The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2385   Message #3328092
Posted By: GUEST,Lighter
24-Mar-12 - 09:46 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières
"Inky pinky" appears in children's rhymes in the 19th century.

At least one pre-1914 version of "The Derby Ram" contains "hinky dinky" in the chorus.

In the U.S. for many years before the war, "hinky-dinky" meant contemptably small or inconsequential.

So I don't think these words stand for any particular French words in the song (though "Dis-donc!" "Hey, you!" might have called "hinky-dinky" to somebody's mind).