I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 09:37 AM

Since we have entered into a discussion of the use of racial referents in children's rhymes, let me take this opportunity to say that as a result of my collection efforts for at least the last ten years, it appears to me that there are very few overt references to race in Black children's rhymes.

However, here's an example of one taunting rhyme that does mention race:

I'll be. be
Walking down the street,
Ten times a week.
Un-gawa. Un-gawa {baby}
This is my power.
What is the story?
What is the strike?
I said it, I meant it.
I really represent it.
Take a cool cool Black to knock me down.
Take a cool cool Black to knock me out.
I'm sweet, I'm kind.
I'm soul sister number nine.
Don't like my apples,
Don't shake my tree.
I'm a Castle Square Black
Don't mess with me.

[Source: John Langstaff, Carol Langstaff "Shimmy Shimmy Coke-Ca-Pop!, A Collection of City Children's Street Games & Rhymes {Garden City, New York, Double Day & Co; p. 57; 1973}

-snip-

This rhyme is included as in the jump rope section of that book. However, perhaps because of the demise of the outdoor clothes line, which-I believe has had a negative impact on the frequency which which children jump rope-it appears to me that quite a few children's jump rope rhymes have become handclap rhymes...

Like many other children's rhymes, "I'll Be" [to give a title to the above rhyme {no title is given in that book]is composed by stringing together a number of floating verses. These floating verses can also stand alone. In my opinion, this rhyme can be divided into floaters/independent lines as follows:

I'll be. be
Walking down the street,
Ten times a week.
**
Un-gawa. Un-gawa {baby}
This is my power.
**
I said it, I meant it.
I really represent it.
**
Take a cool cool Black to knock me down.
Take a cool cool Black to knock me out.
**
I'm sweet, I'm kind.
I'm soul sister number nine.
**
Don't like my apples,
Don't shake my tree.
**
I'm a Castle Square Black
Don't mess with me.

-snip-

I've collected other examples of American [USA] children's rhymes that separately contain most of these lines, including the "Ugawa" line. That line is lifted from a Black power saying from the late 1960s-"Ungawa, Black power!". I've also collected a couple of folk etymology reproductions of this line such as found in this excerpt of a longer "Down Down Baby/Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pa" rhyme:

"OOOH Johny,
Walkin down the street,
Ten Times a week,
I met it I said it
I stole my momma credit,
I'm cool,
I'm Hot,
Sock me in the stomach one more time..."
-Ashley at August 10, 2003 http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php

I think that "Castle Square Black" is probably a referent to a neighborhood or possibly a resident of a housing development, but unfortunately that book gives no clue to which American city these rhymes come from.

**

As you can see, I'm fully in my analysis mode...It must be the Virgo in me.

;0)

Subject: Naughty Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Luke Forrester-UK
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 10:07 AM

I remember this one as a child:

It comes down the gutter like a piece of bread and butter diariah....diariah,

My mummy was'nt in so i did it in the bin diariah....diariah,

People think It's funny but It's really hot and runny diariah....diariah.

*The gap of silence between the first diariah and the second is equivalent to two syllables.
This was in the UK, so I'm not sure if it was in the US.
In my area, we use to add in between the diariahs "uh-uh",

So it would be:
It comes down the gutter like a piece of bread and butter diariah uh-uh diariah. etc.

But nobody else seems to know that one only those in my area from when I was younger.

Hope you liked it.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Tara From Brooklyn NY
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 08:50 PM

I grew up in a Catholic School playground in Brooklyn, in the early 80's. THese were three very popular songs that I wanted to share...enjoy!

One
Miss Lucy had a baby,
she named him Tiny Tim.
She put him in the bath tub,
to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water,
he ate up all the soap,
he tried to eat the bath tub,
but it wouldn't go down his throat.
Miss Lucy called the Dr,
Miss Lucy called the nurse
Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse.
Measles said the dr.
Mumps said the nurse,
_______ said the lady with the alligator purse.
Out walked the dr,
out walked the nurse
out walked the lady with the alligator purse.

Two
On top of old smokey, all covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table, and onto the floor,
and then my poor meatball, rolled right
out the door.
It rolled through the garden,
and under a bush,
then my poor meatball,
was nothin' but mush!

Three
Did you ever see a hearse go by
and you would think your'e the next to die.
they put you in a very small box,
they cover you up with dirt and rocks.
The worms crawl in, the works crawl out,
through your stomach and out your mouth.
So then you begin to say,
that this is the end to a very good day!

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 10:03 PM

Did you ever see a hearse go by?
And know you'd be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a clean white sheet
and throw you under at least six feet
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
The worms play peanukle on your snout
And one little worm, that won't be so shy
will crawl in your ear and out your eye

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 06:41 PM

I remember most of the "Two lips" clapping song:


Two lips together
Tie them together
Bring back my love to me

What is the me-ee-ee-ning
Of all these flow-ow-ow -ers
This is the sto-o-o-ry
The story of love
From me to you

Our hearts go bumpity-ump-bump
Bumpity-ump-bump
Over the love of you


That's all I can recall.

The one that's driving me crazy trying to remember is a clapping song that had this thread in it - does this sound familiar to anyone?
(It may be in one of the earlier messages but I can't find it)

...(somebody's) brother John have a peach, have a plum have a stick of chewing gum and if you want another one this is what you say, Amen, Amen, Amendiego San Diego hocus focus dominocus...

And another one that went -

Calomine, calomine, calomine lotion
(repeat)
No no no no not the lotion
(repeat)
Itchy itchy scratchy scratchy ew I got one on my backy
(repeat)
Dead goes the bug when you spray it with the bug spray pssssh!
(repeat)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:18 PM

Guest Kat, there's a lot of different versions of "Take A Peach, Take A Plum" or whatever that family of rhymes is called.

Here's one:

"Shake, shake, shake
Eeny meeny
That's a queeny
Ooh ba Yhumbalina
Ah cha ca che Liberace
Oh baby I love you
Yes I do.
Take a peach
Take a plum
Take a piece of bubble gum
No peach
No plum
Just a piece of bubble gum
Oooshe ahshe
Oooshe ahshe
I want a piece of pie
The pie too sweet
I want a piece of meat
The meat too tough
I want to ride the bus
The bus too full
I want to ride the bull
The bull too black
I want my money back
The money too green
I want a diamond ring."

Barbara Michels, Bettye White, "Apples On A Stick, The Folklore of
Black Children" {1983, from Houston, Texas}

**

And here's an example from http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php that has that "Amen, Amen, Amendiego San Diego hocus focus dominocus"line:

"star spangle...
itsy bitsy teeny witsy ew oh to0-ba-leeny outsy whatsy sellahawts say the magic words.. i have a stick of chewing gum and if you want the other half.. this is what you say.. amen. amen. amen-deyago sedeyago hookes pookes sallamoskes sis.. sis .. sis coom ba.. everybody eerybody RA-RA-RA.. BOO-BOO-BOO.. sitting on a trash can banging on a tin can i can you can nobody else can sitting on a bench.. nothnig to do.. along comes a little baby goochy gochy goo..

i learned this as when i was litte.
-posted by brrittannee at March 25, 2005 "

**

I just love your "Calomine, calomine, calomine lotion/No no no no not the lotion" example. I think it's a great folk etymology example of the rhyme I call "como la vista".

There's a couple of examples from that "family" of rhymes:

"flea (flea)
fly (fly)
flea fly flew (ditto)
coomalata coomalata coomalata beestay
no no no no not the beestay

and ended in a sort of scat-rhythm: eee-biddlety-oaten-doaten-wahbat-skee-watten-tatten-SHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!"
{Source: RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes)
From: Bonnie Shaljean - PM
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 05:25 PM"

**

"Flea.. Flea fly.. Flea Fly Flow. Ama lama kuma lama kuma la vista, Oh oh oh oh not the vista vista, issilini dissilini Oo aa aa malini, akaraka, cukara ich bam boom, ip diddly ope en bope why not shout and bout........ssssssss.... Bang!...
-Danny at October 1, 2003 http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:23 PM

Hmmm, I see that I posted that one from brrittannee at March 25, 2005 earlier in this thread.

So I figure I owe you another example from the como la vista family.

Here's one from http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/flea.html :


Flea (repeat)

Flea fly (repeat)

Flea fly flow (repeat)

Feasta (repeat)

Cooma lotta cooma lotta cooma lotta feasta (repeat)

Oh no, no, no, na feasta (repeat)

Esca meany sala meany Oh-ah do ah-la meany (repeat)

Esca meany sala meany Oh-ah do ah (repeat)

With an epp bidily oatin doatin bo-dope skid eatin dats a what I can chew (repeat)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:26 PM

That "eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes)" thread is found here:

thread.cfm?threadid=47148

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:38 PM

The version of a song you referenced months back that I recall went something like this:

On top of spaghetti
all covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
when somebody sneezed
It rolled off the table
and onto the floor
and then my poor meatball
rolled out of the door
It rolled in the garden
and under a bush
And then my poor meatball
Was nothing but moosh

I don't recall the rest, if there was more (?).

How cone nobody's mentioned (unless I missed it) that horrible, endless "Found a peanut" song with which we used to torment the adults?

You know..

Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peanut just now
just now I found a peanut, found a peanut just now
Cracked it open, cracked it open, cracked it open just now
Just now I cracked it open, cracked it open just now
It was rotten, it was rotten ,it was rotten just now...

and so on, and so on, and so on....it ends with dying, going to heaven and yes, finding a peanut.

Then the ones with hand gestures where you drop a line each round but keep up the hand gestures:

Little cottage in the wood
Little man by the window stood
Saw a rabbit hopping by
Knocking at my door
"Help me! Help me! Help me!" he said
Ere the hunter shoot me dead
I am simply filled with dread
Little rabbit come inside
Safely you may hide.

Then there was:

Little rabbit fru fru hopping through the forest
Snatching all the field mice and bopping them on the head
(I don't remember the rest...somebody?)

Another hand gesture ditty:

Under the spreading chestnut tree
There we sat just you and me
With my banjo on my kneee
Under the spreading chesnut tree

And one of my favorite songs from camp (no hand gestures), where one person sings and everyone else repeats each line like a chorus - it's a tad dark..

Bill Grogan's goat
Was feeling fine
Stole three red shirts
From off the line
Bill grabbed that goat
Gave him a whack
And tied him to
The railroad track

The whistle blew
The train grew nigh
Bill Grogan's goat
Was sure to die
He gave three groans
Of awful pain
Coughed up those shirts
And flagged the train.

There was another cute song called "The Cat Came Back" it's kind of long but I'll send it if you like. And one that went:

Ten little angels all dressed in white
tried to get to heaven on the end of a kite
the kite string broke and down they fell
instead of going to heaven they went to...

down through the numbers to "One" and then it starts over again with

Ten little devils all dressed in red
tried to get to heaven on the end of a thread
the thread it broke and down they fell
instead of going to heaven they went to

(backwards to "one" and then the smash ending)

Don't get excited don't lose your head
instead of going to heaven they all went to bed.


I'd love to know the derivation of some of these. I was born in the mid-50's and grew up in L.A., caucasian if you're interested. I remember almost all of the camp songs because of the repitition (6 years) - I won't bore you with all of them. The clapping and jump rope songs are a bit hazy.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:47 PM

Thanks Azizi for the "Cooma lotta cooma lotta cooma lotta feasta"! Thanks to you, snatches of the rhyme are coming back - sounds like there are lots of versions. I remember the "ache chachi Libarace Anna's brother John" part (who are Anna and John I wonder?)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 07:52 PM

Ooh I remember a taunt, is it on here?

Baby baby suck your thumb
wash it off with bubble gum

(It's funny how some of these make no sense - and we thought we were being really mean)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 08:49 PM

Thanks for sharing examples, Guest Kat!

Just to touch on one rhyme you mentioned, there's verses to a secular African American slave song called "Raise A Rukus Tonight" that may be the bases for the "Ten little angels all dressed in white" children's rhyme. It's included in Thomas W. Talley's 1922 book "Negro Folk Rhymes".

**

Here's another possible source for that "como la vista" rhyme which I think has a Spanish origin:

Cumbanchero
Words and Music by RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ, 1940[introduced by Desi Arnaz]
- Many thanks to ACoolPRican84 for translating this song -

A cumba-cumba-cumba cumbanchero
A bongo-bongo-bongo bongocero
Pri-qui-ti que va sonando
El cumbanchero bongocero que se va
Bongocero que se va

A cumba-cumba-cumba cumbanchero
A bongo-bongo-bongo bongocero
Pri-qui-ti que va sonando
El cumbanchero bongocero que se va
Bongocero que se va

Y suena asi el tambor: pri-qui-ti bum-bam
Y vuelve a repicar: pri-qui-ti bum-bam

A cumba-cumba-cumba cumbanchero
A bongo-bongo-bongo bongocero
Pri-qui-ti que va sonando
El cumbanchero bongocero que se va
Bongocero que se va

A cumba-cumba-cumba drumplayer
A bongo bongo bongo bongoplayer
Pri-qui-ti the sound that it's making
When the drumplayer that goes by
Bongoplayer that goes by

A cumba-cumba-cumba drumplayer
A bongo bongo bongo bongoplayer
Pri-qui-ti the sound that it's making
When the drumplayer that goes by
Bongoplayer that goes by

And the drum sounds like this pri-qui-ti-bum-bam
And again he repeats pri-qui-ti-bum-bam

A cumba-cumba-cumba drumplayer
A bongo bongo bongo bongoplayer
Pri-qui-ti the sound that it's making
When the drumplayer that goes by
Bongoplayer that goes by

From: Mudcat thread: Mexican Folk Songs
thread.cfm?threadid=46731&messages=31

**

Btw: Kat, why don't you join our forum? It's easy, just follow the steps given in the Membership section in the top right hand corner of this page. Of course, you don't have to join. But, if you do, there is already an active member named "Kat" so you if you want to keep that name, it probably would be best if you added a last initial to your first name or chose another tag name.

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 09:35 PM

Actually there are over ten variations of "Kats" on the Mudcat, even a lower case "kat" as I sign even though I am "katlaughing." Regardless, welcome to Max's site, the Mudcat, "Guest, Kat."

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 08:13 AM

I think I remember all of On Top of Spaghetti. So here it is with the last bit added (as I remember it)

On top of spaghetti
all covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
when somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table
and onto the floor
and then my poor meatball
rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden
and under a bush
And then my poor meatball
Was nothing but moosh. (I would actually spell it mush, but pronounced moosh)

The moosh was as tasty
As tasty can be
And early next summer
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered
With beautiful moss
It grew lovely meatballs
With tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti
all covered with cheese
Hold onto your meatball
And don't ever sneeze.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:15 PM

JennyO, HERE's a version of that I wrote for our old dog.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 05:53 AM

Ha ha! Thanks for that Kat. I hadn't seen it before - it was before I joined Mudcat. Nice way to remember your old dog - I'm sure he appreciated it from doggy heaven. I wonder if they have pasta in heaven?

Oh dear, this has made me think of a weird song that a friend of mine wrote, called "Jesus is the 'pasta' in my life". I suppose I should get the words from him, even though it is truly awful :-)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,reader
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 06:22 PM

no no i know one similar

fudge fudge
call the judge
----'s having a baby
rap it up in toilet paper
throw it down the escalator
boy, girl, twin, triplets

and then whatever the person stoped the rope or something that is what they will (have) when they are older.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 07:17 PM

im rubber,your glue
and you smell like pooh
your nose is like a carrot
and youve lips like a shoe

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 09:58 PM

i always sang:
there's a place in France where the naked ladies dance
there's a hole in the wall where the men watch it all
but the ladies don't care 'cause they're in their underwear.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Muttley
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 02:52 AM

G'day Azizi

Not sure where you're from, but over here in Australia, some years ago a bloke collected DOZENS of kids rhymes and collated them as books.

The books were:

"Far Out, Brussel Sprout"
"All Right, Vegemite" and
"Unreal, Banana Peel"

They were by June Factor (author/compiler) and Peter Viska (Illustrator) and were available from Oxford University Press; Melbourne.

June Factor was (from memory) a lecturer at the Institute of Early Childhood Development; Madden Grove. Kew. Victoria. Australia (postcode) 3101

The ISBN of "Unreal" and "Far Out" are 0 19 554780 2 and
0 19 554440 4; rspectively.

Sorry, I no longer have a copy of "All Right Vegemite" so I can't give you its ISBN.

You may find them on Ebay or Amazon or even HalfPrice.com or alternatively; try writing to the IECD in Kew (or look them up on the web) and try them.

Good Luck

Muttley

BTW - each book is about 110 pages with one or two rhymes, chants etc on each page.

I'll PM this to you as well - just in case

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:34 AM

Thanks for the information about those books, Muttley.

Btw, I'm from the USA {I live in Pittsburgh, PA but grew up in New Jersey}.

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,d
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 07:30 AM

Concentration *clap, clap*
64 *clap, clap*
no repeats *clap, clap*
or hesitations *clap, clap *
I'll go first *clap, clap*
'n' you'll go second *clap, clap* (Depends on the amount of people.)
The category is *clap, clap * (enter category) *clap, clap *

(so you say your category, with claps in between, like Paint, *clap, clap* Blue paint. *clap, clap* Orange paint *clap, clap* till you have run out or reached the number you decide to end on! – Then you move to the next person. And remember NO hesitations! - if you do you are OUT!)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Pitheris
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 04:01 PM

Quote*
i always sang:
there's a place in France where the naked ladies dance
there's a hole in the wall where the men watch it all
but the ladies don't care 'cause they're in their underwear. /Quote*

We sang "Oh the girls don't wear pants on the other side of France"
to the tune of "Streets of Cairo".

We rarely used eenie-meanie for choosing who was "it".

We did this rhyme:

My mother and your mother hanging out the clothes,
My mother punched your mother in the nose,
What color blood came out,
Red,
R E D spells red.

The speaker could change the color of the blood to try to manipulate the results.


My Father's in the Navy,
My Mother's in the Marines,
My Sister's on the toilet,
Bombing submarines.


Kindergarten babies,
Stick you head in gravy,
Wash it out with bubblegum,
And then you're in the Navy.


Liar, liar pants on fire,
Nose is longer than a telephone wire,
Stick you head in a jelly jar,
Then you wonder where you are.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 04:20 PM

Thanks for posting those examples, Pitheris.

It would be great if you would share what city/state/and or nation you're from {where you learned these rhymes} and when {which decade}.

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 06:45 AM

From 1940s - early 1960s childhood in Manchester, UK.

All the girls in France
Do a the hula-hula dance
Singing "Micky put your dicky
Next to mine"


There's a copper on the corner
Eating apple pie
I asked him for a skinny bit
He hit me in the eye
I went and told my mother
My mother wouldn't come
So I got a red-hot poker
And stuck it up his bum.


Silence in court
The judge is dead
Somebody farted
And blew off his head


Those are just a sample - any more, please let me know.

Mike

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 02:58 PM

The line "More Parks sausages, Mike" just popped in my head.

That's a take off of an American ad which probably is already listed with the other jingles in this Mudcat thread: thread.cfm?threadid=52618

What I meant by that line, Mike {and others} is that it would be great if you would post more examples of children's rhymes and taunts.

Btw, thanks for including demographical information {the geographical location and the decade{s} that you remember hearing and/or reciting these rhymes}!

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Meic
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 02:48 PM

LOL

I posted a couple more under "Naughty kids' greatest hits II"

I'll remember others no doubt.

btw Meic [Welsh] = Mike

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Shotzie
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 03:16 AM

Little Bunny Fru Fru hopping through the forest scooping up the feild mice and bopping them on the head.
Down came the fairy and said, "Little Bunny Fru Fru I don't want to see you scooping up the feild mice and bopping the on the head. [Spoken] I'll give you three chances, and if you do it again I'll bop you on the head."
So the very next day..."Repeat" Change three chances, to two chances.
"                            " Change to one more chance.
"                            "
Little buny Fru Fru you've used up all your chances, now I'm going to get you and bop you on the head.



I'm curious if anyone remembers this one:

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me!
I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It's yucky!
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won't be mad at me!


Patty cake patty cake bakers may
bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a "B"
And put it in the over for "Baby" and me.

You can subsitute the "B" with the letter of your crush or friend or whomever. Then where it says "Baby" you say their name.


I would also like to know if anyone knows any other "Boom boom baby" "shimmy shimmy cocoa puff" variations. I used to sing it years ago but the ones I've read here are different from what I knew.

"I've been working on the rail-road, all the live-long day."
Fill in the rest anyone?


Circa 1990's Southern California.
Mostly white children.

McDonalds is my kind of place!
They feed you rattle snakes.
Hamburgers from up your nose.
French fries from between your toes.

That's all I have for the above one. My mom taught it to me in the 90's so she learned it somewhere between the 60's and 90's.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:20 PM

I'm curious if anyone here knows this rhyme:

ABC
abc, easy as 123, my momma takes care of me, my daddy watches mtv, ooh ahh i want a piece of pie, pie to sweet i wanna piece of meat, meat to rough i wanna ride a bus, bus too full i wanna ride a bull, bull not black i want my money back, money back too green i wanna jelly bean, jelly bean not cooked i wanna read a book, book not read i wanna go to bed, bed not made i want some lemonade, lemonade too sour i wanna take a shower, shower too cool i wanna go to school, school too dumb i wanna suck my thumb, thumb to dirty i wanna ride a birdie, birdie too slow and thats all i know, so close your eyes and count to ten, whoever messes up starts all over again, 12345678910...noone messed up so thats the end!
-elle; www.cocojams.com; 4/3/2007

-snip-

The "ABC/easy as 1,2,3" line comes from the hit record titled "ABC" by the R&B group Jackson 5. The "Ooh Aah" lines that substitute one thing after the other reminds me of the "I went to the river but I couldn't get across" folk songs where one animal or one thing is traded for another animal or thing which then proves faulty and is therefore traded for yet another thing.

Is there a name for this pattern of song or rhyme?

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:29 PM

Here's another children's handclap rhyme that begins with that line from the Jackson 5 song, and includes a variation of the lines about mommy and daddy. But then this example adds lines from another rhyme, one which I have found recited independently, or in combination with other rhymes:

A.B.C.
It's easy as 1.2.3.
My momma takes care of me.
My father don't yell at me.

Caught you with your boyfriend.
Naughty, Naughty.
Didn't do the dishes.
Lazy, Lazy.
Ate all the candy
Greedy, greedy.
Jumped out the window.
Man, you're crazy!
-multiple sources; collected by Azizi Powell,1999; posted on Cocojams on 2/26/2006

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,Danielle (15)
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 02:05 PM

*Clappy Hand Game from Elementary School*

Down by the bank say the hankie pankie
where the bull frog jump from bank to bankie
said eeps ipes opes oops listen to the chillie willie ding dang dong.

*added throughout years*

I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Micheal Jackson is a fag,
Coca-cola brought him up,
Now he's drinking Seven-Up,
Seven-Up has no caffeine,
Now he's drinking Belly-Gene,
Belly-Gene is out of style,
Now he's just a wild child,
Boy scouts, boy scouts do your duty,
Don't forget to wash your booty,
I have more money than you!

Another clappy game (my friends and I still sing today)

Miss Susie had a steam boat, the steam boat had a bell, Miss Susie went to heaven and the steam boat went to hell...o operator give me number nine and if you disconnect me I will chop off your...behind the fridgerator ther was a piece of glass Miss Susie sat upon it and broke her little ass..k me no more questions tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flies are in the meadow the bees are in the park and Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing in the D-A-R-K D-A-R-K DARK! DARK! DARK!..... I know I know my ma I know I know my pa, I know I know my sister with a forty acre bra, my ma is godzillia my dad is King Kong my sister is the stupid one who made up this dumb song.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 07:34 PM

Thanks, Danielle, for sharing the version of "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag".

For those who don't know it, these lines refer to the famous R&B singer Michael Jackson. The reference to "Coca-cola brought him up" refers to the incident in 1984 when Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire while he was filming a Pepsi-Cola {not Coca-Cola} commercial. At the time of this freak accident, Jackson was singing his 1983 hit record Billie-Jean. The name "Billie-Jean" has been changed to "Belly-Gene" in the above rhyme. Other versions of this rhyme can be found on
this handclap rhyme can be found on this Mudcat thread: "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky"
thread.cfm?threadid=94034

Here is one of those posts:

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi - PM
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 08:31 AM

Also, fwiw, unfortunately, I think the implied homophobia in the line "I pledge allegiance to the flag/Michael Jackson is a fag" does ring true to contemporary children's rhymes.

I've seen that line elsewhere in various websites on children's rhymes. And I heard this line recited by a couple of second grade African American girls in Pittsburgh children as part of the "Mama Mama Can't You See" rhyme:

"they say Michael Jackson is a fag
put him in a plastic bag"

-snip-

Since I detest homophobia, I much prefer the version as given on this thread by GUEST 30 Nov 06 - 09:28:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me gag"

-snip-

Of course, then the question is why would R&B singer Michael Jackson make anyone gag?

I haven't got a clue.

;o)

-snip-

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/27/newsid_4046000/4046605.stm for more information of Michael Jackson's accident while filming the Pepsi commercial.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 07:48 PM

Btw, Danielle, "the Boy scouts, boy scouts do your duty" line in that "I pledge allegiance" rhyme is similar to a jump rope rhyme that I remember singing as a child in the 1950s {Atlantic City, New Jersey}.

Postman Postman do your duty
Here comes {insert name}
an American beauty
She can wiggle
She can wobble
She can do the splits*
But I bet you 5 dollars
She can't do this...

* splits was later changed to "twist" when that dance was popular

The fact that kids in Atlantic City said "an American beauty" since the Miss America beauty pagent was held there every year.

However, at about the 1980s or 1990s, I've collected examples from African American girls in Pittsburgh, Pa area in which the line "Here comes ___ an American beauty" has been change to "Here comes {insert name} with her African booty".

Nowadays {and maybe earlier} an "African booty" means a big butt. This is a compliment now but it definitely wouldn't have been a compliment when I was growing up.

In that instance, anyway, things have changed for the better.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 09:54 AM

Azizi, your post of ABC on 03 Apr 07 - 09:20 PM reminds me of the song (I don't know if it was a folk song before some composer got hold of it)
Hush little baby don't say a word
Mumma's gonna buy you a mocking bird

If that mocking bird don't sing
Mumma' gonna buy you a diamond ring

....????....(lots more purchases what a Spoilt baby!)

If that ??? falls down
You'll still be the prettiest little baby in town

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 12:09 PM

Correction:
"Postman Postman/Do Your Duty" should have been:

Policeman Policeman/ Do Your Duty"

I was surprised and pleased that in the 1980s I heard my daughter and her friends recite "Policelady Policelady". Maybe there were women who were police when I was growing up, but I can't recall any.

I suppose 'do your duty' meant to give the person who can 'wiggle, and wobble and do the split' {or "do the twist"}.

Even though the girls were saying to the police officer "do your duty" by giving the girl a kind of citation or arrest her because she's shaking her derriere too much {according to 'adult proper society', they actually showing off how well they could do those moves.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 12:13 PM

Mo, here's the Mockingbird song that I think you were referring to:


HUSH, L'IL BABY

Hush, l'il baby, don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mockin'bird.

If that mockin'bird don't sing
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring

If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.

.........gets broke
.........billygoat.

.........don't pull,
.........cart and bull

.........turn over
..........dog named Rover
..........won't bark
..........horse and cart.

..........fall down,
Then you'll be the sweetest li'l baby in town.

@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2772

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 19 May 07 - 10:36 AM

Here's an example of profanity avoidance in children's cheerleader cheers:

"This is a funny one for older teams:
Strawberry Shortcake, Banana Split, we make you team look like, shift to the left, shift to the right, sit down stand up, fight, fight, fight!"
-Lou ; 7/16/2006

**

Another version of that cheer is:

strawberry shortcake, banana split your team plays like a pile of shift to the left, shift to the right stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!
-Nicole; 10/7/2006

-snip-

Both versions are posted on http://www.cocojams.com/cheerleader_cheers.htm

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,BBG
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 03:51 AM

I was reading and i was amazed to not see a ceartain ryme...

My mom gave me a nickle she said to buy a pickle I did not buy a pickle instead i bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubble gum!

MY mom gave me a dime she said to buy a lime I did not buy a lime instead I bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.

MY mom gave me a quarter she said to buy some water I did not buy some water instead I bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.

MY mom gave me a five she said to stay alive I did not stay alive instead I choked on bubblegum! BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 18 Jun 07 - 12:52 PM

GUEST,BBG,

Thanks for posting that example. As you may know, in 2006 the Bazooka Bubblegum Company {I'm not sure if that's the corporation's formal name} started a marketing campaign that uses this song-but with a far different ending than the kid's street version has.

Here's a Mudcat thread that provides some examples that led to that song/rhyme as well as some information on that song's tune:
thread.cfm?threadid=71236&messages=32 "Penny to buy chewing gum/Gershwin?"

Also, BBG, I hope that you don't mind that I took the liberty of posting your example of this rhyme on a Mudcat thread that I started on Bazooka Zooka Bubble Gum and related subjects:

thread.cfm?threadid=102593&messages=1

Thanks again!

Azizi

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 05:06 PM

Here's the way I was taught "Funny Bird Frag Are":

What a funny bird the frog are.
When he stand up he sit.
When he walk he jump.
He ain't got no tail much hardly.
And when he die he croak.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 01:21 AM

Comet, it makes your mouth turn green
Comet, it tastes like Listerine
Comet will make you vomit
So get some Comet...and vomit...today.

The tune this is sung to is some sort of military song, not sure what it is.

---

Please note that anonymous posting is no longer allowed at Mudcat. Use a consistent name [in the 'from' box] when you post, or your messages risk being deleted.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

P.S. It's the Colonel Bogey March, part of the theme song from Bridge Over the River Kwai.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: cookster
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 02:42 PM

Deck the halls with gasoline.            [sung to Deck the Halls]
Fa,La,La,La,La,La,La,La,La
Light a match and watch it gleam.
Fa,La,La,La,La,La,La,La,La
Watch the school burn down to ashes.
Fa,La,La,La,La,La,La,La,La
Aren't you glad I play with matches
Fa,La,La,La,La,La,La,La,La

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 06:36 PM

Today US President Bush indicated through his attorney that he wasn't going to honor the Senate's subpoenas for documents that could shed light on the firing of federal prosecutors.

Here's what a poster on the progressive political blog "dailykos" imagined Bush saying.

"No, we won't and you can't make us!

NYAH NYAH, Nanny-boo-boo!!"

-snip-

That post lead to these comments:

" No, no, it's
Nanny-nanny boo-boo,
Stick your head in doo-doo!"

**

"I believe it's a regionalism.

I've also heard:

Nanner, Nanner!

and

Neener, Neener!"

**

"and Nanny Nanny Poo Poo.."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/28/9422/63082


-snip-

I never heard {or said} any of these. Instead, when I was growing up in Southern New Jersey {USA} we said in a sing song voice,
"Nah NahNah Nah Nah".

I guess that means the same thing as those other examples...

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,firemonkey
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 09:00 PM

Shotzie - here's the song lyrics you were looking for - I've Been Working on the Railroad is an oldie

I've been working on the railroad
all the live long day
I've been working on the railroad
just to pass the time away
can't you hear the whistle blowing
ris upr so early in the morn
can't you hear the captain shouting
Dinah blow your horn

Oh Dinah won't you blow, Dinah won't you blow
Dinah won't you blow your ho-o-orn
Dinah won't you blow, Dinah won't you blow
Dinah won't you blow your horn

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
someone's in the kitchen I know-oh-oh-oh
someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strummin' on the old banjo

And singin' fee fifiddly I oh
fee fi fiddly I on-oh-oh-oh
fee fi fiddly I oh
strumi' on the old banjo

(I, formerly Guest Kat, grew up in Southern Cali in the 50s and 60s)

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: firemonkey
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 09:23 PM

Hi Azizi - I just signed up as an official member (yay) and posted, but I don't see my post.

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: firemonkey
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 09:25 PM

OK, that was weird - here's the one I sent before

This was a camp song, does anyone remember how it goes?

Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened
Ask and it shall be given
And the love(?) come a (something) down

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: firemonkey
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 09:42 PM

I remember this one

Order in the court!
The monkey wants to speak
The first one to talk
is a monkey for a week!

Any "Beany and Cecil" fans? Remember Cecil the Seasick Seaserpent singing

I say R
I say R A
I say G
I say G G
R A G G M O P P
Rag mop
doodly doo doo doo-doo-doo
Rag mop
doodly doo doo doo-doo-doo

Where did Bob Clampett get that ditty I wonder?

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 11:16 PM

Welcome firemonkey!

I'm glad you've taken the plunge!

See ya around the 'Cat!

In the fine tradition of Mudcatdom, I've started this welcome thread for you thread.cfm?threadid=103493&messages=1

Check it out!

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 04:00 AM

Written by Deacon Anderson and Johnnie Lee Will

M - I say M-O
M-O-P
M-O-P-P
Mop
M-O-P-P Mop Mop Mop Mop

R
I Say R-A
R-A-G
R-A-G-G
Rag
R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P

Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlydoo-dah-dyadoo
R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P Raggmop

A-I say A-B
A-B-C
A-B-C-D
A-B-C-D-E
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I

I say M-O
M-O-P
M-O-P-P
Mop
M-O-P-P Mop Mop Mop Mop

R - I Say R-A
R-A-G
R-A-G-G
Rag
R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P

Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlyboo-bah-dyadoo
Ragmop
Doodlydoo-bah-dyadoo R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P Raggmop Mop Mop

©1950, published by Hill and Range Songs

Subject: RE: I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
From: GUEST,one-time poster
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 09:04 PM

Michigan 1970's:

Here's the church
here's the steeple
open the doors
and here's all the people

(has hand gestures for each line)



Bumblebee, bumblebee
come from the barn
come and sting _____
right under the arm