The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #73889   Message #1285225
Posted By: Azizi
30-Sep-04 - 04:27 PM
Thread Name: Songs your parents didn't allow
Subject: Songs your parents didn't allow
Do you remember any songs that your parents didn't allow you to sing?

The Ching Chong Chinaman thread reminded me of "The Little Bald headed Chinese" song. When I was little I thought my mother didn't want my sisters and me to sing that song because it made fun of some one's race, and it was "nasty". By "nasty" I meant the "peed in the sink" line {see words that follow}. It wasn't until I got older that I realized that my mother also didn't like the sexual overtones of the song. But as a young child, the sexual implications of the line about the Chinese man "pulling down his pants" went right over my head. I thought that the man was doing wrong because you weren't suppose to go to the bathroom or get ready to go to the bathroom in public...

Here's the words to that song as I remember them:

My mother she told me to open the door.
The little bald headed Chinese nese nese.
I opened the door.
He fell on the floor.
The little bald-headed Chinese nese nese.

My mother she told me to get him a drink.
The little bald headed Chinese nese nese.
I gave him a drink.
He peed in the sink.
The little bald headed Chinese nese nese.

My mother she told me to give him a dance.
The little bald headed Chinese nese nese.
I gave him a dance.
He pulled down his pants.
The little bald headed Chinese nese nese.

My apologies to Chinese;I mean no disrespect. Also, I think that sometimes adults "get" the full intent of some songs much more than children, and sometimes they don't explain to children the real reasons why a song is a "no no".

Another song that I remember my mother not wanting my sisters and me to sing was "Mama Look A Boo Boo". She didn't like that song for pretty obvious reasons. But we liked the song because of the
"Boo Boo" phrase and because we did realize it was kinda naughty. I think this is a song recorded by Harry Belafonte, or at least it's a calypso song.

Here's the words as I remember them:

I wonder why nobody don't like me.
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?
My children they don't like me no more.
A hey they say it at the door.

Mama look a boo boo.
She shouts,
"Daddy's your daddy.
Shut up your mouth!"
Oh no! My daddy can't be ugly so.

Shut your mouth.
Go away.
Mama look ah boo boo day.
Shut your mouth
Go away
Mama look ah boo boo day.
--

Does anyone have any memories like this that they want to share?

Thanks.