Origins: 'Once in China there lived a great man...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest - H
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 05:18 PM

It made it to Northern Ireland in a slightly different form

There was a wee man from Chinatown
And his name was Chickalacka Brown
His head was big and his feet were small
Poor wee man couldn't walk at all

Chickalacka, Chickalacka, chychickalora
Chychickalora, walla, walla, wack
Hoke em, poke em, shill em and soak em
Itch iki, itch iki, e i o

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 08:50 PM

the lyrics i grew up with were

in china town, there lived a man
and his name was ring-a-bing-a-ban
his legs were long, feet were short
and the poor china man, could hardly walk

when he went out, they would shout
chi-chic-ari-chak-
chi-chic-aloram
candi-loram-mani-maniquack
oto-koto-etie-kitie-catio-ita-pear-sheet-a-pear eee-en-ko

the servent rolled him down the hill
they rolled him down like a rolling pill
when he went out, they would shout
chi-chic-ari-chak-
chi-chic-aloram
candi-loram-mani-maniquack
oto-koto-etie-kitie-catio-ita-pear-sheet-a-pear eee-en-ko

( i cant remember anymore lyrics , all-in-all a very racist song from another generation, but im still trying to find the origins of the rhyme, anyone have any info on this???? )

---

Please remember to use a consistent name when you post. Messages with the "from" space blank, risk being deleted.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Chickachaloo
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 08:53 PM

My grandfather sang us this version 30 years ago - now I sing it to my kid :)

"Chicka cha loo cha loo chapan
Wallapa Wallapa China Man
Once there was a China man, his name was Chicka Cha Loo Chapan
His head was big and his feet were small
So the poor China Man couldn't waaalk!

Alas, the china man to die,
And in his coffin he did lie,
They sent to coffin to Japan and that was the end of the China man!
Wallapa Wallapa China Man!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,David in Bournemouth, England
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 09:38 AM

The rhyme I learned from my Dad (1907 - 1984) was complete nonsense and I have no idea where he heard it - or why he learned it off by heart. Nevertheless, I have made sure my kids know it and my grand-daughter too; she does skipping to it.

Once in China there lived a man
And his name was Chikarak-a-chee chi chan
Chickarak-a-chee chi chandi claus
Alabalawak, alabalawak,
Oto oto itty itty ossify
Itty itty ossify T E Joe!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 11:38 AM

I do hope that "The Fish Cheer & I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" by Country Joe & the Fish has an equally long life as this politically incorrect ditty. The "Fish" song, in my opinion, has some redeeming value.

I would still hesitate to sing "Once in China there lived a man" to any general audience unless I first characterized it as an anti-Chinese song. And, yes, I can understand why it's so much fun to sing within the family but it is still a song of ethnic if not racial ridicule.

At least mull that over before passing it on to another generation.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Poppy
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 09:09 PM

This morning my mum asked if my father, who died a few years back, ever sung me a song about a little china man with long legs and small feet. It was their special song, and she couldn't remember it - googled it for her and here it is - cool, that will make her very happy...

Poppy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:08 PM

In Chinatown there lived a man
His name was Chickety-Chickety Chan
His feet were long and his toes were short
And this is the way the poor Chinamen talked

CHORUS:
Ooooh, chickety-chee chi-ly chi-lo
chickety-rummo inna-banana-wallya
wallya chi-na-key
inna-banana-ga-watchio

This chinaman had plenty of wealth and
lived in a mansion all by himself the
people got good and bought him a boat
and sent the poor china man off to float

Ooooh, chickety-chee chi-ly chi-lo
chickety-rummo inna-banana-wallya
wallya chi-na-key
inna-banana-ga-watchio

This Chinaman, finely died
and in his coffin he deny
they shipped him back to old Japan
and that was the end of the poor Chinaman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,GUEST Billy
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 11:08 AM

My father who was born in the 1890s sang this song to my brothers, sisters and I during the '30s. We all (9 of us) learned this song and sang it to our children and grandchildren. This is the version we all sang:

In China once there lived a great man
His name was Chika Raka Chee Chi Pan
His legs were long and his feet were small
The Chinese man couldn't walk at all

Chorus:
Chee Chika Raka Chi, Cho Chuka Lorum
Con Go Lorum Ina Pee Nam
Ek Co To Co, Esee Gossee Gissee Go
Edi Bi Tedi Bi Chian Coo

The servants use to carry him out
Upon their back for the folks to shout:
Here he comes and there he goes
The Chinese man with the monkeys nose

(Chorus)

The servants who were grave and grim
Determined to put an end to him
They took him to the top of a hill
And rolled him down like a rolling pin

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 08:32 PM

once in china there lived a great man
he lived with his friend in an old camper van
he loved his kung fu,and cup of typhoo
and his all the year golden sun tan

his back was all covered in hair,
and he hangs his coat over a chair
when he sits in the pub
with his beer and grub
he wishes we all could be there



   BOB DYLAN

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 07 - 12:46 PM

My families version goes like this:

Once there was a Chinaman
he lived in a mansion all alone
his feet were long his legs were short
Chinaman couldn't walk or talk

chickety loochie loochie la
poliver woliver chickety olicer
chickety loochie loochie la
poliver woliver Chinaman

Chinaman he upped and died
laid his coffin by his side
shipped his body to Japan
That was the end of the chinaman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 04:54 AM

My grandfathers version went like

Once in China there lived a little man
And his name was chicarocka, chicarocka ching ching chang
His arms were long and his legs were short
And this little man could neither walk nor talk.

chicarocka chicarocka boom chickarolla
acka packa kick him in the boka
boom chickarolla bom bay

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,treeboy
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 12:43 AM

Once in china there lived a little man
His name was chingalo ching chong chan
His head was big and his feet were small
And this little man couldn't walk at all

Chingalo chingalo ching chong chan
haydee hoedee happy man
Jubalo rascal county oh
gallapee wallapee chinee-oh

Now mrs cayay was short and fat
She had money but he was flat
So under her window he would go
To play her a tune on his old banjo

Chingalo chingalo ching chong chan
haydee hoedee happy man
Jubalo rascal county oh
gallapee wallapee chinee-oh

Now Mrs. cayay heard notes of love
She raised her washboard high above
And let it fall on poor cingalo chan
That was the end of the china-man

Chingalo chingalo ching chong chan
haydee hoedee happy man
Jubalo rascal county oh
gallapee wallapee chinee-oh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 08:38 AM

Google Book Search found this in Notes and Queries, ser. 10 v. 2 1904 Jul-Dec, page 507:

CHINESE NOMINY. -- In West Yorkshire, about 1875, the grooms, stable-boys, butchers' lads and others of the kin of Sam Weller, had a "Chinese" nominy of which they made a good deal of mystery, and the learning of which they considered quite an accomplishment. I forget the earlier part, but it ended

Katty had a cow,
Kittywarry, kattywarry, I ching go.

There was a translation which rather gave itself away by using a proper name dissimilar from anything in the original, which translation ran thus :—

Once in China there lived a man,
His name was Ratio Tamo Tyrie Tan
His legs were long, his feet were small,
Chinee feller couldn't walk at all….

Only a "snippet view" is available (at least to me) but I was able to apply my usual tricks to piece together several "snippets" to get the above text. I couldn't go any further.

"Nominy" is a new word to me. Anybody have access to a dictionary definition?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,The version I learned
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 10:06 AM

My mother learned this song in summer camp(50-60's) I'm sure it was modified from what she learnt..I just have never been able to get it out of my head. I was hoping today to find more verses...or even the original song


The chorus started slow and each time you sang it sped up.

Once in China lived a man
his name was Chickarack a chee chi cho
his arms were long, his legs were short
chinaman could walk nor snort.

Chorus
Chickarack chee chi cho chicka loro
hungo bungo, piggy wiggy wago
hoco poko, hit em on the coco
chitta by, chitta by, chee chi cho

China man had a wife
she led him an aweful life
she cut his pigtails off so long (fingers an inch apart)
and sold them for this chinese song.

Chorus (faster than the first time you sang it)

China man he did die
in a coffin he did lay
they sent him back to Old Japan
and that was the end of the China man

Chorus (as fast as you can - almost tripping over your own tongue)


I laughed so had as a kid, my kids laugh too....I think it has to do with the faces you make as you sing the chorus faster and faster.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 12:59 PM

Hey, it's funny because I was looking for the lyrics a year ago and couldn't find a page anywhere that even tried to come up with them. It's so funny how different everyone's versions are. My grandfather's chorus went more like:

Chicka chaloo chaloo chapan
Alaby Alaby chicka chalalapy
Chicka chaloo chaloo chapan
Alaby Alaby China man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 01:59 PM

chickery chick challa challa
chickaliomee ina bananika
wallikka wallikka
cant you see
chickery chick is me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Kim
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:35 PM

my mother taught me this song as soon as learnt how to spealk;

Once in China, lived a man
his name was Chick a rack a chee chi cho.
His arms were long, his legs were short.
China man could walk nor snort.

Chick a rack a cee chi cho chicka loro, bungo, loro piggy wiggy wago.
Ho co po co, hittem on the coco chit a by chit a by che chi cho.

China man had a wife, she led him an aweful life
cut his pig tales off so long and sold them for this Chinese song.
Chorus

China man he will die, in a coffin he will lie. send him back to the native land and thats the end of the Chinese man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 12:16 PM

once in china there lived a great man
he ate a sandwich of brown sauce and spam
he ate it too fast,developed bad gas
and shat all over his mam

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 04:10 PM

My Father taught me and my 4 sisters to sing this song...some of them here are close but none spot on.

In Chia Town there lived a man
His name was chikity chikity chan
His feet were long and his toes were short
and this is the way the Chinaman talked

OH!... Chikity che che Ouchie ow
Chicity Romeo eat a banana
Gawalla gawalla Chanta kee
Eat a banana go ouchi ow

This chinaman he had great wealth
and lived in a mansion all by himself
his neighbors next door bought him a boat
and down the river he did float

Chorus:

(in minor key)
This Chinaman was doomed to die
and in his coffin he did lie
they sent his body to Japan
and that was the end of the Chinaman

Chorus:

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Wolfrider06
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 05:14 AM

Once in China there lived an old man,
His name was Chicka Racka Chee Chi Cho Chan
His legs were long and his feet were short
Poor old man couldn't walk or snort

(chorus)
Chicka Racka Chee Chi Cho
Chicka laro
Bungo loro
Piggy wiggy wago
Oko poko
Hit em on the koko
Chitty pie chitty pie
Chee Chi Cho


China man had a wife
Led him such an awful life
Cut his pigtails Oh so long,
Sold them for a chinese song

(Chorus)

China man he did die
In his coffin he did die
Now they'll ship him back to Japan
That'll be the end of the chinese man

(Chorus)

China man went to heaven
His sail box was number seven
He went up on roller skates
Rolled right past those pearly gates

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Ray Pearson
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 12:31 PM

My dad learnt this from his mother - My Dad died 10 years ago.

Once in China there lived a funny man
And his name was Ikeraka Ching Chong Chan
His feet were long and his legs were short
And the Chinese man couldn't walk nor talk.

Chorus

Ikeraka ching chong chow chaka lorum
Condo lorum itty pitty wicka
Itty my itty my itty itty otiko
Itty my itty my chikerang coo

The chinese man he grew so stout
His servants could not carry him about
They took him up to the top of a hill
And Rolled him down like a Beecham's pill

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Brian Fellows
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 05:03 PM

I learned this song when I was 10 years old - I am now 71. I wonder how far it goes back? I was living in Birmingham England at the time. How international is its scope? Here are the words I learned.

There was a man from China Town
His name was Chicker-acker-chu-chi-chan,
He wore his whiskers upside down
The Chinaman from China Town.

Chorus
Chicker-acker-chu-chi
Chi-chick-a-lora
Poly-worla,
Poly, wolly, wolly
Oko, boko,
'it 'im on the boko
Itcha-by, itcha-by,
Chewing gum.

His head was big, his feet were small,
The poor little Chinaman couldn't walk at all
They rocked 'im here
They rocked 'im there
They rocked 'im the bamboo chair.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Brian Fellows
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 05:11 PM

Here is my 3 year old grand daughter singing the song on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSLYYkEH_nM
I wonder if the tune is always the same?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Pat- They way our Mama sang it
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 08:06 AM

In China there lived a little man, his name was Ching-a-ling, ching-a- ling, Ching-a-ling Chan,
His legs were short, his feet were small, this little man couldn't walk at all.
   Ching-a-ling, Ching-a-ling, ching-a-ling chan, ride-o, dieg-o, happy man,
   He rode disco-cordeo, galloping, walloping chine-o
   
   Miss Sky-Hi was short and fat, she had money and he had none,
   Under her window he would go, and play a tune on his little banjo.
    (chorus)
   Miss Sky-Hi heard his notes of love, held her wash-board high above
   Let it fall on Ching-a-ling chan, and that was the last of the China-man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest, Jo
Date: 11 Dec 07 - 05:15 PM

Trying to improve my typing skills at this late stage of my life, and was typing silly things from memory as practice. When I realized I was likely missing a piece of the first verse of this, I googled some key words and found this "thread". yow.

Learned my version on the school bus in the mid-1950s (Cleveland OH, as a first or second grader). The chorus has the "piggy wiggy wacko" line, as in some others above.

My verses are similar but never quite the same as any above. I like that the ending comes full circle.

Here 'tis:

Once there was a Chinaman whose name was Chicka Racka Cuckoo Pan.

And this Chinaman he was stout, his servants used to carry him about.
They carried him up to the top of the hill and rolled him down after he wrote his will.

Chicka racka chee chi cho chicka lora
Bungo lora piggy wiggy wacko
Hoco poco hit him in the coco
chitter by chitter by chee chi cho

And this Chinaman he had a wife who led him such a horrible life.
She cut his pigtail off so long, and sold it for a set of ping pong.

Chicka racka chee chi cho chicka lora,
bungo lora piggy wiggy wacko
hoko poko, hit him in the coco,
chitter by chitter by, chee chi cho.

And this Chinaman he did die, and in his grave he did lie.
The worms crawled in and the worms crawled out, and now this Chinaman ain't so stout.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,lana
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 05:59 PM

I don't know all this ditty sung to me by my grandad from 1964 onwards but it has been so amusing reading these threads I feel the need to respond - my grandad was in the army (WW2)and had a clean version and a 'dirty' version that to my mind went something like this:

There once as a man and a funny little man
His name was Changa Roo Ra Ran
His legs were short and his feet were small
and the poor little fella couldn't walk at all

Chorus: Ey ek e pow wow, ey ek e pow wow, ey ekey ekey man ey echo.

Alternatively: for the 'dirty' version!

There once was a man and a funny little man and his name was Chinga Roo Ra Ran, his legs were short and his feet were small and the poor little bugger didn't have no balls!

same chorus !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 05:12 PM

I'm from Fargo, North Dakota. I used to love this song when I was a little girl. This is the version I know.



THERE WAS A MAN FROM CHINATOWN
HIS NAME WAS CHICKARACKA CHEE CHI CHO
HIS LEGS WERE LONG, HIS FEET WERE SHORT
THE CHINAMAN COULD WALK NOR TALK

CHICKARACKA CHEE CHI CHO CHICKALERO
BONGO LARO PIGGYWIGGY WAGO
HOKO POKO HIT EM ON THE KOKO
CHARAMI CHARAMI CHEE CHI CHO

THE CHINAMAN, HE HAD A WIFE
AND SO THEY LIVED A TERRIBLE LIFE
CUT OFF HIS PIGTAILS, WERE SO LONG
SOLD THEM FOR A CHINESE GONG

CHICKARACKA CHEE CHI CHO CHICKALARO
BONGO LARO PIGGYWIGGY WAGO
HOKO POKO HIT EM ON THE KOKO
CHARAMI CHARAMI CHEE CHI CHO

THE CHINAMAN GOT MAD ONE NIGHT
SO HE LIT SOME DYNAMITE
BLEW UP HIS HOUSE IT WENT SKYHIGH
NOW THE CHINAMAN CAN FLY!

(REPEAT CHORUS)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Tra WAY Cool
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 10:40 PM

When I was about 4, my grandfather taught me this song....this was our version...

In China, there lived a silly old man
His name was Chee Cho Chi Chookaran
His legs were long
His feet were small
that silly old man , he couldn't walk at all...

With a "Chee Cho Chi Cho Chew Chookaran
Inky, pinky pa to my grandpa too
Talk to my China coo".

His servants used to carry him about
and the people, they would shout...
See there he is
See there he goes...
That silly old man with the great big nose

With a "Chee Cho Chi Cho Chew Chookaran
Inky, pinky pa to my grandpa too
Talk to my China coo".

It is a little far off of what all these versions are. I am wondering now, if he made it his own??!! I would love to hear the melody that you are all thinking of.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:14 AM

This is how I learned it when I was a child, and I'm 57 now! My kids laugh at me when I sing this song to my grandbabies!

Once in China there was a man
His name was Chica Raka Chee Chi Cho
The chinese man, he had a wife
and oh they led a terrible life
she cut off his pigtail it was so long
and sold it for a chinese song

Chica Raka Chee Chi Cho chickalero
Bongo lero piggy wiggy wago
Hoco poko hit him in the coco
cherimiah cherimiah chi chi cho

I can't remember the rest!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,DOWSE
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 02:25 PM

My father's next door neighbour taught him this song in Denton, Manchester, during the 1960s. I have no idea where it originated from but I was taught the song as a young child.

Once in china there lived a great man,
His name was Chicka-racka-chee-chi-cho.
His legs were long and his feet were short,
This China-man couldn't walk or talk.

[Chorus]
With a chicka-racka-chee-chi
co-chicka-lorum
con-chicka-lorum
alla-balla-wah!
oh-co-co-co
itchi-bah-itchi-bah-itchi-bah-itchi-bah
chinese coke.

Took him to the top of a hill and rolled him down like a Beechams pill.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Darren ex-West Bromwich
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 11:05 PM

My Dad taught this one to me and his Dad taught it to him. Obviously back in the day they had a a hatred for Asian people and made up songs to ridicule them.

Once in China there lived a great man
His name was Chikiran Chikiran Chan.
He had three sons and they all were small,
He went to the river and he drowned them all.

They were,
Chikiran Chikiran Chan Chiko Loro
Pongo Loro Merifi Kan,
Katgo Yugo Utchi Kutchi Utchi Boi,
Utchi Boi Utchi Boi Chinese Cow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Darren ex-West Bromwich
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 11:12 PM

Another strange song Grandad taught us was:
Once a fellow said to me
i know where there is a tree
loaded down with blackbird eggs
i got a ton to do
so just cock your leg upon the wall
when down i fell on a 7inch snail
stuck right in where the monkey keeps his tail
couldnt get a look at it at all
I was there a'watchin'em a'watchin'em
a dog came into the ballium and he made us laugh
I had a ticker about 6 quid
coz i was a'watchin all the time

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,in Regina, Saskatchewan canada
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:51 PM

LOL These are so funny!

The song I learned in the 60's in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada was:

"Once there was
a Chinaman
His name was Chickeracki Chee Chi Cho
his arms were long
his legs were short
Chinaman could laugh nor snort

OOOOOOOOH

Chickeracki chee chi cho Chickaloro
Bungo Loro eeni meeni mango
Hoco Poco
hit 'em on the Poco
Cheeta-by Cheeta-by Chee chi cho

that's about all I remember :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Cath
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 12:30 PM

My mam used to sing this song to us and I have since passed it to my children and now my grandchildren. In fact the two girls (aged 6 & 7) learnt it only last week. My grandparents were from the west of Ireland and I can see the irish influence on the lyrics. I am sure we were only taught two verses.

Once in china there lived a funny man
His name was Shigga-wagga-she-shi-sham
His head was large and his feet were small
The funny little man he couldn't walk at all

Shigga wagga she shi sham shigalorum
On my orum paddy waddy wy
Oko oko diddy pie diddy pie
Diddy pie diddy pie
Shi anko

His servants used to carry him about
On the mountains they would shout
Here he comes
There he goes
The funny little man with the big red nose

Repeat Chorus"

I dont accept that it is a racist song as the peculiarities could be attributed to almost any race. I think it is brilliant that there are so many versions around.

My mam also used to sing the Charlie Chaplin song.

cath

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Denise
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:35 AM

Once in china there lived a funny man
His name was
Chickeracker Ching Chine Chan
His arms were long and his legs were short
This funny man could Laugh nor talk....
Chickeracker ching chine o Cockerlaw rum
Boom Tiddy Or Rum
Willy willy Wack.

I was convinced that my grandfather made this up..Lol...
Because I had never heard it from any one before......
Funny how there are many different versons.....
I wonder if it has every been in print or just passed on verbally...
It has been the first poem taught to our family children through the generations...
If anyone knows who wrote it or if it is in print I would love to know?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,denise
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:57 AM

How funny....I thought my grand father had made this up too. I had never heard anyone else say it.
Our verson is different again..
Once in china there lived a funny man
His name was Chickeracker Ching Chine Chan
His arms were long and his legs were short
this funny man could laugh nor talk
chicderacker ching chine o cocker law rum
Boom tiddy or rum
willy willy wack

I think that my grandfather changed the Walk and Talk part because is brother had lost a leg in a Prisoner of War Camp...

My grandfather was from Kent England...
All our family and cousin were taught this as soon as they could talk.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,guestokc
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 11:00 AM

Hiliarious...My family might have changed it from Chingery to Chinglaling, but this is how i learned it.......

In Chinatown there lived a little man,
his name was Chingaling...Chingaling Chan
His legs were short and his feet were small,
this little man couldn't walk at all.

CHORUS
Chingaling Chan chingaling chan
Hi-Oh-Di-Oh Raggedy Man
Cordy Disco Cordy Oh
Gallopin' Wallopin' China Oh

Mrs. Way High up Above
She had money he had love
To her window he would go
to play her a song on his little banjo

CHORUS

Mrs. Way High up Above
Held her wash board high above,
Let it drop on Chingaling Chan
That was the end of the Chinaman.

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,norman perrin
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 08:08 AM

lovely gen,but I don't see any references to the popular nonsense song heard so often on the wireless(sic!) in the late '40s not long after that other "classic" Mairzy Doats and Dozy Doats etc.Q's entry on 07 jun 07 has the chorus right,but there was more and no refs to a chinaman dead or alive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 06:44 PM

Hi,
This thread has been running for 3 years now and nobody has bothered to post the original. What a wonderful collection of variants though!

I'd be interested to know if they all go to the same tune. My parents sang their version to the ubiquitous first strain of 'In and out the windows'/'So early in the morning'/'Blue-tail fly' etc.
I'd say it dates at least from 1840 if not earlier as the earliest printer on broadside I have record of is John Pitts of 7 Dials London and he was in business before 1800. The usual title is 'Chinaman with a/the/his Monkey Nose'

This is the version printed by Bebbington of Manchester c1850

In China once there dwelt a great man
His name was Chick-a-chack-tan-ran-tan,
His legs were long and his feet so small
this Chinaman couldn't walk at all,
His servants used to carry him out,
Upon their backs, and the folks would shout,
O, lookee here comes!'--oh, dere he goes!
'The Chinaman with a Monkey Nose.

    So Chickara-Choo-Chi-Cho-Chut-La
    Chokolo roonee, ning o ping nang,
    Padoger was dusta canta kee,
    Gunnee po hutto pi China coo!

There are 4 more double verses
Looking at line 7 above I would guess it originated as an early solo minstrel-type song. It predates the Virginia Minstrels but there were plenty of solo blackface performers in Britain even back as far as the 18thc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 07:13 PM

I learned it as follows:

Once in China there lived a tall man
His name was Chickarecka Chee Chy Cho
The Chinese man could not walk nor talk
His servants had to carry him about.

Refrain: Chickarecka Chee Chy Cho Chickaloro
Bon-go lor-o piggy-wiggy wag-oh
Ho cho cho cho hit him on the ko-ko
Chit-a-by, chit-a-by, Chee Chi (pronounced Chai) Cho

The Chinese man he grew so stout
His servants had to car-ry him about.
They took him up to the top of the hill,
And rolled him down like a rolling pin.

REFRAIN (repeat)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CHINA MAN WITH HIS MONKEY NOSE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 08:13 AM

"Nobody has bothered to post the original"! Please, Mr. Gardham, you do us an injustice! You imply that we knew where to find the original, or that the original would have been easily found! I assure you, there is no lack of diligent searchers at Mudcat, but once in a while, we search and we fail to find.

I see now that The Bodleian Library collection of ballads has 7 versions of songs beginning "In China once there dwelt a great man" but none of them was printed by Bebbington of Manchester. Where did you find yours?

Here's the Pitts version, catalogued as Harding B 11(1415):

THE CHINA MAN WITH HIS MONKEY NOSE.

In China once there dwelt a great man.
His name was Chick-chack-tan-a-ran-tan.
His legs were long and his feet so small,
This China man couldn't walk at all.
His servants used to carry him out,
Upon their backs, and the folks would shout,
'O, lookee here comes'--'Oh, dere he goes!
The China man with his Monkey Nose.

    So Chickara-Choo-Chi-Cho-Chut-la
    Chockolo roonee, ning o ping nang,
    Padoger wa dusta canta kee,
    Gunnee po hottee pi China coo.'

This China man had plenty of pelf.
He liv'd in a mansion by himself,
And next door was his servant's abode.
Now was not that a singular mode?
Two men he hired to carry him out,
But they turn'd out to be robbers stout.
He paid them well, and gave them clothes,
The China man with his Monkey Nose.
                          So Chickara, &c.

One day this China man fell in love,
And fancied, he said, miss Telto Dove;
So one of his servants carried him quick.
The other bent forward with a stick.
On a two legg'd horse, he look'd such a gill.
They took him some miles and stopt on a hill,
Then into a ditch the robber throws
The China man with his Monkey Nose.
                          So Chickara, &c.

Some China ladies then from the town
Ran up the hill and roll'd him down
From top to bottom. They then began
To tickle and play with the China man.
From him they most took all his breath,
For they nearly kissed this man to death.
At any rate, they all stopp'd his woes,
The China man with his Monkey Nose.
                          So Chickara, &c.

These Chinese ladies, so fine and gay,
Resolv'd to carry him home next day;
So safe at his house they reach'd once more
With all the ladies, and lock'd the door.
The robbers plunder'd his house entire,
Then set the ladies and him on fire.
All in the house had a fire repose,
The China man and his Monkey Nose.
                          So Chickara, &c.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 04:41 PM

IN CHINA ONCE THERE LIVED A MAN
HIS NAME WAS CRACKER RACKA ROO SHI SHAN
HIS LEGS WERE LONG HIS FEET WERE SHORT
THE POOR OLD MAN COULD HARDLE WALK

THEY ROLLED HIM HERE, THEY ROLLED HIM THERE
THEY SAT HIM IN A BAMBOO CHAIR
HO HO HO CHITTA BYE LAY ING CHEE AND CO

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 06:58 PM

Sorry, Jim.
Didn't mean to be rude or clever.
The Bebbington/Pearson version is In Manchester Central Library.
I didn't bother noting down the Bodl versions cos I already had lots of versions. I have records of the following printers printing it in addition to Bebbington/Pearson no386 which is also in the Baring Gould BL collection.
Sanderson, Edinburgh
Poet's Box, Glasgow.
Hodges/Ryle/Such, London probably all derived from your Pitts version
Booth, Hyde

The Roud Index probably gives more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 09:02 PM

Well, I did mean to be clever, but not rude. Welcome to Mudcat. I am impressed by your interest in broadsides. Please stick around and look at other threads. From time to time, we do find that lots of "folk" songs can be traced to broadsides, or old popular music, music-hall, and so on. It could be helpful to have someone around who is interested in tracking them down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:32 PM

My grandfather used to sing this song to me and my brother. The stanza we remember is:

In china lived a china man
his name was ring a ling chan chan chan
he worked his fingers to the bone
wasn't he a curious soul
oooooo
Chingaling Chango Rango Ray
Fiddle-dee-dee and a happy day!
cure my fist with a calapee pole
calapee wallopee chinie ohhh...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,steve
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 08:56 PM

Im not the greatest on spelling but i sang this at school and remember it all, this is the version i was taught.

once long ago there lived a funny man
his name was ikerrocker ickerocker ran
his legs were long and his feet were small
and he coudlnt walk at all,

inee meinee ming mong ping pong chow
easye vease valkazise easy veasy vow
emnie meinee makara lacker rar re chickerlacker dominacker lolipoper on bomp bush

i know the rest if you want email me

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,From my grandmother
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 07:07 PM

I learned a version of this from my grandmother when I was little:

In Chinatown there lived a man
His name was Ring a ting a tang
His body was short, his leg were slim
Ollie ga wallie ga Chinaman

Chickara coo cha coo cha ra
Chack a roni made a pee olla pee
Olla pee dusk a China chew
Ollie ga wallie ga Chinaman

The Chinaman he lived in wealth
He lived in a mansion alll by himself
He sent his servant to Japan
To buy some tea for the china Man

Chickara coo cha coo cha ra
Chack a roni made a pee olla pee
Olla pee dusk a China chew
Ollie ga wallie ga Chinaman

The Chinaman well he did die
And in his coffin he did lie
The sent his body to Japan
And that was the end of the Chinaman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Susan from NJ
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 07:16 PM

My mom is 88 and I'm 62. I remember her singing it to me when I was a child. To the best of my recollection it went:

In China once there lived a man
His name was Chickety Chickety Chan
His feet were long and his toes were short
And this is the way the Chinaman spoke.

Oh. . .
Chickalee chall-I chall-o
Chickalo romeo in a bananago
Alago walago chanticlee
In a bananago out you go

Oh. . .
This poor Chinaman he did die
And in his coffin he did lie
They shipped him back to old Japan
And this is the way his epitaph ran

Oh. . .
Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 07:45 AM

100

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 07:46 AM

Not bad - Nine and a half years to clock the hundred !!