The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #94034   Message #2494282
Posted By: Azizi
14-Nov-08 - 08:33 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
GUEST,xfortheflies, thanks for sharing your version of this rhyme.

Sometimes words, phrases, or references that are found in versions of children's rhymes or other songs are useful in helpimg to guesstimate a date for that version. I think that's the case with the inclusion of the phrase "hip hop don't stop" in your version of Down by the banks of the hanky panky".

I believe that the phrase "hip hop [you] don't stop" comes from the 1979 hit rap song "Rappers Delight" which was recorded by the Sugarhill Gang. This was the first rap {hip hop} single. The actual words in the chorus of that song are "let's rock don't stop". However, the phrase "Hip hop don't stop" has been used in a lot of products if not songs. See for example the use of that phrase in the title of a href="http://www.discogs.com/release/187654">this compilation CD of old school {early} rap hit songs. Needless to say, "Rappers Delight" is one of the songs on that CD.

Given the inclusion of the phrase "hip hop don't stop" in this version of "Down by the banks of the hanky panky", I think it's reasonable to assume that this version of that children's rhyme
didn't exist before that phrase became popular, meaning after that song became a hit in 1979.