The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #77066   Message #1705088
Posted By: Azizi
28-Mar-06 - 07:05 PM
Thread Name: Kids chant Stella Ola Ola / Stella Ella Ola
Subject: RE: Kids chant Stella Ola Ola / Stella Ella Ola
Guest, it sounds like the same chant to me.

"quack dily oso quack quack quack" sounds like your "Crocadilly oh my crack crack crack"

"say sailorico rico rico rico" sounds like "Hey chico chico"

And "flora flora flora" sounds like your "Follow follow follow follow" etc etc etc.

Why the differences? Probably kids mishearing unfamiliar words or phrases and converting them into word or phrases that are more familiar. This is one definition of "folk etymology".

It would be interesting to find out the original source of this rhyme. I still believe that it's of Spanish origin.