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ADD: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop/Down Down Baby
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ADD: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop/Down Down Baby |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST Date: 22 Dec 20 - 05:15 PM Being raised in Brooklyn, in the 60's and 70's, we sang that street song(Cadence) like this..., *Forgive the profanity, we were kids following others... Ahhh beep-beep, walking down the street. Ten times a week. Ungawa, Black Power, destroy White boy. I said it, I meant it, I'm here to represent it. I'm a cool-cool 'nicca' from a cool-cool Town. It takes a cool-cool 'nicca' to knock me down. You don't like my apples, don't shake my tree but listen mofo, don't mess with me... I'm cool, I'm calm, I'm soul sister #9, sock it to me, one mo' time. Soul sister #10, I'll say it to you, one mo' 'gin... There were even more lyrics, we'd add on, depending on who was singing along. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST,P & C Date: 02 Jun 18 - 10:42 PM My good friend Cindy used to sing this version all the time around 1972. May she rest in peace, gone too soon. This verse allowed me to never forget her, here's to you Cindy Lee... Beep Beep, Walking down the street, Ten times a week, Ungawa! Girl power! Destroy! All boys! I mean it, I said it, I'm here to represent it! Im cool, I'm calm, Im soul sister number 9, Sock it to me one more time! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST,nyc & queens ny Date: 11 Aug 13 - 02:23 AM in the late 60's and 70's, as a child i remember some of these lyrics from songs sang on the playgrounds, children's shelter and camp. here are the lyrics i remember [though this may be a mixture of several songs] . . . ungawa black power this is my tower destroy white boy i said it, i meant it, i even represent it i'm a cool cool nigger from a cool cool town it takes another cool nigger to knock me down shimmy shimmy coco puff shimmy shimmy pow shimmy shimmy coco puff shimmy shimmy pow grandma moses sick in bed she called the doctor and the doctor said grandma moses you ain't sick all you need is a peppermint stick :-) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST Date: 12 May 11 - 11:26 AM Here is the version from Brooklyn, New York in the early 70's...the Brownsville version: Ahh, Beep Beep! Walking down the street Ten times a week Ungawa! Black Power! Destroy! White Boy! I said it, I meant it I'm here to represent it I'm cool, I'm calm I'm Soul Sister Number Nine Sock it to me one more time! Uh-Uh! Good God! Now someone here mixed this up with another soul sister/brother rhyme that goes as follows: I'm a bad soul sister from a bad soul town It takes 48 whites just to knock me down Don't you pick no apples from my apple tree! I'm a bad soul sister, don't you mess with me! We had so many rhymes like this. Some were very graphic! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST,Bell Gardens High School Alumnus Date: 06 May 11 - 02:16 PM OMG, found your site by a search for a chant we did at high school games: the "ungawa" one. It made me laugh, because I realize how much more our parents could have been shocked than they were at the first winning football game our school had in a decade. When I was in high school, our football team had not won for years--against anybody. When I was a junior, it looked pretty god for us to win that season's first game of the season. BGHS at that time was about half-half hispanic and poor whites. "Racial diversity" was a struggling concept in many places, even in California, back then. It was really having a struggle in Bell Gardens. The Watts Riots was only a few years behind us and was still only about a 9-mile drive from BG. I remember seeing the smoke at night and the glow of the flames on the horizon. I think our parents, especially, needed a sensitivity training and about two decades to make them more acceptable to racial diversity. The majority of the folks who attended the football games were white. An unfortunate cosmic connection occurred when our cheerleading squad attended a cheerleading camp over the summer, and returned to preview their new chants at the football game we were actually, finally, going to win. To understand how big this game was, the LATimes had a reporter there for a few days before the game, and published, as their dominant story, The Game, with background about BGHS and the community. On the night of the game, the stands were packed. Our (white) cheerleaders came out and, the first chant they did was: "ungawa, ungawa, yeah we got the powah!" but we didn't get into the full verses, but just chanted that over and over. The students in the stands ROCKED that chant! We stood up and SCREAMED it! They did the "Ah-beep-beep!" chant after that, and the students enthusiastically joined in. Well, to say that our parents pitched a bloody fit to the principle the next Monday, about sitting in the stands, being surrounded by their children screaming "UNGWA! UNGAWA! YEAH WE GOT THE POWAH!," is an understatement. It represented every one of their fears about the safety of ourselves, them, the country, and what the future held for all of us. I'm just glad the cheerleaders didn't bring back the full version of Ungawa-Ugawa. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST Date: 06 Feb 10 - 09:46 PM In Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, NY at PS 33 in 5th grade in the early 70 ties - where the blacks hated the Puerto Ricans and every one hated the whites ... Ah beep beep ah beep beep 10 times a week 10 times a week Ungawa Black Power Destroy white Boy I said it, I meant it I even represent it I'm soul brother number 9 sock it to me one more time (Than was so many years ago) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Jan 10 - 09:15 AM GUEST,Guest: Please stay in touch. We have a member, Azizi, who is particularly interested in kids' rhymes, who would be delighted to collect yours, and might have some interesting things to say about it. She hasn't posted since Jan. 5—I don't know why—She used to be very active here. I see she posted a rhyme similar to yours back here. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST,Guest Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:46 PM I was remembering this today and did a google search. Had no idea where it came from. When I was a little kid, a little white kid mind you, I didn't have alot of friends but the black kids loved my mom who was a Teacher's Assistant at my elementary school so we looked out for each other. This must have been in the very early 70's. They might have thought it was hilarious seeing me marching around the block saying this stuff but it was all good. "Ooh! Ungawa! We got the power! To destroy! White boy! I said it! I meant it! I'm here to represent it! 'Cause I'm a cool, cool, nigger from a cool, cool, town and it takes a cool nigger to knock me down! So don't you take my apple, don't you touch my teeth, 'cause I can kick your old tail any day of the week!" At least that's how I remember it from a very, very, long time ago. Some of the lines don't make much sense to me so they might have been how adults changed some lines for the kids or just that my memory's wonky now. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: Cool Beans Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM Stokely Carmichael used to end his speeches at colleges by leading the audience (white, black, Asian etc.) in chanting "Beep, beep, bang, bang, umgawa, black power!" I wonder if he took it from a jump-rope rhyme. |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST,Guest: Cherokee Date: 17 Dec 09 - 02:58 PM I'm only interested in the dowtown baby song. If they learned it at school then I think I know. I learned it at school, too. Mine might be a different verison, though. I learned it in primary school when I lived in South Carolina. Downtown baby, downtown, the roller coaster Sweet, sweet, baby. Sweet, sweet, don't let me go. Shimmy, shimmy, coco-pah. Shimmy, shimmy, down. Shimmy, shimmy coco-pah. Shimmy, shimmy, break it down! Ohh, swish-sha-wa-wa, a biscuit. I found a lover, a biscuit. She's so sweet, a biscuit. Like a soda sweet, a biscuit. Ice cream soda pop, cherry on top, bop! It looks a bit silly, but it's actually a really fun hand game. Of course it varies. Instead of "lover", you can say "nother". Like another? It was really fun when I was little and really popular. It doesn't make a lot of sense but... well it's just a game! Anyways, I always liked it, still do. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop (Little Anthony) From: GUEST,guest Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:40 AM Ahh, beep beep, Ahh, beep beep, walkin down the street, 10 times a week. Ungawa, black power destroy white boy I'm a cool cool nigger from a cool cool town, it takes 5 white niggers to knock me down. I said it I meant it I really represent it I'm soul brouther number 5 , sock it to me one more time |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST,Marvo!! Date: 30 Apr 09 - 05:13 AM Well, the way we used to sing it in the '70s in Queens, NY goes: Ahh, beep beep, walkin down the street, 10 times a week. Ungawa,ungawa, black power, black power. I said it, I meant it, I really represent it. I'm a cool cool nigger from a cool cool town, it takes 5 white niggers to knock me down. |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST,duh Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:08 PM OMG i'm finally remembering it... ahh beep beep walkin down the street 10 times a week... ungawa, ungawa this is black power destroy white boy i said it i meant it i really represent it i'm a soul soul sista from a soul soul town aint too many sista gonna keep me down. if you don't like my apples don't shake my tree cuz i'm a soul soul sista named... Ja-nie LOL again i'm not black. j |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:05 PM oh wait... no... first verse goes ah beeb beep walkin' down the street 10 times a week... ungawa... etc. |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST,janie Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:04 PM we used to sing... ah beep beep 10 times a week ungawa, ungawa, this is black power destoy white boy i said it i meant it i really represent it i'm a soul soul sista from a soul soul town aint too many sistas gonna keep me down i said it, i meant it i really represent it... or something like that funny thing is... i'm not black LOL |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: Azizi Date: 02 Jan 06 - 08:19 PM Rosebrook, posted in 1998 that there was a jumprope rhyme called "Downtown Baby". I strongly believe that Little Anthony and the Imperials' hit song is based on this children's rhyme. Nelly also used the line "shimmy shimmy coco-puff" in his {definitely not family rated} hit song "Country Grammar" There are actually numerous versions of that rhyme but the "title" is usually Down down , and not "Downtown" baby. Another title for that rhyme is "Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pa" {or "Coco Puff, "Coco Pa" or some such ending}. It appears that the performance activity for this rhyme has changed {at least among African American children in Pittsburgh, PA area} to partner, three, and four person handclap routines. As is the case with many children's rhymes, "Down Down Baby" is made up of a number of different independent or semi-independent verses. Many versions of this rhyme include the same verses that are found in "I love {like} coffee/I love tea" rhymes. IMO, Rosebrook's example is made up of a 4 separate rhymes that I would divide as follows: Down, down baby Down by the roller coaster Sweet sweet baby I'll never let you go Shimmy shimmy ra Shimmy shimmy ko ko bop Shimmy shimmy ra I met a girlfriend a triscuit She said a triscuit a biscuit Ice cream, soda pop,vanilla on the top something, something Walking down the street, 10 times a week I said it, I meant it I stole my momma's credit I'm cool, I'm hot something, something -snip- Here's a version of the rhyme Rosebrook cited: Down Down Baby, Down By the Rollercoaster, Sweet sweet Baby, I'll never let you go, Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pop, Shimmy Shimmy Rock, I met a girlfriend, A triscit, She said a Triscit a Biscit, Ice Cream, Soda pop, Vanilla on the top, OOOH Johny, Walkin down the street, Ten Times a week, I met [meant]it I said it I stole my momma credit, I'm cool, I'm Hot, Sock me in the stomach one more time... Source: Octoblog Schoolyard Rhymes Thread ;posted by Ashley at August 10, 2003 {used with permission} -snip- IMO, the "Oooh Johnny" line in the above rhyme is folk etymology for the word "Ungawa" {a word that was used in the 1970s,1980s to approximate African talk}. See this example of that verse from a New York city Latina woman's memory of her childhood in the 1980s: "Ah beep beep, walking down the street 10 times a week Ungawa, black power, Puerto Rican power I said it, I meant it and now I represent it" Source: Yasmin Hernandez, private email to Azizi, 2004 Here's my late 1960s/early 1970s memory of that verse: Beep Beep, Bang Bang Ungawa, Black Power! -snip- I think that Rosebrook's "something something" line stands for words that she forgot, and I wouldn't at all be surprised if the word "Ungawa" {perhaps repeated two times} was used in that rhyme. |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: GUEST Date: 02 Jan 06 - 05:18 PM its the song josh and billy sing in big if that helps |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: Rex Rideout Date: 22 Sep 98 - 01:54 PM Hmm, well my kids figure I'm hopeless anyway. I dig the songs from the 60's. The 1860's. But I do appreciate the info and I'll see if this is the one. Thanky, Rex |
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Subject: Down Down Baby From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Sep 98 - 02:59 PM Your response sounds a lot more appropriate, Rose. If you goof up when you're trying to relate to kids by picking up their music, they think you're totally out of it - and they may well be right. Rose, you may have just saved somebody from a serious family crisis. -Joe Offer, whose kids KNOW he's "totally out of it"- Here's a hand clapping game called "Down Down Baby": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCyBMztWUFk DOWN, DOWN, BABY Down, down, baby, Down, down the roller coaster Sweet, sweet, baby I’ll never let you go Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop Shimmy, Shimmy pow Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop Shimmy, Shimmy pow! I like coffee I like tea I like another boy And he likes me Up and down and side to side All around and shake it little ride P-O-P spells POP! Another fun version: Down down baby, down by the roller coaster Sweet, sweet baby, I'll never let you go, Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pops, Shimmy shimmy pow! Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pops, Shimmy shimmy pow! Grandma grandma, sick in bed, Called the doctor and the doctor said; Let's get the rhythm of the head - ding dong! Let's get the rhythm of the head - ding dong! Let's get the rhythm of the hands - clap, clap! Let's get the rhythm of the hands - clap, clap! Let's get the rhythm of the feet - stomp, stomp! Let's get the rhythm of the feet - stomp, stomp! Let's get the rhythm of the - hot dog Let's get the rhythm of the - hot dog! Put it all together and what do you get? Ding dong, clap clap, stomp stomp, hot dog! Put it all backward and what do you get? Hot dog, stomp stomp, clap clap, ding dong! Source: https://www.nurseryrhymes.org/down-down-baby.html |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: rosebrook Date: 21 Sep 98 - 02:19 PM Rex, I hate to stir things up, but I wonder if the song in question is something your kids heard at school, maybe what they heard was what I'm remembering as a "jump rope song" instead of this 50's song Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop. What I remember from memory (we're talking LONG term memory here...) goes like:
Down, down baby
Then again, this may be totally NOT what you're kids had in mind. The reason I think so is because you are calling it "Downtown Baby" and that is the first line to this jump rope song.
Rose |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: Rex Rideout Date: 21 Sep 98 - 12:54 PM Jenny and Joe, thank you most kindly. Now I can sing this with my younguns in the privacy of my own home. But if any of yous accuse me of knowing it, I'll deny it. Rex |
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: Jenny Date: 19 Sep 98 - 03:51 PM Joe ... thanks for adding the words ... I can remember where I first heard the song ... in my grandparents' basement in Washington, D.C. I had taken a radio down there so I could turn the volume up really loud and dance. Of course, I was 5 y/o. Jenny |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHIMMY SHIMMY KO-KO-BOP (Bob Smith) From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Sep 98 - 03:17 AM You asked for it.... -Joe Offer- SHIMMY SHIMMY KO-KO-BOP (by Bob Smith) recorded 9/29/59 by Little Anthony and the Imperials Oh ! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh - ah! Oh ! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh - ah! Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop sittin' in a native hut all alone and blue sittin' in a native hut wonderin' what to do along came a native girl did a native dance it was like in paradise put me in a trance going Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop joined her in her dancin spree felt my spine a-tingle held her tight and close to me man I'm glad I'm single then she showed me what to do first I was amazed soon I learned a step or two put me in a daze going Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop Shimmy Shimmy Bop you can do the ko-ko-bop now's no time to stop left foot forward right one back bring them side by side uh syncopate your last two steps now you're going to glide keep along the rhythm track girls please show 'em how now you start to arch your back man you got it now
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Subject: RE: Downtown Baby From: Jenny Date: 18 Sep 98 - 04:23 PM Well ... Can't supply you with all the lyrics, but it was recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials in the late '50's, one of my personal favorite all-time Motown groups. You can probably find the song on one of the Motown reuntion tapes... Jenny |
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Subject: Downtown Baby From: Rex Rideout Date: 18 Sep 98 - 04:05 PM Alright it's not folk and my name will be permanently tarnished in this group but here it is. I'm looking for info (singer, lyrics, music) on "Downtown Baby". The one goes like Shimmy, shimmy cocopah. I hated to bring it up but my kids like it. Heard it in school I guess. Rex Rideout |
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