Subject: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:12 PM This thread provides examples of, commentary about, and a possible song source for the children's rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". "Down By The Banks/Hanky Panky" [for this thread known as "Hanky Panky"] appears to be a relatively widely known contemporary handclap rhyme in the United States. {At least it appears from my observations and the comments of various Internet informants that at least currently "Hanky Panky" is chanted while doing partner handclap rhymes. I can't say whether it has always been so, or is always so now}. I'm wondering if this rhyme is known in Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere. Any examples and/or thoughts on this rhyme would be greatly appreciated. Azizi |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:20 PM Here's a couple of examples of "Hanky Panky" from a great resource for contemporary children's rhymes: http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php DOWM BY THE BANKS WITH THE HANKITY PANKS Down by the banks with the hankity panks where the bull frog jumped from bank to bank with an eep ip oop op hes got on the lilly with a big ker-plop! ::at ker-plop the players would try to a) freeze b) clap hands or c) hit each other on the head (depending on the version) Source: Octoblog; posted by contortme at September 16, 2003 -snip- DOWN BY THE LAKE WITH THE HANKY PANKY ok. thats not how it goes.* it goes down by the lake with the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jumop from bank to bank singing fee fi fo fum ure momma looks like king kong didley dong i went to school with nothing on i asked the teacher what to wear polka dotted underwear not too big not too small just the size of dadeland mall (or w/e mall u choose) Source: Octoblog; posted by at September 18, 2003 08:34 PM *this comment refers to the version posted above **** THE HANKY PANK SONG I remember the hanky panky song down by the river and the hanky panky the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky with the eips ips ops oops sock-a-dilly and a ping pong pow Source: Octoblog; posted by Mis at July 7, 2004 02:23 PM |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:23 PM Here's an explanation of one way this rhyme is played: DOWN BY THE BANKS "I grew up in Pittsburgh (went to Liberty, Frick, and Schenley {High School} c/o 2000) I know a circle hand clap game with chants called: Down by the bank. It is an elimination game because the children stand in a circle and try to eliminate (or not get eliminated) at the end of the song. The setup is that both of your hands are palms up. Your right hand is under the hand of the person next to you and your left hand is in the palm of the person next to you. When your right hand gets tapped you tap the hand in your left and return your hand to the resting position. To be eliminated if the last note of the song gets on you and you are to hit the hand of the other person and fail to do so before they pull their hand away you must leave. If the person whose hand is to be hit gets hit, they are eliminated. When only two people are left they alternate their wrists until the game is over and then arm wrestle to figure out the winner. The words start: Down by the bank with the hanky panky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky Singing eep opp orp opp -snip- Source: Flojaune G. {Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania}, electronic mail to Azizi Powell, August 2004 |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:29 PM Here's an excerpt from a post from "Pogo" in another thread:
Posted By: Pogo 24-May-05 - 10:13 PM Thread Name: I'm Rubber. You're Glue: Children's Rhymes and a clapping game I learned at girl's camp I would say hmmm mid 90's I think, in the same area. We would sit in a circle with one hand resting palm up under our neighbors' hand and going around the circle slap our neighbors' hand Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky Singin' e-i-o-u Um sacka dilly wacka...ker-plop whoever had ker-plop! was eliminated from the circle and it would be speeded up. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:38 PM It's possible that "The Bull Frog", in the DigiTrad @displaysong.cfm?SongID=6010 be a source for this children's rhyme. But I think that this archived Mudcat thread provides what is almost a sure bet as the source for this children's rhyme: Lyr Req: a big bullfrog jumped into the lake See the following two posts from that thread: Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a big bullfrog jumped into the lake From: GUEST Date: 28 Dec 04 - 06:39 PM Not really Pete Seeger's, though his version (as "Foolish Frog") sure is catchy. It originated back around the turn of the (19th-20th) century as "May Irwin's Frog Song," one of several of this massively built entertainer's hits— others included "Lulu" and "Bully of the Town." She had a knack of picking up song material from black sources, so it's not impossible that hers are rewrites of even earlier stuff. Irwin repays study; I only wish she'd recorded so we could hear the voice that tickled thousands in vaudeville days. --Bob Coltman -snip- Subject: Lyr Add: MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG From: Jim Dixon - PM Date: 01 Jan 05 - 03:49 PM This is the song mentioned above, but it probably isn't the song littledaddy1803 wanted. The sheet music for MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG may be found at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection. May Irwin (1862-1938) was the performer, not the songwriter. MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG Charles E. Trevathan, 1896 1. Away down a-yonder in Yankety Yank, A bullfrog jumped from bank to bank 'Cause there wasn't nothin' else to do. He stubbed his toe an' in he fell, An' de neighbors all say dat he went to well, 'Cause he hadn't nothin' else to do. CHORUS: An' jus' lots uv folks is like dis foolish frog uv mine, A-runnin' into trouble jus' to pass de time, An' de devil's allus loafin' 'round heah jus' to grab de kind Dat nevah hasn't nothin' else to do. 2. When dey buried dat frog, de preacher said, "De reason why dis young frog is dead, 'Cause there wasn't nothin' else to do. An' all you frogs jus' a-listen to me: Yo' bettah stay at home wid yo' family, When you haven't nothin' else to do." 3. Some frogs I know is pow'ful fond Uv spendin' dey time in 'nother frog's pond 'Cause dey hasn't nothin' else to do. But dis consolation de good book brings: De frog uv dem habits won't wear no wings 'Cause he hasn't nothin' else to do. 4. Now all uv yo' people dat heah dis song, Yo' knows shy dis po' frog went wrong: Cause he hadn't nothin' else to do. You'd bettah keep busy on any kind of pay, Till de big horn blow on de judgment day. Den you will hab somethin' else to do. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:53 PM Check out these next two versions of that rhyme for some great examples of the way children's rhymes preserve, alter, and comment upon actual occurances, and celebrities. Example #2 in particular has a wonderful example of folk etymology. DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKS down by the banks of the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank signin eipps ippes opps oops chillie willy ding dong i pledge alligance to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag..coca cola brought him up now we're talkin 7up..7up has no caffeine now we're talkin billy jean..billy jean has no butt now we're talkin pizza hut , pizza hut has no bread now we're talkin really dead eippes ippes opps oops chilly willy ding dong- i know theres more but ijst cant rember! *xoxo* - christine on Wednesday, July 9, 2003 - 03:00 pm http://www.streetplay.com/discus/cgi-discus/show.cgi?75/75.html -snip- RIVER SONG Down by the river near the hankey pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank, and they say E I O U, your momma stinks and so do you so ping pong ding dong your daddy smells like king kong. Ask your teacher what she wears, polka dotted underwear. Not too big and not too small, just the size of city hall. Michael Jackson went to town, coca-cola brought him down. Coca-cola brought him up, now he's drinking 7up. 7up with no cafiene, now he's seein' belgain (pronounced beligene). Belgain is outta sight, now we're talking dynamite. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BAM! -Veggie; 8/21/2006; http://www.cocojams.com/taunting_rhymes.htm -snip- Here's some background about this rhyme [that some children who recite it may not know]: That bit about "coca-cola brought him down" is a reference to an accident that occurred in 1984. 25 year old R&B singer Michael Jackson was singing his hit song "Billie Jean" for a Pepsi Cola [not Coca-Cola] tv commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong. The fire works set R&B singer Michael Jackson's jheri curl treated hair on fire. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/27/newsid_4046000/4046605.stm Veggie's word ""beligene" is an example of folk etymology. That word comes from the song title "Billie Jean", a song Veggie may be too young to remember. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 21 Aug 06 - 11:11 PM Here's another example of this rhyme: DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky Where the eeps, ops, sodapops Hey Mr. Lilypad and went kerplops [Then hit your partner in the head; whoever hits first, wins.] [Thanks to Chloe McCloskey] Source: http://www.beachnet.com/~jeanettem/chants.html#HANKY Note that at the end you're supposed to hit your partner on the head. I've noticed quite a bit of performance violence and references to violence in the text of contemporary children's rhymes....Anybody else noticed this?...Maybe this aggresive behavior and references to hitting, slapping, killing etc isn't new. But in the post Columbine era, it's kinda "striking". **** Thanks for that example, Joe. And also thanks to the member who sent me a pm about that last example. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 22 Aug 06 - 07:20 AM Here's how this rhyme is done by kids in Keene, NH these days: Down by the banks of the hanky-panky where the bull frog jumps from bank to banky with a hip hop flip floop Missed that banky and went ker-plop! The kids sit or stand in a circle, palms up, arms extended to the side, left hand over neighbor's right palm. One child starts by slapping his/her left hand across to his/her right, passing the slap around the circle until "kerplop" when the child about to be slapped has to pull his/her hand out of the way, or else be eliminated. It's a great way to focus a whole class. The eliminated kids automatically start their own circle going as soon as they have critical mass... |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 22 Aug 06 - 05:54 PM Thanks An Well so far we have wxample of this rhyme where the frogs sing {or say} "E I O U" or "eep opp orp opp" or "eipps ippes opps oops chillie willy ding dong" or "e-i-o-u Um sacka dilly wacka...ker-plop" "eeps, ops, sodapops" -snip- And notice the folk process at work with these two versions: "Where the eeps, ops, sodapops Hey Mr. Lilypad and went kerplops" compared to "with a hip hop flip floop Missed that banky and went ker-plop!" |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 22 Aug 06 - 05:59 PM Would you believe there are 98,000 listings on Google for "down by the banks of the hanky panky"! [as of 8/22/06 5:58PM eastern standard time] I guess there's quite a bit of hanky panky goin on. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Uke Date: 23 Aug 06 - 01:55 AM I heard a version of this from my daughter last year; she was aged 7 at the time. She told me that lots of her friends knew it at her school in the Hutt Valley, New Zealand. Her words went: Down by the banks of the handy mandy, Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank, I said a hip hop Swaggle waggle hop. I said a hip hop, Full stop. It had a quite complex clapping system between two children to go with it - certainly more complicated than the usual three-part hand clap systems she usually showed me. I videoed her performing this, but can't easily describe it. Anyway, the rhyme game has made it to New Zealand. Also, nice bit of research Azizi. PM me if you want more details of my daughter's version. |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 26 Aug 06 - 06:47 PM I'm so sorry- my students' version should read: hip hop flip flop (not "floop") |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 26 Aug 06 - 11:48 PM When I wrote "Thanks An" I meant to write your full name, Animaterra. Sorry, about that. I'm not sure how that typo occurred, but I guess it occurred like typos usually do, because I was eager to post and didn't use the preview feature... **** Hi there, Uke! I love the folk etymology changes in your daughter & her friends version of this rhyme {from "Hanky Panky" to "Handy Mandy"}. I just pm'd you, though I bet others would be interested in knowing whether boys recite this rhyme as well as girls, and whether the performance activity includes hip shaking {when they say I said a hip hop/Swaggle waggle hop/I said a hip hop". And then do the kids sharply stop their movements when they say "full stop"? {actually, I didn't get into this detail in my pm, but I am-and I'm sure others-are interested in knowing this}. Thanks, again!! Azizi |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Shelby Date: 27 Aug 06 - 02:37 PM you sit in a circle and one and is over the other persons hand and the other hand is under the other pesons hand. then when you start you hit the other persons hand. Down by the river near the hankey pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank, say E I O U, your momma stinks and so do you so ping pong ding dong your daddy smells like king kong, so up your nose and through your toes your daddys wearing panny-hose, so 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (who ever hand gets hit on 10 is out) |
Subject: RE: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 27 Aug 06 - 05:00 PM Hello, Guest Shelby. That's a great version of Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky. Thanks for posting it! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,~Amanda~ Date: 13 Sep 06 - 07:57 AM |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,guess who Date: 23 Oct 06 - 10:46 PM Down by the river of the hanky panky where the bull frog jumped from bank to bank saying eeps ipps opps uups your mother stinks and so do you see that house on top of that hill? thats where me and my boyfriend lives smell that chicken, smell that rice c'mon girls lets do it right i cant why not? i cant why not? cuz my back aches, my bra's too tight, my booty shakin left to right left, right, left, right, this is skinny, this is fat, REAL fat c'mon girls lets shoot some dap ooh shoo walla walla ooh sha bang bang ooh shoo walla walla pick-a-number... 1..2...3...etc. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 24 Oct 06 - 03:57 AM That's an interesting combination of rhymes, Guest guess who. Though I won't try to guess your name, I'd love to know what city/state or nation {if outside of the USA} that you live in. I'm interested in that information as a means of documenting how widely known this rhyme is and where this particular version came from. And to further document this version, I'd also love to know when you learned it {by year or decade such as 2006 or "in the early 1990s"} I've heard versions of the "see that house upon the hill" lines [that end with the line cmon girls let's do it right" used in the "I Love Coffee/I Love Tea" rhymes {also known as "Down Down Baby" and "Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pa"}. But the version of the last line that I've usually heard is "come on baby let's shoot some dice"} I first heard the "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" lines recited by themselves in a footstomping cheer {Pittsburgh, PA area 1999}. The cheer was recited by African American girls ages 7-14 years old}. Bang Bang Choo Choo trains lines are very common in the Brick Wall Water Fall rhymes that were popularized by the 2003 movie "Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star". In the example that Guest Guess Who posted the "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" lines start with the words "i cant" and end with the 2nd time the words "left, right" are said. The last section of this example {beginning with "ooh shoo walla walla ooh"} or similar sounding words is found in a number of contemporary dance style cheerleader cheers. Its increased popularity may be at least partially credited to the 2000 and 2006 "Bring It On" cheerleader movies. If interested in reading examples of children's rhymes that include the "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" lines, visit this and other pages of my website: http://www.cocojams.com/taunting_rhymes.htm |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 05 Nov 06 - 08:38 PM This is how I learned that song: All sitting in a circle with the hands out, palms up claping around the circle and on the ker-plop that person was out. Down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bull frog jumps from bank to banky with as eep opp oop-si-doodle with an eep opp-si-doodle and a KER-PLUNK! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Kerry Date: 08 Nov 06 - 01:49 PM I am from London, UK, and we used to do it exactly the same way as described above, sitting in a circle with out palms facing upwards. Lyrics: Down by the river lives the hanky panky Two fat frogs go from bank to banky Zoo Zam Zoo Zam Down by the river goes the HONK A TONK And on 'TONK' the child would try to slap the hand of the next one to get them 'out'. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 23 Nov 06 - 05:48 PM Down in Louisianna by the hanky pank two gay frogs jumped bank to bank while they jumped one fine day they both confessed they were gay oops eeps oops ops i pledge alledgance to the flag michael jackson is a fag he used to play with little toys now he just plays with little boys oops eeps oops ops with some guy with a mop coke-a-cola burns their butts now im thinking seven-up they walked down the street wanting people to meet michael jackson will rape guys so watch him closely with your eyes the two little fagget frogs went into the dusty fog singing some stupid song that goes on and on shoo walla walla ooh sha banga banga ooh shoo walla walla ooh sha banga banga ooh they are really truely gay rolling around in the hay |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Amanda Hamilton (age 12) Date: 23 Nov 06 - 05:51 PM Down in Louisianna by the hanky pank two gay frogs jumped bank to bank while they jumped one fine day they both confessed they were gay oops eeps oops ops i pledge alledgance to the flag michael jackson is a fag he used to play with little toys now he just plays with little boys oops eeps oops ops with some lady with a mop coke-a-cola burns their butts now im thinking seven-up they walked down the street wanting people to meet michael jackson will rape guys so watch him closely with your eyes the two little fagget frogs went into the dusty fog bang bang on on bang band lifel lifel bang bang on on with my big strong rifel they are really truely gay rolling around in the hay |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 23 Nov 06 - 08:40 PM Internet sites such as this one provide opportunities to collect versions of currently performed and remembered rhymes from throughout the world. However, it is almost impossible to verify actual rhymes and the demographical information that may be given along with those examples of rhymes. For instance, it is quite easy for adults to pretend they are children who are posting examples of rhymes that allegedly are recited "on the playground" when in actuality the examples are the adults' compositions. For the record, I have found several versions online of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhyme that have the line "I pledge allegiance to the flag/Michael Jackson is a fag". I have also observed children perform a version of another handclap rhyme {"Mama Mama Can't You See"} that includes the line "Michael Jackson is a fag"}. Given the widespread publicity that has been given to allegations of Jackson's sexual improprieties, and given the fact that some children's rhymes preserve topical information, it's not suprising that these allegations would show up in children's rhymes. There's no way to prove or disprove if the "Down in Louisianna by the hanky pank" examples posted above by GUEST Date: 23 Nov 06 - 05:48 PM and GUEST,Amanda Hamilton (age 12) -PM Date: 23 Nov 06 - 05:51 PM, are actually children's rhymes {meaning rhymes composed, recited, and possible performed [as handclaps or otherwise] by children}. However, imo, the versions of Down By The Banks...Hanky Panky {which are basically the same} that these two particular guests have posted are very offensive. And I have considerable doubts that these "Down in Louisianna by the hanky pank" examples are authentic versions of children's rhymes. It seems like these guests have their own agenda and also for the record, that agenda is not one that I respect. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 24 Nov 06 - 08:43 AM You're learning Azizi! Ignore anything anonymous GUESTs post - for serious research purposes... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 24 Nov 06 - 09:59 AM Foolestroupe, re: my learning curve: "Slow and steady wins the race." :o) However, with regard to verifying the authenticity of rhymes & information about rhymes which are posted on the Internet, the person could select a screen name other than Guest somebody or the other, and still post bogus information. |
Subject: RE: Little Sally Walker From: GUEST Date: 25 Nov 06 - 01:52 PM little sally walker walking down the street she didnt know what to do then she came right up to me she said hey girl do your thing do your thing and switch hey girl do your thing do your thing and switch little sally walker sitting on a tree stump she seemed to be all up in a slump i came right up to her and said little sally walker what is wrong with you then she turned to me and said nothing at all is wrong with me nothing nothings wrong so shut it up nothing nothings wrong so shut it up then she started walking down the street she didnt know what to do so whe turned right to me she said hey girl do your thing do your thing and switch hey girl do your thing do your thing and switch 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 ect. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 25 Nov 06 - 03:01 PM As indicated by the title 25 Nov 06 - 01:52 Guest gave, the Little Sally Walker Walking Down The Street rhyme appears to be a contemporary version of "Little Sally Walker" A very similar version of this rhyme was posted by LNL on 01 Mar 04 on Mudcat's thread ofChildren's Street Songs thread.cfm?threadid=4300#1114943 Little Sally Walker walking down the street. She didn't know what to do So she jumped in front of me and said: 'Hey, girl, shake that thing, shake that thing like it ain't no thing. Come on, girl, shake that thing shake that thing like it ain't no thing." LNL introduced this rhyme with this comment: "I was a counselor at a camp about three years ago, and the campers (good-natured high school students) played a surprising amount of games during break time. Not surprisingly, they weren't all innocent little rhymes. For example, Little Sally Walker has been reincarnated! She's now a circle game, with the chant." -snip- FWIW, in 2000 or so, I observed African American girls about 7 -9 years old in Pittsburgh, PA doing a version of this rhyme. The rhyme was almost the same as LNL's version and Guest's first verse except that the line was "she stood in front of me" . Also, the verse ended with "Ooh, girl do your thing, do your thing stop!"/"Ooh girl do your thing, do your thing-stop!". The girls stood in a circle with one girl {Little Sally} standing in the middle of the circle. The girls forming the circle recited the rhyme while they alternated stomping their feet to a stomp stomp clap stomp stomp clap beat and clapping [their own] hands to that beat. "Little Sally" did not sing but 'strutted' around the inside of the circle. On the lines "ooh girl, do your thing", Sally did some kind of contemporary dance step. Similar to the "show me your motion" children's games, all the girls forming the circle did the same motion as Sally. On the word "stop", everyone "freezes" {abruptly stops moving}. At the end of that verse, the girl who Sally stood in front of became the new Sally Walker and the game started from the beginning. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 25 Nov 06 - 03:07 PM Of course, "Little Sally Walker-the old or new versions-don't have anything to do with Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky. Members or Guests who want to share non-"Hanky Panky" rhymes may want to post them on the Mudcat Children's Street Rhyme thread. And yeah, that goes for me too. From now on I'll limit my examples and comments on this thread to Hanky Panky. I promise. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,A folklore student Date: 28 Nov 06 - 01:01 AM I had a version of the Hanky pank song that I played in elementary school a while back. Thought you might be interested. It's quite simple and it was a lot of fun. Down on the farm going hanky pank going bula bula hanky pank going fe fi fo fum pass it to the next one It was played like hot potatoe where we sat in a circle and clapped each others hands and when we said "next one," whoever was next either got hit and was out, or was quick enough to remove her hand (I've never noticed a boy to play this back then or now at my daycare) and the smacker would then be out. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 28 Nov 06 - 03:22 PM Amazing how different they are...ours went: Down by the banks of the hanky panky |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 30 Nov 06 - 09:28 PM As a camp counselor Ive heard, i think: Down by the banks of the hanky pank Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank Singing eep, op, eep op op Skiddle diddle kernel pop! I pledge allegiance to the flag Micheal Jackson makes me gag Coca-cola brought him up Now we're talking 7-up 7-up has no caffeine Now we're talking Levi jeans Levi jeans are out of style Now we're talking for a while Singing eep, op, eep op op Skiddle diddle kernel pop! with a circle of kids and the handslapping motions described earlier; on the final 'pop' the hand slapped is eliminated. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 01 Dec 06 - 08:22 AM Guest, here's another version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that mentions R&B singer Michael Jackson: Down by the river near the hankey pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank, and they say E I O U, your momma stinks and so do you so ping pong ding dong your daddy smells like king kong. Ask your teacher what she wears, polka dotted underwear. Not too big and not too small, just the size of city hall. Michael Jackson went to town, coca-cola brought him down. Coca-cola brought him up, now he's drinking 7up. 7up with no cafiene, now he's seein' belgain (pronounced beligene). Belgain is outta sight, now we're talking dynamite. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BAM! -Veggie; 8/21/2006 http://www.cocojams.com/taunting_rhymes.htm * -snip- The lines starting with "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" immortalize an incident that occurred on Jan 27, 1984 during R&B superstar's Michael Jackson's taping of a Pepsi-Cola commercial. Twenty five year old Michael Jackson was singing his hit song "Billy Jean" when sparks from the fireworks that were supposed to be shown in the background of the commercial accidentally set Jackson's greasy 'jheri curled' hair on fire. As the line "coca-cola brought him down" demonstrates, the rhyme isn't concerned about the distinction between the brand names "Coca Cola" and "Pepsi Cola". Of course, "7-Up" is also a brand name for a popular brand of carbonated soda pop and "Pizza Hut" is the name of a popular chain of pizza stores. The word "belgian" ["prononced beligene"]is folk etymology for "Billy Jean". "Billy Jean" is the name of the song that Michael Jackson was singing during that infamous commercial taping. **** Some general thoughts: "Hanky Panky" and other children's rhymes are part of the oral tradition. Many if not most children have probably not seen these rhymes in written form. The format used to write these rhymes may not be all that important. But I think it's interesting to notice that many children & youth who have sent in rhymes to my website write those rhymes using an essay format rather than a poetry format. This format also appears to be preferred by a number of children & youth who have posted rhymes on http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php Although it is written in an essay style, the "Hanky Panky" version that was sent in by Veggie includes capitol letters at the beginning of sentences and/or lines, a period or a comma at the end of sentences/lines. However, a number of rhymes written as in the essay format don't include punctuation marks or capital letters. And some examples have every word written in capital letters. I'm not sure why this essay style is used rather than the standard poetic format. Perhaps it's because this population is more familiar with prose than poetry. Perhaps it's {also?} because it's quicker to write using an essay format than a poetic format, and children & youth have grown up valuing speed & quickness in communication more than adults. I bet this same population group takes short cuts in writing cell phone text messages, too. Maybe none of this has anything to do with what seems to be the preferred writing style that this populations uses. If you've noticed this and can think of other reasons why this format appears to be preferred I'd be interested in 'hearing' them. Unfortunately, when this essay format is used without punctuation and capitalizations it's often difficult to tell where one line is supposed to end and another begins. Often people using this 'run on sentence, no punctuation, and little or no capitalization' style have sent in what appear to be multiple examples of rhymes in one email message. In those cases, based on a number of factors, I've attempted to separate out the specific rhymes. Other than that, I've kept the rhymes as they are-including the typos and the misspelled words, but that's almost a whole 'nother story because these typos and misspelled words are sometimes purposeful. The essay format-particularly the run on sentence, no punctuation, and no capitalization style- may confuse readers. But this format is authentic and has its own flavor which I recognize and admire. For those reasons, I don't put on my grammar school teacher hat and attempt to 'correct' these examples [not that I ever was a grammar teacher, and particularly since I have my own grammar style which also is a whole nother story]... But I'd sure love it if Veggie's style of essay writing-with punctuations and capital letters at the beginning of lines or sentences-became the vogue. That would be nice, but it's not something I promote. I'm just glad children, youth, and adults are interested enough to share the rhymes they know with me so I can attempt to preserve them and share them with others. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,apple Date: 06 Jan 07 - 06:41 PM Down by the bay where the hanky panky where the bullfrogs hump from bank to banky singing heep hopp heep hop hump with a skiddle and a diddle and a kerrnel pop. I pledge allegience to the flag michael jackson is a fag he used to play with little toys now he plays with little boys pepsi cola seven up porin it all in your cup Mrs lucy had a steamboat the steam boat had a bell mrs lucy went to heaven the steamboat went to hello operater give me number 9 if you diconnect me ill chop off your behind the frigderator there was a piece of glass mrs lucy sat upon it and broke her little ask me no more questions tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom pulling down there flies are in the medow bees are in the park boys and girls are kissing in the D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark darker than the medow darker than the sea darker than the underwear micheal jackson pulls off of me |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 07 Jan 07 - 08:20 AM The comment that I wrote on 23 Nov 06 - 08:40 PM also applies for the example posted by GUEST,apple - PM on 06 Jan 07 - 06:41 PM. In other words, I have considerable doubts as to whether this example really comes from a child or a teenager. The pattern of combining separate rhymes does ring true, but imo, these lines don't seem authentic to me-"authentic" meaning being composed or recited by children: "where the bullfrogs hump from bank to banky singing heep hopp heep hop hump... -snip- [And] "darker than the underwear micheal jackson pulls off of me" . Fwiw {and I recognize that it's not worth much}, I've not seen the alliteration of "heep, hopp heep hop hump" before in examples of Hanky Panky rhymes. But what makes the use of "hump" suspect for me is the sexual slang meaning of the word "hump"... This doesn't feel authentic to me...again for what it's worth... I have my doubts about the authenticity of the michael jackson pulling off underwear line partly because it doesn't fit with the line in an earlier verse that "Michael Jackson is a fag" and also because it doesn't fit with the sense I have that in playground rhymes children don't talk bad about themselves or draw [what they would preceive is] negative sexual attention to themselves. Now if the line had said "darker than the underwear Michael Jackson pulled off of you" that line would have seemed to me to be much more authentic. But then "you" wouldn't have rhymed with "sea". It may be that I'm being much too analytical and "guest apple"'s Hanky Panky example may indeed be from a child. But I doubt it. Not that it matters a hill of beans what I doubt, but still... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi 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) |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Amelia Date: 07 Jan 07 - 08:24 PM I'm from Brisbane, Australia and we used to do this rhyme as kids. I was at a party on the weekend and we were just mucking around and started doing hand claps. When I got home i told other people about it they remembered only half of the rhyme. I thought that there was more than one verse? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Neighmond Date: 08 Jan 07 - 01:23 AM Way down yonder in the hankity pank the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank singing "Eeeee! Oooooo! Eeeee! Ooooo! Hinky dinky parlee voo! I pledge allegance to the flag Michal Jackson is a fag. Pepsi Cola f----d him up, now he's drinking seven-up. Seven up makes him pee, now he's drinking pepsi-free! Stand up, sit down, give me a dollar, all for Spirit Lake stand up and HOLLAR! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 08 Jan 07 - 07:36 AM Here's another version of Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky that mentions Michael Jackson: I know a hand game and it goes like this-Down by the bank said a hanky panky when a bull frog jumped from bank to bank i said A-E-I-O-U micheal jackson went to town coca cola shot him down mountain dew shot him up now were talking 7 up 7 up has no cafine now were talking billy Jean billy jean went down the street singing DO NOT EAT ME I'M A ROTTEN PIECE OF MEAT look'n good look'n fine just a $1.99 and you are out. -chrissi at May 24, 2006 http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Deanna Date: 09 Jan 07 - 08:00 PM Down by the banks of hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky singing eeps, ips, ops, oops billy willy bing bong i pledge allegiance to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag coca cola brought 'em up now we're talking 7Up 7Up has no caffine now we're talking gasoline gasoline is out of sight now we're talking dy-no-mite |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,GUEST Date: 18 Jan 07 - 06:20 PM here's what I've heard. Down by the banks of the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank singin' eeps ipes opes oops chilly willy ding dong I pledge allegience to the flag Michael Jackson makes me gag Coca Cola has caffeine Now we're talkin' Billy Jean Billy Jean is out of sight now we're talking DYNA-MITE! I haven't done it for a while, but there's a longer version that says something about "kissed my boyfriend behind a magazine... hey girls, wanna have some fun? here come the boys with their pants undone" Yes, these were actually sung by young children (1st-5th grade). not that many of them understood what they were saying... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 18 Jan 07 - 06:37 PM Guest, Guest 18 Jan 07 - 06:20 PM, the longer version of "Down by the banks of the hanky panky" that you referred to may have had these verses: Candy apples on a stick Makes my tummy go 2, 4 to 6 Not because I'm dirty Not because I'm clean Not because I kissed a boy behind a magazine Hey girls! Wanna have some fun? Here come's ____ (fill in the blank with a boy's name) with his pants undone He can wibble, he can wobble, he can do the splits But most of all, he can Kiss Kiss Kiss! http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php ; posted by Joy Beth at January 23, 2004 ** This rhyme is also known as "Apple On A Stick" and is often recited as an independent rhyme or in combination with other rhymes than "Hanky Panky." |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 18 Jan 07 - 06:51 PM Btw, I believe that nowadays the "Apple On A Stick rhyme" is usually performed as a handclap rhyme. The first verse usually is: Apple on a stick, makes me sick. Makes my tummy go 2 4 6. -snip- In "Jump Rope Rhymes, A Dictionary" {published for the American Folklore Society by the University of Texas Press, 1969}, editor Roger D. Abrahams gives this verse: Apple on a stick five cent a lick, Every time I turn around It makes me sick. -snip- Abrahams cites these sources for that verse: Musick: HF, 7 {1949}, 11 [West Virginia] Withers, {1948}, 63 Butler and Haley {1963}, n.p. [Sorry, when I 'zeroxed' these pages years ago, I didn't think that the page with the code for the sources was important enough to copy] ** The reference to "turn around" leads me to believe that this was a jumpe rope rhyme. It seems that a number of handclap rhymes started out as jump rope rhymes. Maybe we can blame the Maytag man and other corporate makers of clothes dryer [machines] for causing jump ropes to be difficult to find if not absolutely obsolete. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 18 Jan 07 - 06:59 PM It's interesting to note that Abrahams does not include any versions of "Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky" in his collection. Or at least I don't think he does. It's not listed under "D" and, although I have pages that I copied for the rest of the alphabet, for some reason I can't find the pages with the rhymes beginning with the letter "H". So maybe Abrahams has this rhyme under Hanky Panky. And yes, I know that copy machines aren't supposed to be used to reproduce books. But way back then-even more than now-money was reaaaall scarce. Still... Okay okay. I'll take my punishment of 20 lashes with a wet noodle. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 24 Jan 07 - 10:00 AM i see that some people posted "little sally walker" but i was wondering if anyone had heard of a different chant said in a circle... its something like "....look at that booty, look at that booty, you aint gettin none" haha it sounds weird but i wanted to know how it goes if anyone has heard of it- the beginning they usually let a group of people to the middle or a name that they call to the middle |
Subject: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 24 Jan 07 - 08:21 PM OK for all you idiotic people out there "Down by the Bank of the Hanky Panky" goes like this: Down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky with a hip-hop soda pop frog hit the lilly pad and went ker-plop |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:23 AM I learned this song at summer camp in Idaho. We learned it as : Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky with an eep, ipe, oop, opps you missed the lily pad, Kerplop! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Aikou Date: 01 Feb 07 - 05:57 PM Down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky and eeps ipes diddily oppsydaisy eeps ipes diddly oopsydaisy ping pang pong you're out. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 04 Feb 07 - 01:34 PM DOWN BY THE RIVER I usually like cheers but I like this Hand Clap. It's called Down By The River! It goes like this: Down By The River With The Hankey-Pankey Where The BullFrogs Jump From Bank To Bank They Say E-Pa E-Pa-Pa Skittel-Diddel-Kurnal-POP! Cherry-Cola Came To Town! Dr. Pepper Nocked Him Down! 7-Up Picked Him Up! Now We're Drinkin' 7-Up! 7-Up Got The Flu! Now We're Drinkin' Mountain Dew! Mountian Dew Fell Off The Mountian! Now We're Drinkin' From The Fountain. Oh-No The Fountian Broke! Now We're Drinkin' Plain-Old, Ice-Cold, Regular, Diet Coke! (By: **!!Enforcers Cheer Girl!!** Date Recited: ?-2007 Recited By: Me, My Friends, And A Lot Of Other People (Boys And Girls) Category: Hand Clap -Cheer Girl; 2/2/2007; http://www.cocojams.com/handclap_rhymes_example_0104.htm |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: Azizi Date: 15 Feb 07 - 08:32 AM down by the banks of the hanky panky wear the bull frogs jump form bakn to bany where hip hops soda pops hey mr. willy and he went kerplop here comes noah walking in the dark he stepped on a hammer and he built an ark animals came by two by two a hungry hippo and a kangaroo posted by socalgal89 at June 16, 2005 http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php |
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky From: GUEST,Allison Date: 20 Feb 07 - 06:49 PM I learned this a long time ago while in day care. All of the kids who played were 7 to 11 years old. This version is like many others except on the last verse... Down by the banks with the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank singing eips ieps oops umps chilly willy ding dong I pledge allegiance to the flag michael jackson makes me gag Coca Cola burns his butt now we're talking 7-up 7-up has no caffeine now we're talking beligene beligene is out of sight now we're talking dynamite tic, toc, tic, toc, tic, toc boom! And then on boom! whoever had their hand slapped was out and the game continued until it narrowed down to one winner. I'm not sure how they decided the winner when two people were left.. |
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