Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

Subject: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 04:39 PM

Jingle bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
Batmobile lost a wheel
And the joker got away

My 6yo kindergartener came home and sang us this song last night. He didn't learn it from any book or record or movie, but from older kids at school. Who in turn learned it from older kids, and so on, back to when his older sibs were that age, and even back to when *I* was that age.

Here we have the folk process in pure and undiluted form. By any definition this is a folk song. A short one, granted. But it's a folk song.

Has anybody studied or collected the songs that kids learn from each other? That may be the last refuge, in this increasingly media-saturated age, of pure folk process.

Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 04:53 PM

Good question, Alex. I did a search for Batman smells, and found it was mentioned in four other threads. You'll find an extra line in this message, and a tasty thread called Naughty Kids' Greatest Hits.
Seems to me I heard:

Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Tin cans all the way

...but the tin cans don't seem to fit. I wonder what it was supposed to be.
A Google Search (click) for "Batman smells" proves that this song is an absolute classic. Bart sang it on The Simpsons (listen here), and it made various lists like this (click), which tell you how to be annoying (567 sites tell you exactly the same thing, to sing "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" until physically restrained).
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 06:34 PM

The earliest book I know of kids' folk songs is William Wells Newell's Games and Songs of American Children, published in 1884. A new version came out in 1998.

There are lots of other books on kids' songs including Brown Girl in the Ring (on West Indian ones). Just look in the library, and ye shall find!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:02 PM

The one I heard wasn't exactly a kids' song, but a folk song nonetheless. Word was that it originated with the grunts in Vietnam, though someone out there might be able to authenticate or plausibly deny that.

Jingle bells, mortar shells
VC in the grass
You can take your Christmas tree
And shove it up your ass

Sadly, some things never go out of style.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:09 PM

Jingle Bells. Batman Smells.
Robin's flown away.
The batmobile has lost a wheel
and Alfreds eating hay...

Was our version. Last line never quite made sense to me but what the hell!

We also did

While shepherds washed there socks by night and
God rest ye Gerry Mentlemen.

Ahhh. Happy days;-)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 07:46 PM

Jingle Bells, Rudolph smells, Santa ran away With the fairy from the Christmas tree, They ran off yesterday hey!

That was our version. A long, long, LONG time ago....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: alison
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:01 PM

or one of the Belfast versions

Jingle Bells. Batman Smells.
Robin flew away.
he did a fart behind a cart
and blew up the IRA.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:04 PM

Dave, Alan Sherman did one a little like yours, on My Son, the Folk Singer:

God rest you, Jerry Mendelbaum
Let nothing you dismay
This May you had a rotten month
So what is there to say?
Let's hope next May is better
And good things will come your way
And then you'll have a month without dismay
Next May

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:06 PM

Oh, and I've been trying to find the rest of the one that starts

We three kings of Orient are
Tried to light a 10 cent cigar

since I heard it in high school. Anybody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: sophocleese
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:19 PM

Jingle bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg,
Batmobile lost a wheel
Got too fat to sit on a toilet

That's how my son sings it. I think he tends to mumble the last line.

We three kings of Orient are
Smoking on a trick cigar
BANG!

We two kings of Orient are
Smoking on a trick cigar
BANG!

I a king of Orient are
Smoking on a trick cigar
BANG!

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Silent Night, Holy Night....

So how many variations of We Three Kings are there?

We three kings of Orient are (Eaton's Square)
Trying to sell some cheap under wear
Superfantastic, no elastic
99 cents a pair.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 11:03 PM

I still like:
Here comes Santy with a sack of sh*t (3x)
And all them stinkin' reindeer!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:07 AM

We three kings of Leicster Square Selling ladies underwear Oh so drastic, No elastic Only tuppence a pair....

Oooohhhhh oooohhhhhhh bra of wonder, bra so tight let me boost my tits tonight, upward going, overflowing give the men an awful fright!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Kaleea
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:50 AM

We three kings of orient are tried to smoke a rubber cigar it was loaded and exploded! (do motion as if strumming a harp) We three kings of orient are!

& I learned it: Jingle Bells, shotgun shells, rabbits all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride in Grandpa's Chevrolet . . .

& How about: We wish you a Hare Krishna Hark! the hairlip angels sing, gory is our new bored king Wreck the halls with bugs of holly Up on the mousetop kitty paws IT came upon a midnight beer Do you smell what I smell? (which of course leads to): Go smell it on the mountain Have a holly jolly beer mug Have yourself a furry little Christmouse & my fav: Come, they told me the rump roast is done!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 04:07 AM

And on the three kings theme, with apologies to the recently and not so recently departed...

We four Beatles from Liverpool are
George in a taxi
Paul in a car
John on a scooter, sounding his hooter
Following Ringo Starr.

DtG

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 08:27 AM

Mark Cohen: I can validate that we sang that version in Cam Ranh Bay in 1971, except our's went "take your homemade Christmas pie" rather than "you can take your Christmas tree" and insert it inappropriately.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Maxine
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:37 PM

Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin flew away Mr Silly lost his willy on the motorway..... my kids seem to think that version is hillarious - sorry if you don't! My sons' recent one is (to the music of Daylight come and we want to go home): Hey Mister Taliban, hand over Bin Laden - The Airforce come and they save the day. Simple things.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:55 PM

My end line is The Joker took ballet, hey!

Also, LtS, you made me really laugh!

S**t on the hillside, s**t on the hillside, stinking up the shadows / Flies all around it, flies all around it, over field and meadows... can't remember the rest of that one.

From Shrek: Jingle bells, Ogre smells, Donkey laid an egg...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:22 PM

Thanks, art...it's good to know it's authentic! Although I'm sorry you had to be there to sing it.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Melani
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:03 AM

We three Kings of Orient are
Trying to smoke a rubber cigar.
It was loaded, it exploded...
Now we are travelling far.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 02:07 PM

People drinking and carousing, people stumbling around
People lying dead drunk in the gutter
People weaving down the sidewalk
Falling down to the ground
Very soon it will be Christmas Day!

(those were the days before Ride Check)

- LH

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 03:40 PM

"Mr. Silly lost his willy on the motorway"? Sounds like Lorena Bobbitt's husband (as I recall, after she cut it off, she drove off with it and flung it out the car window into some bushes). Just goes to show: truth is stranger than fiction but not always stranger than a child's imagination....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 07:56 PM

Then of course there's the great Pogo classic:

Deck us all with Boston Charlie
Walla Walla, Wash, and Kalamazoo!!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley!
Swaller dollar, collie-flower, alley-garoo!
Don't we know archaic barrel,
Lullaby, Lillie-boy, Louisville Lou!
Trolly Molly, don't love Harold,
Boola-boola Pensacoola, Hullaballoo!

and of course

Good King Sauerkraut looked out
On his feets uneven!

Thank you for reminding me of these timeless jewels!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 04:02 AM

The Wenceslas pizza? Deep pan, crisp and even.....

Good King Wenceslas looked out,
on a piece of streaky (bacon)
All the peasants round did shout
Oi, your roof is leaky!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: CharlieA
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 06:14 AM

We three King of Orient are, One in a taxi one in a car, One on a scooter blowing his hooter, Following yonder star

That was one of the versions we used to sing all those years back at school (well not that long ago really!)

Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 08:42 PM

While shepherds washed their socks by night

All seated round the tub

A bar of Sunlight soap came down (Who remembers Sunlight soap?)

And they began to scrub. Tattie B

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 01:35 PM

refreshingly hilrious

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:15 PM

My son also learned Jingle Bells, Batman Smells in his Kindergarten class - except he swears his teacher taught the class the lyrics! I'm glad to see the folk tradition being carried out in our public schools! My son is now making up his own versions.

Ron

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Rob
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:19 PM

I can't believe no one has yet mentioned the variant on "Jingle Bells" we used to sing in the playground. I won't set it out, as it's guaranteed to offend somebody, but there was a lot of killing and stabbing going on, as between Santa, Rudolph, Barbie Doll and G.I. Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: breezy
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:36 PM

this side of the pond- i.e. the right side- dont always get the drift Guest Rob so LAY IT OUT.please.Your playground was not mine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 03:23 PM

Sniff my balls
They smell like Holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la,
Tis the reason
I'm so jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la,

Sorry, Den

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 05:40 PM

Good King Wences last looked out
Of his bedroom winder (window)
Silly beggar, he fell out
And landed on a cinder

It then continued -
Brightly shone his bum that night
- but the rest of the line currently escapes me
Geoff!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,ermintrudeclaire
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 12:37 PM

jingle bells, jingle bells i'm a morris man i jingle in the morning and i jingle whenever i can i've got bells on me hat and a tankard i drink beer without the fizz and all i want from santa is a beard much bigger than his.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: breezy
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 02:00 PM

can you help geoff out?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Roughyed
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 05:21 AM

There is a book published some time ago called (I think) tThe language and Lore of Schoolchidlren by Peter and Iona Opie which goes into these songs in lots of fascinating detail. Some of them are hundreds of years old and have been passed down through generations of children. Well worth searching out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Roughyed
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 05:32 AM

Just found this so I thought I'd experiment with blue clickies The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 05:43 AM

Thanks, Swan, for the reference to the Opies' work.
The title [correction] if folk are looking for it, isThe lore and language of schoolchildren

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Bud
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 07:57 AM

The book "Miss Mary Mack" is a collection of such children's ditties, many of which are naughty. The author/collector had to convince the children that she wouldn't tell on them.

Amazing that I heard most of them when I was in school.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Leeder
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 12:43 PM

Getting back to Batman, my son contributed a verse:

Batman's in the kitchen,
Robin's in the hall,
The Joker's in the bathroon,
Peeing on the wall.

He's 19 now, but this is what he remembers from his misspent youth.

Subject: RE: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Cluin
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 01:03 PM

Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
The Batmobile lost a wheel
the Joker got away
(or "so they used it as a sleigh")

Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin flew away
He dropped a fart behind a cart
While reading Hemingway (???)

Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin flew away
Lost his pants in the south of France
and found them in Bombay

Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin flew away
Wonder Woman lost her bosom...


Waitaminnut! That's a shitty one. You can't force that one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Oct 05 - 10:00 PM

Okay folks, it's been almost 4 years. Surely we're adult enough to let the naughty child in us have some innocent {??!!} fun.

Here's a version of the jingle bells rhyme that GUEST,Rob may have been referring to in his 14 Dec 01 post:

Dashing through the snow
on a pair of broken skis
over the hills we go
crashing into trees
{bam bam bam}
the snow is turning red
I think I might be dead
Oh no! I'm in the hospital
with needles in my head

Jingle bells jingle bells
Santa {Claus} is dead
because Rudolph took a 22
and shot him in the head
Oh, Barbie girl barbie girl
tried to save his life.
But Ken from Mexico
stabbed her with a knife.

{thanks to Alexandra, age 13 years}

Does anybody else remember another versions of this or other children's parodies?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Uke
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 08:37 PM

New Zealand, around 1979...

Jingle bells, Batman smells
Robin ran away
Wonder Woman lost her bosom
On the motorway - Hey!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 03:38 AM

This thread ties in nicely with a playground "chant" my friends 7 year old son just ressurected.
This is a "taunt' to girls in the playground and accompanied by animated pointing to various anatomical areas.

Milk, milk, lemonade.
Round the corner, chocolates made.

The simple things in life eh!

Cheers
LL

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Van
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 10:00 AM

Jingle bells batman smells
Robin's ran away
The batmobile has lost its wheels
And landed in the hay

Scottish mid 60s

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 02:40 PM

Jingle bells Batman smells
Robin's ran away,
He blows his nose on Cheerios,
And eats them every day.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,Guest Ross
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 07:59 AM

Similar to the New Zealand, Australian version, around 1979...

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Batman smells
Robin flew away
Wonder Woman lost her nickers,
Flying TAA - Hey!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 07 - 04:24 PM

Jingle Bells Batman smells Robin layed an egg Mr.Freez had took the cheese and I don't know the rest hey

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,cookster
Date: 04 Dec 07 - 06:08 PM

Skiing down a slope in a pair of broken skis over hills we go
running into trees. I think I'm almost dead I got knocked in the
head,and now I'm in the hospital,and the sheets are turning red.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 08:35 AM

jingle bells
santa smells
he's been drunk all day
hey!

i dont know the rest...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,dorette2007
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 05:11 PM

We three kings of orient are
trying to smoke a rotten cigar
2 on a tricycle
3 on a bicycle
one in a donkey cart
oh! bread and butter
chicken and pear
this is all that we can spare
Tom ran in a took a bite
a swear that he could win the fight

(I learn this chorus when I was a small child growing up)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
From: GUEST,ROD
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 02:51 AM

Jingle bells batman smells 50 miles away
he blows his nose with cherreeos
and eats em everyday