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Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim...
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Grandad Date: 13 Dec 23 - 02:51 PM Oh Jemima, look at your uncle Jim Diving in the Pisspot to learn how to swim Over went the piss pot and drown poor Jim Oh what a shame, oh what a shame jemima |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,James Marchment Australia Date: 30 Apr 22 - 12:32 PM Tune of Soldiers' Chorus from opera «FAUST» by Charles Gounod. In Cubs AND YMCA when I was 7, 8, >.. We also had «Oh, Jemima look at your Auntie Kate. She's in the icebox learning how to skate. First she does the two-step, then the Figure Eight. Now she's on her backside sliding out the gate.» (other verses disposed of most of the family in similarly resourceful exploitations of limited learning environments. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GeoffLawes Date: 23 Nov 19 - 08:01 AM Here it is on YouTube |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 20 Nov 19 - 02:19 PM Oh Jemima look at your aunty Kate She's on the duckpond learning how to skate First she does the figure 8 then she does the glide and now shes under the water swimming against the tide |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Carol Date: 24 Aug 18 - 09:12 PM I learned this from my Dad in the US in the 1950's.I had no idea it was popular all over the world! His version goes: Oh Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim, He's in the duck pond learning how to swim. First he does the breaststroke, then he does the side. Now he's at the bottom, swimming against the tide. Oh Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim, He's in the duck pond, learning how to swim. First he does the sidestroke, then he does the crawl. Now he's at the bottom, doing nothing at all! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Jett and Joy (grandson & grandma) Date: 12 Jul 17 - 03:43 PM I learned this song when I was a child; I'm now 71. I taught it to my 12 year old grandson, Jett. For some reason, we can't remember the first five syllables. We went on line to see what the words are and were amazed at all the different lyrics. Since the majority sings "Oh Jemima" we'll accept that until we remember what we used to sing. No one sings the words that we remember exactly; but, we like ours best! Oh Jemima look at your Uncle Jim Down in the duck pond learnin' how to swim First he does the duck paddle then he does the crawl Now he's at the bottom doin' nothin' at all GLUB, GLUB, GLUB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Colvin Ford Date: 01 May 17 - 07:58 AM Daisy, Daisy, look at your Uncle Jim He's down in the bathtub learning how to swim, first he does the backstroke, then he does the dive, and now he's down the plughole swimming against the tide |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Long Firm Freddie Date: 22 Apr 17 - 03:19 AM My Mum had a slightly bawdier version: Oh Mother, look at Uncle Jim Lying in the piddle pot learning how to swim First he did the side stroke then he did the splash And then he did a mighty fart and out went the gas! LFF |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Helen M. Date: 21 Apr 17 - 10:01 AM I remember something like.............. Oh Jemima Look at your Aunty Kate She's on the duck pond learning how to skate First she's going forward then shes going back Now shes under water 'cos the ice did crack Is that correct? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 09 Oct 15 - 06:18 PM Oh aunt Jemima look at your uncle Clive, he's in the garage learning how to drive, first he is in low gear then he is in top, and now he's on the roadway wondering how to stop...
Oh aunt Jemima look at your uncle Peter, Some verses are vague re uncle Jim and others...I am 70 now and learned many scout songs as a brownie...they were more fun than ours......like..
one elephant began to play Robin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 09 Oct 15 - 06:10 PM |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: FreddyHeadey Date: 21 Mar 15 - 05:18 AM btw re: goatfell - 11 Mar 09 - 12:45 PM Here is Tommy Scott singing the two verses in a medley -at ~ 1:15 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,dayvaitch Date: 08 Mar 15 - 08:23 AM We had a scout songbook in the 1950s, there were about 5 verses as I remember, starting with the Mow Cop version of the "duckpond" one. None of the others posted here ring any bells, but that doesn't signify much. I hadn't noticed the Gounod resemblance until now but I think you're right. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 22 Feb 15 - 01:38 AM As well as the verse about Jim, My mother, of Surrey, Sutton, sang: Oh Jemimah, look at your Aunty Kate, She's on the duck pond learning how to skate, First she does the aurora, then she does the glide! Now she's underwater, swimming against the tide. The tune was so very like a march in Gounod's opera Faust. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 07 Dec 14 - 03:47 PM That's so hilarious that there are so many variations. I haven't read all through but my Dad's second verse was Oh Jemima look at you're Uncle Jim Cleaning out the parlour with water soap and vim First he kneels on his left knee, then he kneels on his right Now he's knelt on the bar of soap and slithered right out of sight. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Edwin Duthie Date: 11 Nov 14 - 09:58 PM The version I learned from my Gran as a child went:
Hey Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Tattie Bogle Date: 04 Nov 14 - 08:20 PM Just listened to the link posted by Jim Dixon on 11th March 2009: seriously late cymbalist! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 02 Nov 14 - 08:06 PM Hi Isn't it wonderful how a song like this has spread all over the world? I am from Sri Lanka and my father used to sing it - to me and my brothers and later to my sons. I guess he was fortunate enough to do that. As far as I can remember it was only the basic "duckpond" "under water hardly moving at all" verse - to the Gounod tune. However he also used to sing "Oh no, we'll never get drunk no more" to the same tune - anyone remember that? My father grew up in colonial Ceylon - in the 20's and 30's - and probably picked up the song at school or university in Ceylon - though he spent several years in Scotland and England later. Nalin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Susan Mawbey Date: 13 Oct 14 - 08:29 PM Oh, Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim, wondering around the piss pot trying to learn to swim, First he does the over arm then he does the breast, He falls into the piss pot and swallows up the rest. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,sheryl Date: 06 Oct 14 - 08:10 AM My Dad taught it to me this way when I was a child: Oh, Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim. He's down at the frog pond learning how to swim. First he does the back stroke, then he does the side, Oh, Aunt Jemima, he's going out with the tide. I always loved this song. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Pierre. in France. 1948 souvenirs Date: 24 Dec 13 - 06:02 AM When I came in England for the holidays, to see my cousins
Oh,Jemima,Look at your Aunty Kate |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Renae Date: 19 Jun 13 - 10:50 AM The version I learned went :
Oh Aunt Jemima look at your Uncle Jim, |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Ged Fox Date: 24 Apr 13 - 02:24 PM From Australian Boy Scouts Song Book, circa 1950? Oh, Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim. He's in the duckpond learning how to swim. First he does the breast stroke, then he does the side. And now he's under water swimming against the tide. Oh, Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Clive. He's in the garage learning how to drive. First he gets in low gear, and then he gets in top. And now he's on the railway wondering how to stop. Oh, Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Nish. He's in the bathroom learning how to fish. First he hooks the face cloth, then the shaving mug, And now he's under water vanishing down the plug. Oh Aunt Jemima, look at your Uncle Pete, He's in the bathroom, washing both his feet, First he does the left one, then he does the right, Now he's under the water, vanishing out of site. And the verse we sang (as well as the duckpond one) when I was in the Cubs in the late 1950s, in Portsmouth, Hampshire: Oh Jemima, look at your Uncle Bert. He's in the garden doing his physical jerks. This way and that way to see how far it stretches. Over he goes - Touches his toes - Zzzzip go his breeches! (Shocking, and Akela was the Vicar's wife, too!) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Geoff Ross Date: 24 Apr 13 - 06:20 AM I heard my father sing
Oh! Jemimah look at your uncle Jim |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,R. Wise Date: 20 Apr 13 - 10:11 PM I came on this thread looking for more words to a couplet I remember from us living with my GrandAunt and GrandUncle when I was very young. This was late-1940's/early 1950's near Southampton. Both Aunt and Uncle had travelled a good bit in their youths, my Aunt in service and my Uncle in the service. So none of this necessarily came from Hampshire. The couplet was: Oh Lordy, look at your Uncle Jim, Down in the duck pond teaching the ducks to swim. I did not really think about more at the time since I heard this in with a couple of other music hall snatches that were intended to be interrupted. Such as: [wife to frien] "It's so annoying. Herbert does like to sing his own words to songs" [Herbert {off}] "Susie sat on a rusty nail Susie got [wife {interrupting}] HERBERT! [sung to tune of Colonel Bogey] For some reason, I started to think about the 'Oh Lordy' couplet again lately and decided to see if I could turn anything up. Never expected to find all this. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,John Stargoose Date: 10 Sep 12 - 07:36 AM My Mum used to sing the following: Oh, Jemima, look at your Uncle Tup, He's in the kitchen trying to wash up, First he drops a saucer, then he drops a cup, And now he's under the table picking all the pieces up. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 07 Jun 12 - 08:37 AM Jemima was a common enough name at one time, and it still occurs from time to time. Jemima Puddleduck is perhaps the most famous example of a Jemima. Having three equally stressed syllables makes it a rhythmically interesting name to use in a song. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Graham Cooper Date: 06 Jun 12 - 11:00 AM The version I was taught in the late 40's/early 50's in Brighton was Oh Jemima Look at your Uncle Jim, He's in the duck pond learning how to swim, First he does the breaststroke, then he does the side, Now he's under the water, swimming against the tide but because I was young, I didn't hear Jemima correctly, and thought it was "Jim Ido". Besides a Jemima was a guzunda (goes-under, a po. Grandfather was an engine driver and Dad was an engineer and in the RNVR so either might have picked it up away from the South Coast |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Snuffy Date: 09 Feb 12 - 09:47 AM Hi actif1 My mother used to sing that but her last two lines went: Go and tell your aunt Maria Baby's got a cold We also sang Oh Jemima, look at your uncle Jim |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,actif1 Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:08 PM Thinking of Jemima, my grandfather also sang to me (to the tune 'Men of Harlech'): Dad, get up and light the fire. Turn the gas a little bit higher. Go and tell your aunt Jemima Pussy's laid an egg! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,actif1 Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:01 PM I was at a friend's tonight who has a cat called Jemima, and called to mind this ditty but couldn't remember all of it... My grandfather sang it to me over 40 years ago - he was from Hampshire, so it had either made it's way south, or he'd picked it up in the Navy. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:20 AM Is anyone aware of a history for the name "Jemima" apart from its use in the US Old South as a generic name for a type of a female slave? ("Uncle [name]" is also a common US slavery-era referent for a a type of a male slave. Just wondering it this song originated in US minstrelsy. The verses laughing at drowning Uncle Jim certainly evoke that time, and painfully. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,brian p Date: 06 Feb 12 - 06:28 AM My uncle sings the duckpond version, ending with "swimming against the tide". And duckponds have no tide, so this adds to the humour! It's a shame that most of the entries on this are not provenanced with dates. Uncle Dave was born in 1926 and raised in Hull. He served in the tank regiment right at the end of WW2, and then as a military policeman in Germany until 1947. He recalls this being a song he learnt during that period, but how much further back it goes I don't know. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Ken JF Date: 22 Dec 11 - 06:39 PM My mother now in her late eighties recited this to me over 20 years ago and it stuck in my mind - but with a different last line to most of the other offerings: Oh Jemima, look at uncle Jim! He's in the duck pond, going for a swim. First he's doing backstroke, now he's doing side, Now he's out and running about, to get his trousers dried. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Billy Weeks Date: 08 Dec 11 - 03:14 PM Same Soldiers'Chorus tune, different words: Drunk last night, drunk the night before I swear I'll never get drunk no more; Found him in the bathroom,leaning against the door Gave him a kick, then he was sick All on the floor. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,TPK Date: 08 Dec 11 - 04:38 AM Oh, Jemima look at your Uncle Jim Diving in the duckpond, learning how to swim First he does the breast stroke and then he does the crawl Now he's under the water, doing nothing at all. Oh Jemima look at your Uncle Jim Scrubbing down the deck with water, soap and vim First kneels on his left knee, then he kneels on his right Then he kneels on the bar of soap, and skids right out of sight. Happy childhood days! And now recently remembered after hearing the Welsh choir singing at the Millenium on Saturday before the Wales -v- Australia game. (I of course gave my own rendition with the above!) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Shaun Chadwick Date: 26 Nov 11 - 05:44 PM Hello All, We originate from MOW COP on the Staffordshire and Cheshire border My grandfather and Father both sang this version to us kids in the early 1970,s and I am now singing it to my kids and looking for more found you folks. our version has a little bit added, maybe it was a family addition, let me know please Oh Jemima Look at your Uncle Jim, He's in the duck pond learning how to swim, First he does the breaststroke, then he does the side, Now he's under the water, swimming against the tide. Then Dad bounced us up and down to a quick beat on his knee singing Rum tee tum tee tum, Rum tee tum tee tee, Rum Tum, Rum Tum, Rum tee tum tee tee. And now I do it to my son, God bless Jemima and her uNCLE jIM |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Tattie Bogle Date: 19 Nov 11 - 08:12 PM We did as a Girl Guide campfire song, just the one verse, the swimming one, and definitely The Soldier's Chorus tune. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST Date: 19 Nov 11 - 08:04 PM ...and there I was thinking my mother was the only person who sang that song! She grew up in South Africa (as did I) although her mother (who died when my mom was 9 years old) hails from Cornwall. My brothers and I grew up with only one verse (which is in a few places above). Funny how the version we hear as children seems to be the "right" version. Oh Jemima, look at your uncle Jim. He's in the duck pond, learning how to swim. First he does the breast stroke, then he does the side. Now he's under the water, swimming against the tide. About 2 years ago, at an extended family reunion, I heard my mom's half brother's father-in-law (did I say extended family gathering?) sing another verse. My cousins, brothers and I al cracked up laughing. We had all thought our mother/father was the only person to ever sing such a funny song. Fantastic to see so many others have also grown up with one of the most "sticky" songs I know. Never ever have trouble remembering the lyrics!! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Willa Date: 24 Oct 11 - 08:22 AM Hi Jemima The version I know is the same as yours, except that it ends 'Now he's in the water swimming against the tide.' |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Jemima Date: 24 Oct 11 - 03:48 AM Hi I'm called Jemima so Ive heard it a ot the one i know is
Oh Jemima look at your uncle Jim, |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,katy g Date: 08 Sep 11 - 12:54 PM just remembered another oldsong :) I had a sausage, a lovely little sausage and i put it in the oven for my tea, i went to the cellar, to get my umbrella and the sausage came after me |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,katy g Date: 08 Sep 11 - 12:44 PM Well im not sure if it is a variation but my nan used to sing this... Oh Jemima look at your uncle Jim, he's in the bathtub learning how to swim first he does the breast stroke then he does the stride now hes at the seaside swimming against the tide. Hope it helps :) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,gbontheweb Date: 22 Aug 11 - 07:08 AM The version we used to sing in Leeds was almost the same as the one Matthew Edwards posted in 2001: Oh Jemima, look at your Uncle Jim, He's in the duck pond, learning how to swim. First he does the breast stroke, then he does the crawl. Now he's at the bottom doing no stroke at all! My grandparents (who hailed from Birmingham but lived in Leeds after about 1936 and loved classical music and operettas), used to let us sit on their knees whilst they sang it and then at the point where they sing "no stroke at all", the knees would move apart and we'd slip to the floor! We loved it... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Simply Fred Date: 27 Mar 11 - 05:50 PM Variations on a theme...as I remember them
Oh Jemima look at your Uncle Jim |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: HWinWindies Date: 23 Mar 11 - 09:04 PM Bathtub version for me, taught by my Gran, from Hull, born 1900, 50 years ago. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: Ged Fox Date: 23 Mar 11 - 08:37 PM [Uncle Jim is] doing his physical jerks, This way and that way to see how it works, ... ... reaches [?] Over he goes, touches his toes, zzzip go his breeches! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Jemima, Look at Your Uncle Jim... From: GUEST,Ken Aitken Date: 20 Feb 11 - 10:08 AM When I was in primary school, my teacher taught me this version which has stuck with me for 50 years: Oh, Jemima look at your uncle Jim, He's in the corridor scrubbing the floor with Vim. First he scrubs the left side, then he scrubs the right, Then he treads on a bar of soap and skids right out of sight. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh Jemima From: GUEST,Martin Date: 26 Jan 11 - 02:59 PM Here's the version we got from our Nan: Oh Jemima look at your Uncle Jim He's in the bathtub learning how to swim First he does the breast stroke, then he does the crawl Now he's under the water lying on the floor. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh Jemima From: GUEST,Jean Date: 22 Nov 10 - 05:22 PM Here's the version I learnt from my gran & I'm 69 so its quite old. Soldiers Chorus
Oh Jemima look at your Uncle Jim |
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