Subject: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Squid Date: 12 Sep 97 - 07:16 PM Thanks to everyone who replied to the thread I started about songs to sing with children. The songs my kids like best, BY FAR, are the parodies about school and teachers. Here's a request for lyrics of those kinds of songs. There are a few we know, although we probably do not know all the words to all of the verses of the songs. Ones like- Heigh Ho Heigh Ho, I bit the teachers toe, That dirty rat, she bit me back... On top of old smokey all covered with sand, I shot my poor teacher with a green rubber band... Glory, glory hallelulah Teacher hit me with a ruler... I searched the databasse for @school @parody and got 11 hits, none were the above classics. None were very suitable for elementary schoolchildren, either. Here's another fragment I just remembered: Hark! The herald angels shout Three more days till we get out Three more days till we are free From the penetentiary Thanks < Advance, Squid |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Sep 97 - 03:45 AM Well, here's one for Catholic schools, to the tune of "Caisson Song": Give a yell, give a cheer For the nuns who make the beer In the basement of [St. Rita's] School..... Sorry, don't know any more. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Earl Date: 13 Sep 97 - 10:01 AM I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm here to say Get rid of your teacher the easy way Just put a banana peel on the floor And watch your teacher go sailing out the door |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Jerry Friedman Date: 13 Sep 97 - 02:58 PM For some reason the title of this thread reminds me of one from my summer-camp days in the 60s:
Whistle while you work As for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", there's
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school,
Glory, glory for the burning of the school (3x) (Sic. I might even say sic transit gloria.) On the subject (and possibly from San Francisco?),
Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay, |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Akiba Date: 14 Sep 97 - 01:31 AM Jerry, you have reminded me of this classic from childhood:
Hitler, he only had one ball; Also, I remember "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!" like this:
Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!
Akiba |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Greg Date: 28 Sep 97 - 06:52 PM Heigh ho! Heigh ho! It's off to camp we go! The leaders look like Frankenstein The water tastes like turpentine Heigh ho! Heigh ho! Heigh ho! Heigh ho! It's off to school we go! With razor blades and hand grenades Heigh ho! Heigh ho! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Alex Date: 29 Sep 97 - 12:19 AM A Scottish one to the tune of "16 Tons" Well, if ye go tae school dinners, better leave them aside, A lot o' kids didnae and a lot o' kids died. The meat is like iron, the potatoes are steel, And if they don't get ye then the pudding will. I did sixteen sums, and what did I get? Fifteen wrong and six o'the belt. Now, teacher don't ya call me 'cos I can't come I'm stuck tae ma seat wi' chewing gum.
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Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Caro Date: 24 Mar 05 - 09:45 AM I don't even know where i got this one from: Mary-Anna at the pawn shop door With a baby in her arms and the basket on the floor She asked for 7/6d but they only gave her 4 So she knocked the bleeding knocker off the pawn shop door I'll tell Ma of Mary-Ann Walking down the street with a nice young man High heeled shoes and a feather in her cap That's the way to get the sack Policeman policeman don't catch me I've got a wife and a family How many children have you got 99 and that's the lot This variation was sung by Alan Breeze (ye gods, how old am i?) on the Billy Cotton Band Show - Sunday lunchtimes. Lulu had a baby - she called him Sonny Jim She put him in the bathtub to teach him how to swim He swam down to the bottom and then up to the top Lulu got excited and grabbed him by his ... Haircut, shampoo, ring the barbers bell And if he doesn't like it Just tell him, what the! hey there! say there! How's about a kiss? Hey there! say there! That's the end of this. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: harpgirl Date: 24 Mar 05 - 07:01 PM These are wonderful song snippets. I would love to have the entire songs if they exist. I bet gargoyle (that old retired english teacher) would know some of them. (He only misspells his posts because eh doesn't want to come up on the search engines, anyway.) |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 24 Mar 05 - 09:27 PM GUEST,Caro and others posting here, For the last two years I have been working on a book for adults about continuity and change in children's game songs & rhymes. I would LOVE to have more demographical information about the examples posted here {and also permission to use them in this compilation!} Caro, the examples that you posted that I am most interested in are "Policeman, Policeman" and "Lula Had A Baby". Would you please provide this information: the city, state, country, and approximate years the rhymes were recited, and by whom {boys & girls, or just girls, or just boys}. It would also be great if you could include how these rhymes were performed, e.g. as handclaps; jump rope; ball bouncing; circle games; to choose "it"; just for fun during field trip bus rides; etc. Thanks! Azizi |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Joe_F Date: 25 Mar 05 - 04:18 PM Have a look at _A Prairie Home Companion Folk Song Book_ (Marcia & Jon Pankake, Eds., Viking, 1988). It has a lot of that sort of thing, including most of the songs you mention. --- Joe Fineman joe_f@verizon.net ||: Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. :|| |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: dick greenhaus Date: 25 Mar 05 - 05:45 PM Back circa 1939 or so, when the AFL vs. CIO battle was raging, the (politically incorrect) urchins were singing: "Heigh Ho!, Heigh Ho! We've joined the CIO We pay our dues To the dirty Jews Heigh Ho!, Heigh Ho!" Folklore ain't always nice. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: bill\sables Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:56 PM Our wee school's a good wee school The best wee school in Glasgae The only thing that's wrang wi it Is a baldie heided master He goes te the pub on Saturday He goes te the Kirk on Sunday Te pray te the Lord te give him strength Te welter the weeans on Monday |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Mark Cohen Date: 26 Mar 05 - 02:14 PM From a "higher" school: High above Cayuga's waters There's an awful smell Some say it's Cayuga's waters Some say it's Cornell Aloha, Mark (Princeton '73, and my little sister went to Cornell. Of course.) |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Haruo Date: 26 Mar 05 - 05:00 PM Jerry wrote: Whistle while you work Hitler is a jerk Mussolini bit my weenie Now it doesn't work. That was part of my childhood repertoire, too, but it was definitely his weenie, not mine. (Not sure if it meant M bit H's or M's own. Haruo |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Severn Date: 26 Mar 05 - 06:59 PM Here's a few from my childhood: Oh beautiful For spaceship guys God shed his skin on thee, And crown thy good with Robin Hood From sea to shining sea They're coming today To take me away The men in the little white suits. They think Im insane 'Cause I think I'm a train But I really am! TOOT! TOOT! I hate Bosco It's full of TNT Mommy puts it in my milk To try to poison me Buy I fooled Mommy And put it in her tea Now I have no mommy To try to poison me. (Whatever happened to Bosco, and Cocoa Marsh, for that matter?) And all the countless kids' verses to Popeye The Sailor Man probably deserve their own thread, but stuff like this abounded: I'm Popeye The Sailor Man I live in a garbage can I eat all the worms And spit out the germs I'm Popeye The Sailor Man, TOOT! TOOT! And somehow, versions of WWII songs were sung: First Marine ate a bean, parlez-vous Second Marine ate a bean, Parlez-vous Third Marine ate a bean and Phhhttt! all over the submarine Hinky-dinky parlez-vous First Marine jumped a fence, parlez-vous Second Marine jumped the fence, parlez-vous Third Marine jumped the fence And milked a cow with a monkey wrench Hinky-dinky parlez-vous (There was a whole thread's worth of verses to that one, too) All For Now, Severn |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Severn Date: 27 Mar 05 - 07:55 AM We not only sang 'em after school, but also after Sunday School: (to "Tramp,Tramp, Tramp") Jesus loves the little children All the children of the world Red or yellow, black or white They are tasty, every bite Jesus loves the little children of the world YUM! YUM! And there were many who never wanted to sing the patriotic ones at the school assemblies right. The inevitable "Play ball!" at the end of the Anthem or even: Oh say can you see Any bed bugs on me If you do Take a few "cause I got them from you... (For the person who wanted demographics, early to mid 1950's Washington, DC area) Severn |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 27 Mar 05 - 08:28 AM Thanks Severn for the demographical information. I also remember the first part of the bedbug rhyme from Atlantic City, New Jersey 1950s. I appreciate the second part which places this squarely in the 'rip';'jeer' category of rhymes. Children are sooo creative! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,elanorien Date: 28 Mar 05 - 02:13 AM My childhood jump-rope song. down in the valley where the green grass grows there sat [girl's name] as sweet as a rose she sang, she sang, she sang so sweet along came [boy's name] and kissed her on the cheek how many kisses did she get, 1,2,3,4... (until you missed) |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 28 Mar 05 - 07:40 AM The Internet in general and Mudcat in particular could be a great way to collect, share, and preserve children's rhymes and game songs EXCEPT that most posters don't include any demographics such as when and where {city, state, country} these rhymes were recited and these games were played.. not to mentioned who played them {girls only; boys only?? girls & boys ???};, the age ranges of children playing them; the method of play; and how the rhymes and game songs were learned... also not to mention the race and ethnicity of the children performing rhymes and game songs {since it is possible that just as differences are likely to occur over space and time, differencs may occur among different ethnic & racial groups... [For instance, in my limited collection of rhymes in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area over the past 8 years, I have found that some rhymes differed from one African American neighborhood to another African American neighborhood within the same time in the same city] Of course, even when such information is provided over the Internet, there is a question about authenticity. People could misremember or horrors of horrors!!-people could even lie about which rhymes they recited and which games they played as children. But, still, I'm convinced that we 'Catters in particular are missing a wonderful opportunity to document children's rhymes and game songs. Having the words to these rhymes "beats a blank", but please think about future generations who will be interested in knowing more about the games children played and the rhymes children rhymed in the bad ole days of the middle & late 20th century & the early 21st century. Thank you. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Haruo Date: 29 Mar 05 - 02:06 PM I was born in 1954 in Seattle (Washington, USA) and have lived within twenty or thirty miles of my birthplace ever since except for one year (mid-67-mid-68) in Koishikawa 2-tyôme (Bunkyô-ku, Tôkyô-to, Japan) and two years (1972-4) in New Haven. I'm pretty sure my recollection of "Whistle while you work" dates to the early '60s when I lived at 2311 North 59th Street in Seattle. On the other hand I think I learned my childhood "On top of old Smoky (rubber band)" verses at the Baptist Assembly in Greenlake, Wisconsin (also early to mid-60s). Haruo |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 29 Mar 05 - 02:25 PM Thanks, Haruo for that demographical information. Is your "On top of old Smoky (rubber band)" verses posted in a Mudcat thread? Azizi |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: ToulouseCruise Date: 29 Mar 05 - 02:30 PM On top of old smokey, all covered with hair... it's not the same smokey, it's Smokey the Bear... |
Subject: RE: Khrushchev and Rosellini From: Haruo Date: 30 Mar 05 - 03:52 AM Yes, my old Smoky song is here in the oh-so-usefully titled thread "Help: who wrote the song that goes like this". An addendum re: "Hitler is a jerk": although I was aware of the Mussolini text as a kid (I'm pretty sure my dad told me about it) the version we actually sang in the neighborhood was Whistle while you work, Hitler is a jerk, Rosellini bit his weenie, Now it doesn't work. Interestingly (?), former Governor Rosellini has been in the news recently (well, a year ago maybe) for his role in the Seattle City Council "Strippergate" scandal, which led to the electoral defeat of several councilperoffspring. ("-peroffspring" is the non-sexist, non-ageist version of "-man") Haruo |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Deda Date: 30 Mar 05 - 11:34 PM From a New England prep school, single gender, mid 1960s: I go to (three strong beats -- like "JohnSon School") so pity me There ain't a (girl / boy)in the vicinity And every night at eight they shut the gate I don't know what the hell I ever-came-here-for I'm gonna pack my bags and run-away ... (Damn there was a second verse about escape plans, smoking and drinking -- but it's escaped ME.) I wish I knew how to describe this tune -- everyone knows it. It sounds like a school or military song. Then there was my daughter's favorite from the mid 1980s, Colorado, to the tune of the Kids-R-Us commerical: I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Special Ed kid, My Mamma dropped me on my head and look what she did! I can rub my head, I can chew my gum, Oh, it's great to be a Special Ed kid! There may have been other words but that's all I remember. I'll email her and ask. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Muttley Date: 31 Mar 05 - 08:05 AM How about these from the 60's in Australia Ta Ra Ra Boom-de-ay I'll take your clothes away And while your standing there I'l pinch your underwear! OR While shepherds washed their socks by night all seated 'round the tub An angel of the Lord came down and gave each sock a rub And on the Christmas theme Good King Wenceslas looked out In his pink pajamas Sliding down the bannister, Eating green ban-a-nas Brightly shone the moon that night Could have been mych finer When a poor man came in sight In his Mini Mi-i-nor! AND Captain Cook chased a chook All around Australia Lost his pants in the middle of France and found em in Tasmania (Don't ask me how France gets into this one - we just used to sing em) Ahhhhhh the memories!!!! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,MrsDave at Work Date: 31 Mar 05 - 02:00 PM some of these kids songs with violent themes are mildy creepy given all the 'classroom avenger' type nut kids that have shot up schools in the past decade. Of course, kids have been singing violent songs about bruning down schools and tortuering teahcers for many decades without incidents like the ones we have seen of late. Obviously these songs have no relationship to the violence. However, I wonder... are there any new ones popping up with references to Columbine and the other school tragedies? |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Bradley Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:01 PM B I N G O go Bingo B I N G O B I N G O go Bingo Down at the Bingo farm Jared drives a cadillac, Trudy drives a ford, Bradley rides a donkey and beats it with a board. Behind the fridgerator...there was a pain of glass... little Bradley sat on it and broke his little..... assssk me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.... if you don't believe me ask Bradley before he dies. Anyone remember this one? |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: 12-stringman Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:54 PM From my own collection of songs that I have made up other verses to, here goes one. Set to the tune of: Battle Hymn Of The Republic Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school, We have tortured all the teachers, we have broken all the rules, We have barbequed the principal and destroyed the P.T.A., Us kids are marching on! Chorus: Glory, glory, halleujah! Teacher beat me with a ruler, I hit her in the bean with a frozen Jimmy Dean, And she ain't my teacher no more. Another is this: Heigh-Ho! Heigh Ho! It's off to work we go, With razor blades and handgrenades and shotgun shells galore. I had another 3 verses to this one but they have slipped my mind right now. -Larry |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:57 PM Bradley, 'your' rhyme seems to be a combination of a couple of children's rhymes: "Bingo"["Bobby Bingo"], and "Miss Susie [Miss Susie] Had A Steamboat" {tugboat]. 'Miss Susie' is a profanity avoidance rhyme that is particularly similar to the rhyme you asked about. See this current Mudcat thread for examples I just posted of Miss Susie Had A SteamboataLo These rhymes share a number of lines including "Behind the fridgerator...there was a pain of glass"; and "ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lie". "Don't ask me no questions/And I won't tell you no lies' is the title and lyrics of a secular slave song that is included in Thomas W.Talley's 1922 book "Negro Folk rhymes" [Kennikat Press edition, 1968, pp 65-66]. That song is about a cook who appropriates some apples from her Master's & Mistress' kitchen to make some pies for her family. Incidently, "Tweedleelee" is a very widely known handclap rhyme among African Americans from the mid 1970s that is based on the R&B "Rockin Robin" song. For some reason the singer James Brown is found in the second verse of that risque rhyme layin in the gutter with a piece of glass stickin up his-butt {no child, youth, or adult who recited the rhyme to me ever said the rhyming word "ass".This seems to me to be another example of a profanily avoidance rhyme that really did avoid saying the taboo word.. Also I'm wonder if the "Bradley" mentioned in the rhyme presented in the previous post has anything to do with the various "Brady" rhymes. Dorothy Scarborough's 1925 "On The Trail Of Negro Folk Songs" [Folklore Associates addition, 1963, p.86} has a number of versions of 'Brady'. The first verse of one of these versions is: Twinkle Twinkle little star, Brady came down on-Gabrial car Kickin' out the windows and knickin' out doors. Tryin' to play with Diamond Joe! Been on the jolly so long. -snip- Here's the first verse of another version of the 'Brady'song: Twinkle Twinkle little star, Brady came home on a cable car. Well he was fdrunk an out of sight. Had n't been sober in many a night. -snip- Of course, this rhyme may have nothing to do with your query, but then again it may... Enjoy! Azizi |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Severn Date: 04 Apr 05 - 08:14 PM Twinkle, Twinkle, little star Who the Hell d'ya think you are? Up above the world so high, You think you own the whole damn sky! But then we'd also just interpose other galactic stuff and rhyme it: Twinkle, twinkle, little sun How I wonder what you've done Twinkle, twinkle, little moon How I wonder what you're doin' Twinkle, Twinkle, little Earth How I wonder what you're worth Twinkle, twinkle little sky How it makes me wonder why ...and on down the cosmos. Also done with "When You Wish Upon A Star", but Jimminy/Cliff Edwards/Ukulele Ike could hit more high notes than most of us. Severn When you wish upon a star May be close, but no cigar......... |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Neighmond Date: 05 Apr 05 - 03:54 AM From 1986-8, in Spirit Lake Iowa. Learned from Kirk Crosby, who was older than me by a matter of years. High-ho, high ho, I bit the teacher's toe! She bit me back, the filthy hack, High ho! High ho! High hooooo, hi ho, it's off to school we go with hang-grenades and razor blades, hi, ho! high ho! High Ho! 'nother!: On top of old smoky, all covered with sand, I shot my poor teacher, with a big rubber band! I shot her with pleasure, I shot her with pride! I couldnt've missed her...she's eighty feet wide! school yard staples. Chaz |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Flash Company Date: 05 Apr 05 - 06:57 AM elanorien--- We had:- Down in the valley where nobody knows, There lived (girls name) without any clothes, Up came John Thomas with top hat and stick......... From there on it is too obscene for mixed company! Caro--- Further verses to 'Lulu' Sonny Jim was forty, he took a trip by boat, They ran into an iceberg and couldn't stay afloat, Sonny Jim was drowning but Lulu didn't care, When he started sinking she grabbed him by the Haircut Shampoo, ring the barber's bell...etc Somewhere up in heaven an angel calls the roll, Lulu had forgotten that nature takes it's toll, When she grabbed poor Sonny as he fell into the soup, She found to her amazement that Sonny wore a Toupee Shampoo ring the barber's bell.... Etc FC |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Haruo Date: 05 Apr 05 - 01:34 PM I knew several variants of "the burning of the school", but I think the one I thought of as canonical went: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school, We have tortured all the teachers, we have broken every rule, We're marching down the hall to hang the principal, Us kids are marching on! Glory, glory, halleujah! Teacher beat me with a ruler, I knocked her to the floor with a loaded forty-four, And that teacher don't teach no more. This was, of course, sung with no intention of shooting (or hanging) anybody, and the adults in our vicinity knew better than to take it so. Haruo |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: jeffp Date: 05 Apr 05 - 01:57 PM We three kings of orient are Trying to smoke a rubber cigar It was loaded, it exploded Now we're on yonder star! Late 50's Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,freddy Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:15 PM miss lucy had a sailboat the sailboat had a bell (ding ding) miss lucy went to heaven and the sailboat went to hello operator please give me #9 and if you disconnect me, i'll chop off your behind the 'fridgerator there was a piece of glass miss lucy sat upon it, and it went right up her ask me no more questions, please tell me no more lies the boys are in the washroom, zipping up their flies are in the meadow, bees are in the park miss lucy and her boyfriend are kissing in the dark is like a movie, a movie's like a show, a show is like my tv screen and that is all i know i know my father, i know i know my ma i know i know my sister with the 14 acre 14 acre 14 acre bra bra bra! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Lighter Date: 12 Apr 05 - 06:19 PM The "Chiquita Banana" song posted by Earl in 1997 was known to me around 1963-64. It was based on a catchy TV commercial for Chiquita bananas. "The Burning of the School" was from the late '50s. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 13 Apr 05 - 01:41 PM From another Mudcat thread on children's rhymes I found out about a website called Wheee Blog! that is dedicated to schoolyard games. That Wheee! Blog thread has a lot of versions of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat". Here's one that I hadn't seen before: Miss Susie: Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell, ding-ding, Miss Susie went to heaven, her steamboat went to hell.. ..o operator. Please give me number nine. And if you disconnect me, I'll kick your fat behind.. ..The fridgerator, there was a piece of glass. Miss Susie fell upon it, And popped her big fat ass.. ..k me no more questions. Tell me no more lies, The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their flies.. ..are in the meadow. Bees are in the park. The boys and girls are kissing, Way past after dark, ..er than the ocean, deeper than the sea, darker than the underwear my sister puts on me. -posted by "Liz again." at April 12, 2005 04:02 PM {re-posted with permission of members of Wheee! Blog}." -snip- Click here for Wheee! Blog Schoolyard Games Incidently, several times Halifax, one of the members of Wheee! Blog, has asked that posters include such demographic information such when and where the rhymes posted were performed. However, it's rare that any poster there does so. Posters to this Mudcat thread are doing much better than Wheee! Blog posters in including such information. But it's probably unfair to compare ourself with Wheee! Blog since Mudcat is a folk based discussion forum that likely has a considerably older age of posters than those who post on Wheee Blog's schoolyard games thread. Anyway, thanks for remembering to include demographic information with your rhymes! Ms Azizi |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:53 PM O_O This is sung to the tune of 'Miss Susie had a Steamboat' (and when I learned it, Miss Susie was Miss Mary) Miss Molly had a baby, The baby's name was Tim, She put him in a bathtub, To see if he could swim. He ate up all the water, He drank up all the soap, He woulda ate the bathtub but it wouldn't fit his throat! Miss Molly called the doctor, Miss Molly called the nurse, Miss Molly called the lady with the alligator purse! Measles said the doctor, Measles said the nurse, Pizza said the lady with the alligator purse! Miss Molly shot the doctor, Miss Molly stabbed the nurse, Miss Molly paid the lady with the alligator purse! This next one is a clapping game: I went to Chinese bakery to buy a loaf of bread bread bread He put it in a plastic bag and this is what he said said said My name is Gay Hi Pickle Lo Gay Hi Gay Hi Gay Hi Pickle Lo Cha cha cha cha cha Early '90's, Calgary, Canada |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Muttley Date: 14 Apr 05 - 03:18 AM Dear "Mrs Dave At Work" - odd moniker there! Children have been singing tragedy / violence / sexual innuendo songs for centuries. The two classic examples are: Ring-a-ring O' Roses A pocket full of posies Atishoo! Atishoo! We all fall down Is, as most here would know, a lyric rhyme which originated (as far as we in the "Anglo-Saxon" west are concerned) in Bubonic / Pneumonic - plagued Britain (specifically, London) of the 17th Century (possibly earlier as the Black Death also had a massive impact on Europe and Britain in the 14th Century as well - when a third of the population perished) The translation is: RING-a-RING O' ROSES: The rash initially raised as "rosettes" which became open lesions and were accompanied by the more painful, pus-filled 'buboles' A POCKET FULL OF POSIES: Physicians traditionally carried 'posies' which were bunches of sweet-smelling herbs; Lavender, Thyme and Rosemary were considered VERY efficacious. This was done NOT to cover the stink of the disease or the (literally) thousands of decomposing bodies; but because the doctors of the times were convinced that disease was transmitted by smell! ATISHOO! ATISHOO!: The sound of a sneeze alerted all those around an afflicted person that they were a new victim of the plague. A single sneeze was OK - it was repeated sneezing that scared people! WE ALL FALL DOWN: DEAD !!!!! This is reportedly a doggerel concocted by children of those times which helped them deal with the tragedy. The second example is the ubiquitous "Rock-a-Bye Baby" everyone knows the rhyme: Rock-a-Bye Baby, In the tree-top When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall; And down will come baby, cradle and all. HOWEVER: (there's always a 'however' isn't there? the SECOND verse is the one which educated children that morals were for the ordinary folk, but the gentry had their OWN rules in this regard. It runs thus: Rock-a-bye Baby, your cradle is green Father's a nobleman, Mother's a queen; Sally's the lady who wears a gold ring And Johnny's the drummer that drums for the king. Here we have the baby and his/her parentage laid bare: Mother is a queen and father is a nobleman; yet the king (supposedly the queen's husband) is NOT the baby's father. Conclusion: "Baby" is truly a bastard! Thee is also a political / regal snub implicit in the "Cradle will rock / Baby will fall" part of the rhyme as well - but I can't remember what it is. |
Subject: abcd From: GUEST,(3rI Date: 12 Apr 06 - 06:28 PM self explanitory abcdefg wash those boy germs ofa me gotta bat gotta ball gotta baby in the hall gotta wish gotta wish gotta freeze |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Jeri Date: 12 Apr 06 - 06:46 PM Guest, is there a game you play when you sing that? It sounds like it from the bat & ball and the "gotta freeze" line. Interesting rhyme! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 12 Apr 06 - 08:20 PM Jeri, I hope that GUEST,3rI responds to your question. It will be interesting to hear what she or he says about whether that rhyme is done with handclap routines like others I've collected that "sound" like it. Imo, the rhyme that guest 3rI shared sounds like the "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes. Here's an example that was sent to me from Deena Garrison-Stevensen {Northern California, as recited by her 6 year old girl and other children in the playground} MISS SUE Miss Sue Miss Sue from Alabama Her real name is Susanna Sittin' in the rocking chair eating baby crackers watching the clock go Tick tock tick tock bananna rock, tick toc, tic toc bananna rock A-B-C-D-E-F-G wash those spiders off of me, Mooscha, Mooscha, I want my mommy Mooscha mooscha I know karate Mooscha moosch oops I am sorry Mooscha mooscha FREEZE! **** The "eating baby crackers" is usually given as "eating Betty Crocker" {meaning the pastry made from the directions that the famous cookbook editor Betty Crocker provided} For another variant of this rhyme, see this example that I collected from African American girls and boys, ages 5-12 years, Pittsburgh, PA area, 1999: MISS SUE, SCOOBY DOO Miss Sue, Scooby Do Miss Sue from Alabama Sittin at the table peeling mashed potatoes waitin for the clock to go boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally Stop! Ah 2 more times boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally Ah 1 more time boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally boom tick tock boom ticky wally wally Ah no more times. --- Btw, a lot of children's rhymes end with FREEZE! Of course, this means to immediately stop movement {usually maintaining a dramatic pose until the rhyme starts again}. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 12 Apr 06 - 08:31 PM Here is another example of "Miss Sue" that was submitted to my website Cocojams by darlenevil on 2/1/2005 along with the following comments: Hi:-) I just wanted to submit a very popular version of the 'handclap rhyme' song "Miss Sue From Alabama". I lived in Indiana my whole life although I changed schools alot, and this song seemed to be known by every other African American child I met. Here's how we all sang it: Miss Sue! *clap clap* Miss Sue! *clap clap* Miss Sue from Alabama Her real names Suzyanna Sittin in a rockin chair Eatin Betty Crocker bread Watchin the clock go Tick tock tick tock Banana rock! Tick tock tick tock Banana rock! A-b-c-d-e-f-g Wash them spots right offa me! Moocha Moocha Moocha Freeze! *literally freeze on the last clap, try to stay still longer than your friend |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Jeri Date: 13 Apr 06 - 09:00 AM Azizi, your website is wonderful! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 13 Apr 06 - 10:04 AM Thanks, Jeri. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: NH Dave Date: 13 Apr 06 - 03:07 PM For those in the US interested in collected children's songs, doggerel, and counting out rhymes, try to find a copy of Miss Mary Mack all Dressed in Black a collection of songs kids sang in northern Vermont in the early 20th century. These songs, collected by Scott E. Hastings, give us a look at folk links back to England, Ireland, and Europe, the source of much of our current population. Scott's been dead for a few years now, so the best place to look for this book is on Amazon, where I found my copy. Dave |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,thurg Date: 13 Apr 06 - 07:44 PM What is the term given to the rhymes/verses/sayings used to choose who will or will not be "it" in a game? Is that what is meant by "counting out rhymes" (cf. previous post)? |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 13 Apr 06 - 09:16 PM I've seen these terms used by adults to categorize children's playground rhymes where the last remaining child is selected as the seacher for hide & go seek, or {saying the rhyme two times in succession} the last two children become the team captains: choosing "it" counting out rhymes elimination rhymes **** Note that contrary to some books I have read, it seems to me that more often than not children want to be choosen as "it". BTW: when the two team captains are chosen, one at a time they chose members of their team by calling out the name of the remaining children. I believe that it still hurts to be the last child or one of the last child selected. When the children I meet with choose team captains, they use a choosing it rhyme like: Eenie meenie minie mo catch a tiger by the toe if he hollers let him go ee-nie meen-ie min-ie mo. The children huddle close together in a semi-circle type formation. The child who selects the captains {because he or she raised his hand first and me or another adult picked him or her] stands in front of the other children. Each child in the semi-circle extends his or her right foot forward. On each word {or in the case of the last line, on each syllable} the "leader" points to each successive child's foot. The leader can not skip a child or add additional words or syllables. The child who the leader is pointing to on the word "mo" {pronounced "moh"} is out and the rhyme is repeated until there is only one child left. That child is "it" or [in the case of competitive games with two teams-one of the team captains]. The same "leader" then starts the rhyme again with the remainding children to pick the second team captain. However, when that game [such as relay races]is played, and the group has time to play that game again, the way we do it in my groups is that the two new captains are the two children who were picked last. I think doing this helps build those last picked children's self-esteem. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 25 Apr 06 - 01:23 PM Caro from March '05, are you still checking in? Would love to have an ABC of the tune to "Mary-Anna at the pawnshop door" -- can you do it for us? I haven't been able to find it anywhere, so you're the only hope. Thanks! Bob |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 11 Aug 06 - 03:48 AM Hi, this is Caro. I'd forgotten my original post but was looking again on the net for my daughter who wants me to write down all the songs i used to sing to her and now to my granddaughter. I don't know what you mean by an ABC of the tune. I have another song at the back of my mind which is trying to come to the front (!!!) however, today my family is getting together and some of us haven't met for 20 years or so. One of my cousins will be there and she will bound to know (and remind me) of songs we sang. I'll check in more promptly from now on. lol btw I am from the UK. |
Subject: Lulu had a baby From: GUEST,Flash Company Date: 11 Aug 06 - 04:29 AM Sorry to take so long in thanking you for the other verses to the Lulu had a baby song. Was i right in that Alan Breeze sang this on the Billy Cotton Bandshow at Sunday lunchtime? You obviously remember more of the song that me. Cheers. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,amber Date: 29 Sep 06 - 06:54 PM where is Mrs susie??? does anybody know the lyrics Mrs susie had a sailboat the sailboat had a bell Ding ding miss susie went to Heaven the sailboat went to hello operator give my #9 and if you Disconectt me i'll kick you in the thigh what is next? |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:06 PM Hello, Guest Amber. There are numerous versions of Miss Susie Had A Steamboat. Btw, the name given for the woman in these profanity avoidance rhymes is sometimes Ms. Susie; Miss Suzie, Miss Lucy, Miss Molly and probably more. In these rhymes Miss Susie {or Miss, Ms, Mrs somebody} had a steamboat, or a tug boat or {as you wrote} a sail boat. Usually Miss Susie is recited by girls who are doing handclaps. Here are two versions of that rhyme from href="http://octopuses.chaoticinsanity.com">http://octopuses.chaoticinsanity.com : Miss Susie had a tug boat, her tugboat had a bell, Miss Susie went to heaven her tug boat went to HELL...o operator please give me number nine, and if you disconnect me I'll cut of you're behind the 'fridgerator there lay a piece of glass Miss Susie sat upon it and cut her little ASS...k me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flies are in the meadow, the bees are in the park, Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing in the D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K, dark dark dark. The dark is like the movies, the movies' like the show, the show is like tv and that is all I know know know, I know I know my ma I know I know my pa, I know I know my sister with the 49'rs bra. The bra is for the boobies, the boobies for the milk, the milk is for the babies with diapers made of silk. -Kristeena at June 7, 2003 **** Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell ding ding, the steamboat went to heaven, Miss susie went to hello operator, give me number nine, and if you disconnect me, I'll chop off your behind the refrigerator there lay a piece of glass Miss susie sat upong it and broke her little ask me no more questions tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flies are in the city bees are in the park Miss susie and her boyfriend are kissing in the d-a-r-k d-a-r-k d-a-r-k dark dark dark the dark is like the movies, the movies like the show the show is like the tv set and that is all i know know know i know i know my ma i know i know my pa i know i know my sister with the sixty dollar, sixty dollar sixty dollar bra bra bra my mother is godzilla my father is king kong my brother is the stupid one who made up this song my mother gave me a nickel my father gave me a dime my sister gave me a boyfriend his name was frankenstein he made me do the dishes he made me wash the floors he made me clean his underweard then i kicked him out the door i kicked him over london i kicked him over france i kicked him over hollywood and he lost his underpants -Erin, April 19, 2004 There are a number of Miss Susie Had A Steamboat examples on that website's Schoolyard games thread. Also, if you're interested, check out my website http://www.cocojams.com for more examples & comments about Miss Susie Had A Steamboat and other handclap rhymes, cheerleader cheers, and more. Best wishes, Azizi |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:11 PM Sorry, here is the link for that Octoblog website's Schoolyard games thread : http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php Btw, it appears that many of the posters on that thread are kids or teens which makes reading their versions and comparing them with older versions of this rhyme all the more interesting. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: dulcimer42 Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:29 PM We always did "Eenie Meenie Miney Mo," back in the 50's in Michigan., but after the last line of Eenie aMeenie Miney Mo, if the one doing the picking didn't like who ended up being 'it,' he would add "and you are not it," which gave the honor to the opposite person. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: dulcimer42 Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:45 PM Here's one I remember from the early 50's in Michigan Cheers, Cheers for old Kearsley High We like our whiskey, we like our rye Send old (principal's name) out for gin And don't let a sober teacher in. We never stagger, we never fall We sober up on wood alcohol. And the royal faculty Lies out on the ?? floor. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST Date: 14 Oct 06 - 11:11 PM Miss Susie: Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell, Miss Susie went to heaven, her steamboat went to hell.. ..o operator. give me number nine. And if you disconnect me, I'll kick you from behind ..The fridgerator, there was a piece of glass. Miss Susie fell upon it, And cut her little ass.. ..k me no more questions. Tell me no more lies, The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their flies.. ..live in the city bees live in the park Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing in the d-a-r-k, d-a-r-k, dark, dark, dark ..er than the ocean, darker than the sea, darker than the underwear my mommie puts on me. See?!?! (showing your underwear!) |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 15 Oct 06 - 08:58 AM Hello, Guest 14 Oct 06 - 11:11 PM. Thanks for sharing that example. Regarding "showing your underwear" at the end of the Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhyme, that's the first time I've read that ending. I'm hoping you're still around and will share when [decade] and where [city, state, nation if outside the USA], you performed that rhyme or saw this rhyme performed that way. And-also for the folkloric record-I'm also curious to know what you meant by "underwear". From what I've read, it's usually girls only who "do" Miss Susie as two partner handclap rhyme.* Where I live {in Pittsburgh, PA}, from at least the 1980s, most girls [except in Catholic schools} routinely wear pants to school all seasons that schools are open. The idea of showing one's underwear might be less risque if the girls were only tugging their pants down a slight bit so that the tops of their panties could be seen. But if they were lifting up their dresses and skirts to show their panties, that would be MUCH more daring. And it would be even more risque if these girls were lifting up their shirts or blouses so people could see their tee shirts or any training bra or 'real' bra they had on. *I wrote "read" because I have never observed this rhyme performed. African American children in Pittsburgh, PA area are my primary direct contact/observation collection group for children's chants, cheers & rhymes. When I ask Black children in Pittsburgh area about this rhyme using the title "Miss Susie {or Miss Lucy}, I've found no African American girl or boy-Black adult for that matter in this area who knows it. Unfortunately, I haven't done any comparison research with non-Black Pittsburgh area children, youth, or adults. Also, "Miss Susie had a steamboat" isn't familiar to me from my childhood/teen years in [Southern] New Jersey. I'm wondering if this rhyme is less known among Black Americans than White Americans. I've found race to be a factor in how certain rhymes are performed and whether they are known to specific populations of children. For instance, for what it's worth, the gross me out rhymes like "Great Big Globs of Greasy Grimey Gopher Guts" appear to be very widely known among White children [as evidenced by this and other Internet sites that post children's rhymes]. However, I have no recollection of that rhyme or those types of rhymes. And in almost 10 years of active collecting have I ever seen it performed by Black children and no Black child or adult who I've asked has ever admitted any knowledge of it. Ditto for taunting rhymes directed at teachers such as "Glory Glory Hallelujah" or "Joy To The World". I'm wondering if Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" is also placed in the rhyme category of "usually not known by African American children {living in all or predominately African American urban areas}. I'd love for others to add any experiencial confirmation or refution of my sense that the "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhyme and the others I mentioned are known or not known by Black Americans as well as non-Black Americans. As I indicated earlier in this post, I'm interested in this aspect of race as a factor of which rhymes children know for the folkloric record. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 15 Oct 06 - 09:01 AM Correction- "And in almost 10 years of active collecting I have never seen it [Miss Susie Had A Steamboat] performed by Black children and no Black child or adult who I've asked has ever admitted any knowledge of it." |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Urbane Guerrilla Date: 15 Oct 06 - 10:52 PM Goodie, I get to add a quantum to the trivia pile: "Kaiser Bill went up the hill To take a look at France. Kaiser Bill came down the hill With bullets in his pants." Sung to a shaved-down edition of "Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill." Interestingly, this one was mutated among elementary school children in Rapid City, South Dakota sometime before about 1969 to "Custer Bill. . ." It is plausible the kids picked "Custer" after the fairly nearby Black Hills town of Custer, which they had heard of, rather than the alien word "Kaiser." Turning to the Colonel Bogey March lyrics: I've seen in print, can't remember where: "Hitler -- has only got one ball! Rommel -- has two, but they are small. Himmler -- his are dissimilar, And poor old Goebbels, has no b'lls, at all!" That's my favorite version of the verse, for the sheer Britishness of the rhyme for Himmler. I know the last line does not need the commas, but we know where the rests are. It's a matter of historic record that the British prisoners of war on the Railway of Death substituted Japanese officials' names -- though they didn't let the Imperial Japanese Army in on it! Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory tail-enders I heard in late 1960s elementary school ran: "...met her at the gate/With a loaded .38..." "...met her at the door/With a loaded .44..." "...met her in the attic/With a German automatic..." |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Random college student putting off her essay Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:54 AM We had "Miss Suzie", "Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to school we go", and "Great big globs of greasy grimey gopher guts" in southeastern Wisconsin in the 90's. Here's a few more: (to sing on a school bus) Hail to the bus driver, bus driver, bus driver Hail to the bus driver, bus driver man! He drinks and he cusses and stinks up the buses. Hail to the bus driver, bus driver man! (a few to figure out who's it, by tapping people's toes) Train train number 9 going down Chicago line If the train should jump the track, do you want your money back? Y-E-S and that spells yes! (or) N-O and that spells no! Mickey Mouse built a house, how many bricks did he use? (the person who's toe you land on picks a number, then the person reciting the rhyme counts to that number, and the final person landed on is it) Bubblegum, bubblegum in a dish, how many pieces do you wish? (works the same as Mickey Mouse above) Eenie, meenie, miny, moe Catch a tiger by the toe If he hollars let him go Eenie, meenie, miny, moe My mother says that you are not it Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean But just because you kissed a boy behind a ma-ga-zine! (there was another alternate line about a "dirty dirty dishrag on your big toe", too) (to be sung on busses) Give me a long M! EMMMMMM! Give me a short M! EM! Don't give me no pop, no pop, don't give me no tea, no tea, just give me that milk, moo moo moo moo, Wisconsin milk, moo moo moo moo. (On the moo moo moo moo part, one person would lock their fingers together and turn their hands palms outward with their thumbs hanging down, and the other person would "milk" the thumb-utters. They'd switch for the second moo moo moo moo) (This repeats for all the letters of the word 'milk', then...) Give me a long milk! CHOCOLATE! Give me a short milk! SKIM! Don't give me no pop, no pop, don't give me no tea, no tea, just give me that milk, moo moo moo moo, Wisconsin milk, moo moo moo moo. (some Christmas themed ones) Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg The batmobile lost its wheel and Joker got away (or took ballet) Batman's in the kitchen, Robin's in the hall, Joker's in the bathroom, peeing on the wall...(there was more, but I don't remember the rest) Joy to the world, the teacher's dead. We barbacued her head! What happened to the body? We flushed it down the potty! And round and round it goes, and round and round it goes, forever and ever around it goes! (A Barney one) I hate you, you hate me, we chased Barney up a tree. With a 44 caliper shot him in the head, aren't you glad that Barney's dead. (This one has a little tune to it, although I don't know what the tune's name is.) There's a place in France where the naked ladies dance. There's a hole in the wall where the men can see it all. But they don't care because they're eating underwear. (To pop the head off a dandelion, you recite this) Mama had a baby and her head popped off! (an old classic) Comet, it makes your teeth turn green. Comet, it tastes like gasoline (alternately: vaseline) Comet, it makes you vomit, So buy your comet, and vomit, today! (Songs that never end) This is the sone that never ends, It goes on and on my friends (alternately: it was made to annoy my friends) Some people started singing it no knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just because (repeats from beginning) I know the song that gets on everybody's nerves I know the song that gets on everybody's nerves I know the song the gets on everybody's nerves And this is how it goes (repeat from the beginning) |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Random college student Date: 03 Nov 06 - 07:26 AM I thought of a few more: (A clapping game that we used to have contests at recess with. Everyone stood in a circle and you had to move your hand out of the way before you got hit on "boo", otherwise you were out. When it got down to two people, it became a sort of tug of war.) Down by the riverside, the hanky panky side East side, West side, hanky panky side A E I O U Bamboo! (Another clapping game) A sailor went to sea sea sea to see what he could see see see But all that he could see see see Was the bottom of the great blue sea sea sea Some bus songs: "There was a bear..." Bubblegum song "My mommy gave me a penny, and told me to buy a henny...) A ricky bamboo (a ricky bamboo) Now what is that? (now what is that?) It's something made (it's something made) By the Princess Pat (by the Princess Pat) It's red and go-old (It's red and go-old) And purple, too (and purple, too) That's why it's CALLED! (that's why it's CALLED!) A ricky bamboo (a ricky bamboo) Now Captain Jack (now Captain Jack) Had a mighty fine crew (had a mighty fine crew) He sailed across (he sailed across) The ocean, too (the ocean, too) But his ship did sink (but his ship did sink) And yours will, too (and yours will, too) If you don't HAVE! (if you don't HAVE!) A ricky bamboo (a ricky bamboo) [repeats from the top] |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 03 Nov 06 - 10:58 PM Thank You - COLLEGE STUDENT!!!!
DEAR - RANDOM C.S.
This is a very worthwhile contribution and probably falls closely in line with the threads Azizi has been gathering.
For the purposes of combined memory - could you also note:
Thanks again for a most noteworthy contribution to the collection.
Sincerely, |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Scoville Date: 03 Nov 06 - 11:32 PM [Denver, Colorado, early 1980's, from my music teacher. We used the same clapping pattern described below with "Miss Suzy". I ended up teaching the elephant/door verse to two little girls who were waiting for their dog to be seen at the vet clinic where I used to work here in Houston; they knew the other two verses already but not the door one.] Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, All dressed in black, black, black, With silver buttons, buttons, buttons, All down her back, back, back. She asked her mother, mother, mother, For fifteen cents, cents, cents, To watch the elephant ... Jump over the fence... He jumped so high... He touched the sky... and didn't come back... 'til the fourth of July, -ly, -ly. She asked her mother ... for five cents more... to watch the elephant... slide down the door... he slid so low... he stubbed his toe... and that's the end... of the elephant show... ***** [From Denver, Colorado, mid-1980's. I learned them from a white kid but the neighborhood was about 80% black and I don't know where he learned them] . . . met her at the bank with a Sherman army tank . . . ***** We did "Miss Suzy" as a clapping rhyme, minus the underpants part. Two girls sat across from each other and clapped as fast as they could without messing up: Hands together, right hands together across, hands together, left hands together across, hands together, both hands together across, hands together, repeat. ***** On top of Old Smoky, all covered in blood, I shot my poor teacher with a .44 slug. I went to her funeral, I went to her grave, Some people threw flowers, I threw a grenade. I looked in her coffin, she wasn't quite dead, So I took a bazooka and blew off her head. ***** Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to school we go, With hand grenades and razor blades, Hi-ho, hi-ho. Hi-ho, hi-ho, I bit the teacher's toe, She bit me back, that dirty rat, hi-ho, hi-ho. ***** [From Houston, Texas, early 1990's. Very white kids] Sherman, what have you done to me? Sherman, oh, Sherman, can't you see-- Sherman, you put your sperm in, And now it's Sherman and Herman and me. (to that tune they always use in movies about summer camp. I don't know what it's called, but kids are always whistling it.) ***** |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:34 PM Gargoyle, thank you for acknowledging my interest in children's rhymes. Needless to say, many Mudcat threads on children's rhymes were started long before I heard of this online community. That said, I'm pleased to join you & other folks here and elsewhere who recognize the importance of collecting, preserving, studying, sharing, and enjoying examples of children's rhymes, cheers, and chants. Here's an example of a "teacher's taunt" from my website www.cocojams.com . Actually this example is probably a combination of several teacher's taunts. I'm also including a portion of the poster's response to my emailed questions seeking demographical information and asking her about the meanings of the examples she sent in to that website. Note: I've not corrected any typos or punctuation errors as in my opinion doing so would detract from the authenticity of the example. The Story of The Burning Of The School "Here is the story of the burning of the school. Iv broken every teacher and Iv broken every rule I BBQed the princeable and cooked the pizza yaaa and the kids go marching on. Row row row your boat gentaly down the stream throw your teacher overboard and listen to her scream 5 weeks later she was floting down the Delawar chewing on her underwear wish she had another pair 10 weeks later she was eaten by a poler bear and thats how the poler bear died On top of old smokey all covered in sand I shot my old teacher with a red ruber band I shot her with plesher I shot her with pride o how could I miss her she was 40 feet wide I went to her funaral I went to her grave when people threw flowers I threw a gernade then on the news they said shes alive o how I wish that teacher would die Glory glory hallelujah teacher hit me with a ruler poped her in the bean with a rotten tangareen and she aint gana teach no more -Davonna; 7/15/2006 Davonna's comment: "I am an african american 13 year old girl. at the moment I am in japan. That is were I learned the song. yes my teachers get on my nerves but I would never do any thing like whats in the songs to my teachers. The songs are funny.thats the only reason I like them. Also (I have e-mailed before) there are teacher taunts here in japan. I learned teacher taunts from a 10 year old. the year is of course 2006. No one would realy kill there teachers or hang them. they are just for fun." |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:30 PM AZIZI!!!Thank you for collecting at http://www.cocojams.com
Duplication is good. Because, at some point a collection may be lost. It is always good to backup the oral traditions. It is also good, like at your site, to catalogue genre.
I will be adding some more to your page, from what I already have.
Sincerely, |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Looking for sally's steamboat Date: 28 Dec 06 - 08:39 PM I was driving in my car with my tow boys singing songs with them. I remembered a song I herd when Iwas a child . It goes sometihing like this...... Sally had a stam boat the steam boat had a bell Sally went to heaven and the steam boat went to Hello operator????????? If anyone can help me finish that would be great.... |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 28 Dec 06 - 08:43 PM GUEST,Looking for sally's steamboat, check out this post in this thread GUEST Date: 14 Oct 06 - 11:11 PM and there are many other examples of this rhyme on other Mudcat threads and on this website: http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php Usually the woman's name isn't Sally, though. |
Subject: RE: cheers From: GUEST,Clo Date: 20 Jan 07 - 11:37 AM 2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate??? Manchester, Manchester Oh no that's wrong lets go ………… sing this song …………, …………… 2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate??? Not the king, not the queen We support the …………. team!!! burn, it's cold in hear There must be some ………….. In the atmosphere I said eo eo eo ice ice ice eo eo eo ice ice ice I said burn, its cold… |
Subject: Lyr: Add: Brr! It's cold in here {step chant} From: Azizi Date: 20 Jan 07 - 08:29 PM BRR! IT'S COLD IN HERE Brr! it's cold in here. There must be some Alphas in the atmosphere. [I said-ah] Brrr! it's cold in here. There must be some Alphas in the atmosphere. -heard at various step shows Editor: "Brrr" is meant to approximate the sound a person makes when he or she is freezing cold. "Alphas" refer to members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc, a Black Greek letter fraternity. "Ice Ice" is an Alpha signature chant that also references this "cold" theme: Ice Ice, Baby Ice ice baby, too cold too cold. Ice ice baby, The black and gold -various sources, -snip- The "black and gold" refers to that fraternity's colors. ** If you are interested in reading more about the nine African American fraternities and sororities that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, click The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated if you are interested in reading selected examples of African American fraternity or sorority chants or posting additional examples, and/or finding links to selected YouTube videos of AA Greek letter steppin & strolls {party walks}, check out my website http://www.cocojams.com/ |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,hello Date: 26 Feb 07 - 05:02 PM buttcheeks |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST Date: 20 Apr 07 - 11:50 AM connect me number nine and if u disconnect me ill kick you from behind the fridgerator theyre lay a piece of glass. mrs. susie sat upon it and broke her big fat ask me no more questions tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flys are in the meadow bees are in the park. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,he he it's little me Date: 03 May 07 - 09:58 PM (to the tune of 'Mrs. Lucy') My mother is an agent, my father is a spy, and I'm the little brat who called the FBI |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: richd Date: 06 May 07 - 02:30 PM A variation on The Chinese grocer posted above, from south Wales: I went to a Chinese fish shop To buy a loaf of bread, bread bread I wrapped it up in a five pound note And this is what he said said said said. My name is Elvis Presley Girls are sexy Sitting in the corner Drinking Pepsi Boys are wallies Playing with the doliies, Do me a favour drop dead. What did you die of? Raw Fish What did you die like? Like this Blurgwaaaa- (falls over ) Played in school currently. And another one Coca Cola, Coca Cola Alabooshka, Alabooshka Boys got the muscles, teacher can't count, Girls got the sexy legs You better watch out. Rich d. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,another college student Date: 18 May 07 - 07:06 AM Honolulu, HI. Most between '94-'99 unless noted. Hand-clap games: Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack All dressed in black, black, black With silver buttons, buttons, buttons All down her back, back, back She asked her mother, mother, mother For fifteen cents, cents, cents To see the elephant, elephant, elephant Jump over the fence, fence, fence He jumped so high, high, high He touched the sky, sky, sky And didn't come back, back, back 'til the fourth of july, -ly, -ly You lie! Played with a partner. At the end, the person who shouts "you lie!" first is the winner. A sailor went to sea, sea, sea To see what he could see, see, see But all that he could see, see, see Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea Played with my mom quite a bit in elementary school. At sea/see parts, we'd raise our arms in a salute. I think she taught me this one. She grew up in the '60s. There was another one I vaguely remember. I remember very few words: yellow, rocking/cradle?, cracker. Has anybody else heard something with those words? I remember the rocking part because the person's arms would form a cradle when the word was said. Also Numbers. I remember playing it in high school, too. Another one I learned in high school was from friends in 2004. They came to Hawaii from Japan. It can be played with as few as three people to a large group. (The person beginning says their two-syllable nickname.) kara, hajimaru, 'ryzum' ni awa sete. This means that the person is starting and telling the participants to follow the rhythm they start. At the same time, everyone begins by patting their lap with both hands once, clapping once, snap right once, snap left once. Repeat all of this twice. Then pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. At the right snap, the beginning person says another person's two-syllable nickname. At left snap, the numbers one through four in Japanese (ichi - one; ni - two; san - three; shi OR yon - four) Pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. If ichi, at left snap person two says their two-syllable nickname. Pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. If ni, at right snap and left snap person two says their nickname. Pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. If san, at clap, right snap and left snap person two says their nickname. Pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. If shi/yon, at all motions, person two says their nickname. If successful, pat lap, clap, snap right, snap left again. At right snap, person two says yet another person's nickname, and so on. If unsuccessful, the last successful person gets to start again. (I really hope this is clear. It's a bit difficult since I haven't played this in a while.) Rhyme: Coca-cola went to town Pepsi-cola shot him down Dr. Pepper fixed him up Now he's called 7-Up. Learned this in kindergarten (very early '90s) from a girl volunteering there. About mid-'90s at my younger brother's baseball games: Row, row, row your boat Roughly down the stream Push the other team overboard And listen to them scream Ah! Five days later Chewing on their underwear Wished they had another pair Ten days later Eaten by a polar bear Oops, the polar bear died Poor thing, not! My grandpa taught us the following. He grew up in the '20s. There's a hole in the wall Where the people see it all There's a place in France Where the women wear no pants. There's a Renaissance piece called "Hole in the Wall." A version of it is in harpist Laura Zaerr's book "Renaissance Rose." I don't think there's a connection, but it's a fun, upbeat piece. Parodies: Hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go with razor blades and hand grenades Hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho from work to home we go with burned up butts and razor cuts Hi ho hi ho hi ho... Learned this from my younger brother maybe around 2000. Here comes the bride All dressed in white Where is the groom? He's in the dressing room. Probably around '94-'97. The first two lines of the following come from my harp teacher. The last two were my input. She wrote it so I could remember "Here comes the bride" when I play at weddings. My teacher went to early elementary school in the Mid-west then moved to Oregon. She's in her late 30s, I believe. First time I'm sharing the first bit outside of my teacher and a friend. Here comes the bride All fat and wide Where is the groom? He's in the dressing room. Irritating: Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, Ninety-nine bottles of beer, Take one down, Pass it around, Ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall... My friends and I used to try to sing this on the bus going back to school from field trips in third grade ('96-'97). We never got past ninety-five. Sometimes it was changed to 'pop' depending on the teacher. This is a song that never ends, It goes on and on my friends, Some people started singing it Not knowing what it was And then they kept on singing it forever Just because... I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, And this is how it goes... I learned in high school that if you sing this in a very high pitch, it gets on people's nerves right away. And remember Telephone? My grandpa loved playing this with my siblings and me. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: guitar Date: 18 May 07 - 07:19 AM Adam McNaughtan made a tape/cd with school children's songs on it; it's called "The Glasgow That I Used to Know." Tom |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 18 May 07 - 02:50 PM Thanks, GUEST,another college student and other guests & members for sharing your memories of rhymes on this thread. I appreciate the fact that people are including demographical information with their examples. It's interesting how so many of these rhymes are known in far flung places. It's also interesting to see the slight or the considerable differences that are found in different versions of the same rhyme over space and over time. Special thanks, Guest another college student, for your Japanese handclap rhyme. It sounds like fun! Btw, I don't know the "yellow, rocking/cradle?, cracker" rhyme. Hopefully, somebody reading this will post a rhyme which will be the one you're thinking of. |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST Date: 17 Jan 08 - 12:44 PM |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Sdoran2 Date: 20 Jan 08 - 10:09 PM Went to catholic grade school St Vincent De Paul Bedford IN in the 70's. The end of the song is "run run run I fear I hear a nun, grab the liquor and run! If a sister shall appear, say 'sister have a beer" in the cellars of old SVS. My brother thinks the song starts with "Give a cheer, give a cheer, to the boys who make the beer..." If you know sdoran2@aol.com Thanks |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 09 Feb 08 - 10:46 AM Here's a couple of "teacher taunts" that were sent to my website: Glory Glory Hallelujah The version I learned in Monterey CA in the early 70s had a slight variation to the ones I see here; it concluded with Glory Glory Hallelujah, teacher hit me with a ruler. I hit her in the butt with a rotten coconut, and she ain't my teacher no more. Pretty uncouth, I suppose. As per the question of why did we sing it, well, some of my teachers were really mean. I don't ever remember have any intentions of violence towards them, of course, but to sing about burning down the school and hitting my teacher in the butt with a rotten coconut gave me a feeling of joy. -Tim ; 2/4/08 **** From The Halls Of Maple My personal favorite [rhyme] is one the children in my class wrote in grade four and having never encountered a version even similar anywhere, I'd guess we were actually creating a new one. Sung to the tune of the Marine Hymn: From the halls of Maple (our school) prison, to the shores of Bubblegum Bay We will fight our teachers battles with spits wads and red clay First to fight for longer recesses, and to keep our desks a mess We are proud to claim the title of the teachers little Pest. -Susan S; 12/22/07 {Oregon} http://www.cocojams.com/teacher_taunts.htm |
Subject: RE: Parents dn't vst school / What Can the matter From: GUEST,eye-rust Date: 22 Feb 08 - 05:03 PM The is a childrens song; Oh dear what can the matter be Oh dear what can the matter be oh dear what can the matter be parents don't our school they visit ??????? and they visit ?????????????? but parents don't visit our school What are the ??????????? eye-rust wisc feb 2007 |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Liz Date: 29 Mar 08 - 09:40 PM The version of Chinese Bakery. My best friend taught me thin when we were really little. We were in kindergarden and both of us loved clapping games like this. Its a little like what richd put up: I went to a Chinese Bakery, to buy a loaf of bread bread bread He asked me what my name was, and this is what I said said said Ching chang Charley I know karate punch in the body oops Im sorry Chinese Japanese Look at these dirty knees FREEZE |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Divanica Date: 23 Jan 09 - 06:06 PM This is a clapping game my sister and I used to play. Down Down Baby Down by the Rollercoaster Sweet Sweet Baby Ill never let you go Shimmy Shimmy cocoa pop Shimmy Shimmy pow Shimmy Shimmy cocoa pop Shimmy Shimmy pow I like coffee I like tea I like (insert name) And he likes me! So step back black jack you dont shine I bet you five dollars I can beat your behind! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 24 Jan 09 - 09:10 AM GUEST,Divanica, thanks for sharing the version you know of "Down Down, Baby". Here's another Mudcat thread that contains some versions of that rhyme: Down Down Baby-Race in Children's Rhymes |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: Azizi Date: 05 Mar 09 - 03:31 PM Here's a children's profanity avoidance rhyme that I had to read two times before I "got" it. Enjoy! Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes From: GUEST,Tom - PM Date: 07 Nov 06 - 10:07 AM Lemonade made in the shade and sold by Barnum Bailey. A piece of ice in every glass as big as an elephant's Ask your mother for 50 cents to see the monkeys sticking sticks up the elephant's Hold on ladies! For those of you who can't swim the elephants are about to Peanuts! 5 cents a bag!! My grandfather (born 1922) used to quote this at the supper table after dinner. He was born, lived , and died in Berwyn, PA. I'm Rubber You're Gue Children's Rhymes |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,gman Date: 02 Nov 09 - 08:05 PM just a slight variation of the hi ho Hi ho hi ho off to school we go with hand grenades and rifles too! hi ho Hi ho hi ho hi ho |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: robomatic Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:12 PM to Stars and Stripes Forever: "Be kind to your web footed friends for a duck may be somebody's mother, Be nice to your friends in the swamp Where the weather is cold and dawmp You may think that this is the end, Well it is!" |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,abbey Date: 21 Jun 10 - 03:16 PM coco cola went to town diet pepsi knocked him down dr.pepper picked him up now we're drinking 7-UP 7-UP is full of stew now we're drinking mountain dew mountain dew fell off the mountain now we're drinking from the fountain fountain fountain it fell down now we're drinking from the ground ground ground now we're through now we're back to mountain dew mountain dew is full of smoke now we're back to drinking coke coke coke plain old coke case closed NOT! |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST,Truth-teller.com Date: 13 Mar 12 - 11:56 AM "Heigh Ho!, Heigh Ho! We've joined the CIO We pay our dues To the dirty Jews Heigh Ho!, Heigh Ho!" This was also sung by the Cornell University Class of 1913 at their 1938 Reunion. See page 3, of the ': Jewish Chronicle' for story 'Strictly Confidential' Date: 1938-08-05 |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: GUEST Date: 09 Apr 15 - 07:00 PM I'm a teenager, I learned these in 2nd and 3rd class, and I'm from North County Dublin, Ireland. High ho, high ho, 'this off to school we go, With bucket n' spade and a hand grenade, High ho, high ho. (From a South African exchange student) Jingle Bells, jingle bells, Santa Claus is dead, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, stabbed him in the head. Barrie Girl, Barbie Girl, tried to save his life, But Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, stabbed her with a knife. (I remember that kid getting in trouble for telling the infamous "sits in the corner and red all over" joke, so there might have been something up...) (All from an older Scottish kid) Good King Wencelas lookèd out On the feast of Stephen When a snowball gave him a clout, he shouted "We'll get even!" While shepherd washed their socks by night While watching ITV, The Angel of the Lord came down And switched to BBC, For the Angel of the Lord much preferred BBC to ITV. We three kings of Orient are, One in a taxi, one in a car, One on a scooter, blowing his hooted, Smoking a big cigar. O-oh star of wonder, star of light, Sit on a box of Dynamite, Pull the trigger, here we go-o-o On our way to Mexico. Also, a classic: Crashing through the snow, On a pair of broken skis, Oh what fun it is, Smashing into trees. The snow is turning red, I think I'm nearly dead, I woke up in the hospital With stitches in my head. Oh, Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, Robin laid an egg, the Batmobile, lost a wheel And the joker got away, Oh... Alternate second verse about Osama Bin Laden, but I learnt that somewhere else, and I'm not sure if it's authentic homegrown filth or a comedy YouTube vid. Ah well... |
Subject: RE: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, I Bit the Teacher's Toe! From: keberoxu Date: 18 Oct 17 - 11:19 PM The music period in elementary/grade school, where the chorus director taught us songs and had us sing them together, she was partial to My Darling Clementine. And certain students would sing My Darling Clementine as taught, except for the name. Oh, my daaaaa - rling FRANK-EN-STEIIIIIIIIIN! The entire parody did no interest them. They just wanted to sing Frankenstein instead of Clementine. To make the chorus director cringe and the other students giggle. This thread has been hit by a spammer with VPN so we can't block him. It is closed for now but if anyone wishes to post real music content, ask a moderator to reopen it. Thanks. ---mudelf |
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