Imo, this rhyme is an in-your-face {confontational} dialogue rhyme.


Person #1- "What's your name?"
Person #2 -"Puddin Tane. Ask me again, {and} I'll tell you the same.

-snip-

In this verse, "Puddin" is used as a first name and the rhyming word "Tane" is used as a last name {though this word is seldom found as a last name}.

Imo, person #2 is giving a snappy come-back to the question that person #1 is asking. In other words person #2 is saying "{{It's} None of your business {what my name is}.

However, I think the confrontational spirit of this "Puddin Tane" rhyme has largely faded. Instead, it's become more "irritating" than otherwise, especially if person #1 decides to follow the suggestion of the second person and ask the question "What's your name" again, and again, and again. Then it becomes a repeated loop almost like one of those "knock knock/whose there" jokes or one of those "You remind me of a man/what man/the man with the power/what power/the power of hoodoo/who do?/ you do/ do what/remind me of a man" etc etc etc.

**

"Puddin Tane" is largely considered a children's rhyme now. But I don't think that it originated as a children's rhyme, but was said by adults to adults, teens to teens-and then children to children {copying off of their elders}.

**

Btw,in my opinion, "Puddin" is a uni-sex nickname for a {African American, and probably other race/ethnicity} female or a male. Imo, these nicknames reflect the high value that 19th century and earlier African Americans placed on sugar, candy, and other sweets that were not a common part of their diet. Other sugar nicknames that are still found among African Americans are "Peaches" {female}, "Candy" {female}, "Shug" {from "Sugar", usually male} and "Cookie" {female}.

**

Other rhyming dialogue or "call & response" rhymes of {I think} African American origin are:

Greeting rhyme:

Person #1-"What's the word?"
Person #2- "Mockingbird"

**

Parting/Leaving rhyme

Person #1- "See ya lata, alligata"
Person #1- "After while, crocodile"

-snip-

I don't think that either of those two examples were meant to be confrontational or a put down like I believe "Puddin Tane" was.

I believe there are other such two voice rhyming sayings, but I can't think of any more right now.

Does anyone remember any others?