Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Boo- south east england
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 05:01 PM

Please someone help me! My sister phoned me to try and remember the rhyme we did as kids, and i cant remember the first lines! ive got the rest though, it goes like this...
.... Watching the clock go tick-tock tick-tock curly wirly,
tick-tock tick-tock curly wirly,
A-B-C-D-E-F-G,
wipe those cobwebs off your knees,
sunlight,
moonlight,
sunlight,
moonlight feast,
the girls in spain wash their knickers in champagne,
and the boys in france do a hula hula dance
and the dance they do is enough to tie a shoe,
and the shoe they tie is enough to ring a bell
and the bell they ring goes DING A LING A LING!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 03:31 PM

100

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Lint_Licker
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 04:59 PM

yup this is 1 i do a lot

Give me a break give me a break break me off a piece of that i neede a piece of that gotta have me some of that KIT KAT BAR!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 06:46 PM

i dont no if this will go in this subjest but its a chear that i no



J to the E to the T to the S
tets kickass from east to west
alll you do is shake your butts
chear 101 you stupid sluts

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Guest Tori
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 10:31 AM

i am a teenage girl and i have a teenage sister and we still do clapping games when we get bored like on the bus or whan we have to wait in line fro something.....it usually causes ppl to watch us but its so much fun and we sometimes learn new ones from other girls...
=)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 08 - 04:35 PM

me and my friends were doing it on the bus and at my competition last night.
and i'm a junior in high school(16) and shes in eight grade (12)
but little kids in elementary school don't do them anymore.
i loved them when i was little though (:

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: bet
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 03:17 PM

Yes they do still do them. I use them in my music classes. It helps teach rhythm and give the kids a chance to move around a bit.    bet

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 09:46 PM

My wife is a teacher, and some of her students do rhyming chants while they jump rope. I have no idea where the rhymes come from, though.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,GUEST: 2mj
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 09:17 PM

These clapping rhymes were so popular that big corporations got in on it . . .

Big Mac
Fillet o'Fish
Quarter Pounder
French Fries
Icy Coke
Thick Shake
Sundae, and
Apple Pie

Mc Donald's

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Emma
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 01:40 PM

I remember these! I used to live in NY Long Island. I remember one vaguely...

My mother your mother ... 18 Street

had a fight and this is what they said all night

girls drink pepsi to get more sexy boys drink coke to learn how to smoke
girls go to college to get more knowledge boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider
girls eat candy to get more dandy boys....

I forgot the rest.... anyone help me out?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Dec 07 - 12:39 AM

too=took

{But you probably figured that out, right?}

:o))

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Dec 07 - 12:38 AM

GUEST,nanasallthat, thanks for posting that example of Miss Sue. Also, thanks for including demographical information. I'm curious to know how this game was played. Was it a handclap rhyme?

Also, was this game played by African Americans or {and?} White Americans?

And, I'm curious if this rhyme is still recited and played in your area.

Too bad you are a guest and I can't private message {pm} you to ask for more info.

I hope you will respond to these questions, and I hope that you and other guests who post to these threads {discussions} join Mudcat. It's easy to do- just click on membership in the top right hand corner and follow the instructions.

Best wishes,

Ms. Azizi

Btw, it too me a minute to decipher, but let me say I love your name. So you're a grandmother, and you're all that, heh?

Me too :o)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,nanasallthat
Date: 11 Dec 07 - 12:08 AM

Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama

Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue from Alabama

Show me what you can do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Show me what you can do
Miss sue from Alabama

Is this the way you do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Is this the way you do
Miss Sue from Alabama

Hey Hey
A doobie-do-wah
Your mama's broke
And your papa's broke
Turn to the east
Turn to the west
Turn to the very one you love the best
Milk in the pitcher
The butter's in the bowl
Can't catch a sweetheart
To save your soul


I think this is the way we sang this game in Northern Mississippi cira 1965.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 09:15 AM

Yes they do!!! theres one called domino pear and double double this this

domino pe-e-ar
domino saphire
domino saphire
domino pe-e-ear

double double this this
double double that that
double this
double that
double double this that

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 09:30 PM

Guest Amon, thanks for posting that High Low Jigga-low
example.

It's a wonder how these rhymes show up throughout the world. Take for instance that jigga low rhyme. This is the first time I've read that version. Usually, I've seen Jigalow* performed not as a handclap rhyme but a foot stomping cheer or cheerleader cheer.

* or "gigalo" I don't think anybody knows what the correct spelling is, probably because there is no correct spelling.


Here's the words to that cheer that I usually hear among African American girls in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA:

GIGALO
All:
Gig ah lo-o
Gig a lo-o
Gig ah lo-o
Gig gig a lo-o
Group:
Hey, Kayla *
Kayla:
What?
Group:
Are you ready to gig?
Kayla:
Gig what?
Group:
Gigalo
Kayla:
My hands up high
My feet down low
And this is the way
I gig a lo
Group:
Her hands up high
Her feet down low
And this is the way she gigalos

* substitute the soloist's name or nickname

{repeat from the beginning with the next soloist, and continue until everyone in the group has a turn as soloist}

Girls stand in a horizontal line. While chanting, they step to a percussive, continual stomp clap/ stomp stomp/clap beat. When the girl who is the soloist responds "What?", she says it with attitude {like "Why are you bothering me to ask a question?"}. When she says "My hands up high my feet down low" She raises her hands and sashays down to the ground, in a sensual manner. When she says "This is the way I gigalo", she does a fancy step to the beat. The group then imitates her foot movement. The cheer then repeats again with the next soloist whose name is called and she does her soloist step.

Btw, recently, I've seen the soloist move to the front of the horizontal line when it's her turn to do her soloist {this does not mean moving in front of the other performers in the center of the line-but just moving in front of where she was standing}. When her soloist turn ends, she moves back to the line. Also btw, the girls don't stand in consecutive order 1 through 4 for instance. And the order of soloist {who is first, second, etc often depends on who calls out those numbers first at the beginning of this informal "play" activity}.

With handclap rhymes, performers {usually but not always girls as young as 5 years and usually no more than 12 years old} stand in place. The emphasis is on chanting while executing hand clap and hand slap partner routines. These routines can also be done with three people or four {two sets of two partners}. There are also larger group handclaps, but those are often lightly competitive while partner/three and four person handclaps aren't.

In contrast, foot stomping cheers are all about the creation of bass sounding percussive sounds made by the feet and also the hands and body patting. These synchronized, chreographed routines are performed by girls about the same age as those doing handclaps, but usually at the upper end of that age group. While foot stomping routines include handclapping, there are no partners-you clap your own hands and never touch the body of anyone else. The performers {like handclap routines, usually girls} basically stand in place or if they do move, they don't move far from their starting place, and they quickly return back to it.
These foot stomping routines are very much like the African American art of steppin.

Here's a link to other text examples of jigalo/gigalow:

Cocojams foot stomping cheers

And here are two links to YouTube videos on the performance of steppin that may help to convey what foot stomping cheers are like {since these two performance arts are very similar}.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DI6k7vd4Qs&NR

{This video shows a young girl demonstrating step moves; including individual handclapping and body patting. "Body patting" used to be called "pattin juba"}

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDM_R529UQ4&mode=related&search=
{a high school or community step team}

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: The Doctor
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 05:58 PM

There was a news item on tv the other night, about schools initiated by parents, and the problems they face in England, contrasted with such a school in Sweden. In the film report of the Swedish school there were the girls, in the playground, playing a clapping game. Judging by the rhythm it was something similar to, but not the same as, Miss Mary Mack.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Amon
Date: 25 Nov 07 - 05:12 PM

We have a different version of "high low peccalow" here (Herts, England).
Instead of peccalow it reads:

My names is ....
High Low Jigga-low
Jigga-low high Low
High Low Jigga-low
Jigga-low high

You hold onto your friend's right hand with yours and your left hands make contact.
When the song says high, you clap above the joined hands, when the song says low you clap below and when the song says Jigga you clap on the joined hands.
The aim is to run through the song as fast as possible without mucking up the clapping.
We're 17 now, but we still sometimes play it if we've nothing better to.
Usually the most muck ups happen on the second line where it goes low high.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Lex11
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:34 PM

lemonaid crushed ice
beat it once beat it twice
lemonde crushed ice beat it one beat it twice
turn around touch the ground break it down kick your boyfriend out
of town and freeze.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,AmyLuLu
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:07 AM

Miss Mary Mack

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 50 cents cents cents
to see the elephants elephants elephants
jump over the fence fence fence
they jumped so high high high
they touched the sky sky sky
they never came back back back
till the fourth of july ly ly

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM

awwwww i loooved these clap games.. me and my fiance were laying in bed the other night trying to remember the rhymes to them.. we came up with a couple but couldn't figure out the whole things.. does anyone know the i went to a chinese restaurant rhyme. the version that has cheese on toast and u put it in the oven with a poke poke poke... all i have is "i went to a chinese restaurant to buy a loaf of bread bread bread the lady at the counter was standing on her head head head she asked me what my name was and this is what i said said said... my name is eli eli chikali chikali ooey gooey bok bok bok.... (missing a verse in here i think.)....cheese on toast and u put it in the oven with a poke poke poke.... there is more to it i just cant remember it... my other favourite was miss mary mack mack mack all dressed in black black black paid 50 cents cents cents to watch the elephant elephant elephant jump over the fence fence fence he jumped so high high high he reached the sky sky sky and didnt come back back back till teh fourth of july july july...

ahhhh fun times!!!!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,tracyjoy
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 11:07 PM

A-B-C HIT IT!
it's called A-B-C Hit It! {and/ or Brickwall Waterfall}. It goes:
A-B-C Hit It! That's the way Uh-Uhh I like it Uh-Uhh.
That's the way Uh-Uhh I like it Uh-Uhh. Brickwall Waterfall
Girl you think you know it all. You don't. I do. So Poof with the Attitude. Peace Punch Captain Crunch. I got something you can't touch.
Bang Bang Cho Cho Train. Wind me up I'll do my thing.
Yummy Yummy 7Up Mess with me I'll beat you up. Wait, Come back.
I think you need a Tic Tac. Not 1 Not 2 But the whole six-pack. I'm not trying to be mean but you need some Listerine. Not a sip not a swallow. But the whole dang bottle.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 08:08 PM

Steven Spielberg used a clapping rhyme in the shocking opening of The Color Purple, when two little girls are playing a clapping game in a cornfield, then one comes out from behind the corn and you see that she's heavily pregnant.

I well remember the gasp of horrified sorrow that came from the Dublin audience the first time I saw that film.

There's a brilliant book - probably long out of print - called All In, All In, which had a bunch of the rhymes used in Ireland. (The name comes from the Irish equivalent of Ally-Ally-Oxenfree, which was a chant of "All in, all in, the game's broke up".)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Weirdo`s From the Mental Institution
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 03:13 AM

Now you are wondering why you should listen 2 the weirdo`s from the Mental Institution, well you shouldnt, but listen anyway!

Miss Suzie lie on fluffy old cloud far from the happy cloud 9
Sip`n some tea dream`in a jolly ol` dream
Wish`n she again, could become free
high heavens arent as fine as the house in Florida with the peachy pink door
So she is think`n bout her life before

When Miss Suzie was a baby she went like this...
wa wa
When Miss Suzie was a toddler she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb
When Miss Suzie was a child she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum
When Miss Suzie was a teenager she went like this...
wa wa , suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum, I left my bra in my boyfriends car
When Miss Suzie was a adult she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum, I left my bra in my boyfriends car, eat your peas and dont forget it
When Miss Suzie was a grandma she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum, I left my bra in my boyfriends car, eat your peas and dont forget it, get off of my lawn
When Miss Suzie was an angel she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum, I left my bra in my boyfriends car, eat your peas and dont forget it, get off my lawn, flutter like a bird
When Miss Suzie was a devil she went like this...
wa wa, suck my thumb, give me a piece of bubble gum, I left my bra in my boyfriends car, eat your peas and dont forget it, get off my lawn, flutter like a bird, I`m gonna kill you ( literally)


From your good good friends, the weirdo's from the MENTAL INSTITION!!!! Gonna Kill you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,The Hotties from Europe
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 02:48 AM

Duh silly we still do hand clappys, it makes us happy!!!!! Love ya`ll !

Lemonade ( clap clap clap )
Crunchy ice ( clap clap clap )
Beat it once ( clap clap clap )
Beat it twice ( clap clap clap )
Lemonade, crunchy ice
Beat it once, beat it twice
Lemonade, crunchy ice
Beat it once, beat it twice
Turn around ( literally )
Touch the ground ( literally )
Give that partner a high five ( literally )
We made 20 dollars at a lemonade stand
Just exactly as we planned
Now how should I should I spend the money with my friends
How bout the candy store
But daddy say don't spend it on that
Cause mommy say that will give you cavities and make you fat
Take it Back
Take it Back
The way you say that, gave me a slap
Right in the back
Slap Slap

Nick Nack
slap slap
aimed exactly too my back

candy bars ( clap clap clap)
lollypops (clap clap clap)
eat it once ( clap clap clap)
eat it twice ( clap clap clap)
Candy bars, jelly beans
now looky there our teeth turned green
now looky there my butt dont fit in my brand new jeans!

Slap Slap
Now I am fat
Mommy aint to happy, thats a fact!

From the Hot Hottie's from Europe
Love Ya`ll ! KISSY WISSY! Like Totally! DUH!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Kim C
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 05:40 PM

The Games Black Girls Play

Had to read this in my folklore class last semester.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,me and my friends love this one
Date: 05 Jun 07 - 08:20 PM

my name is high low peccalow,
peccalow,high low high low
peccalow peccalow yo
thats my name don't ware it out..
high low peccalow peccalow Yo

(try to tap the other person on the forehead before they tap you)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Down Down baby
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:48 PM

I learned Version of Down Down Baby in virginia in the 90's


Down down baby, down by the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet baby, mama never let you go
Shimmy shimmy coca pop, shimmy shimmy pow!

I like coffee, I like tea,
I like a color boy and he likes me
So step back white boy, you don't shine
I'll get the color boy to beat yo' behind

Let get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)
We've got the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)

Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp,stomp)
We've got the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp

Lets get the rhythm of the head DING-DONG
(move head side to side)
We've got the rhythm of the head DING-DONG (move head side to side)

Let's get the rhythm of the HOT-DOG
(move body around)
We've got the of the HOT-DOG
(move body around)

Put all together and and what do you get....

clap, clap, stomp, stomp, ding-dong, hot-dog

Say them all backwards and what do you get....

hot-dog, ding-dong, stomp, stomp, clap, clap!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Elmo
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 10:57 PM

Hi. My name is Joey Slavinska

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 05:40 PM

yeah i happen to be a school girl and we love to do clapping games and rhymes one of my favorites goes like this                                                                                        DOWN BY THE BANKS OF HANKY PANKY WHERE THE BULLFROGS JUMP FROM BANK TO BANKY WITH A HIP HOP SHIMY SHIMY POP THE BANK WAS TO FAR AND THEY WENT KERPLOP                                  DIRECTIONS:YOU SIT IN A CIRCLE AND CLAP YOUR ONE HAND THEN TAKE THAT HAND AND CLAP THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU UNTIL THE END THEN THAT PERSON IS OUT.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 08:49 AM

In between taking drugs and happy slapping,yes,i think they do

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 09:36 AM

By the time my children were at school it was 'elastics' and waas played using knicker elastic, my sister knew it as 'American skipping', and scrounged rubber bands to link together. Someone said that there is special stuff sold now (affluence ehh)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 09:59 PM

Mo the Caller - I was born march 1964 in New York City. Clearly I missed the Chinese Jump Rope craze. I did know about Conkers, however, something more common in the UK. We used Black Walnuts we gathered from a local golf course. These were horribly messy when fresh and stained your hands. You'd have to find an old one or let a freshly fallen one dry out before use as a conker. If you came up against someone with a fresh one though - you'd beat them but ruin your clothing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Flash Company
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:35 AM

Went to visit our Family grave back in the area where I grew up in Mid Cheshire recently. The church, graveyard and church school are in close proximity.
The kids in the playground were singing.....

The farmer's in the dell, the farmer's in the dell,
Ee aye addio the farmer's in the dell....

I thought, 'Oh God, Mum will be getting up to join in!'

Brian Q

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 02:48 AM

When did you grow up? It came to England in the late 50s,my sister did it at primary school but I missed it. Somewhere in one of these threads there's a quote from the Opies that confirms this.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 04:39 PM

I had never heard of Chinese Jump-Rope until reading this thread so I went and looked it up on wikipedia. How is it that I missed this growing up, I wonder?

Chinese Jump Rope Article

Hand-Clap games were a big part of my childhood. My favorite was an elaborate one set to "Oh Playmate" and we did one to "I'll tell my Ma" which is actually a skip-rope song.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 11:50 AM

I heard the donkey rhyme in 1953ish as
Inky pinky ponky
Daddy bought a donkey
Donkey died
Mummy cried
Inky Pinky Ponky

Not a handclap, just something someone recired once.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:26 AM

Artful Codger, "kids" to me means children ages 5-12 years. Where I come from, most children who are that age don't have cell phones.

I've observed girls within that age group performing partner, three person, 4 person and group handclaps. It seems that the boys stop doing handclaps around 8 years of age unless its the competitive type handclapping rhymes like Stella Ola Ola [see link above]. Othr than these type of handclaps, boys consider this activity as something girls do.

GUEST 31 Mar 07 - 03:21 AM, here's how I heard a 7 year old African American boy chant the last rhyme you posted
{Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2004}

Skunk in the barn yard
Pee yew (sp?)
Who did it come from?
from you.

-snip-

I've also heard the first line recited as "stunk in the barnyard" from the same population age group.

In 2004 my daughter taught 2nd grade. Her student's assignment was to recite a counting out rhyme. The "skunk in the barnyard rhyme" works as a counting out rhyme in that the last line can be given as Y-O-U [with the reciter pointing to a person on each letter].
Used in this way, "Stunk in the barnyard" isn't really a handclap rhyme.

Needless to say, some students in that classroom recited other types of children's rhymes besides counting out rhymes.

And no, I didn't suggest this, but-needless to say- I definitely took advantage of that opportunity to collect more children's rhymes.

:o)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:21 AM

I can remember does these back in grade school (Washington State). Which of course was only seven years ago. I knew Miss Sue, I went to a chinese restaurant, conccentration, and miss suzie had a steam boat (lots of endings with this one). And Quack Diddilly Oso was a common recess game. Hey did anyone do the counting rhymes? Eg.
Ink a bink a bottle of ink
cork fell out and you stink
not because your dirty
not because your clean
just because you kissed a (girl/boy) behind a magizine.

or

Inky binky bonky
daddy had a donkey
donkey died
daddy cried
inky binky bonky

or

sunk in the barn yard pi-you (sp?)
who did it come from
not you.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 06:10 PM

Yes, kids still do clapping rhymes, but they use the "clap" option on their cell phones and text each other.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:55 PM

Hello,

Thanks for posting those examples. As a means of providing some folklorical documentation of where these rhymes are recited, it would be great if you would share what city/state you live in {and country since this is an international discussion forum}. It would also be great if you would share what activity is done with the recitation of "Chinese Restaurant" and "Miss Susie...Steamboat". It seems that they are usually done with partner handclap routines. Is this how they are done where you live?

I've seen similar versions of "I Went To A Chinese Restaurant" performed as handclap rhymes [in Pittsburgh, PA area and in Philadelphia,PA}. In the middle of the rhyme and at the end, the two girls [since this usually is a girl activity] attempt to slap or pinch the other partner. I'm curious is this what happens on the words "punch ya in the belly: or "oops i'm sorry" or "POW!".

I have heard "Quack Diddily Oso" recited in Pittsburgh, PA.
That rhyme is very similar to two other rhymes that I have collected from African American children [girls and boys] in Pittsburgh, PA: "Strola Ola Ola" and "Slap Billy Ola." These rhymes and their close cousin "Stella Ella Ola" are performed the same way that you described for Quack Diddlily Ola. I would add that the number need not be "4", but is whatever the group decided before the game began... Also, when there are only two people left, these two stand facing each other as is done with partner handclap rhymes. The person whose hand is not hit at the end or this recitation, is the "winner".

Btw, it's great to play these lightly competitive game with mixed ages of kids, teens, and adults. I've found that boys under 10 years usually like playing these competition clapping games, but refrain from playing the non-competitive partner {or three or four person} handclap rhymes.

See this archived Mudcat thread for examples of Kids chant Stella Ola Ola / Stella Ella Ola

Actually, that title is listed below the title of this thread, along with other threads of children's rhymes.

Enjoy!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,mcr
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:42 PM

i work with 1st graders the whole summer long and they love them!

Miss Mary Mack is very popular

Miss Mary Sue is a new one for me

miss mary sue sue sue
all dressed in blue blue blue
with silver buttons buttons buttons
all down her shoe shoe shoe
she asked her mom mom mom
for 50 cents cents cents
to see the boys boys boys
zip up their flies flies flies

Quack Diddily Oso is also a favorite
there are many versions to it

quack diddily oso quack quack quack
from sandiego ego ego ego
delore delore
they spilled it on the floor-a
1-2-3-4
*better with lots of people person who's hand gets slapped on 4 is out of the game

They don't know that many but i know some more as well

I Went To A Chinese Restuarant

i went to a chinese restuarant
to buy a loaf of bread bread bread
the waiter asked me whats my name and this is what i said said said
myy name is ching ching charlie
Pompom cutie
punch ya in the belly
oops i'm sorry
chinese japanese look at these dirty knees
POW!

Miss Susie Had A steamboat

miss susie had a steamboat
the steamboat had a bell ding-ding!
miss susie went to heaven and the steamboat went to
Hello operator please give me # 9
and if you disconnect me i will chop off your
Behind the refrigerator there was a piece of glass
Miss susie sat upon it and it went straight up her
Ask me no more ?s
please tell me no more lies
the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their
Flies are in the meadow
bees are in their hives
my sister has a boyfriend
and they're kissing in the D-A-R-K D-A-R-K DARK DARK DARK DARK DARK
dark is like the movies
a movies like a show
a show is like a broadway show and that is all i know!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: RowanCountyKY
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 01:07 AM

The other day my wife and I saw a mother --a fairly young one-- playing a clapping rhyme game with her daughter. The little girl was eight or nine and both of them were having a great time.

So it ain't dead yet.

Bob
Rowan County KY

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 12:37 AM

Correction:

Since I messed up that sentence, let me take this opportunity to change the way I wrote it:

"Hula Hula" is a foot stomping cheer, and not a handclap rhyme.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 12:34 AM

'Brickwall Waterfall" appears to be the most widely known handclap rhyme nowadays, judging by how often versions of it are posted on the Internet. This rhyme is so widely known because it was featured in the 2003 American movie "Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star."

As a result of its inclusion in that movie, and because its in-your face attitude typifies popular street culture, the popularity of "Brickwall Waterfall" seems to have crossed racial, ethnic, and nationality lines. However, like other handclap rhymes, the rhyme appears to be 'performed' by far more girls than boys.

Both http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php/, and http://www.cocojams.com/index.htm -have multiple versions of this rhyme. The girl who submitted one of these versions to the Cocojams website identified herself as being from England. Another girl who submitted a version of this rhyme identified herself as being from the USA but now living in Japan.

Here are three examples of this handclap rhyme:

1, 2, 3 HIT IT! {Brickwall Waterfall}
1, 2, 3,
HIT IT!
that's the way
uh huh uh huh
i like it
uh huh uh huh
that's the way
uh huh uh huh
i like it
uh huh uh huh
peace. punch
captain crunch.
brick wall. waterfall.
girl you think you know it all?
you don't! i do!
so poof with the attitude.
loser loser with a twist
elbow elbow wrist wrist.
wipe a tear. blow a kiss.
kiss this.
hunnie u aint got none of this.
http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php/;posted by k to the c on June 20, 2006
{reposted with permission from that blogs' members}

-snip-

BRICKWALL WATERFALL
brick wall water fall girl u think u know it all u dont i do so poof with your attitude poof poof.. elbow elbow wrist wrist u can kiss this (point at butt) elbow elbow wrist wrist u can lick this (point at u-know wat) elbow elbow wrist wrist u mess with me u mess with me elbow elbow wrist wrist shut up girl u just got dissed.
-Esoterica; 6/1/2006; http://www.cocojams.com/taunting_rhymes.htm

-snip-

A-B-C HIT IT!
it's called A-B-C Hit It! {and/ or Brickwall Waterfall}. It goes:
A-B-C Hit It! That's the way Uh-Uhh I like it Uh-Uhh.
That's the way Uh-Uhh I like it Uh-Uhh. Brickwall Waterfall
Girl you think you know it all. You don't. I do. So Poof with the Attitude. Peace Punch Captain Crunch. I got something you can't touch.
Bang Bang Cho Cho Train. Wind me up I'll do my thing.
Yummy Yummy 7Up Mess with me I'll beat you up. Wait, Come back.
I think you need a Tic Tac. Not 1 Not 2 But the whole six-pack. I'm not trying to be mean but you need some Listerine. Not a sip not a swallow. But the whole dang bottle.

{PS. To the owner of this website usually the Brickwall rhymes are games you play with your hands. Thanks!!!}
-lauren; S.A T.X ro ; 5/7/2006; http://www.cocojams.com/taunting_rhymes.htm

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 12:04 AM

Many-but by no means all-contemporary [post-1960s to pick an arbitrary date]African American girls' rhymes, celebrate the twin virtues of toughness [meaning "in-your-face attitude"] and sexiness.

It's my view that this ghetto tough & sexy flava that permeates many Black American children's rhymes [including handclap rhymes] is greatly influencing rhymes that are recited and performed by children of other races and ethnicities and nationalities.

Here's an example of a tough & sexy attitude children's rhyme from African American girls {ages 5-12 years Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, mid 1980s*

HULA HULA
Group                Hula Hula, who think they bad.
Soloist #1        I do.
Group                 Hula Hula, who think they bad.
Soloist #1         I do.
Group                 Ool! You think you bad. {She thinks she bad.}
Soloist #1        Correction, Baby, I know I'm bad.
Group        Ool!         You think you smart.
Soloist #1        Smart enough to break your heart.
Group                Ool, you think you tuff?
Soloist#1        Tuff enough to strut my stuff.
                Cause when I twist
                like this.{Soloist does a hip shaking dance}
                the boys cannot resist.
                And when I turn
                I burn
                and break down like a worm.
{Soloist briefly performs a hip shaking movement or does some other "sexy" dance step}

{Repeat the entire chant with the next soloist until everyone has had one turn as soloist.}

Actually, this example is not a handclap rhyme-at least not the traditional form of handclap rhymes. "Hula Hulaas onc as hai, but a foot stomping cheer. Foot stomping cheers are synchronized, syncopated routines that [usually] girls perform while chanting in a modified response & call pattern while producing bass sounding foot stomps, hand claps [clapping [their own] hands, and, sometimes, slapping their bodies in pattin juba like ways.

*I have found this cheer in Texas, Georgia, and New York in the 1989s. This cheer does not appear to be known among that age group of African American girls in Pittsburgh area in the early 2000s.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 11:58 PM

My nieces and nephew in Mozambique know the most amazing, complicated, polyrythmic clapping chants I have ever seen. They clap themselves, each other, feet, hands, chests, other body parts...Incredible. They tried to teach my kids, and it just isn't in them in the same way.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Clownfish
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 11:06 PM

A bit more history. In my school in Sydney, we did a skipping rhyme: Apple tart, Apple tart, Tell me the name of your sweetheart, A B C D E etc The letter on which you missed the rope was the first letter of your "boyfriend's" name.
The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh has a black and white film called "The Singing Street" that has some wonderful old singing and rhyming games.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Scoville
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 08:45 AM

IT was a big deal in my elementary school 20 years ago. The "Miss Suzy" rhyme was the favorite (probably because of the thinly-disguised swear words), but the younger kids did "Miss Mary Mack". Clapping pattern was:

right hands
together
left hands
together
both hands
together
hands on thighs
together

And we'd try to see how fast we could go without messing up.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 04:41 AM

I'm a retired primary school teacher ( north-west England ), and about 10 years ago I became interested in clapping songs and I video taped some girls performing a number of them. From my experience, the fad for clapping songs seemed to come and go.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 03:20 AM

My daughter goes to a village school and the girls do clapping rhymes mostly even though there are only 60 of them in the school. They did a project last term on playground games and my daughter was amazed that I knew so many handclapping and skipping rope songs that she had learnt ( I cant decide if it was that I knew them or that I must be really old to know them!)

She loves hand clapping to

5 little angels all dressed in white