Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Sandy LaRouche The Snow Queen
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:50 PM

Bellasanta has all the lines   except "So he hurried right down, fast as short legs could walk" and this come in after bickety backety book.I am so happy someone else knows this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Sandy LaRouche-the Snow Queen
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:44 PM

I know this song. I am 84 and it was taught to us by music teacher Charles Cordeal. I am looking because I would like to leave the memory to my great grandchildren. Bellesante has the lyric down beautifully.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Sandy LaRouche The Snow Queen
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:50 PM

Bellasanta has all the lines   except "So he hurried right down, fast as short legs could walk" and this come in after bickety backety book.I am so happy someone else knows this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Sandy LaRouche-the Snow Queen
Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:44 PM

I know this song. I am 84 and it was taught to us by music teacher Charles Cordeal. I am looking because I would like to leave the memory to my great grandchildren. Bellesante has the lyric down beautifully.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,#
Date: 31 Jul 21 - 06:13 PM

Here it is by Boris Karloff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lVgtOUWLv0

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 21 - 05:07 PM

Found it! It is called Leprechaun Lullaby and iTunes has versions of it. There seem to be several version but the melody and chorus are always the same

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 21 - 04:22 PM

My mom sang this to my sister me with different words, same chorus. All we remember is:
A little boy went for a walk in the wood,
Wickity wackity walk,
To look for a leprechaun under a rock
Rickity rackity rock

My sister remembers a verse about w little man mending a clock, but can’t remember it all
I remember Dennis Day singing this on The Jack Benny show in the early 50s, it is not itunes

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 03:07 PM

This song just popped into my head, God knows why, so I did a Google search and up popped this website! I could only remember a couple of verses and the chorus, but I remember the melody very well. I remember approximately when I heard it—during my childhood in the early 50s—and I think I know where: on a Saturday morning radio program for kids in San Diego, “No School Today, with Big John and Sparky.”

I’m delighted to have all the verses. I’d write the melody if I knew how to do it in e-mail format.

Peter in Oregon

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Peggy
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 12:17 PM

Another chorus is:
Olee, olay, oloo my darling,
people forget they were small,
Olee, olay, oloo my darling,
they think they are wise cause they're tall.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 06:08 PM

Yes. I used to sing this song in the 50s. Played my guitar and sang it in Greenwich Village. Not from Brigadoon. You're confusing it with "More I cannot wish ya."
Harriet

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Fannie
Date: 01 Nov 13 - 12:26 PM

I always thought it came from the musical, "Brigadoon," which I've never seen, only heard songs from it. But apparently it's an old children's song. I'm sure I heard it in the 40s or 50s.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Guest, Sydney Australia
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 06:41 PM

I heard this on the ABC Children's Hour/ Argonaut's Club when I was about 9 or 10. Over 40 years later and it is still a song that strikes a chord in me and I was delighted to find it here - for some reason(quite possibly inaccurately) I have always thought of it under the name Leprechaun Lullaby.

Subject: ADD Version: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Dec 12 - 01:59 AM

I found this on a YouTube Video of the "Rosemary Clooney Show," part 3 of a 1957 episode. You'll find it right at the beginning of the video. IMDB identifies it as an "English folk song."

Here's my transcription:

CHILDREN HAVE QUIZZICAL WAYS

A little boy read in a wonderful book
Bickety-backety-book
That faerie-folk dwell in a dell by the brook
Brickety-brackety-brook
So he headed straight off, fast as short legs could walk
Wickety wackety walk."
I'll find them said he, and we'll have a good talk
Tickety tackety talk.

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Children have quizzical ways
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Some keep them all of their days


He came to a man who was mending a clock
Clickety clackety clock.
He got it to tick but it just wouldn't tock
Tickety tackety tock.
And the little boy cried, "Will you help me to look?
Lickety lackety look.
"Pooh, pooh!" said the man as his finger he shook
Shickety shackety shook.

[instrumental break]

The little boy came to a door in a rock
Rickety rackety rock
It opened right up when he started to knock
Knickety knackety knock
And there were the leprechauns under an oak
Ickety ackety oak
A dancin' together like vapor and smoke
Smickety smackety smoke

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Children have quizzical ways
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Some keep them all of their days


Any corrections? Anybody know different versions?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST,Barb Nielsen
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 04:15 PM

In the late 1950s, at the San Jose Public Library in California, there was an LP record in their collection that must have been specially produced. I do not remember the name of the album. It had various Hollywood actors, among them: Howard Duff (singing "One More for the Road"), Ida Lupino and Burl Ives (singing "Children Have Quizzical Ways"). If anyone else has other versions of this song/poem, please post them. Thanks, Barb

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 12 - 09:59 PM

My grandmother sung this to my mother on the early '50s and me I'm the early '70s. I have been trying to find more lyrics for years. This was very helpful! Thank you. Almost makes me cry.

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,robert h digby michigan
Date: 14 Jun 11 - 03:06 PM

I remember it from late 40s or very early 50s--
running through my mind since on and off -- always wished I could have sung it to my kids but never remembered enough words.
I can't recall if I heard it on radio eg on LETS PRETEND or BIG JON AND SPARKY, or what-- but I recall a man's voice with a stretchy quality (like Bill Clinton)-- but it could have been Burl Ives as the other guest mentioned above.
It always had a melancholy sound to it like some Irish songs.
Thanks for the memories.

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,Marvin Huey
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 11:45 PM

I remember hearing this song done by Burl Ives when I was just a kid in the late forties or early fifties. I've never forgotten it and it will always bring back that time in my life.

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,Virginia
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 10:47 AM

For years and years and years I have hummed that song but only remembered the first two lines of the first verse! I have searched and searched and nobody had heard of it. 55 years ago when I was 18, I worked for a family as their housekeeper. They had four children and she sang it to her four kiddies. I learned it from her. Got married, had four babies of our own and I sang it to them, had grandchildren and sang it to them. One day I said to myself " wonder what would happen if I "Googled" bickety backety book!". Sure enough, here it is! My mouth is stll wide open with surprise and happiness. Thanks for helping me to hold on to some of my history. How valuable!

Dr. Gin

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 May 10 - 11:57 PM

There is a period, usually about age four, when children love playing with words, saying them for no reason and inventing rhymes and chants.

For example, my eye happens to fall upon the word 'button' right now, and I can picture a 4-year-old saying 'button-mutton-lutton-nutton!' as she plays.

This song, with its 'Bickety, backety, book' formula, seems calculated to appeal to children in the same way. I'm not surprised the song has endured, even if in a quiet way.

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,Linda Hassinger
Date: 20 May 10 - 06:40 PM

just happened onto this question. The recording was the Mariners on Columbia in about 1949. They sang on the Arthur Godfrey Show. They were a great group, four men two black and two white. There is a CD of their music but it does not include this song. I still have this 78rpm record which I used to listen to when I was a little girl in the late 50's. I loved this song.

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,David Bassler
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 10:23 PM

Boris Karloff sang it on "The Rosemary Clooney Show" on January 9,1957. You can view his version here: http://www.archive.org/details/RCS-Boris_Karloff - it starts about the 19 minute mark.

---

Now on YouTube. -Joe Offer, December 2012-

Subject: RE: ADD: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,Lorimer Nicoll
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:57 AM

We had this on a 78 record when we were growing up (late 40's, early 50's). It's been running through my mid for years. Thanks to all for the words - the tune is easy to remember, thank heavens.

Subject: ADD: Children Have Quizzical Ways
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 07:32 PM

Here are the lyrics and tune from the link Jim McLean provided:

CHILDREN HAVE QUIZZICAL WAYS

(learned from Catharine Lucas in 1962)

A little boy read in a wonderful book
Bickety, backety, book.
'Bout fairies who dwelt in a dell by a brook,
Brickety, brackety, brook.
    O-lee, o-lay, o-loo, my darlin',
    Children have quizzical ways.
    O-lee, o-lay, o-loo, my darlin',
    And some keep them all of their days.

So the little boy thought he would go take a look,
Lickety, lackety, look.
At the fairies he read of in that wonderful book,
Bickety, backety, book.
    O-lee, o-lay, o-loo...

He found him the brook and a fairy to love,
And they rode back to home on the wings of a dove,
    (chorus)

The little boy grew to a man strong and brave,
But he never forgot the pleasure they gave,
    (chorus)

(from miriam berg's folksong collection)

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,pedant
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 06:50 AM

This song used to be sung on the Children's Hour which went to air in Australia, on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) from 5pm to 6pm, weekdays from around 1941 to 1972. I've never heard it anywhere else, but it's a sweet and haunting melody, with an Irish feel to it, which has stuck in my mind ever since.

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 04:24 PM

http://folksongcollector.com/childrenhave.html

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,John Milnes Baker
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:05 PM

I have just been going through my files of some fifty plus years of collecting songs and am putting together a couple of CDs for my children and grabndchildren. Bickity Backity Book was a song I learned in Brookhaven Long Island where I grew up. My children always loved it.
Monty - biologist at the Brookhave National Laboratory - said it was on the reverse side of an old 78 record of a harlem singer. Not much to go on. ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: bovinus
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 02:52 PM

What did we find out about the origins of this song? My Mom sang this to us when we were kids - early 1960's, many fond memories.

Tim O'Connor

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: Flash Company
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 09:57 AM

Val Doonican sang this on UK TV. As I have said before, 'God I am getting old!'

FC

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From:
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 02:14 AM

My mother sang this to me when I was quite young. She said she had heard it on the radio. I only know what she remembered and taught me. But I know some other verses in addition to those above.
^^
"A little boy read in a wonderful book
Bickety-backety-book
How faerie-folk dwell in a dell by the brook
Brickety-brackety-brook
I'll find them said he and we'll have a good talk
Tickety tackety talk.
So off he did go as fast as he could walk
Wickety wackety walk."

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Children have quizzical ways
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
And some keep them all of their days


"He met an old man who was fixing a clock
Clickety clackety clock.
He got it to tick but it just wouldn't tock
Tickety tackety tock.
And the old man he frowned as his finger he shook
shickety shackety shook."

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
People forget they were small
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
They think they are wise because they're tall

He came to a little door under a rock
Rickety rackety rock
It opened right up when he started to knock
Knickety knackety knock
And there were the little folk under the oak
Ickety ackety oak
A dancin' about like paper and smoke
Smickety smackety smoke

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Children have magical ways
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
And some keep them all of their days

(There is another line to the second verse, but I don't remember the words anymore, and my mother has passed away.)

I hope this helps. I would to hear any other information that anyone has like all the lyrics, and maybe even the music. Thanks, Bellasante

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: GUEST,jacquie
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 04:23 PM

Yes - my grandmother sang it to me and I've sung a few lines to my grandchildren. Thanks for the complete words.

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 May 03 - 01:23 PM

I dunno, Al - I checked a lot of resources, and came up with nothing.
-Joe Offer, posting this message to refresh the question-

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: open mike
Date: 29 May 03 - 01:32 AM

I thought it might be Nickety Knackity Hey EE dum daffity...
willaby wallaby rusitcal quality , Nickety Knackity now now now... (click)
...but it is not...

Subject: RE: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: DADGBE
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:16 PM

Yikes! Seems like there ain't nobody knows this song. Maybe we could ask the Incredible Banjos. They do all kinds of songs...

Subject: Bickety Backety Book. Know this song?
From: Al Dente
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:17 PM

Anybody recognize this lyric? It's a children's song, learned by my informant in the USA in the late 1930s.

A little boy read in a wonderful book
Bickety-backety-book
How faerie-folk dwell in a dell by the brook
Brickety-brackety-brook

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
Children have quizzical ways
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
And some keep them all of their days

He came to a man who was mending a hook
Hickety-hackety-hook
Poo Poo said the man as his finger he shook
Shickety-shackety-shook

O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
People forget they were small
O-lea O-lay O-loo-loo My Darlin'
They think they are wise because they¹re tall