460) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: MorwenEdhelwen1 There is racism in the song. It's as racist as someone calling me "chink". |
03 Jan 12 - 10:37 PM (#3284466) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer Ginner, the song stereotypes and ridicules an ethnic group - that fits the classic definition of bigotry to a "t," even though you and your mother think it cute. We don't suppress songs like this because they have historic and folkloric value - but that doesn't mean we can't complain about them. Songs like this aren't cute - they're nasty, obscene, and bigoted. -Joe Offer, Mudcat Archivist- |
03 Jan 12 - 11:46 PM (#3284481) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,999 I agree with Joe. Calling a sheep a dog will not make it bark. It IS important that we recall the things that in the past have made us what we are now. My wing chun master is Caucasian. His was Chinese. When Chinese are insulted because of being Chinese, I get upset. When they are insulted because of being a$$holes, they deserve it. Morwen, about the story . . . |
04 Jan 12 - 02:44 AM (#3284504) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Ginner Joe, I had no intention of offending the chinese or anyone else. I was just curious of where the story or song came from.It was just a little song I remembered from the past.No insults intended. |
04 Jan 12 - 03:03 AM (#3284507) Subject: ADD: In China there lived a little man From: Joe Offer Although it's a song that comes from a history of ethnic bigotry, it's still worthwhile to study the song and its versions. Such songs are often true examples of the "folk process" because they aren't the kind of songs publishers would publish. This song became a pop song called "Chickery Chick" in the 1940s, with lyrics that had nothing to do with anybody of any ethnic descent. Here's an article about the song from Time Magazine, December 3, 1945:
His name was Chingery-ri-chan-chan, His feet were large and his head was small, And this little man had no brains at all. Chingery-rico-rico-day ekel tekel Hap py man. Kuan-a-desco cartty-o gallopy-wallopy-china-go.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852511,00.html#ixzz1iTSQUYHv There's another version here: http://www.unp.me/f153/chingery-wangery-chan-108043/
His name was Chingery Wangery Chan." "His legs were short, his feet were small, And this little man could not walk at all." "Chingery changery ri co day, Ekel tekel happy man; Uron odesko canty oh, oh, Gallopy wallopy China go." "Miss Ki Hi was short and squat, She had money and he had not So off to her he resolved to go, And play her a tune on his little banjo." "Whang fun li, Tang hua ki, Hong Kong do ra me! Ah sin lo, Pan to fo, Tsing up chin leute!" "Miss Ki Hi heard his notes of love, And held her wash-bowl up above It fell upon the little man, And this was the end of Chingery Chan," |
04 Jan 12 - 03:12 AM (#3284508) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer I found it interesting that the song was quoted in the works of Louisa May Alcott (or here): UNDER THE LILACS.CHAPTER XXI.CUPID'S LAST APPEARANCE.A picnic supper on the grass followed the games, and then, as twilight began to fall, the young people were marshaled to the coach-house, now transformed into a rustic theater. One big door was open, and seats, arranged lengthwise, faced the red table-cloths which formed the curtain. A row of lamps made very good foot-lights, and an invisible band performed a Wagner-like overture on combs, tin trumpets, drums, and pipes, with an accompaniment of suppressed laughter. Many of the children had never seen anything like it, and sat staring about them in mute admiration and expectancy; but the older ones criticised freely, and indulged in wild speculations as to the meaning of various convulsions of nature going on behind the curtain. While Teacher was dressing the actresses for the tragedy, Miss Celia and Thorny, who were old hands at this sort of amusement, gave a "Potato" pantomime as a side show. Across an empty stall a green cloth was fastened, so high that the heads of the operators were not seen. A little curtain flew up, disclosing the front of a Chinese pagoda painted on pasteboard, with a door and window which opened quite naturally. This stood on one side, several green trees with paper lanterns hanging from the boughs were on the other side, and the words "Tea Garden," printed over the top, showed the nature of this charming spot. Few of the children had ever seen the immortal Punch and Judy, so this was a most agreeable novelty, and before they could make out what it meant, a voice began to sing, so distinctly that every word was heard:
His name was Chingery Wangery Chan." Here the hero "took the stage" with great dignity, clad in a loose yellow jacket over a blue skirt, which concealed the hand that made his body. A pointed hat adorned his head, and on removing this to bow he disclosed a bald pate with a black queue in the middle, and a Chinese face nicely painted on the potato, the lower part of which was hollowed out to fit Thorny's first finger, while his thumb and second finger were in the sleeves of the yellow jacket, making a lively pair of arms. While he saluted, the song went on:
And this little man could not walk at all." Which assertion was proved to be false by the agility with which the "little man" danced a jig in time to the rollicking chorus:
Ekel tekel happy man; Uron odesko canty oh, oh, Gallopy wallopy China go." At the close of the dance and chorus, Chan retired into the tea garden, and drank so many cups of the national beverage, with such comic gestures, that the spectators were almost sorry when the opening of the opposite window drew all eyes in that direction. At the lattice appeared a lovely being; for this potato had been pared, and on the white surface were painted pretty pink cheeks, red lips, black eyes, and oblique brows; through the tuft of dark silk on the head were stuck several glittering pins, and a pink jacket shrouded the plump figure of this capital little Chinese lady. After peeping coyly out, so that all could see and admire, she fell to counting the money from a purse, so large her small hands could hardly hold it on the window seat. While she did this, the song went on to explain:
She had money and he had not; So off to her he resolved to go, And play her a tune on his little banjo." During the chorus to this verse Chan was seen tuning his instrument in the garden, and at the end sallied gallantly forth to sing the following tender strain:
Tang hua ki, Hong Kong do ra me! Ah sin lo, Pan to fo, Tsing up chin leute!" Carried away by his passion, Chan dropped his banjo, fell upon his knees, and, clasping his hands, bowed his forehead in the dust before his idol. But, alas!—
And held her wash-bowl up above; It fell upon the little man, And this was the end of Chingery Chan." |
04 Jan 12 - 03:41 AM (#3284514) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Ginner Case closed............. |
14 Jan 12 - 10:31 AM (#3290540) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST In China, once, there lived a man Whose name was Higo Chigery Chan Lorna Macoggie Duskio Willaby Wollaby Chinio. One day the Chinaman did die and in his coffin he did lie They carried him back to old Japan And that was the end of the China man. Higo Chigo Chigery Chan Higo Chigo China man, Lorna Macoggie Duskio Willaby Wollaby Chinio! My mother learned this at a church camp in the 1930's. We have been singing it all of my life, and have passed it, and others down to children and grandchildren. Very fun!! |
16 Feb 12 - 07:36 PM (#3309797) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST It never occurred to me that it was bad. I just thought it was full of nonsense words and the rythem was catchy. My version is COMPLETELY different from all that I have read here. My grandmother who was born in 1918 sang this to me when i was little. In china once there lived a man. His name was Chickala Chickala Chan. His fingers were long and his toes were short. And this is the way the poor china men talk. Oh, chickala lee cha lie cha low. Chikeree romee a win a pah naa tika Wall ika Wall ika chat ti kee. Inna pah natika ouch ee oh. |
24 Mar 12 - 08:53 PM (#3328404) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST Wow, I had no idea there were so many versions! Here's how it was sung to us as kids: There was a Chinaman; lived in Japan His name was Chickala Chickala Chan His legs were long and his knees were knocked And this is the way the Chinaman talked A chickala chee chileye chilo A chickala Romeo and a banana go Walaka walaka chance to see In a banana go alchio The Chinaman he did up and die and in his coffin he did lie They sent him back to old Japan and this is the way his epitaph ran (Refrain) |
29 Apr 12 - 09:24 PM (#3345016) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST In China there lived a little man, His name was Ching-a-lee, Ching-a-lee Chan, His head was big and his feet were small So that little man didn't walk at all Oh, Cing-a-lee Ching-a-lee, Cing-a-lee Chan, He go Hi go (could have been "I go," kids mis-hear) Happy Man Cube-a-lo brisco ban-gio. Gallopy Wallopy Chin-ee-oh Mrs. GoHighGo, big and fat She had money but he did not So out the window he did go To play a tune on his ban-gio Chorus: Now, Mrs. GoHighGo, with words of love She raised the window high above And slammed it down on Ching-a-lee Chan And that was the end of the Chinaman. Chorus: I was fascinated by the different versions. To us kids (and I think most kids) it was nonsense verses with a fun tune. There are songs about all races floating around. I'll be happy when everyone is some shade of brown and we can all get over it. This thread is about researching a song. If you are offended, it is because you chose to be offended. Everyone is in charge of their own feelings. Let the information keep coming. |
08 May 12 - 12:08 AM (#3348039) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,A Great Grandson (Choirs) Ching-ling Ching-ling Ching-ling Chan, ride all day, go happy man, You go Crico Cardio, galloping walloping, Chiney Oh, In China lived a little man, His name was Ching-ling Ching-ling Chan, His head was big, and his feet were small, And that little man couldn't walk at all. (Choirs) Ching-ling Ching-ling Ching-ling Chan, ride all day, go happy man, You go Crico Cardio, galloping walloping, Chiney Oh, Miss Sky-high was short and fat. She had money and he had none. And under her window he would go, And play her a tune on his little banjo. (Choirs) Ching-ling Ching-ling Ching-ling Chan, ride all day, go happy man, You go Crico Cardio, galloping walloping, Chiney Oh, Miss Sky-high with words of love, Held her wash bowl up above. She let it fall on Ching-ling chan, And that was the end of the china man. (choirs) Ching-ling Ching-ling Ching-ling Chan, ride all day, go happy man, You go Crico Cardio, galloping walloping, Chiney Oh, In remembrance of Grandma Figley P.S. This version of the song goes back at least four generations in my family. My Great Grandpa worked in the coal minds. I have Irish and Chinese blood. Talk about a double whammy. This Song was not passed down in my family to be derogatory. I think it would be sad if we ever take political correctness to the point where we are afraid to laugh at ourselves. As long as you are fair about it, humor can just as easily unite us. I have never listened to this song, and thought, hay man, that's me. Even as a Child I didn't make that leap. I know I tease with my friends all the time, but the intent is never mean. This is just a nostalgic and historic breakdown of a song. This is not a political statement. I am an American, but I'm not going to take Yankee Doodle out of context. I couldn't remember if it was And under her window or So under her window So I went with what my mom said to keep it closer to the source. This is the song as was passed down in my Grandma as a child. |
16 May 12 - 11:10 AM (#3351620) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Grandma's Girl This is how my Grandma used to sing it to me... There lived in China a very fine man His name was chee karaka cheek you can his legs were fat and his feet were small The chinese man he couldn't walk at all. Chee karaka, chee karaka, cheek you can Cupa laura, cupa laura was a very fine man. Banga, hoola, izzy kizzy kizzy was a chinese moon. She was a lovely kind and gentle person and no racist comment was every intended. It was a fun tongue twister - plain and simple. |
19 Jun 12 - 01:12 PM (#3365498) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Jeb Wow! I've been looking for lyrics to this song for a number of years. I never knew there were so many versions or that it went back so far, but I guess that is common. I believe my mom and her sister learned this song in camp back in the 30's/40's. My mom used to sing this "silly song" to me when I was a kid (60's/70's) and I loved it. Of course, we didn't worry about political correctness back then. I've never been successful in finding any reference on the internet - probably because of the differences in the version that they sang: the refrain of which went something like: Chicka-la-chee cha-lie cha-lo Chicka-la romeo anna bananaga Wallaga wallaga China Sea Anna bananaga wallaga chow. Sadly my mom passed away recently, but I'll have to see if my aunt can still recall or rederive the lyrics that they learned. I think my mom was hesitant to sing this song to me in recent years because my own daughters are Chinese and she didn't want to give the wrong impression. Ironically, it wasn't until my own daughter learned the song "Chickery Chick" in music class this year and came home singing it that I was able to make the connection. I'd never heard of that song, but it was apparently a pop hit in the 40's. I'll be sure and post "our" version of the song if my (now 85 year old) aunt can remember it. |
12 Sep 12 - 10:59 AM (#3403375) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest.David I too first learned this song from my grandmother in the early '60s. There was no harm intended by my grandmother although the song is clearly racist in nature in retrospect. I believe it is important to record and discuss these folk songs in spite of being "politically incorrect" simply because they are historical artifacts. Those who are not interested do not have to participate. Trying to shut down the thread because the subject is racist is like burning books. Hopefully we've gone beyond that. Thank you for this forum - Keep up the good work. |
11 Oct 12 - 11:27 PM (#3418396) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,EdRob I remember the following: Once there was a Chinaman His name was Chika Chika Chan His body was long his legs were thin Huliga Muliga Chinaman. Chinaman he did die. In a coffin he did lie Took his body to Japan To buy some tea for the Chinaman. Hickory choo, choo July, Hockery Rooney In a pialli pialli padu It doesn't agree Huliga Muliga Chinaman. |
28 Nov 12 - 04:12 PM (#3443891) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST |
28 Nov 12 - 04:34 PM (#3443898) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Steve Gardham There must be another long thread on this song as I remember posting references to the original mid-19th century piece 'The Chinaman with the Monkey Nose'. Yes it is/was racist but I don't see anyone here advocating we should sing it nowadays. It was sung to us by our parents/grandparents 2 generations ago and earlier in an era that saw little wrong in poking fun at other races. However it was a period when most races actively sought to kill each other. Humour/poking fun helped to dispel the genuine fears we all had of foreigners. The world thankfully is a much smaller place today although we still actively seek to murder foreigners and there are still too many people around who think that one race is somehow superior to another. |
27 Dec 12 - 06:57 PM (#3457850) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,l. gander once in china their lived a funny man he lived at the bottom of an old tin can. he had a pair of slippers and he changed them into kippers and he had them for his breakfast in the morning. okey pokey hit him on the okey, okey pokey chuckle once in china there lived a funny man his hair was long and his feet were short poor old man could hardly walk, chicka lucka choosa bonsey lara mala mala wack, okey pokey hit him on the oakey, okey pokey chuckle |
03 May 13 - 07:45 PM (#3511459) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST This is one of the songs, as a child, we used to sing while jumping rope. My mother had zero tolerance for racism of any kind and if I am not mistaken, she taught this song to my siblings and me. It made me sad because the Chinaman died. Once in China there was a man, His name was Chickaracka Chinaman His feet were small and he wasn't very tall And hardly any English did he speak at all Chik-raka, Chika-raka von Chik-a-nor-a Von-chik-a-nor-a, Itty-bitty back Ho-co-po-co-itty-bitty-o-ko Git-along-git-along, Chinaman Went for a ride in his motor car Told his chauffeur not to go very far, Came to a cliff and now it's said, That this Chinaman is dead |
03 May 13 - 10:49 PM (#3511483) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Futwick I learned like this: There is a folk forum on the internet Who sing stupid racist crap without breaking a sweat Their mouths are big but their brains are small They just didn't get it--no not at all No need to get offended, don't get mad If the songs we like insult your mom and dad We just think they're cute, it's not about you We were raised that way, we don't have a clue Please help me find the lyrics of this song That calls Chinese people names like Chung-Ching-Chong If "nigger" and "chink" songs are your cup of tea Then Mudcat is the place to be My parents weren't racist they just liked to sing songs about ching chong ching chong ching They make me feel good, they make me feel calm They remind me of my dear ol' mom So please please PLEASE help me find the lyrics of this song That calls Chinese people names like Chung-Ching-Chong If "nigger" and "chink" songs are your cup of tea Then Mudcat is the place to be |
03 May 13 - 11:12 PM (#3511488) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer Sounds like Futwick is having a bad day, as evidenced by his/her posts here and in other threads. Please note that very few registered Mudcatters have posted to this thread. I did post a few versions above from printed sources, but I would not sing this song to an audience unless I were doing a seminar on racist songs. Note what I posted above:
-Joe Offer- |
06 Jun 13 - 12:43 AM (#3523307) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest My version of the song came from a teacher who used it to point out alliteration and rhythm. This was in the 1950's. Chickie Chaloo, Once there was a Chinaman, whose name was Chickie Chaloo Chapan. His teeth was short, his hair was long, And this is the way he marched along. Chickie Chaloo,Chaloo Chapan, Cholopy olopy, Chickie Cholopy. Chickie Chaloo, Chaloo, Chapan,Cholopy olopy Chinaman. At last the poor old man did die,and in his coffin he did lie. They took him back to old Japan, and this was the end of the Chinaman. Chickie Chaloo,Chaloo Chapan, Cholopy olopy, Chickie Cholopy. Chickie Chaloo, Chaloo, Chapan,Cholopy olopy Chinaman. |
28 Jun 13 - 05:59 AM (#3531203) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Me This is how my Granny taught it to us, and we used to have hours of fun trying to learn it. It was passed down to her from her Mother. Chicker Acker Chi Chai, Cho Chickalorum, Bangerlorum, lived a great man, Cardee Coodoo, Eye said the Kittypie, Eddy pie Eddy pie, Chinee man |
26 Aug 13 - 06:24 PM (#3553164) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,CHing-a Lin- Chan My grandmother sang In chinatown there lived a little man his name was CHing-a Lin-CHing-a Lin- Chan His legs were short and his feet were small This little man could hardly walk at all CHing-a Lin- CHing-a Lin-CHing-a Lin- Chan Hi-O Hio_ ragedy man Two-O Dicso Cordeo A gallopin a wallopin a Chineo Mrs. Skyway up above, she had money Hey had love To her window he would go A playin a tune on his little banjo CHing-a Lin- CHing-a Lin-CHing-a Lin- Chan Hi-O Hio_ ragedy man Two-O Dicso Cordeo A gallopin a wallopin a Chineo Mrs. Highway/Skyway up above raised her washboard high above let it fall on Ching-a-lin-Chan That was the end of the Chinaman CHing-a Lin- CHing-a Lin-CHing-a Lin- Chan Hi-O Hio_ ragedy man Two-O Dicso Cordeo A gallopin a wallopin a Chineo |
26 Aug 13 - 09:41 PM (#3553224) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Dave Hunt store |
06 Sep 13 - 01:01 PM (#3556606) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Coral I remember my mum teaching me this when i was about 6 or 7 and got told off at school for singing it and being racist lol, there was a man from china town, his name was mister chickalacka-brown, his head was big, his feet where small, poor wee man couldn't walk at all, chicka lacker chicka lacker, chi chicker laura, chi chicker laura, walla walla wack, oko woko stick him in the stokeo, ichugo ichugo, EIO, took him far across the sea, too see the land of family, the ship got wreck and so did her, and that was the end of the poor chinese, chicka lacker chicka lacker, chi chicker laura, chi chicker laura, walla walla wack, oko woko stick him in the stokeo, ichugo ichugo, EIO. |
20 Dec 13 - 05:21 AM (#3585605) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST The only words I can remember my Mother singing to me are:- Chicker Chacker chicker chacker chee chum chorum Can't remember any more words or if the ones I do remember are correct. I see some similar threads and was wondering if they are regional? My words were learned in the Isle of Man. |
29 Mar 14 - 01:08 PM (#3613560) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,sillybones59 first of all it helps to spell it right-i thought it was ching chalou thats what i was taught back in the day-then came chalopy whalopy china man-wasnt this sung as part of an act before or during the big band era? possibly by jerry colonna or spike jones'group-just to name a few-my mother did this rendition for me back in the 40s-back when songs were fun to sing without the "pc"undertones that permiate today-its just a cute "ditty"dont go and get yourself all wacked out! |
15 Apr 14 - 04:27 PM (#3619177) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,pcgn7 I learnt a variation on this 'song' from my father in Scotland in 1950. It was less overtly racist than most of those in this thread - it also had a punch line that I haven't come across in any of those I have read. There lived in China, a long, long time ago a man with a long, long name. His name for short was: Chickaraka chickaraka chee chaye chang cho chocalorum malapaka wang oko toko idi kidi otiko idipi idipi chi yang fu. And his name for long was Miles. |
24 Apr 14 - 12:04 AM (#3621775) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest Learned this in the late 1950's in chorus. We sang it at a concert, we also did "Alice Where Art Thou Going", "Gerald McBoing Boing", "It Was Sad When the Great Ship Went Down" and other old folk songs. Racist? Are you kidding? These are amazing folk songs passed down through generations. Does political correctness have to taint every thread of what the melting pot of this county has brought us? Believe me, when we performed this there was not a thought of racism. It is a cute, catchy verse that I carried over to sing to my children and grandchildren. Racism! Give me a break. We can't open our mouths without someone shouting "Racist". Is it any wonder that we can't move on and embrace our heritage. Good, bad or indifferent it's this mix of ethnicity that makes our county great. Every era has brought something different to the table. Why don't we just go out and burn all books, stop the music, and shut our mouths! If you look hard enough you will find hate in anything. How sad to live your life like that instead of embracing everyone and everything, and not accepting the past as just that; the past. Oh, and in the meantime, let's burn all copies of "Tom Sawyer", "Grapes of Wrath", and for good measure; the "Bible". As a nation we've made major mistakes (and still are), but it's our ability to pull together that makes it work. You don't have a clue!!! |
01 Aug 14 - 10:03 AM (#3647323) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST This Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest Date: 06 Jun 13 - 12:43 AM is very close to what my father said he sang to his kindergarten class when he was five years old. That would be 1922. His was more like: There was a little Chinaman, his name was Chickie Chaloo Chapan. His nose was short, his teeth were long, And this is the way he walked along. Chickie Chaloo,Chaloo Chapan, olopy olopy, Chickie Cholopy. Chickie Chaloo, Chaloo, Chapan, olopy olopy Chinaman. At last the poor old man did die,and in his coffin he did lie. They sent his coffin to Japan, and that was the end of the Chinaman. Chickie Chaloo,Chaloo Chapan, olopy olopy, Chickie Cholopy. Chickie Chaloo, Chaloo, Chapan, olopy olopy Chinaman. |
02 Sep 14 - 04:12 AM (#3656035) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST |
02 Sep 14 - 06:16 AM (#3656062) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Fred McCormick Bloody hell, is this load of nonsense still running? There's a guy goes to our weekly singaround who insists on singing the Chinee Bumboatman with no regard for the fact that the rest of us find it racist and offensive; There's a jazz session I go to regularly, where a member of the band insists on singing a song in what he thinks is hammed up Japanese; To listen to the noises that's coming from certain corners of the press and the political establishment, you'd think the entire British Pakistani community ate under age girls for breakfast (Yes, I know that paedophilia is an appalling crime, but for Christ's sake let's confine the demonisation to real paedophiles, and then on the basis of what they've done, not to which ethnic group they belong); And now this awful racist gibberish rears its ugly head again. Enough already. People are people and they deserve to be treated as such, not skitted at and laughed at because they talk differently to the way we do, or because they look different to us or because they are the products of a different culture to ours. |
20 Sep 14 - 11:06 AM (#3662152) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Daddys Girl Ika Chika Chickory Chan Ika Chika China Man Lottie Mae Cottie Mae Dusty Oh Willie Bee, Wallie Bee Chinie Oh China Man he did die in his coffin he did lie Sent him over to Japan That was the last of the China man Has anyone else ever heard these lyrics? As children, we would hear this song if we were (as a family) traveling. He has passed but Mother says she thought it was from a book at school. |
05 Oct 14 - 04:37 PM (#3666394) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST There was a man from China Town His name was Chikka Rakka Chu Chi Chan His legs were long and his feet were small And the poor little man couldn't walk at all Chikka Rakka Chikka Rakka Cheng Chick a Lawra Hoko Poko Wallah Wallah Wap Hoko Poko Stick him on the Ochko Hickarai Hickarai Ee aye oh Camp Fire Song. 6th Hove Scouts. 1980. Happy Days. |
26 Oct 14 - 01:32 PM (#3672266) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest Jimmy Haran My mother bounced my siblings and myself on her knee to this version: Once in China there lived a great man His name was Chickerachi Chicho Chan His legs were long and his feet were small The Chinaman couldn't walk at all. On his stick he walked about down the street where the folks did shout: Here he comes and there he goes the Chinaman with the monkey's nose. He was Chickeracka Chicho Chychicalorum Conchilorum Etapica Caco Yugo Eta Kitti Cattico Ondon Chinaman ChineeGo. |
28 Nov 14 - 03:21 PM (#3680813) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest21 I knew a rather different version from my great uncle. We used to do pat-a-cake to it: Chaka-racka-choo-chine chang-alang-alora chang-alang-alora, olla-polla wax oker toker - hit 'im with the poker - itchy coo, itchy coo - cider! This old man he went to sea, to see the sights of Alpeny. He got drunk, and so you see, that was the end of the poor Chinee! Chaka-racka-choo-chine chang-alang-alora chang-alang-alora, olla-polla wax oker toker - hit 'im with the poker - itchy coo, itchy coo - cider! |
15 Mar 15 - 04:39 AM (#3694140) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Mark Joseph This is the song from my mother (Peggy Joyce Lodge) who was born in 1932 and grew up in Seer Green, Buckinghamshire. This would be from around the war years. This is as I remember it: There was a Chinaman who was very very stout The servants could not carry him about So they rolled him up to the top of the hill and rolled him down with a Beechams pill Ching ching chong chong chang chicaloram Wiggy wiggy loram a wiggy wiggy wham, (this line really escapes me) oko oko tiddly if fi ko This is the way the Chinese talk |
29 Mar 15 - 12:30 AM (#3697988) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest_fanugy So, my grandma also used to sing a song about a giant cow with a purple udder. . . wow, they really were a bunch of insensitive bigots! |
02 Apr 15 - 01:41 PM (#3699096) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest Colleen once there was a funny little man his name was Chika Racka Ching Chong chan His legs were long and his feet were small . The China Man could not walk at all. Chika Racka Ching Chong chan chy eckamora diddypo diddypo gee enco. My dad used to sing to me when I was a little girl in the 1950s |
08 Apr 15 - 12:15 PM (#3700556) Subject: want to know the whole song From: GUEST,Jesi The song we sang was
his head was big and his feet were small the poor little man couldn't walk at all chicka lack chicka chi chicka Lora chi chicka Lora wally wally wack mocha mocho stick him in the cocoa itcha goo itcha goo e I o |
03 Jun 15 - 09:41 AM (#3714212) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My Nana used to sing this version to my mom when she was little . It went There once was a china man his name was ch China the luchpan . His legs were long his feet were short . The poor little China man couldn't walk . Then she sang na ni na na ni na . |
24 Jul 15 - 09:23 PM (#3725955) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My Mom taught it to us as: There was an old man from Chinatown His name was chittereye chee chi cho His legs were long His feet were short This old man could laugh nor snort Chittereye chee chi cho chigaloro Bungo loro piggy wiggy waggo Hoco poco hit 'im on the coco Chittereye chittereye chee chi cho China man had a wife Led him such an aweful life Cut his pigtails off so long Sold them for a Chinese song Chittereye chee chi cho chigaloro Bungo loro piggy wiggy waggo Hoco poco hit 'im on the coco Chittereye chittereye chee chi cho China man he did die In his coffin he did lie Shipped his body off to Japan And that was the end of the China man (chorus sung as fast as humanly possible) Chittereye chee chi cho chigaloro Bungo loro piggy wiggy waggo Hoco poco hit 'im on the coco Chittereye chittereye chee chi cho |
26 Jun 17 - 05:15 PM (#3863026) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest- Peller When I was a small child my mother taught us a rhyme song about a China Man named Chan. There are a few similarities that I have found on this form, but none of them really match the song that we were taught. I have tried multiple times to search for this songs lyrics on line, but only found this thread, which is the only I have ever found that came close at all, by typing in the last verse as I know it: "one day the chinaman did die, and in his coffin he did lie, they carried him back into Japan, and that was the end of the chinaman." My mother was born in 1934 in northern Idaho, United States of America. She was the eleventh child to be born to my grandparents, who were both born to families who immigrated from Germany to the United States prior to the first world war. The song that my mother taught my siblings and I was taught to her by her father, who was born in 1886 in Keuterville, Idaho, USA. My grandfather Schmidt's parents had came to the United States from the part of Germany which is now Poland in 1868, and settled in north Idaho with other members of their families who had already come to the US. The area of Idaho where much of my mothers family still lives is known as the Camas Prairie in the Idaho panhandle. The industry in this area is mainly limited to timber, and my distant family continues to run multiple sawmills and logging companies in this area. It is a very close knit community of almost 100% descendants of German immigrants, who are predominantly Roman Catholic. The lyrics of this song, as I remember them are as follows,(Please excuse the way that I spell words in the lyrics, as I am just guessing at how they should be spelled using phonics as my guide. I never saw the song actually written out, the song was taught to us from memory by my mother- God rest her soul!) Hiker chiker chickery chan, hiker chiker chinaman, lordamie, oddomie, dusty-oh, willapie, wollopy, chine-oh. One day the Chinaman did die, and in his coffin he did lie, they carried him back unto Japan, and that was the end of the Chinaman. (At this point the verses were repeated multiple times. If I remember correctly it was normally recited in entirety four times before it was considered to be finished.) Have any of you ever heard of a rendition of this song which was close to this? I really wish that I knew the source of the work, and the original song lyrics that this version morphed from. Thank you all for your time. God Bless! |
31 Jul 17 - 04:59 PM (#3869299) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST There was an old man short and stout he had two servants to carry him about he gave them food and he gave them clothes that little man with the turned up toes, Chickili choono inginy pinky pan turn him to the east to the west I can oh no China man My great gran mother sung this but this is all I remember she was Scottish and born 1906, nobody I've ask even knows any variation of this song |
20 Dec 18 - 05:27 PM (#3967561) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,L.Vana My mom was born in Philadelphia in 1923. This is the song as she sang it to us: Once there was a Chinaman his name was Chickita Loo Chapan .His hair was long his feet were short and this is the way he walked along Chickita Lucha Lucha chapan. Twal de walla chicken diabla. Chickita Loo cha loo chapan Twal la walla chinaman. Now this poor old man he died but in his coffin he was alive. They shipped his coffin into Japan and that was the end of the Chinaman. Chickita Lucha Lucha chapan. Twal de walla chicken diabla. Chickita Loo cha loo chapan Twal la walla chinaman.. |
14 Nov 19 - 06:55 AM (#4019050) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Guest I learned it at a camp near Kansas City in the 70s - Timber Trails, I was pretty little but here’s what I remember: Once there was a Chinese man his name was Chic-a-rah Ching Chong Chan His legs were long his feet were short This little man couldn’t walk or talk Chic-a-rah Ching Chong Chan chic-a-rah rah Boom diddy oh-rah, Woody woody oh-rah Oak-ah oak-ah oak-ah tiddy-fie tiddy-fie tiddy-fie That Chinese man |
29 Jan 20 - 01:07 PM (#4031006) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Eithne Reid Mulhall I understand that this song is not politically correct. It appears in it's various forms to be pretty widespread internationally. My version comes from my great aunt who was born 1888 in Ireland. I am pretty sure she never met anybody from China and it was just a rhyme like some of the other nonsensical songs and rhymes they used to pass the time with. I have no other agenda than to record my family's version. In China lived a certain man His name was Chickory Chi Chang Yang His legs were long and his feet were small And the Chinaman could not walk at all Chicory Chi Chalu Chalang Tari Uri Igibana Bunaba Disti Canti Kay Chinipa Ponika Chinea They hired two men to carry him about They turned out to be rather stout They carried him up to the top of a hill And rolled him down......... That is all I remember. |
07 Sep 20 - 05:41 AM (#4071045) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Mark I first heard this song in Primary School circa1973. I thought it was just a rhyme sang by soldiers to pass the time. Despite that it's politically incorrect I still sing it as it stuck with me all these years. The word I recall are: Chinese man is very stout he had two s servants to take him out, he used to feed and give them clothes, the Chinese man with the monkeys nose. I chicoreye chee, I chicoroo, ooh nooka nooni, ningnong pong, aza catcha core, aza catcha key, chilla boy chilla boy poor Chinese. |
13 Sep 20 - 12:57 PM (#4071737) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST Dottie. My father sang the song this way back in the early '40's. There lived in China a very small man, whose name was chigery chi go ran. His legs were short and his feet were small. He could not walk at all. O chigery chi go ray, Diddly de come happy may Soloman twist the candy oh Gallopin wallapin Chinee oh., |
03 Nov 20 - 10:51 AM (#4078071) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Shornyb2019 There was a man from China land His name was Icka Picka Oopin kan His leg were tall his feet were small The chinese man couldn't walk at all He had two servants to carry him about, one to sing and the other to shout Here he comes and there he goes The chinese man with the knockaknee nose Enoch Chenock chuck chuckalar Chickalar lairy icka picka dar Alla balla busha kandy kish Illago allago China |
07 Dec 20 - 03:21 PM (#4082282) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,B I have seen many people saying that this song is racist. I think I agree, but I don't think I know exactly why. What specifically is the song making fun of? As I understand it it is a song about a specific Chinese man who due to an unfortunate luck of the draw was unable to walk. Then there is a bunch of nonsense rhyming words. Then another verse, often where the man dies. And then more nonsense. It seems to me like the song is a story of a specific Chinese man who experienced a series of unfortunate events. Once again my gut tells me the song is racist, and I am uncomfortable singing it. I just don't know what specifically makes it racist. I think I don't understand racism. |
07 Dec 20 - 03:23 PM (#4082283) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,B Also, here is the version I grew up hearing: The Chinaman Song There was a Chinaman a very rich man his name was Chicory Chi Chi-An His legs were short and his feet were small........ This Chinaman could not walk at all Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Chicory Chi Good Try Good Day - Diddle Dee Come Happy May Curie-me kissed & dandy oh, Galloping Walloping Chi-nee-o The lady from the very next house came up the hill to help him about From top to bottom they stumble and fall This Chinaman could not walk at all Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Chicory Chi Good Try Good Day - Diddle Dee Come Happy May Curie-me kissed & dandy oh, Galloping Walloping Chi-nee-o |
08 Dec 20 - 02:48 AM (#4082372) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Joe Offer There's a classic book titled Songs of the American West, by Richard E. Lingenfelter and Richard A. Dwyer (University of California Press, 1968). It has a chapter titled "John Chinaman" songs that has these songs about Chinese immigrants: John Chinaman Josh, John John Chinaman, My Jo John Chinaman's Appeal Hay Sing, Come from China Twelve Hundred More Long John, Chineeman Since the Chinese Ruint the Thrade Get Out, Yellow-Skins, Get Out! Most of these songs seem quite benign, and we get a steady stream of posts from visitors who come in and say how cute these songs are. And they ARE cute, just like Stephen Foster songs with "negro dialect" about pickaninnies and such, and the depictions of Native Americans on the logos of sports teams like the Washington Redskins. But real people don't want to be regarded as "cute," because it's demeaning. And when you demean other people, even if you are well-intentioned, you're racist. I belong to a book club that discusses books that are mostly about social justice or religious issues. One book we read recently was Ghosts of Gold Mountain, about the Chinese workers who built the California part of the Transcontinental Railroad. I took out my Lingenfelter-Dwyer book and read a couple verses of some "John Chinaman" songs to illustrate the demeaning attitudes that people in this area had about Chinese workers. One member of the club called me the next day to complain that he was offended by my even reading those lyrics. I disagreed, and I hope that by this time he has forgotten the bitterness of our disagreement. I think we need to know about these songs so that we can understand the culture and racism of our ancestors in the "good old days," but I think it's important that we don't regard these songs as "cute" or in any way benign. They're racist, plain and simple. |
08 Dec 20 - 08:44 AM (#4082417) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Steve Gardham Agreed, Joe. |
10 Mar 21 - 06:03 PM (#4097082) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My father (born 1918) would sing: "Once there was a Chinaman His name was Alygaloot Chapan. His hair was long his feet were short, and this is the way he used to talk: 'Loocha loocha loocha chapan Ali gawally ga chicka dee ali Galoocha loocha looch chapan,' and that was the end of the chinaman. When the chinaman shall die In his coffin he will lie. If his coffin is too small, He will go to China Hall. 'Loocha loocha loocha chapan Ali gawally go chicka dee ali Galoocha loocha looch chapan,' and that was the end of the chinaman. |
24 Mar 21 - 09:58 PM (#4099159) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Kay This is the version my Grandfather told us: Hiker Chiker Chiggery Chan Hiker Chiker Chinaman Lorda be Gotta be Dusky Oh Willapy Wallopy Chiny Oh One day the people of the town Went up the hill to roll him down From top to bottom they began to tickle and play with the Chinaman (Chorus) The Chinaman he did die In his coffin he did lie They carried him off to Japan and that was the end of the Chinaman (Chorus) |
26 Mar 21 - 07:33 PM (#4099455) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,John Archer I'm researching "Jingo!" an Indian British Raj skipping song, lernt in Dunedin New Zealand in about 1905, and I am told it has a similar tune to The Chinaman one. Could someone point me to a recording of the Chinaman song being sung please? The is Jingo! song Hairo chairo, chukka pukka pan Ocki ocki pino, chika chika man Holaby impy, impy chi Tara warka chara baka, jingo! https://www.folksong.org.nz/dunedin_kids_chant.mp3 |
27 Mar 21 - 09:39 AM (#4099510) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: Steve Gardham Hi John, The tune my mother used was similar to 'Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care', just the first 2 lines repeated, with perhaps going up on 'chi' and just coming back down the scale on the 4th line of your rhyme. Just a thought, the 'J' on jingo is very close to the 'ch' sound so if that was a misheard 'chingo' it wouldn't be that far removed from many versions above. |
27 Apr 21 - 05:17 AM (#4103669) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST My mother's version (she was born in 1914) went something like this: Pinganinganoonaa chinerackachee, Pinganinganoonaa inkaatee With an inkaatankaa (and here my memory fails me) The Chinaman with a monkey's nose. It took three robbers (or maybe robins) to carry him off Behind the backs the boys did shout Here he comes and there he goes, The Chinaman with a monkey's nose. |
06 May 21 - 01:21 AM (#4104978) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: GUEST,Maureen Ashtonschwartz The version I was taught in 1960 went like this. Once there was a Chinaman His name was Chickie Chaloo Japan His teeth were short, his hair was long And this is the way he marched along. Chorus Chickie Chaloo Chaloo Japan Cholopy. Olopy, Chickie Chalopy Chickie Chaloo Chaloo Japan Cholopy Olopy Chinaman At last the poor old man did die And in his coffin he did lie. They took him back to old Japan And that was the end of the Chinaman. Chorus |
06 May 21 - 03:57 AM (#4104989) Subject: RE: Song Req: 'There was China Man...' From: John C. Bunnell Responding to Joe's post from last December: The great difficulty with teaching folks about this is that Joe is exactly right. > And when you demean other people, even if > you are well-intentioned, you're racist. The trouble is that "racism" and "racist" are trigger-words, because we associate them so closely with the conscious, malicious racism of white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, and other large-scale social injustices such as the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. So when people hear those words used to describe their own actions, they feel as if they've been accused of being capital-E Evil themselves, even though that's most often not the case. The secondary problem is that for a sizeable chunk of the 20th century, comedy in America - for understandable reasons, mind you - was very strongly rooted in ethnic humor of various kinds. I'm not thinking only about Polish or Jewish jokes, where the central figure is the open target of ridicule, but of comedy based on pure misunderstanding, on the order of "a Swede, an Italian, and an Irishman walk into a bar". Ethnicity was the source of an immense amount of humor, and a lot of the jokes were funny enough, irrespective of the particular group being depicted, that their influence on today's comedy is still substantial. This was humor that was wholly socially acceptable to our parents and grandparents - and almost no one, not its writers nor performers nor listeners (even when their own ethnicity was in play), would have understood it to be racist at the time. Some of it might have been counted as offensive, but even that offensiveness wouldn't have been chalked up to racism. Rather, it would have been regarded as tasteless or demeaning on a general level - and most of the time, that judgment would have been correct. And that's the lesson that we're slowly beginning to learn in the 21st century: that the real, underlying cultural problem isn't racism as such - it's that there is a very long and very persistent strand of storytelling, in song and story and visual media, that seeks to demean its subjecst for being different. That's a lesson that transcends race and ethnicity to encompass gender identity, body shape, physical capability, and more. This is one reason I can't watch most TV situation comedies - I find too large a proportion of them rooted in humiliation/embarrassment humor at the expense of the "weird" character(s). So what does one do with the Chinaman songs? Just what Joe did, I think - but part of that process has to be the larger lesson, that there's nothing inherently wrong with the nonsense-verse as a musical form. It's simply that these particular verses ground their nonsense in words that inappropriately mock Chinese language. |