Origins: In Chinaland there lived a great man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 06:39 PM

It would be interesting to observe which bits people thought were racist, which simply observational, and which bits simply nonsense. The original song was obviously racist in parts. The actual title was 'The China man with Monkey Nose' which of course is offensive. Does the fact that the word 'Chinaman' is the central focus mean that the song is racist? Try substituting 'Englishman'. Does it work, and is it offensive?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST,jaxthelass
Date: 22 Mar 14 - 03:37 PM

Chickeracka chee chi
Chi chokalorum
Con de noram
Menapee-kat
Kat-go too-go itchy Kotchie Kitchikoo
Acha-bi China man, Chi nee koo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST,Colin
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 06:32 PM

My mother sang a version of this nonsense song to me as a child in the 1960s :) Obviously it exists in myriad forms. Here is hers:

Chickarackah choochai chang chickolorum
Boomtahlorum waddy waddy wah
Oko Poko hit him on the iddygo
Tiddywa tiddywah sheepeecoo

In old Peking there lived a funny man
His name was Chickarackah choochai chang
His arms were long but his legs were short
Poor Chinese couldn't walk or talk

Chickarackah choochai chang chickolorum
Boomtahlorum waddy waddy wah
Oko Poko hit him on the iddygo
Tiddywa tiddywah sheepeecoo

His parents used to carry him about
Upon their back where he could shout
Here he comes and there he goes
The Chinaman with the big fat nose

Chickarackah choochai chang chickolorum
Boomtahlorum waddy waddy wah
Oko Poko hit him on the iddygo
Tiddywa tiddywah sheepeecoo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 08:37 PM

My father used to sing this nonsence song when we were young (1950's) but china man had become Japanese man (post WW2). Colins words are closest, we sang, In Japanese land there lived a big man ....... his nose was long and his feet were short, his servants used to carry him about upon their backs where he would shout.......

chorus went something
with a chow chikka al lore......
this japanese man couldnt walk at all


They rolled him up to the top of the hill and rolled him down like a ..

My memory is not what I would like, and I realise the racsist humour now, but as kids it was fun to hear my dad entertaining us with this catchy tune and fun lyrics which at that time to us was nonsence

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 12:54 PM

So why don't you just go do something else?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 01:08 PM

My post above was to the guy who was complaining about there being so many posts. Here's the version I heard my mom sing when I was a kid. Found similar ones above, but nothing the same. This was in the late 30's. I guess she made up the parts that were not clear to her:

There lived in China a very great man.
His name was Chingerie Ching Chiann.
His head was large and his feet were small.
This Chinaman couldn't walk at all.

Chingerie Chingle My Golday.
Tiddle dee dee come happy may.
To be isky imy oh.
Scallopin wallopin Chineo.

The ladies from the very next town
Came up the hill to roll him down.
From head to food they all began
To tumble and toss this Chinaman.

Chorus again.
I think there were more verses but I can't remember them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 01:49 PM

It's a cute song, but it's also very racist. I guess that's why it's so insidious, and why so many of us react so negatively to it.
All the pickaninny stuff was cute, too - but demeaning.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 16 - 08:32 AM

Thanks for this. This is the one my Mom taught us. We lived in Oklahoma. She was a teacher.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jun 17 - 01:33 PM

Thank you so much my mother passed and now I have a grandchild I wanted to sing it to him but forget half the words

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 08 Jul 17 - 08:29 PM

Thanks to all who shared their versions. Folklorists will treasure these posts!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Jul 17 - 01:17 PM

They certainly will, Guest, but posters, please don't forget to give where & when you first heard your version and any other relevant details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST,Brian James
Date: 21 Apr 20 - 05:30 PM

This was handed down to me by my grandma who was born in 1908.

In China there lived a great man, his name was Chic Cha Charin Apan.
His legs were long, his feet were small, the China man couldn't walk at all.

The neighbours, they used to carry him out, upon their backs; the folks would shout: "here he comes, there he goes, the China man with a monkey nose".

Chicalachoo choochali, nickapan, nickapan, panky pan, pegersty wigersty, canty cay, chanago anago anago way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 22 Apr 20 - 05:50 AM

All very good adding versions to this thread, but I think anyone wanting to perpetuate it without editing it needs to at least think about the implications.

Brian, where?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Chinaland there lived a great man
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 26 Feb 22 - 07:58 PM

In China town there lived a man
His name was Chikalee Chikalee Chan
His feet were long and his toes were short
and this is the way that Chinaman talked

Ohhhh, Chikalee Che Cha Li Cha lo
Chikalee Walika in the Bananica
Walika Walika chenesee
In the Bananica watchsa

And this old man
and he did die
and in his coffin he did lie
they sent him back to old Japan
and this is the way his epitaph ran

Ohhh,Chikalee Che Cha Li Cha lo
Chikalee Walika in the Bananica
Walika Walika chenesee
In the Bananica watcha