Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Jenny
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 02:32 PM

this song has been lingering in my head for days, so I went searching for the one I remembered not knowing there were so many, this is what i remember.

Down by the river and the hanky panky
bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
with an eeps Ipes, Opes, Opps
Chilly willy ding dong,
I pledge Allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson is a fag
Now were talking 7 up
7 up has no caffiene
now we're talking billy Jean
(and then there was more... but I dont remember it...)

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,m.b.
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 06:06 PM

down by the river of the hanky panky
were the bulldog jump from bank bank
sayen EEPS OPPS OOPPS OOPS
listen to the ding dong
your mama smell like king kong
see that house on the top of the hill
thats were me and my boy friend live
smell that chicken
smell that rice
come on lets shoot some dice
1
2
3
4
5

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,=]
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 12:37 PM

down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
with an eeps opps oops ouch
jump of a lilypad
kerplunk splash

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 09:39 PM

My friends play it like this:

Down by the bank by the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jumps from bank to bank
We're sayin ep op ep op op
skiddle diddle kernal pop!
I pledge alligence to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola messed him up
now we're drinking 7up
7up has no caffine
now we're drinking gassoline
Gassoline not good for you
now we're drinking Mt. Dew
Mt. Dew fell off the Mt.
now we're drinking from a fountain
The fountain broke
and now we're back to drinking coke

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,guest :)
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 01:32 PM

Down by the river on a hanky panky where the bull frog jumps from bank to bank i said A-E-I-O-U bamboo micheal jackson went to town coca cola shot him down mountain dew shot him up now were talking 7 up 7 up has no caffine now were talking billy jean billy jean went down the street singing do a diddy diddy dum diddy 1-2-3

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 08:02 PM

Hello, GUEST,guest :)

I don't recall reading that particular version of "..Hanky Panky" before. Thanks for sharing it.

And by the way, GUEST,guest :) , I hope you share some more examples of children's rhymes that you know, but I'd like to suggest that you pick another, more distinguishable screen name. There have been other people who have used that particular name minus the :)

As a matter of fact, I'm glad that post wasn't deleted, because that's what could very well happen to posts that are written by anyone who uses the name Guest guest.

And thanks also to this site's moderators for not deleting that post, as it adds to the folkloric record by presenting another version of this children's rhyme.

[Now if the poster had only included where and when she or he recited or heard this rhyme and whether it was performed as a handclap rhyme or jump rope rhyme or something else. Sigh...]

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 08:07 PM

Correction:

"only"="also"

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 08:01 AM

Down by the riverside a hanky panky where the bull frog jumps from bank to bank i said an A E I O U BAMBOO!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Bank and the Hanky Pank
From: GUEST,dancergirlita235
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 10:26 AM

Down by the bank and the hanky pank where the juice box frog singing bank to bank singing eep opp eep opp opp skittle dittle kernal pop I pledge alligence to the flag Micheal Jackson makes me gag[or is a fag] Coca Cola came to town Pepsi Cola knocked him down Dr. Pepper picked him up now we're drinking 7UP 7UP caught the flu now we're drinking Mountain Dew Mountain Dew fell off the mountain now we're drinking from a fountain fountain broke now we're drinking plain old Coke

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,guest, katy
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 12:50 AM

the one i remember was in second grade and a group of girls usually would get in a circle and play a clapping game and at the end of the song the last person that got clapped was out until there was only one person left.


down by the river where theres hanky panky
and the bull frogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
your mama smells like king kong
pledge allegience to the flag
michael jackson is a fag
coca cola's burning up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffeine
now we're talking billy jean
billy jean saw his sister walking down the street singing do-a-ditty-ditty-dum-ditty-do. do-a-ditty-ditty-dum-ditty-do.
icky picky ponky daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
icky picky ponky!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,yung chic
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:40 PM

Hey! I'm a teen, and my friends just taught me this song today:

Down on the banks by the hanky-panky,
Where the bull frogs jump from bank to banky,
Sayin' e-i-o-um,
Insacadillion, ding-dong.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!

Then of course, u have ur right hand on top of whoever else ur playin' this with. I like it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 09:15 AM

Down by the bay where the hanky-panky
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banky
Says eep, op, eep op op
Skiddle diddle kernel pop
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola has caffeine
Now we're talking jelly beans
Jelly beans are out of style
We've been talking for a while
Charlie Brown is it!

Or, some people play it like this:

Down by the bay where the hanky-panky
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banky
Says eep, op, eep op op
Skiddle diddle kernel pop
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola has caffeine
Now we're drinking gasoline
Gasoline has no fuel
Now we're drinking Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell off the mountain
Now we're drinking form the fountain
Fountain broke and made me choke
And now we're drinking plain old Coke!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 03:16 PM

Thanks to all who have posted to this thread!

GUEST,bob, I've never "heard" that first version you posted {with the lines about jelly beans and Charley Brown}. I'm curious is this a handclap rhyme or a counting out/choosing it rhyme {given the line Charlie Brown is it!"

Also, for the folkloric record, Bob [and others who post to this thread], if you read this, could you please add where {city, state or province and nation} you heard these examples performed or performed them and when {decade/year}.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Taylor
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 03:01 PM

I cannot remeber the whole thing but what I do remember goes like this:

"Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
with a hip
hop
kerrrrrplop!!!"

I grew up in Aurora, CO (suburb of Denver)

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 04:23 PM

Thanks, Taylor, for posting that example and remembering to include demographical information {where you grew up/where yourecited that rhyme}!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 07:52 PM

Loser loser double loser
as if whatever, get the picture DUH!
brick wall water fall
girl you think you know it all
but you don't, i do
so MMMMM with that attitude!
piece punch captain crunch
i got something you can't touch
so bang bang
choo choo train
wind me up i'll do my thing!
reices peices, 7 up
mess with me...
i'll mess you up!
Down in the banks of hanky pank
bull frogs jump from bank to bank
saying beep bop beep bop bop
skittle dittle cornel pop
i pleade alligence to the flag
michael jackson makes me gag
he used to play with little toys, now he plays with little boys
coca-cola came to town
dr. peper knocked him down
pepsi-cola picked him up
know were drinking 7 up
7 up had no caffine
now were drinking gasoline
gasoline got the flu
now were drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell off the mountain
now were drinking from the fountain
fountain broke...
NOW WERE DRINKING PLAIN, OLD COKE!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 04:29 PM

In southern california we sang it like this

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
where eeps ops
soda pops
hey mr. willy and he went kerplops

Later in my childhood someone corrected me and said it was actually this:

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
where he hops
soda pops
he missed a lilly and he went kerplops.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 05:34 PM

GUEST, 30 Apr 08 - 04:29 PM, thanks for posting your example, and including demographical information {your geographical area}.

As to someone correcting you and telling you that his or her version of a children's rhyme is the right one, phooey! There's no such thing as the right version of a rhyme. We may try to find early versions of rhymes, or even the earliest version {but I'm not sure that we could ever be certain that there was no version earlier than another one that would possibly be found}.

And I think that it's good to talk about source songs for specific rhymes, like the May Irwin's Frog Song which is probably one of the main sources for the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" children's rhyme. However, that's different than talking about which version of the rhyme is the right one.

Children's rhymes are part of folk culture. And one of the things that's bound to happen with folk culture is that the words-much more than the tunes of rhymes & songs-are going to be changed a little, or a lot by accident, or on purpose.   

You can take that to the bank.

:o)

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,me
Date: 01 May 08 - 05:58 PM

you guys are all stupid. NONE of these are correct! duuuuuuuuuuuh

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 01 May 08 - 06:53 PM

Guest me, some of us are gals. And it's not nice to call guys or gals "stupid".

As to your comment that none of these [examples of this rhyme that have been posted to this thread thus far] are correct, I said all I'm gonna say about that in my 30 Apr 08 - 05:34 PM post to this thread.

If you want to share the version that you know of "Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky", please do so.

If not, then I guess we'll have to live without it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Jessica
Date: 02 May 08 - 03:28 PM

I sing a version that may be a little different...
Down by the banks
With the hankey-panks,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Saying "e-i-eat-my-pie, skittle-diddle-kernal-pop".
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson is a fag.
7Up has no caffeine
Now we're drinking gasoline.
Gasoline gave us the flu
Now we're drinking moutain dew.
Mountain dew fell off the mountain
Now we're drinking from the fountain.
Foutain broke,
Now we're drinking
Plain
Old
Diet
Coke.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 11 May 08 - 07:37 PM

Hi! This is the version I learnt at school (UK 1987 5yrs - 1993 11yrs)
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
they go hip hop
bellyflop
one missed the lilypad and went kerflop!

BUT! We had totally different clapping patterns - it's between 2 people only:
hold your hands together like you're praying and swing them from side to side, hitting your partners hands in time to the beat 3 times. On the 4th, stop with your hands touching left to left hand and your right hand claps first your own left hand, then your partners right hand above, your own hand again. As your move your right hand down, instead of clapping their hand, you grab it like a hand shake, pulling up and away to your right, moving your left hand in a similar way. As soon as you let go with your right hand (still holding hands with your left) you slap your thigh and click your fingers, bringing your hand back up to do a one handed swinging slap like at the beginning 3 times (STILL holding left hands!). I don't remember what we did after that - it only gets me to 'bullfrogs leap'. Maybe we repeated it? It def finishes with a patticake type slap at the end (no head bashing!). The aim was to go as fast as you could and still get it right.
Anyone else?!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 11 May 08 - 07:44 PM

Thanks, Laura, for posting not only the words but the performance instructions. Also thanks for including demographical information-where you lived when you performed this rhyme, when you performed it, and how old you were.

As Laura said, anyone else?

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,anonymous
Date: 14 May 08 - 06:07 PM

out of all of thes versions, mine has only been listed once or twice. Here it goes:

Down by the bay where the hanky pank
And the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
Say eep op eep op op,
skittle diddle kernel pop
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Michael Jackson makes me gag
Coca cola has caffeine
Now we're drinkin' gasoline
Gasoline ran out of fuel
Now we're drinkin' Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell off a mountain
Now we're drinkin' from the fountain
Finally the fountain broke
Now we're drinkin' plain old coke!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Anonymous.
Date: 21 May 08 - 05:24 PM

Now when I was in elementary school, we had one with similar words but it was different.
It went:
Down on the farm said Hanky Panky
Said bulldog, bulldog Hanky Panky
Said Fee-Fii-Foo-Fum
Pass it to the bulldog
Mickey Mouse built a house
Donald Duck messed it up
Who will pay the consquences
And the ..

But I forget how it ends.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,mooseormeece?
Date: 21 May 08 - 11:34 PM

I learned this and forgot most of it (not complete! but it goes sort of like this....
Down by the bay in beverly hills
where the bull frog jumps from bank to banky
and the heeps hops, coffee shops,
we all drink mochas and we wear flip flops
(faster)
I pledge allegence to the flag
Michal jackson makes me gag
coca cola has cafeine and now we're talking billy jean
billy jean when out of style now lets sit and talk a while
diddy diddy donkey
daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
diddy diddy donkey!
theres a party round the corner wont you please please come
bring your own cappuchinos and your own chewing gum
what is your boy friends name?______ (whoever the clap lands on has to come up with a name)

_______ will be there blowing kisses in the air saying I love ______ (who ever came up with the name) saying I love_____ saying O U T spells you are out!
OR
______will be there blowing kissed in the air singin' I... Love...Ma..Ma...Mia, singin' I love ma...ma...mia singin' O U T spells you are out!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Cocoa
Date: 26 May 08 - 06:41 PM

this is how my friends & I know it:



Down by the banks of the hanky panks
where bull frogs jump from bank to bank
singing eip ipe ope ump
Chilly willy ding-dong
I pleage alegence to the flag Michle Jackson makes me fag
now where talking 7-up
7-up has no cafine
now were talking billy jean
billy jean is out of sight
now where talking dinomight
dinomight blew up the school now were talking billy cool billy cool is such a fool 543210 OHHHHHHHHHH    Ta da!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,GUEST - Nash.TN
Date: 27 May 08 - 03:01 PM

This is the way I learned it.
--- DISCLAIMER: Kids were fast in my day. ---


Down by the riverside hanky panky.
Where the bullfrog croaks "Yo' booty stanky."
Jumpin easts west north south.
Ding dong all in yo mouth.
I pledge allegiance to the flag.
Michael Jackson is a fag.
Dr. Pepper burnt him, but
Now we're drinkin 7 UP.
7 UP got too much green.
Now we're drinkin more caffeine.
Fiends drink coke cause it's a drug.
Slurped the toad who ate... a ... BUG!

And if you were the person to say "bug",
You were suppose to hit the next persons hand,
To stay in the game. If you missed their hand,
You were out. And that person stayed in.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 27 May 08 - 04:22 PM

Thanks, to all guests who have posted a version of "Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky" on this thread.

One thing these different versions show is that kids are very creative!

I hope that you will visit other Mudcat threads on children's rhymes by clicking on the name of the thread that is provided in the list at the top of the page!

Best wishes,

Ms. Azizi

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Mandy
Date: 28 May 08 - 12:04 AM

I'm from South Eastern Virginia and this was how we used to do it.. :)

Down by the bank where the hanky pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
sayin east ist ost ust
Isabella ding dong.
Not last night but the night before
Someone came and knocked at my door,
Knock one, knock two, knock three, knock four...
knock knock OUT!

We would sit in a big circle outside (a bunch of little girls) with our left hands underneath the person to our left's palm (palms up) and then our right hands the opposite (above the person to our right's palm. Then we would slap on the beat from our right hand onto the person to the left's palm above ours in a circle until you were ended on in the song on the out (last word). Gosh I'm so glad other people know about this, it's so interesting how colloquial it can be!

Be well.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 28 May 08 - 07:34 AM

Hi, Mandy!

Thanks for posting demographical information and performance instructions with your example. I can't recall ever reading an example of "...Hanky Panky" that included lines from "Not Last Night But The Night Before" [24 robbers at my door/I got up to let them in/hit 'em in the head/with a rolling pin}.

It's interesting to see how a specific rhyme changes from place to place, isn't it?

You be well also!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Guest, Walker
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 10:06 PM

One of my 2nd graders taught a hand clapping game in our music class in Abilene, Texas 5-30-08.

Down by the bay, by the bay, the bay,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bay to bay,
Where the eeps, ahps, ohps, ahps
Bowl fulla jelly and a ker-plop.

The children stand in a cirle with hands extended palms up. The right hand is on top of the one to the right and the left in beneath the one to the left. The beat is passed around clockwise as the players slap their neighbor to the left. On 'plop' they must hit the neighbor's hand before it is pulled away. If you hit your own hand, you're out. If you hit the neighbor's hand, he is out. The last two standing lock fingers and "saw" to the beat and tug on plop like tug of war. The one who pulls someone over the line is the winner.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Omg.
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 06:22 PM

my frends said they made this up..omg no way!!!
DOWN BY THE BANKS WITH THE HANKY PANKY
IS THE BULLFROGS THAT JUMP FROM BANK TO BANK
SINGING EPP OP E BOP BOP
SKIDDLE DIDDLE KERNAL POP
I PLEDGE ALIGENCE TO THE FLAG
MICHAEL JACKKSON MAKES ME GAG
7-UP GOT THE FLU NOW IM DRINKING
MOUNTAIN DEW, MOUNTAIN DEW FELL
OFF THE MOUNTAIN NOW IM DRINKING
FROM A FOUNTAIN. FOUNTAIN BROKE
NOW IM DRINKING PLAIN OLD COKE.

LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Sugee97
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 08:26 PM

This is how I learned it:

Down by the bank,
With the Hankey Pank,
Where the bullfrogs jump,
From bank to bank,
Say eep,op,eep,op,op
1,2,3,4
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Michael Jackson makes me gag.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Sugee97
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 08:30 PM

(Continued)

We started drinking diet coke,
Diet fell out and it was coke,
Coke was bad cuz it smelled like poo,
Now we're drinking mountain dew,
Mountain dew fell off the mountain,
Now we're drinking from the fountain,
Fountain broke,
Now we're back to drinking plain old diet coke!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Someone
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 10:51 PM

Down by the riverside a hanky pank
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Singing A- E- I- O- U
Bam Boo

If you say boo and hit the next person's hand they're out, if you hit your own hand, you're out.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 02:15 AM

This is what I know about the lyrics for Hanky Panky

Down by the BAnks of the Hanky pAnkys
Where the bull frogs jump from Bank to banky
With the Scuba DUba divers-Motor Boat Drivers
Bow chica Wow WOw Bow CHicka WoW WOw Bow

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Uke
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 05:05 PM

Hi Azizi,
Here's some related variants from grown-ups printed in the Ozark folklore collection 'Blow the Candle Out' (Vance Randloph / Gershon Legman, 1992, p.689):

Bullfrog jumped from bank to bank,
Skinned his pecker shank to shank.

(Collected 1947, Missouri)


They also cite another version from 'What Happened to Mother Goose' (Ray Wood, 1946):

Down on the river Yank-te-hank,
The bullfrog jumped from bank to bank,
He spread his legs from shank to shank,
And split his hide from flank to flank.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 05:35 PM

Hi, Uke!

Thanks for posting those versions. I appreciate it.

**

This may be a good time to once again say thanks to everyone who has posted the versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" on this thread. And thanks to those who also posted performance instructions, demographical information, and other comments about this rhyme.

When I started this discussion, I certainly didn't think that "Down By The Banks of The Hanky Panky" was this widely known and some many different versions. But so far, more people have posted to this thread than any other thread on a specific children's rhyme.

Not that this is a contest or anything. I'm just sayin.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,Me![Her's The Miami Version]
Date: 20 Jun 08 - 01:59 AM

Down by the banks with the hanky pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
say E-I-O
You Yo Momma stank and so r u
ping pong donky kong
Yo Momma smell like king kong
Micheal Jackson went to town riding on the pony
stuck a feather in is hat n called him macaroni
resse pieces butter cup
u mess wit me ill bust you u up
i woke up in the morning i looked up on the wall
i saw a bunch of cocka roches playin basketball
and they score was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 and on 10 they have to try to slap the other person hands if the person misses n slaps their own hand they are elinimated

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Jun 08 - 06:37 AM

I never heard or read that version before, GUEST,Me![Here's The Miami Version]. Thanks for posting it and thanks for remembering to include where you live {where this version is played].

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,ME!
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 12:53 PM

Down by the river
To the hanky pank
Where the bullfrog jumps
from bank to bank
saying E I O U
Your mama stinks and so do you
So ding dong ping pong
Your daddy smells like king kong.
Michael Jackson went to town
Dr. Pepper brought him down
Coca Cola brought him up
Now he's drinking 7-Up
7-Up with no caffine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Inky Binky Bonky, Daddy had a Donkey
Donkey died
Daddy cried
Inky Binky Bonkey

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST, a high school student
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 06:10 PM

We played this game a few weeks ago after our exam. The version we used was:

'Down by the banks of the hanky panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank-y
Singin' "East side, West Side, East Side, West Side"
Dilly ding dong!'

At the "east side west side" part, you speed up a bit so it's harder for the unlucky "last person" to know when to remove their hand.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST, a high school student
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 06:11 PM

Oh, yeah, location. This version (above) was played in south-eastern USA.

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 06:17 PM

Thanks for posting that example and the location, guest high school student.

I hope you decide to check out the other threads on children's rhymes that are listed above this one.

Best wishes to you and to all other guests who found this discussion forum!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,jamielulu314
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 10:18 PM

I 'member it like this...
      
       Down by the river...
          down by the river where the hanky pankies
          and the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
            singing "A-E-I-O-U" KURPLUNK!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 04:53 PM

i used to play this as a hard hand hitting game.. few kids standing in circle each with their palms facing the air, one palm below their neighbors to the left(or right) and the other palm above their neighbors palm to the right (or left) so that everyone has an available hand to hit the persons hand next to them.. and u chant while hitting (starting soft) saying :

down by the river hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
hip hop don't stop listen to the water POP!

and the POP! signifies the hard hitting begins.. and it continues until one by one the hitting gets so hard and intense ppl drop out the game until its just two ppl left and then they go at it sometimes yelling (POP!) as they hit each others hands. and then who ever quits, their opponent is the POP! champ. I was the POP! champ all throughout 5th and 6th grade (its a horribly painful game, leaving children with itchy red palms.. but it helped prove alot for me.. it made me tough lolol)

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,maeson anderson
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 08:16 PM

dowon by the river side hanky panky were the bullfrogs jump from bank saying a-e-i-o-u bamboo a-e-i-o-u bamboo michel jakson came to town coca cola shot hem down dr.pepper fixed him up now were talking 7-up 7-up has no cafene now were talking bilajean bilajean has no caffene no caffene no caffene 1234 shut the door enless u ant to here more

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,robin
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 03:52 PM

down by the river of the hank pank we are bullfrogs jump from bank to bank say EIOU JESUS LOVES YOU AND I DO TO SO PING PONG

Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
From: GUEST,tay-tay
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 11:24 AM

down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank saying i pledge allegience to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag coa-cola burn his butt now we're drinking 7-up, 7-up has caffiene now were drinking beligene, beligene is out of sight now were drinking sprite. spell it s-p-r-i-t-e.