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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Sammie jo
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 02:30 PM

My grandad use to sing this to me when I was a little girl. I will never forget this!!!

Once in China there lived a great man, his name was ChikkaLakka Che Chi Chan,
his legs were big and his feet were small, the poor chinese couldn't walk at all...

Chikka Lakka Che Chi chan chikka norey, oko moke pombarnorey paddy waddy wack... thats that!

haha x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Steve, originally from Saskatoon, now in Ari
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 02:32 AM

Can't believe this site exists!

"Hugh" (10 Feb 07) referenced a version of the Chinaman song that is the same as the one I know. Must have been a Canadian version, since I learned it at summer camp in Canada, in the 60's, as well.



Once there was a Chinaman,
Whose name was Chickachacka Chee Chi Cho
His legs were long and his arms were short,
So he could neither walk nor snort.


Chorus:
Oh,
Chee chi cho chi cho chuckalero
Chungalero, teenweenie wango
Ho Ko Poko, hit 'em on the coco
Cheetabye, cheetabye che chi cho

Chinaman had a wife
She led him a terrible life
Took him up to the top of the hill
And rolled him down like an aspirin pill

(Chorus)

Chinaman he will die
In his coffin he will lie
They will bury him and then
That'll be the end of the chinaman

(Chorus)

I can't believe that I still remember this song, that other people actually remember it too, and that we actually were OK with singing such things!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Margaret L of Edmonton AB
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 02:46 PM

Learned this silly song in Girl Guides back in the 50's and was usually sung around a campfire. Reading all the posts here, how did the words ever get so jumbled up!

In China once there lived a great man.
His name was chicka racka chee chow chan.
His legs were long and his feet were small,
The poor little man couldn't walk at all.

Chicka racka chee chow, chan chicka lora,
Conga lora wacky packy wack,
Oco, oco, eedy, geedy, guidy go,
Dedify, dedify, chee un coh.

He had servants carry him about
They took him up to the top of a hill
Rolled him down with a might good will,
Singing chicka racka chee chow, chan chicka lora.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Gary Thomas
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 01:43 PM

Hi, Only yesterday 20th June 09 i was talking with my brother about this poem that we learnt as children in the 50`s. Here goes.......

Once in China there lived an old man,
his name was Chika anna chi chy chan,
His legs were long and his feet were small,
The poor old man couldnt walk at all.

Chikka anna chi chy chow cockalaurham
archi boreham addy paddy wack

When the majors carried him about
on the hill tops they would shout
Here he comes and here he goes
The chinese man with the monkeys nose

Chikka anna chi chy cho cockalaurhama
Archi boreham addy paddy wack
Oko boko hit him on the oko
addyfye addyfye Jericho.....

Thats as much as i can remember. Quite nostalgic.

Happy Days

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,GUEST,Zoe,BrightonUK
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 07:52 PM

Learnt from my Auntie who grew up in Bangladesh:

Once in China, there lived a great man,
His name was Chikka-rakka-chee-chy-cho,
His head was tall and his feet were small,
And this little man couldn't walk at all!

Chikka-rakka-chee-chy-cho, chikka-lawrum,
Condo-lawrum, manna-fakka-one.
Oko-poko, ichy-potchy-ichy-potchy,
Ichy-pie ichy-pie, chee-chy-cho!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,kath uk
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 03:58 AM

My nan taught me this version in the 50,s:-


In Chinatown there lived a funny man.
His name was Chica laca laychor Chan
His hair was long
His feet were short
The poor old chinaman had no nose at all!

Chica laca laychor Chicy ora
In thy ora pickey packey wikey
oko oko pickey packey wikey
Oko
Then something about servants..
Written phonetically as remembered!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:43 PM

once in china lived a man
his name was chickerakacheechycho
his legs were short but his name was long
the china man couldn't walk or talk
chickerakacheechycho chickeraro
hoko poko hit him in the coco
chitta bite chitta bite cheechycho
the china man, he grew so stout
the servants had to carry him about
they took him to the top of a hill
and they rolled him down like a rolling pin
chickerakacheechycho chickeraro
hoko poko hit him in the coco
chitta bite chitta bite cheechycho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Frank in Ottawa
Date: 21 May 09 - 12:15 AM

In 1997, my dad came to Ottawa from Edmonton to visit and I asked him to sing the old song he used to sing to us when we were kids in the '50's. I have the video of him singing it and I have transcribed it as closely as I can. This is all he could remember. My dad was never a racist -- it was just a cute, silly song he learned as a kid:

In Chinee once there lived a man
His name was Hong Kong Chickadee Chong
His legs were short and his toes were long
The Chineeman couldn't walk at all

His friends would have to carry him about
Whenever he went the people would shout
Here he comes and there he goes
The Chineeman with the monkey toes

Chickadee choo choo choo
Chickadee long-gee, pong-gee, knick, knick, knack
Ankee pist and ankee poh (pronounced 'dough')
Helluva gelluva Chinaman foh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,lisa
Date: 19 May 09 - 05:34 PM

My nan used to sing it to us, when we were young not sure where it came from?

In China once there was a little man
His name was Chico raker Chi Rye Chan
His head was large and his feet were small
Poor little China man he couldn't walk at all

Chorus

Chica raker chi rye chan chica roarer
on my roarer
penny penny wicey
oko oko
penny penny wicey
oko

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Bill Brade, Kent, England
Date: 18 May 09 - 02:23 PM

My Father taught me this (my mother never ever sang. I've since taught it to my Daughter and her two daughters.....long may it continue.

There was an old man from China Town
He's name was Mr Chickerlo Brown,
His legs were long his feet were short
The poor old man he couldn't walk

Chorus
Chickerlacker chickerlacker chan chickerlora
Chan chickerlora alla walla wack
Oko boko sock him on the oko
Itchyco itchyco ee i oh

Now this old man he went to sea
To see all the sights of the poor chinese
The Ship got wrecked and so you see
That was the end of the poor chinese

Chorus

They took him to the top of the hill
Rolled him down on aq Beachams pill
The Beachams pill was far too small
So they rolled him down on a tennis ball

Chorus

This could have come from Lancashire or even the Surrey/Hampshire boarders..........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Lindsay Brummer
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:35 PM

My Mom and Grandma ALWAYS sang something like this to us growing up:

In China lived a China man,
His name was Chingery Chingery Chan Chan Chan
His legs were long, his body tall,
This China man could not walk at all, so...

Chingery Chingery Ring-O-Ray
Fiddelie-D and a Happy-May
Cure my Fiz and a Cappie-O
Collipe-Wallapie-Ching-Ho

This China man had plenty of wealth,
He lived in a house all by himself,
He worked his servants next to the bone,
Now wasn't this man a curious drone? so...

Chingery Chingery Ring-O-Ray
Fiddelie-D and a Happy-May
Cure my Fiz and a Cappie-O
Collipe-Wallapie-Ching-Ho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Ingrid in Florida, originally from Rhodesia
Date: 13 May 09 - 04:42 PM

My mother used to sing this to us when we were kids in the '60s. Her version was something like this:

Once in China there lived a great man.
His name was Chicka racka chi chaw chan.
His les were long and his feet were small.
This chinaman he couldn't walk at all.

The sailors used to carry him about
on their backs, and the men would shout:

Chicka racka chi chaw chan chicka-lorum
ecky pecky peck. Oh ko, oh ko, itchy onchi ko.
Here he comes and there he goes.
This china man with the turned up toes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest - DLJ
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 08:32 PM

My mom learned this song from my grandma and sang it to us when we were little kids (1960s Toronto). The version I know is ....

First Verse:
Once in China lived a man
His name was Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
His arms were long his legs were short
He could walk and he could snort

Chorus:
Chickeracka chee chi cho chickaloro
Bongo loro piggywiggy waggo
Hoko poko hit em on the coco
Chitterpie chitterpie chee chi cho

Second Verse:
Chinaman had a wife
She did treat him awfully nice
Cut his pigtail off too long
And sold it for a chinasong

Repeat Chorus

Third Verse:
Chinaman he did die
In a coffin he did lie
Sent him back to his native land
And that's the end of Chinaman

Repeat Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:52 PM

Once in China there lived a mightyman his name was chicceracc cee chi cho. His legs were long and his feet were small this china man couldn't walk at all.
ow chow chow chow ichi cachi ichi par ichi par cee chi cho

Servants use to carry him about and everyone at the back would shout here he comes and there he goes that china man with the turned up toes.

chicceracc cee chi cho chick alorum, condulorum, manna paka one ow chow chow chow ichi cachi ichi par ichi par cee chi cho .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Rosy Chopra
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 01:55 AM

I learned this version in elementary/ middle school and taught it to my daughter and cousins. It is fun!

Once in China there lived a funny man
His name was Chick-a-rack-a-Chick-Chack-Cho
His legs were small and his feet were short
This China man couldn't walk at all

Chick-a-rack-a-Chick-Chack-Cho-Chick-a-lorum
Condo lorum many paack-a-wah
Ho ko ho ko ho ko ho ko
Pedi-yak pedi-yak
Chick Chack Cho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 05:46 PM

I was taught this by my friend (scotland) and her mum had taugt her it.

There lived a man in China town
His name was Chika Ricka Ree Ching Chai
His name was many but his feet were small
When he came to the cross he lost them all

With his Chika Ricka Ree Ching Chai
Ching Lorum Plorum Mini Kee Kai
Kiko Kooko Kee Kee Kee Kee Ki Ko
I spy Chika Ricka Ree Ching Chai

Makes absolutely no sense at all...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,lowe88
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 11:33 AM

The version i was taught went something like:

Once there was a China man,
He's name was Chika Raka Choo Chi Chan,
He's legs were long and he's feet were small,
And the poor little fella couldn't walk at all.


(CHORUS)
Chika raka choo chi chan chika nora
Conday nora, iddy widdy woo.
Oko Poko, biff him on the poko,
Iddy pi iddy pi, im pim pim/

The cow was on the railway track,
the train was coming fast,
The train got off the railway track,
To let the cow go past.

(CHORUS)

The china man he went to sea,
Took his wife and family,
The ship was wrecked and so you see,
That was the end of the poor Chinese.

(CHORUS)

I never did really get it, but it was always fun to sing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there was a funny man
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 06:22 PM

My Mother taught this version to me when I was about 3 years old in 1966, passed down to her from her father.

Once in China there was a funny man
His name was Chickeraka Chin Chai Chan
His arms were long and his legs were short
The poor old man couldn't walk or talk

Chickaraka chin chai chan chickorlora
Onkolora achi pachi wak
Oko oko itchipotchi itchipai
itchipai itchipai sheeanko

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Rahimzada
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 11:16 PM

I'm loving the different versions. I live in NY and my dad taught me a very similar song, though simplified, from a camp he went to when he was a teen (several decades ago).
Now the song my whole family is singing is:

Chikaraka che chi cho chikoloro
bongo loro pikiwikiwako
hoco poko hit him on the coco
cherryby, cherryby
che chi cho!

-It's great to hear of other people who know the song, or at least a few different versions of it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Chalie C. Rampasaud
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 05:06 PM

Once there was a China man,
His name was Chinky-Chaloo-Cha-Pan
His legs were long, but his feet were short,
And the poor little Chinky could hardly walk,
And then one day the Chinky died,
And in his coffin he did lie,
They sent the coffin to Japan,
And that was the end of the China man...

REMIX
That was the end of the China man,
WHAT!,
That was the end of the China man,
WHAT!,
That was the end of the China man,
WHAT!,
That was the end of the China man,
WHAT!,
Hit it, Hit, Break it down, hit it hit it!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Carl Sargunar
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 06:45 PM

I grew up in India and learnt this song when I was 6 or 7, but can remember most of it - strange that there are so many variations. Might even call them Chinese whispers of this song from all over the world. Here's mine:

Once in China, there lived a young man
His name was Chaka rucka chi chai cho
His hands were long and his legs were short
and this Chinaman could not walk a lot

Chorus:
Chaka rucka chi chai cho lama lauren
a-handa ma lauren
a-man a-pak a-won
Hi-quick hi-quick hiti hiti hotigo
Chi Chai Cho

Dun Dun Dun, a big fat man
hit his head on a frying pan
combed his hair on a donkey's tail
and this Chinaman could turn up his face

Ch

Marvellous

Carl,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,joanne
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 11:51 AM

in a chinese town
there lived a funny man
his name was
mr maca ru ri chan

his legs was long
and his body was short
this is the was the chinese talk

chica raca ru
i chin chicka lora
bumba lora
paddy waddy woo
oko doko
hit him on the noko

tidy boy tidy boy see him run....

dont know if the spelling is correct but i sang that nonsence as a kid and never forgot it, it dosent even make sense lol.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,melanie
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 03:49 PM

my grandad's version went like this (not sure about spelling):

Once in china there lived a funny man,
his name was chickeraka hoo wang wang,
his legs were short & his feet were small,
and this funny man couldn't read or walk

CHORUS:
Chickeraka chickeraka hi cokalorum
mo tiddyorum tiddy widdy wack
hoko boko hit im on the coco
chickeraka chickeraka chinese chap

When the chinese took him up a hill,
they rolled him down like a Beecham's pill

CHORUS

When the chinese went to sea,
the ship got sunk & so did he

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 03:38 PM

WOW i am in awe. my mom said she learned "our" form of this in camp which would have been in the 1920s. we have passed it on to my children and now my grands are begining to learn it. We couldnt remember all of the verses but SO MUCH of what is written above belongs to our version it is weird.
i think there was another verse that i cannot remember right now.

(also the first time ever to try to write these words):

In Chinatown there lived a man
Named Chilio Chilio Chilio Chan
His feet were long and his legs were short
And this is the way the Chinanam talked

CHORUS:
Ooh chick-a-la-lee cha-lai cha-lo
chick-a-la romeo in a bananago
wallago wallago china sea
in a bananago wowtcho

Now this chinaman he had wealth
he lived in a mansion all by himself
he had friends who built him a boat
and this is the way the chinamen float

OO ...(chorus)

Now this 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

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Rick, Surrey, UK
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 07:46 AM

Not the most PC version, but this is the one I learned in the mid sixties when we lived in Chicago, US. Not sure about somne of the words.

Once in China there lived an old man
Whose name was chikka-lakka-luka-kan
His legs were long and his feet were short
and he could neither walk nor talk, oh . . .

Chikka Lakka Luka, Chikka Lakka Lorum
Condum florum bulla bulla way
Oka Oka itchy cry, itchy cry
Diddy-by, diddy-by shingo . . .

He had so many servants to carry him about
That everywhere he went, the epople would shout
Here he comes, and there he goes
The Chinaman with the monkey's nose

Chikka Lakka Luka, Chikka Lakka Lorum
Condum florum bulla bulla way
Oka Oka itchy cry, itchy cry
Diddy-by, diddy-by shingo . . .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,dawn-in-nz
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 05:17 AM

I was reading an old book in Google today and came across the words 'O Cockalorum' which immediately brought to mind a ditty by father used to sing to me when I was little - he was born in 1910. So I've just googled the first line of that ditty and came up with this thread - had a fun half an hour reading them all! So here's my version of it, which by the way I sing to my grandchildren and they love it. I haven't a clue how to spell anything so I'm going to spell it phonetically.

The Kiwi Version

In China once there live a great man
His name was Chicory Chee Chi Can
His legs were fat his feet were small
This Chinaman couldn't walk at all

Chee Chi Cho Cockalorum
Mandiddleorum many king man
Wendor Goudor itty kitty pie
Chitty kitty pie China Coooooo

I've obviously made up some of the words from what I remember which isn't a lot these days!

BTW Cockalorum - means 'self important little man'.

Cheers....Dawn
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Cheapy Knowles
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 10:12 AM

This is the version of the song that we were taught in the 1970s by our grandmother, who was born in 1912.

In Chinatown there lived a man
His name was Chicka-la Chicka-la Chan
His feet were long and his legs were short
and this is the way the Chinaman walk

Oh Chicka la lee cha lie cha low
Chicka low romeo in a banana go
Wall a go wall a go China sea
In a banana go WOW CHOW

This Chinaman he had some pelf
He lived in a mansion all by himself
His friends came over and built him a boat
And this is the way the chinamen float

Oh Chicka la lee cha lie cha low
Chicka low romeo in a banana go
Wall a go wall a go China sea
In a banana go WOW CHOW

Then one day the man 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 Chicka la lee cha lie cha low
Chicka low romeo in a banana go
Wall a go wall a go China sea
In a banana go WOW CHOW!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,George Moore, UK
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 07:25 AM

I have just googled about a "song" I was taught by my father back in the 1940's, and I still remeber it today. The spelling might not be correct, but this is how it sounded..

In Japan there was a very great man,
His name was Chikka Rakka Ching Chang Chay,
His legs were long and his feet were short,
This Chinese man couldn't walk nor talk.
Chikka Rakka Ching Chang, Bonzee Lorum,Witty Witty Wack,
Oko Oko, hit him on the Boko, Itty Fy, Itty Fy,
Chinese talk.

Absolute gobbledy gook, but I never forgot it, and I'm now 68 years old.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Lorna Lou
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 10:16 AM

Just yesterday I started singing this as an (American) friend and I played Scrabble. She'd never heard of it! It seems to be mostly a 'Canadian' thing, as I'm from Ladysmith, BC.
As I recall it went something like this (and yes, my mother taught it to us kids)(very catchy tune, too!)

There was a man
And his name was Rang
Rang-A-Pang-A-Tang.
His legs were long
And his feet were small
This China man could not walk at all.
ChickALaOhNo
China Man!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Christine, Ontario Canada
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 07:04 PM

Hi, Yes I too am surprised all the versions of this rhyme
I learned as this ......

There was chinese man
and he grew so tall
He could not walk and he could not talk

We took him to the top of the hill
and rolled him down with a rolling pin
and he said...
Chick a racka
Dona racka
Che chi cho
Chicka rollo bungalow
piggy wiggy wag -o-

hoko poko
hit him on the coko
it-a by
it-a by
che chi cho

I was taught this from my Grandmother as a child and have passed it down to my children.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Guest33
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 11:00 PM

I'm glad I found this thread! I've had this song stuck in my head. My mom was from Hammond/Chicago, and grew up in the 1930s. She sang a lot of silly war songs (The coffee in the Army...) and ethnic ditties of a sort that is not considered funny today (Snowball). Another Guest gave us a variant that is very close to what she would sing. I remember the tune, by the way, which doesn't seem to be part of the discussion. The glaring ignorance of geography was part of the joke.

Anyway, here's what our earlier Guest posted, with my mom's variant in CAPS:

A CHINAMAN FROM OLD JAPAN

and this is the way the Chinaman floats:

Chingaling chee, chi li, chi lo,
chingaling wallaga, in the bananaga,
wallaga, wallaga, CHAN OF THE SEA,
CHINGLAING CHAN WAS HE.

AT LENGTH Chinaman did die,
and in his coffin he did lie;
they sent him back to Old Japan,
and this is the way his epitaph ran...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,brian f
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 11:05 AM

As many other replies have started...my Mother sang this to me when I was young...S. Ontario Canada, early 1960's...hers sounded like this:

There once was a Chinaman
His name was Chicka raka chee chi cho
His arms were long, his legs were short
Chinaman could walk nor snort

Chorus:
Chicka raka chee chi cho chickaloro
Bungaloro piggy piggy waggle*
Hoko poko hit 'em on the coco
Chitterbye chitterbye chee chi cho

Chinaman had a wife
Gave him trouble all his life
Cut his pigtails off so long
Sold them for a China song

(Chorus)

Chinaman he will die
In his coffin he will lie
Then they'll ship him off to Japan
And that's the end of the Chinaman

(Chorus)

*(accompanied by grabbing the "piggy toe" and wiggling)

I must say that in my area of Canada at that time we really knew nothing of other races as kids and the one or two "chinamen" or "negro persons" or any other race or nationality were regarded with a simple wonder and nothing like hatred. Ignorance is a bad thing, but sometimes simple naivete is bliss. We took these people on as friends just like any other...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 06:45 PM

That sounds so familiar...but the version I learned goes like this:


Once there was a chinese man
His name was Chicka-laka-Chee-Chi-Cho
His arms were long his legs were short
He could neither talk nor snort

Chicka-Laka-Chee-Chi-Cho Chitta-laura
Bongo-loro-piggy-wiggy-wora
Hoko-Poko Hit-em-on-the-toko
Chiggy-man Chiggy-man
Chee-Chi-Cho

The Chinese man had a wife
Oh she had an awful life
She his pigtail off so long
Sold it for a Chinese Song

Chicka-Laka-Chee-Chi-Cho Chitta-laura
Bongo-loro-piggy-wiggy-wora
Hoko-Poko Hit-em-on-the-toko
Chiggy-man Chiggy-man
Chee-Chi-Cho

The Chinese man he will die
In his coffin he will lie
Then they'll ship him back to Japan
That is the end of the chinese man

Chicka-Laka-Chee-Chi-Cho Chitta-laura
Bongo-loro-piggy-wiggy-wora
Hoko-Poko Hit-em-on-the-toko
Chiggy-man Chiggy-man
Chee-Chi-Cho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Oct 08 - 08:53 AM

I'd like to make some random comments about this rhyme:

From reading the comments posted on this thread, it appears that few people have included in their posts any acknowledgement of the fact that the words of "Once In China There Lived A Great Man" ridicules Chinese people. One poster who did recognize this was GUEST,Darren ex-West Bromwich; 18 Jan 08 - 11:05 PM. Darren posted this comment:

"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"
-snip-

Another poster who recognized the "socially incorrect" nature of this apparently fondly remembered rhyme is GUEST,Hugh
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 05:22 PM who wrote:

"I remember a song I heard at summer camp in Canada in the 60s. Unthinkable that anyone would sing it now.

-snip-

Guest Hugh may have meant that he considers it unthinkable that this song would be sung in public at camp.

It would be interesting to see what Chinese people think of this rhyme.

I hope that if {since} this rhyme continues to be passed down to children that at the very least some acknowledgement of this fact is made by the adults who are carrying on this tradition. And I hope that those who pass this rhyme on to their children reinforce that it isn't good to make fun of people because of their race, ethnicity and/or nationality.

That said, I believe discussion threads like this one serve are important as they help document the variant texts of folk rhymes and folk songs. [See my earlier comments to this thread about the possible connection between "Once In China"... and other certain other children's rhymes].

I think that community folklorists, professional folklorists, and the general public have only begun to recognize the importance of text based Internet discussion forums such as Mudcat as a means of documenting, studying, and passing on the words to children's rhymes/songs and other folk songs. And, hopefully, in the immediate future, more and more people will also recognize the huge role that Internet sites such as YouTube can serve in helping to document, study, and disseminate not only the words,but also the tunes, and any performance activities of these examples of folk culture.


GUEST,Brian Fellows 16 Nov 07 - 05:11 PM appears to be the only person so far to post a URL to a YouTube video of "Once In China There Lived A Great Man". Along with that website address, Brian Fellows adked "I wonder if the tune is always the same?"

Here's the hyperlink to that YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSLYYkEH_nM

For some reason that video clip is titled "Chewing Gum".

I searched for this rhyme on YouTube under its title, and there doesn't appear to be any entries of it as of this date.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Ronnie Graham, Australia,
Date: 26 Oct 08 - 06:25 AM

i learnt this song in grade 5[1978]. once upon a time in a land called chat there lived a funny funny little man, his nose was long and his feet were short and the poor little follow couldn;t walk or talk, chikka and a choo cha chan chik a door punch and polly polly polly wack oke oke etchi ka etchi ka, etchi ka etchi ka oke oke oke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Jennifer
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:35 AM

I learned this version from my mother and we thought we were the only family who knew this rhyme as all my friends had never heard of it. I have taught it to my children and grandchilren so we are contining the tradiion.

In China once there lived a great man
His name was Chickeraka chee chi pan
His legs were long, and his feet were small
So this Chinaman couldn't walk at all

With a

Chickeracka chee chi cho cockerlorum, conderlorum up in nine
Cat go doo go esticotikitico
Ettipie tittipie Chinese coo

The servants used to carry him out
On their backs till the folks did shout
And when they got to the top of the hill
They rolled him down like a rolling pin.

With a

Repeat chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Steve Morris
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 07:28 AM

And I thought the only version was:-

In China once there lived an old man,
His name was Chikka-Rakka-Ching-Chang-Chang,
His legs were long,his feet were small,
This Chinaman,he couldn't walk at all.

So-o-o-o:- (Big Breath)
Chikka-Rakka-Ching-Chang,Kongalore,Kokalore,Ekki-Pekki-Mo,
Okka-Okka,stick him on a poker,
Ate a cow,ate a cow,ee en chew,
Ra-ra chikkara,chikkara rooney,
Rooney-pooney,ping-pang-piney,
Kar-rah-raxi,Chinese ching!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Bill, Grantham
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 02:23 PM

My mum who came to the UK from India in 1948 sang this version:

In China once there lived a great man
His name was Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho
Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho Chickalorum
Conday Lorum, One a pack a one

His legs were long & his feet were small
This Chinaman couldn't walk at all

Chickeracka Chee Chi Cho Chickalorum
Conday Lorum one a pack a one

Oh toh toh toh, itti kitty catty co
Ittipie, ittipie, chi chi cho

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Chris Gibbons Birmingham UK
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 05:08 PM

Earlier today I was at a friends house and someone said, 'Once in China' and everyone looked amazed when for the first time in fifty years I immediately said the first verse, I could not remember the chorus--I leant it as a small child from my grandmother who was born in Meiktilla in Burma and I know she leant it from her Aya, nurse, I thought the chorus was Burmese which was why I could not remember it ---so I googled it.

I am amazed at how many versions there are.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,canada
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 10:02 PM

once in china there lived a little man, his name was chicka racka chee chi cho. His legs were long and his feet were short. This little man could neither walk nor talk.
(chorus) Chicka racka chee chi unga lora, bunga lora, iggy piggy wago. Oko poko hit him on the coco. Chitapie chitapie, chee chi cho.
This little man he grew so stout, the servants had to carry him about. They took him up to the top of a hill and rolled him down with a rolling pin. Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 03:20 PM

I `ad that Chinaman in my cab once. I `ad to take him from SOHO to Carnaby street. `e was after some new clobber from that poncy shop that used to be next to the "Bunch of Grapes.
I said, "`ere, are you that Chinaman there all singing about. They reckon you`ve got long legs, little feet, turned up toes, funny teef and `as to be carried about `cos you can`t walk?"
`e said, "nah, it`s all a load of borrocks. It`s just a flont I put on but it don`t `arf dlaw the punters in to my "Peking Parace"!!"

Whaddam I like??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Nikki TG
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 03:40 PM

My Grandad Dave has taught my entire family this version of the song and we all embarrass ourselves infront of our partners at family get togethers by singing it!

Vs 1
In china town there lived a man his name was chicaraca chee chi chan
his legs were long and his feet were small
china man couldnt walk at all

Chorus
Chicaraker chee chi cho chicanorah condy nora iddy widy win
otoe otoe hit him on the boto iddy pie iddy pie imm pimm pimm

Vs 2
The cause of his infirmity was very simple you can see
he waked to France on a railway track and wore his feet out coming back

Chorus
Chicaraker chee chi cho chicanorah condy nora iddy widy win
otoe otoe hit him on the boto iddy pie iddy pie imm pimm pimm

Now China man got married they say to his wife on his wedding day
although he was born on the day of his birth
he died on his very last day on earth!

Chorus
Chicaraker chee chi cho chicanorah condy nora iddy widy win
otoe otoe hit him on the boto iddy pie iddy pie imm pimm pimm

We plan on passing down!! i noticed no one had posted this version yet!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Alan Cohen, Beer Sheva, Israel
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 03:37 PM

My mother used to sing this song to me and my sisters when we were small and we have passed it on to our own kids. She says she learnt it from her father.

Her version is as follows:

Once in China, there lived a funny man
His name was Chikeraka Chu Chai Chan
His legs were long and his feet were short
The poor old man could hardly walk

Chorus:
Chikeraka chu chai chay chakalora
Bonjiora alla walla wax
Okey pokey hit him on the nokey
Itchy cotchy itchy cotchy winkle

Now this old man he went to see
To see the sights of Kangaree
The ship got wrecked and so you see
The poor old man was drownded

Repeat chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Jessica Lightfoot
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 10:13 PM

My grandmother used to sing this diddy to me when I was a little girl riding beside her in her car. She always said that there were more versuses that she couldn't remember. I was happy to find additional ones from your blog. My grandmother is now 84.

This is what Gigi would sing to me and my siblings and cousins.

Once there was a China man, his name was chicka cha looch a pan, his teeth were sharp, his nails were long, and this is the way he'd travel along-

Chicka cha looch a looch a pan, aloppy aloppy, Chicka ja alopy,

Then one day, the man he died, in his coffin he did lie, they shipped his body to Japan, and that was the end of the Chinaman.

Chicka cha lutch a lutch a pan, aloppy aloppy, Chinaman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Donna
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 03:20 AM

My husband learned this when he was a boy in Canada. in the 1930's our kids and all the nieces and nephews learned it as well.
Chickaracka chichichan

Once in China there lived a great man
His name was Chickaracka chichichan
His legs were long and his feet were small
Chinese man couldn't walk at all.

Chorus:
Chickaracka chichi cho chicka lorum
pum tick a lorum paddy waddy wack
Oklo oklo iddy by iddy by
she backo

Chinese men used to carry him about
upon their backs so he could shout
Here he comes and there he goes
Chinese man with the handsome nose

Chorus:

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,KJS Somerset England
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 05:45 PM

My mother used to sing this lyric to me at the age of 5 I am now 74.

In China once there lived a man,
His name was Chickerty Ran Chan Chan
His legs were long and his feet were short
That Chinaman he could not walk,
He hired three ment to carry him out
Upon their backs how he did shout
He paid them well, found them in clothes
That Chinaman with a monkey's nose
Chickerty Ran Chan Char Co Loo
Char Co Loo said Giggypo Nan
Go to the dust O Cancer Koo
Giddy poor ninny poor Chinaman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great ma
From: GUEST,Bess
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 11:54 AM

Holy cow, I had no idea that there were so many versions of this song. I learned this from my Quaker Liberal relatives who are now embarrassed to sing it because of it's racist overtones!

Chinkety Chinkety Chan

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

Ohhhhhhhhhh-
Chinkety-chee Cha-lye Cha-lo
Chinkety Romeo in a banana-ga
Wallika wallika chanikee
In a bannana-ga
WAH-chee-yow!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Coveynov12
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 10:59 AM

My mom taught me this from the camp that she used to go to. I go to the same camp now, but they don't sing it anymore for understanible reasons. I still like the song because it is catchy.

There was a man from china town
His name was Ikichicka - chi- cho - chow
His legs were long and his feet were short
Poor old man he could hardly walk

Chorus:
ChorIkichicka - chi- cho - chow chickolora
Bobtail lora paddy wack wack
Oko moko hit 'em on the coco
Hit 'em hard hit 'em hard
There he goes!!

He had servant carry him about
Up on the mountain they would shout
"Here he comes and there he goes - poor old man with the turned up toes"

Chorus:
ChorIkichicka - chi- cho - chow chickolora
Bobtail lora paddy wack wack
Oko moko hit 'em on the coco
Hit 'em hard hit 'em hard
There he goes!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,Richard Latker
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 04:32 PM

Hi Emily

I'd like to ask you some questions about your grandfather, A.W. Jeffreys.

I'm at [e-mail]

Thanks,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Once in China there lived a great man...
From: GUEST,PigglyWiggly in the UK
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 01:24 PM

My dad tought my sister and I this when we were much younger - I never found out where he learnt it!! It muct have travelled all around the world as we are in London!!


Once in china there lived a funny man
His name was chickeracka choo chi chan
His arms were long and his feet were short
The poor old china man could hardly walk

Chickeracka Chickeracka Choo chi norum
Punchy norum
Alla walla wax
Hokey Cokey Hit him on the Bokey
Itchy Cotchy Itchy Cotchy Winkle

Now this old China man went to sea
To see the sights of Kangaree
The ship got wrecked and so you see
The poor old China Man was drownded

Chickeracka Chickeracka Choo chi norum
Punchy norum
Alla walla wax
Hokey Cokey Hit him on the Bokey
Itchy Cotchy Itchy Cotchy Winkle