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

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: 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,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,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,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,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,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,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,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 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 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,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 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 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,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,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,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,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 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,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

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,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 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,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,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,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 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,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,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,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,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,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,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,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,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: 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
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: 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,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,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,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,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: 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,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: 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,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,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,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 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,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!!!