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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Chili
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:35 AM

This us the version i learnt

Once in China there lived a great man
His name was chikeraka choo chi chan
His legs were long and his feet were small
And this little china man he couldtn walk at all

Ohhhhhhhhhh

Chikaraka choo chi chan cho chokalora cokalora lelipy man
Taki tooki etcha catcha citcha co
Etcha pie etcha pie lelipy man

They walked him up to the top of the hill and
They rolled him down like a rolling pin

(repeat chorus)

He lived until he he died
As most people do
And now you've got the history of Chikeraka choo

(Repeat weird chorus once more)

Good old fun ryhme....hell to say when you're a tot though

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest-Charley T
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 05:37 PM

My mother, who passed away not long ago at the age of 99, told me she learned this version from a sailor who visited her family when she was a wee girl in Scotland-that would have been sometime around 1913 or 1914:
In China once there lived a great man,
his name was Chicarac a Chee Chow Chan.
Now his legs were long and his feet were small, and
the Chinaman couldn't walk at all, with his
Chicaracka chee chow chan, condolorum,
mondolorum,many pea cat.
You go, I go, etty, cotty, kitty ko,
atcha pie, china pie, chinee co.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Helen, Lancashire, UK
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 05:36 PM

There was a family version sung by all the womenfolk on my maternal grandmothers side to their children, I have memories of my gran and several of her many sisters singing at family gatherings.

The only verse of our version that I remember clearly went:

The Chinaman was very,very fat
and his servants they were very,very thin
They took him up to the top of the hill
and they rolled him down like a rolling pin!

Chicka Racka Chee Chi
Chan Chackalorum
Condolorum ecky pecky weck
Oko Coko, oochy, coochy, oochy boy
Itchi pie, Itchi Pie
Shee in coo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Mad
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 04:05 PM

The version I learned from my grandmother goes like this:

Once there was a Chineseman
His name was Chikka Rakka Chi Chai Cho
His feet were long and his arms were short
This Chinese man couldn't walk nor talk

Chikka Rakka Chi Chai Cho chikalera
Bungalera piggy wiggy waggle
Ogo pogo anna banna coco
Cheraby cheraby chi chai cho

This Chinese man, he had a wife
And oh, they lived a terrible life
She cut off his pigtail, it was too long
And sold it for a Chinese song

Chikka Rakka Chi Chai Cho chikalera
Bungalera piggy wiggy waggle
Ogo pogo ana bana coco
Cheraby cheraby chi chai cho

It was always accompanied by a lot of clapping. I always thought she had made it up, so I'm happy to know that there are other people out there with their own versions of it. Makes me feel less crazy somehow :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest Leila
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 03:41 PM

Here's the version I learned at summer camp in southern Saskatchewan in the 1960s.

China man had a wife
She led him a terrible life
Cut his pig-tails off so long
Sold them for a Chinese song

Chorus
Oh chick-a-ratta-chee-chi-cho-chick-a-rollo
Bungo-rollo-peenie-weenie-wango
Oh-co-po-co-hit him on the co-co
Chit-a-back-a-chit-a-back-a chee-chi-cho

China man very stout
Servants carried him all about
Took him to the top of a hill
Rolled him down like an aspirin pill

Chorus

China man he will die
In his coffin he will lie
Carry him back to old Japan
That's the end of the China man

Chorus

(And the reason that he had to be buried in Japan instead of China is because he no longer had long pig-tails.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Stacey Charlesworth
Date: 31 May 08 - 03:50 PM

Anyone know this version?

Can't quite get my head around all this!!! Was Googling the lyrics, attempting to impress my mother with the wonders of the internet - it worked big time...thoght I think she thinks there is still a correct version, hers!

She's 82,from Cheshire, England and was taught it by her mother, passed it on to me, and my sister, who has taught it to her granddaughter, 2 and a half.


Once there was a great big man
His name was Chickaracca Chee Chi Chum
His legs were long and his feet were small
This Chinaman couldn't walk at all

Chicka Racka Chee Chi I Conka Lorum
Conka Lorum Packa Wacka Whack
His servants used to carry him about
Upon their backs
The men did shout
Chicka Racka Chee Chi I Conka Lorum
Conka Lorum Packa Wacka Whack

They took him to the top of a hill
And rolled him down like a rolling pin

Chicka Racka Chee Chi I Conka Lorum
Conka Lorum Packa Wacka Whack


Oko Poko Itty Pitty Cotty Pie
Itty Pie Cotty Pie Co in Choo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Cush
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:19 PM

There was a wee man from China town
His name was Mr Chickalaka Brown

Chickalacka Chickalaka chine Chickalorum
CHine chickalorum mwala mwala mo
Moko Moko
Sat apon a soko

Itchy go Itchy go ee I o

He sailed far away across the sea
His ship was wrecked and so was he!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Ethan
Date: 26 May 08 - 09:12 PM

Our version, that my family has sang goes like this:
Once in china there lived a man
Named cherimiah cherimiah chee chi cho
This man he had a wife
And oh they lived a terrible life

He cut off her pigtail which was so long
And sold it for a chinese song:

Cherimiah, Cherimiah Chee Chi Cho
Chikalero Bungalero
Ho-ko Po-ko
Hit him on the koko
Cherimiah Cherimiah Chee Chi Cho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 08 - 09:38 AM

Odd how many different versions of this song are out there...

The version my grandmother (Southeastern US) taught me:

Once there was a Chinaman
And his name was Chingery Chan
His hair was long and his toes were short
The poor old man couldn't hardly walk.

CHORUS:
Chickety Luch-eye Luch-eye Lye
Alacabamaco Chickety Alaco
Chickety Luch-eye Luch-eye Lye
Alacabamaco Chinaman!

When that Chinaman did die,
In his coffin he did lie,
In his coffin of Japan,
That was the end of the Chinaman!

(REPEAT CHORUS)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 08 - 08:15 AM

Here's the Irish Catholic Massachusetts version:
There once in China lived a man
A little bit of a China man
He was a funny little man
This little bit of a China man

mee-allah-mee-oush, mee-allah-mee-oush
little bit of a china man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Ron
Date: 18 May 08 - 11:47 AM

My mom taught me this one:

In chinatown there lived a man his name was chick-a-la chick-a-la chan,

His toes were short and his feet were long,

And this is the way his epitaph ran:

"Oh, Chick-a-lee Cha-lie Cha-lo, Chick-a-la Romeo in a Banana-go

Wallago wallago can't cha see?

In a banana-go out, chow!"

I hope you like the version...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,AC
Date: 18 May 08 - 03:51 AM

My family version went:-
In China once there lived a great man
His name was Chiracker Che Chi Chan
He was so big, he was so stout,
The servant girls had to carry him about
Singing Chiracker Che Chi, Chanelackererlorum
Congo Lorum Eckipecki Wan
Ocopoco Ititittytottyto
Ittypi,ittypi see em coo!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Nikki C from South Coast England
Date: 06 May 08 - 11:32 AM

Didn't realise you could put your name on! If anyone has a book with the rhyme in could you let me know what it is called please? I'd love for my neice to own it!

Thanks :-D

Nikki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 04 May 08 - 08:29 PM

Does anyone know where I could HEAR the music to this little song....my grandma used to sing this to my dad, and after googling it, we found these threads!! My dad remembers the chorus, but we would love to hear how the whole song is sung!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,EWI
Date: 04 May 08 - 08:57 AM

My grandmother, born in 1899 used to sing this to me.

In China there lived a little man.
His name was Chingaly Ching Ching Chan.
His head was big and his feet were small,
So this little man couldn't walk at all.

Singing...Chingally Chingally Ching Ching Chan
Deego, Deego happy man.
Curo, presto, canty-lo.
Gallupin' Wallupin' Chinee-o

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,lyricman
Date: 02 May 08 - 03:29 PM

In China once there lived a great man
his name was Chic-a-roca-re-cha-chan,
His body was long and his feet were small,
the Chinaman could not walk at all,

Chorus:
Chic-a-roca-re-cha, chic-chic-a-lora,
gonga-lora, bang wang wang,
hoco doco hit 'em on the coco,
diddy boy, diddy boy chico,

His servants used to carry him about,
on their backs and the men would shout,
"Here he comes, and there he goes,
the Chinaman with the turned up toes"

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 11:50 AM

This is the one I remember when I was young.

There was a little old china man
His name was Chicka Chalooch Chapan
His teeth were short and his nails were long
and this is the way he went along

Chicha Chalooch Chalooch Chapan
Allapy Allapy Chicka Chalolopy
Chicka Chalooch Chalooch Chapan
Allapy Allapy China man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,nitin in pensacola florida
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 04:47 PM

my father used to recite this song to me... when i was a kid. now i'm in my mid twenties, and wish i had this written down.

my fahter learned it in a catholic school growing up in indonesia

-----------

Once in China there was an old man
His name was Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
His legs were short, his feet were small
And this China man couldnt walk at all

Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
Limmer On A Bon
Pomma Diddy Ora
Paddy Waddy Wack
Oake Po, Oake Po
Here we go, here we go
chee chi cho!

This China man had plenty of wealth
He lived in a mansion all to himself
His feet were large and his head was small
This China man had no brains at all

Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
Limmer On A Bon
Pomma Diddy Ora
Paddy Waddy Wack
Oake Po, Oake Po
Here we go, here we go
chee chi cho!

His servants used to carry him about
On their backs and the boys would shout,
"Here he comes, there he goes,
China man with a very long nose."

Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
Limmer On A Bon
Pomma Diddy Ora
Paddy Waddy Wack
Oake Po, Oake Po
Here we go, here we go
chee chi cho!

Once a servant took him out
Treated him to a glass of stout
When they got to the top of the hill
The Chinese man felt very ill

Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
Limmer On A Bon
Pomma Diddy Ora
Paddy Waddy Wack
Oake Po, Oake Po
Here we go, here we go, chee chi cho!

He got married or so they say
To his wife on his wedding day
On that day she bought him a boat
And in it she set the China man afloat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 11:22 AM

I offer a lyric for 2008.

Once in China there lived a great man.
They called him Chairman Mao.
He learned so much on the world wide web.
He doesn`t live there now
Ch:- Choo, Chin, Choo Chin Chow
    Where the hell is Chairman Mao.?

No one else was allowed to surf
Just Mao and a couple of mates
They saw the big cars and Disneyland
And decided to go to the States
Ch:

He got to love the burgers and chips
They sold in Tiannanmen Square
He got brassed off with rice every day
It was more than he could bear.
Ch:

He saw there was dollars in real estate
Made a killing in Shanghai
Packed his bags, stuffed full of loot
Then flew to the U.S.of A.
Ch.

He hasn`t been seen for a couple of years
But Ive heard and it`s not just talk.
He bought the whole McDonalds chain
Now lives "high on the hog" in New York.
Ch:

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 !!

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: 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: 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 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 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 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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,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 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,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,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,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,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,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 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,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 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,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,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, 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,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 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 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 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 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)