The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #89290   Message #1684241
Posted By: Azizi
03-Mar-06 - 07:47 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: Origin of skipping rhyme - K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origin of skipping rhyme - K-I-S-S-I-N-G
I double checked with my daughter this morning about her memory of this rhyme {Pittsburgh, PA 1980s}. What she remembers conforms with the "in a baby carriage" last line. She said she doesn't remember jumping rope or doing handclaps with this rhyme. Her memory was that it was just said "to tease somebody".

But Alice C's version from Cleveland conforms with my memory of that line:

Subject: RE: Naughty kids'greatest hits
From: Alice C. (of Cleveland) - PM
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 10:18 PM

Hi there--and especially to Jerry ___ who does indeed remember the same local versions as I do! How delightful. I was at Fairfax Elementary 1971-76. And you?

Hey, does anyone else remember this playground taunt -- let's say you want to embarass two other kids named Richard and Kathy:

Kathy loves Richard,
Sittin' in the tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
First comes love,
Then comes marriage,
Then comes Kathy with the baby carriage!
Suckin' her thumb,
Chewin' her pants,
Doin' the hootchy-kootchy dance!

-snip-

I hope that I didn't commit a cardinal sin by reposting this.
If so, please accept my apologies.