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Cocojams' Visitors Questions & Comments

As Founder/Editor of Cocojams, I welcome readers' comments & questions about the categories of oral traditions featured in this website. Comments or questions may be about specific examples, or about this website itself.

We also welcome your submissions of suggestions for featured videos from websites such as YouTube. Please include the URL (web address) for that video.

I'm sorry, but at this time Cocojams.com will not feature any videos that were not previously posted to the YouTube video sharing website.

Comments/questions for possible posting to this site should be sent to cocojams17@yahoo.com.

As the editor of this site, I will review those submittals and post those comments on this page that meet the standards of this site. For more information, visit the Contact Us page..

Note: some readers' comments that were sent in prior to our upgrade are on specific Cocojams' pages (such as Fraternity & Sorority Chants). .

Also note that Cocojams now has a Search feature. You can search by a word or by multiple words to find specific material such as a specific rhyme that may be posted on this site.

Thanks and best wishes,
Ms. Azizi Powell, Founder/Editor

* This page was previously titled "Jambalaya".

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Note: Comments & questions that are posted on this page are presented in the order of their submittal dates, with the most recent dates posted first).

TWO LIPS TOGETHER
it occurred to me at the age of 53 that my favorite and somewhat complex/ sycopated hand clap rhyme is about love, of course, but, more precisely, death and burial--that explains the spades, tying the lips and the flowers--i can't imagine any other explanation--i think this is an old rhyme. i was in elementary school in the early 60's in morristown, nj.
-Sarah B; 5/24/2011

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COMMENT ABOUT THE RETENTION OF DIALECT IN AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVE SONGS
I discovered your site after doing some research on old folk songs.

First let me say that I am glad that someone is trying to preserve the history of these songs and explain their meanings. This is a wonderful site which has great potential to view snapshots of American history through the lens of music. It is a wonderful way to see history.

I am, however, disappointed at your revisionism due to your personal feelings about the current meanings of older words. Things like substitutions for the "n" word, mammy, "de", etc., while maybe soothing to your conscience, are not historically accurate and sanitize the historical significance and perspectives of the song.

While neither your, nor I would intentionally insult someone or demean them by using these words and terms today, I think it is of utmost importance when reviewing historical anthems to be accurate. You have taken meaning, flavor, depth, and context out of the songs by your substitutions. Moreso, you have in fact insulted the history of Americans, both black and white, by putting the blinders on.

You should not cringe at the words. You should embrace them as the sacrifices, burdons, and scars which make you and I appreciate freedom and equality. By ignoring the past, lose the value of the struggle, the value of the pain, and the appreciation for what those before us have done to help us achieve our goals.

Please don't let us fall into the trap of forgetting history and dooming us to repeat it. Please show the world where this country and these people came from. Let us embrace our history and use it as a guide for future generations.

If you sanitize our past you will hide all of the reasons the struggle began in the first place. If someone is insulted by the accuracy, let them be insulted as those before us were insulted. Let them know and feel the pain and embarrassment. If they are allowed to feel these emotions, they will be encouraged and learn how treat others better.

Thank you for your time and your site.
-J. A.; November 26, 2009

Editor:

Greetings J. A.,
I sincerely appreciate your comments. However, I disagree with your stance that "slave songs" should never be presented in edited form.

As a community folklorist, I see the merit in some websites and other resources sharing these songs the way that they were purportedly sung. http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm is a website that largely retains so-called "Black slave dialect" in its presentation & discussion of African American spirituals, and its presentation & discussion of 19th century African American social songs and 19th century minstrel songs.* However, my purpose for including a page of 19th century and possibly earlier African American non-religious songs is to meet Cocojams' overarching purpose of showcasing examples from oral traditions that showcase African American creativity (although some Cocojams pages such as the children's rhyme pages also showcase the creative oral traditions of persons who are not African American). The purpose of Cocojams' Secular Slave Songs page is also to correct what I believe to be a widely held view that enslaved African Americans only sang spirituals.

I stand by my position that it is often appropriate to substitute standard American English words for such dialectic words such as "de", "gwine", and "mammy" that are found in published versions of 19th century African American songs. After all (as you indicated in your comments) these are folk songs. And changing the words of songs is a core element of the folk process. As you have seen on that particular Cocojams page, I retained those dialectic words for a large number of the featured examples. When I updated words like the "n word", "mammy", and "pickanniny" on that Cocojams page, I noted that editing with an asterisk, and included editorial comments about that editing. I do this because I believe that it would be wrong to mislead Cocojams readers that these examples were provided in their earliest form.

I would like to also take this opportunity to note that I strongly believe that "plantation songs" shouldn't be sung nowadays in their dialectic form as entertainment for the general public. I believe that most African Americans and many non-African Americans would take offense to such performances. I should also note that since at least the 1970s, my experiences have been that African American choirs almost always sing spirituals that have been edited of that so-called slave dialect. In my opinion, retaining such dialectic words/phrases in spirituals and social songs is a large barrier for many people to the enjoyment, and the appreciation of such songs . One reason for this is that the meaning of certain dialect words and phrases are often not clear to the general public in the 21st century. I believe that to a large extent this explains why the dialectic compositions of African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar are not better appreciated by contemporary African American people and others. I also believe that another reason why many people (particularly many African Americans) don't like 19th/early 20th century "slave" dialect songs (and poetry) is that those examples can (and I believe often do) lend support to negative stereotypical views about past & present African American people. If institutional and personal racism against Black people didn't still exist and wasn't so pervasive, then my position on this subject might be different.

Furthermore, I realize that my cringing and other people's cringing when we hear or read the "n word" is a deeply visceral reaction. As such, our reactions will not be changed because of reasoned statements-no matter how well meaning they are.

That said, I again thank you for taking the time to share your opinions about this subject.

* See this example of my comments on Mudcat.org about editing "slave dialect" for the public performance of spirituals:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=117785#2539733

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QUESTION ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL "WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED'
who is the author of " We Shall Not Be Moved"??
Jasmine W; November 20, 2009

Editor:

Hello, Jasmine.
"We Shall Not Be Moved" (also known as "I Shall Not Be Moved") is a traditional African American spiritual. Thus there is no documented composer.

See this online article about that spiritual and its use as a protest song during the African American civil rights movement of the 1960s and by people advocating for unions and for more rights for union members: http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/ShallNotBeMoved.htm

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MEMORIES OF VARIOUS CHILDREN'S SONGS
We were singing the sailor went to Diz Knee Land song back in the late 70s and early 80s. My older sisters taught it to me in 1983. We are Mexican Americans in Fort Worth Texas. We certainly didnt learn it from our parents or teachers. I learned Cinderella Dressed in Yella at school. I remember saying I pledge allegience to the flag Michael Jacksoni is fag way back in the 3rd grade this must have been 1985 (no mention of sodas) We did the Way down yonder in the hanky panky was a bullfrog jumped from bank to bank was an EIO sucka dally and a ping pong. Wed get in huge circles of kids and hand slap and create inner circles until we had a winner. We also did Hollywood keep swingin Hollywood keep swinging although I cant remember the rest. There was one about "The boys got the muscles The teachers got the brains. The girls got the sexy legs and we win the game!" Does anyone remember the one about Tweet Tweet a bumble Bee? It was a hand clap game that involved 4 girls in a square facing each other and you took turns clapping with each other going over under and side to side?
-Patty; 12/17/2008

Editor:
Patty, thanks for your comments about these playground rhymes, and I appreciate your inclusion of demographical information {your ethnic background, where you lived when you learned these songs, and when you learned them}. Cocojams has versions of all of the examples that you mentioned. Examples of "Tweet Tweet [and] a Bumble Bee" are found on the handclap rhyme page under the name "Tweedalee" or "Tweeleelee". Patty, I'd love it if you would share the words to "The Sailor Went to Diz Knee Land". That's the first time I heard those words used for "A Sailor Went To Sea". Thanks, again!

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GOD SPECIALIZES
Looking for the words to an old Negro gospel song. God Specializes- in the song I know that it says "and He will do what no-other power holy ghost power can do."
-Beverly. C. C; 10/22/2008

Editor:
Beverly, I recall that song from my youth. According to this website: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:SZ-oqfYmTIsJ:www.namethathymn.com/h... the chorus for "Got Any Rivers" {also known as "God Specializes" and "Have You Any Rivers"} was written in 1929 by Oscar C. Eliason. It seems that Mr. Eliason wrote verses to this song years after he wrote that chorus {or that first verse that has been used as the song's chorus}. That may be the reason why there are so many strikingly different versions of the words to this powerful song.

Because versions of this song appear to be difficult to find online, and because I'm interested in the role the folk process plays in the lyrics people sing for a gospel song, I've started this discussion thread on "God Specializes": http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=115499&messages=9 Please visit that thread and join in the discussion!

Also, visit Cocojams' Gospel & Spiritual Video Link page for hyperlinks to Dorinda Clark-Cole's YouTube video and Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr.'s YouTube video of this song.

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TWEELEELEE
I'm so glad that you've been documenting this because I swore that I remembered a rockin' robin / fruit cocktail rhyme as a kid (Tweeleelee). I was a white boy going to a mostly black elementary public school system in Memphis, TN. I hung out with the girls a lot & remember them doing this. I'm currently 38 so this was back in the late 1970s. Thought you might be interested in the location & date to see how far it spread. Thanks again!
-Robert; 10/1/2008

Editor:
Robert, thanks for sharing your recollection of that rhyme along with demographical information. I appreciate it!

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COMMENTS ABOUT VARIOUS FREEDOM SONGS
re: Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round (last line) 1. I heard children in a daycare center in Boston in maybe 1972 singing it "Marching to the freedom BAND!" 2. On an MLK Jr Day March in maybe 2000 I heard what seemed to me the antecedent: "Marchin up the King's Highway." 3. Of course many may have heard Joan Baez's recording with the mighty tall order of her last line: "Gonna build a brand new world."
-Theo; 4/25/2008

Editor:
Thanks, Theo. I appreciate those comments. I love the example of folk etymology when the children changed the line "marching to freedom land" to "marching to the freedom band". Also, before you mentioned it, I'd never thought of any connection between "Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round" and "Marchin' Up The Kings's Highway". And I love me some Joan Baez!!!

Btw, Theo, I want to also thank you because your comment inspired me to start this new readers' comment & question page. I named it "Jambalaya" because I love the sound of that word, and I think the word and its meaning are a good fit with the Cocojams name. Theo, you probably know what "jambalaya" is. But for those who don't, here's a link to a webpage that provides some information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambalaya

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DID ANYONE ADD FLOWERS & HAND GRENADE TO OLD SMOKEY RHYME BEFORE I DID?
HI, This might sound strange but I think I am the person who made up the verse about the flowers and hand grenade on the on top of old smokey song. I remember figuring it out and adding it when I was very young. Is this possible? It was about 1968- 1971 somehwere in there. I was anywhere from 2nd to 4th grade. But Im not sure. Could you check if anyone has submitted lyrics to this from earlier? I distinctly remember being surprised when I heard someone else singing it at a school many years later and he was from another city an I thought Id written that part. What do you think.
-P anonymous; 4/18/2008

Editor:
P anonymous, I've noticed that other people have that "flowers & hand grenade" part in this rhyme, but I haven't found any information as to when was the earliest date it was recited. Maybe some Cocojams readers will share their memories of this parody. If you were the first one to recite that rhyme that way, the question is, how did that version end up being recited in so many places. One way this could have happen is if someone heard you say that version of the rhyme, and then repeated it in a book, or on television, on the radio, or in a movie. For instance, look how widespread versions of cheers are that are included in Bring It On cheerleader movies... If you are the originator of that addition to "On Top Of The Schoolhouse", congratulations! I think. :o)

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REMARKS REGARDING SEVERAL FREEDOM SONGS
Remarks regarding "we shall overcome" The posture of African Americans while singing this song has always bothered me. Rather than seeing it as a sign of unity, it appeared to me a sign of submission as when your arms are crossed while holding hands you are in no position to fight if need be. Perhaps if "Lift Every Voice and Sing" had become the song of the civil rights movement, more people would know the words today?? As a performer who does one woman dramatizations of Strong Black Women in American History, Fannie Lou Hamer included, I was looking for additional words to "Eye on the Prize" also called "Hold On."
-Momma Kemba ; 2/26/2008

Editor:
Thanks, Momma Kemba for sending in an additional verse to the Freedom song "Hold On" {Keep Your Eye On The Prize}. I've posted it on Cocojams' Civil Rights Song page. I'm also going to take the liberty of posting that verse on the Mudcat Discussion Forum thread on Freedom Songs. The thread on American Freedom Songs is located at http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26673#322287

Thanks also, Mama Kemba, for your comments about "We Shall Overcome" and "Lift Every Voice And Sing". Those are interesting observations.

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INFORMATION ON "KYE KYE KULE" ON COCOJAMS' CHILDREN'S GAME SONG PAGE
Continued thanks for the following information. Public School District Five Anderson, South Carolina ... has music textbooks with this song printed as: Kye, Kye, Kule from Ghana, West Africa That book provides no background information though. Thanks very much for sharing what you learned! I will try to pass this along to as many kids as possible. Many were interested in what words meant, etc.
-Jeremy H.; 1/23/2008

Editor:
You're welcome, Jeremy. In my opinion, this type of information sharing is an example of the Internet at its best.

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DOES ANYONE KNOW THIS RHYME? "LETTER OR PRAYER FOR THE GOVERNOR OF MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA"
i remember vaguely a song that was either "letter or prayer for the gov. of either miss. or ala." i only remember something about the gov. have a heart attack and may the ambulance that's taking him to the hospital get hit by a gasoline truck that's been hit by a match wagon " very humorous song does any body know where i can get a copy of the words? thanks
-hugh b.; 1/11/2008

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HELP NEEDED TO FIND A CHANT FOR THE END OF MUSIC CLASS
Hi, I am writing as a new music teacher in my second month of teaching in the public schools in Lawndale, CA. I am looking for a chant that could be used as a ritual at the end of music class to have closure and say goodbye. With my young children we sing a song, but my 4th and 5th grade students feel embarrassed to sing - but they have enjoyed hand clapping/foot stomping rhymes and chants more. I have looked through this very comprehensive site and found many interesting examples but not exactly something that fits this description. I am wondering if anybody knows of one? Thank you for providing this resource.
Sincerely, Claire ; 10/14/2007

Editor:
You're welcome, Claire, and thank you. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any chants for this purpose. But I'm wondering if you have asked students to adapt chants that they already know or create some new ones. This "sounds" like it could be a great project. If you decide to do this project, or if you come up with any cheers/chants, please let us know. Meanwhile, I'll post any chants that might meet your need.

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HERE'S AN IDEA FOR AN END OF CLASS CHANT
Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

(Repeat as many times as you like. Students can wave hands and stomp a beat while going out the door)
-TMP-Teacher, Pittsburgh School District; 10/15/2007

Editor:
Thanks, TMP! That's a great idea. I hope that Claire {and other folks} like it. See this information about this song from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na_Na_Hey_Hey_Kiss_Him_Goodbye
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" was a song written and recorded by Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, and Paul Leka; attributed to a then fictitious band "Steam," it was released under the Mercury subsidiary label Fontana. It became the number one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969. Although subsequent recordings and a quickly assembled touring band Steam met with little success, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" remains a perennial favorite".
-snip-

Also, see this YouTube video of the full song if you don't know how that "Na Na Na Na" etc. part goes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnqqj5Q1BU

Full Disclosure: TMP is my daughter. I read Claire's message to her and we started playing with different songs until she thought of this one. She sung it while moving to a "stomp clap stomp stomp clap" beat. This is the beat that is most often used for foot stomping cheers. My daughter even got me up singing and stepping to this song/chant and it was fun! I still think that it would be great to have student make up chants or adapt other songs into chants.

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COMPLIMENTS ABOUT WEBSITE & COMMENTS ABOUT TEACHER TAUNTS
What a fantastic website - thanks for doing this. I'm fascinated by the comments from the teacher of 36 years who is so offended and has never heard any of these rhymes. I'm 39, white, and your basic well behaved girl in school, but I know ALL of these. Knowing the lyrics doesn't have anything to do with respect or lack thereof, they're just contemporary children's folklore. Thanks for being such a deep archive of it.
-Amy ; 10/10/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Amy. I appreciate your compliments and your other comments. I take it that you were referring to the examples of teacher taunts that I present on Cocojams. While I can understand that some people are concerned about and take offense to these rhymes, I stand by my decision to present them as a part of children's folk culture. I don't believe that these rhymes should be taken literally, and certainly the informants who have shared comments about these rhymes with me have all said that they didn't take those rhymes literally.

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WHAT I WANT
i want 2 learn how 2 cheer not 2 spend a hour reading somthing
-anonymous; 9/17/2007

Editor:
Sorry, anonymous. Cocojams is not a website whose purpose is to teach people how to cheer. The purpose of this website is to present multiple examples of cheers and provide comments about cheers and other examples of folk culture.

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "WE SHALL OVERCOME'
we shall over come i would like to know what this song meant to most negro during the civil rights movement.
-melissa l.; 9/2/2007

Editor:
Thanks for your question, Melissa. In my opinion, "We Shall Overcome" became the theme song for the 1960s American civil rights movement because it spoke to the determination that not just Black Americans but all Americans had that we together would hold America to its potential and promise that everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion etc has the right to equal protection of the law, and other rights that our constitution specifies. "We Shall Overcome" exemplified unity, faith, inspiration, solace, hope, and courage not just for those people who were then called "Negroes" and who are now formally called African Americans {and informally called Black Americans}, but for all those who came together in that civil rights movement. See the comments & links provided above for more information about the history of "We Shall Overcome".

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REQUEST FOR THE LYRICS TO "FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD"
names of songs that could be putt on herer for students wanting to know a bit more about the undergrond rail road. try to find lyric to the songs there powerful songs folow the drinking gord life line left foot peg foot.
- raven ; 9/1/2007

Editor:
Raven, at your request, I'll post the lyrics to "Follow The Drinking Gourd". However, I am among those who have considerable doubts about the authenticity of this song {that this song was a coded instruction to explain to people trying to escape slavery how to find their way north to Canada by following the Big Dipper and other safe routes.} See this comment about this song which I I wrote on the online discussion forum, Mudcat: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=17760#1489383 . Among the comments which I would call to your attention are those written by Q, in particular the one written by him on 18 May 05 - 11:25 PM.

Follow The Drinking Gourd
When the sun goes back and the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
The old man is a-waitin' for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waitin' to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

The river bed makes a mighty fine road,
Dead trees to show you the way
And it's left foot, peg foot, traveling on
Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

The river ends between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

I thought I heard the angels say
Follow the drinking gourd
The stars in the heavens gonna show you the way
Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus
http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2072

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OH FREEDOM
i need the meaning of: and before i´d be a slave i´ll be buried in my grave ´cause i sing in a black spirituals´ choir, in argentina, and i´d like to know the right meaning. i thank you
-Paul; 10/17/2006

Editor:
Hello, Paul. You asked for the meaning of the line " and before i´d be a slave i´ll be buried in my grave"

I believe that for the most part this line means what it says. The person singing it is saying that he or she would rather be dead than be a slave. My sense is that this song speaks of the strong desire for freedom and a resolute determination to do what is necessary to live in a free society, even if the consequences might mean death.

I don't believe that this song was sung openly during slavery-for to do so would be a death sentence. Nor do I believe it was a coded song that was sung to let people know that the person was planning to flee slavery to the Northern USA or Canada. [It's my opinion, that there were far less "coded songs" than people claim as to let people know that you were planning to escape from slavery would be to risk that information getting known -and that would mean severe punishment, up to and including mutilation and death]. However, the song could signify that the person was willing to risk the dangers of fleeing slavery. We'll never know how many people died trying to get to freedom. I honor their bravery.

When "Oh Freedom" was sung during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, every person who sung this line probably didn't mean for their words to be taken literally. However, to advocate and work for civil rights in some parts of the USA-and not just the Southern states- was literally a death sentence. I also honor the courage and the will power of all those who have suffered & died in the struggle to make the American dream a reality for all.

See this Internet article on "Oh Freedom" and other civil rights songs: http://folkmusic.about.com/od/toptens/tp/CivilRightsSong.htm
Here's an excerpt from that article about "Oh Freedom":
"This song also has very deep roots with the African-American community, as it was sung by slaves dreaming of a time when there would be an end to slavery. On the morning preceeding Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C., Joan Baez started the day's events with her rendition of this tune, and it quickly became an anthem of the movement. "Oh, Freedom! Oh, Freedom over me! Before I'll be a slave, I'll be buried in my grave ..."

-snip-

Btw, Paul, I'd love to know more about the black spirituals´ choir that you sing with in Argentina.

Best wishes, Azizi

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PURCHASING BOOKS ON CIVIL RIGHTS SONGS
Where can I buy the Civil Rights Songs?... Please respond
-Sharon O.; 10/3/2006

Editor:
http://www.historynow.org/06_2006/ask2c.html lists these two recordings of Civil Rights songs for classroom use:
Reagon, Bernice Johnson. Give Your Hands to Struggle. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways, 1997.

"Sing For Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Its Songs. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Folkways ; Cambridge, Mass.: nationally distributed by Rounder Records, 1990. Geared to grades 4-12. Hymns, speeches, spirituals, gospel songs, and prayers drawn from 1960s field recordings in the South. Performances by SNCC Freedom Singers, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ralph Abernathy.

Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Folkways. Washington, D.C., p1997. Also designed for Grades 4-12. Recordings of more than 40 freedom songs from the 1960s civil rights movement, including "We Shall Not Be Moved," "This Little Light of Mine," Oh Freedom," and "We Shall Overcome." Accompanying booklet includes extensive notes, historical photos, supplemental discography, and a bibliography."
-snip-
See additional listings of print & online resources on that website.

If anyone knows of other CDs that feature Civil Rights songs, please send that information in to Cocojams. Thanks!

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MAKING FUN OF CHEERLEADERS
ANYONE who makes fun of cheerleaders are mad because they are not ONE so take that...
-hollywood; 8/12/2007

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WHAT I WANT
i really want to learn all of your cheerleading cheers!
-shaniqua w. ; 8/12/2007

Editor:
Thanks for your comment, shaniqua. II'm glad you like these cheers!

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SHABOOYA ROLL CALL FEATURED IN MOVIE
I don't know if this is the origin of the shabooya roll call, but in the movie "Get on the bus" they all sing it. The movie's a Spike Lee film about a group of black men taking a bus from LA down to the million man march in 1995. It came out in 96 so I think the cheer was at least around before Bring it On.
-Brittany (19, Detroit, MI); 5/26/2007

Editor:
Thanks for that information, Brittany. I haven't seen the movie "Get On The Bus" that movie yet, but I plan to do so to see how that cheer was chanted. Meanwhile, a conversation that I had this weekend, a 23 year old African American woman from Prince George County, Maryland said that she remembered reciting "Shabooya Roll Call" when she was younger. She said that "Shabooya Roll Call" definitely predates the Bring It On movies.

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BEAUTY PAGEANT REMINDER THE SOUCE OF CHILDREN'S RHYME
Dear cocojam- I saw the line "elbow elbow wrist wrist, wipe a tear, blow a kiss" in one of your rhymes and would like to add, that it's actually also used by people in beauty pageants to remind the girls what to do if they win. There's a special "elbow" wave, and a "wrist" wave, which explains the beginning. Thanks!
-Savannah; 5/21/2007

Editor:
Thanks for that information, Savannah. "Elbow elbow wrist wrist" followed by a rhyming line such as "Honey, you can't get none of this" certainly appears to be a common line in "Brickwall Waterfall" rhymes and other children's rhymes/cheers/taunts. I've wondered when these verses were first used in children's rhymes {"rhymes" here being the catch-all term}. And I've wondered where those lines came from. Your information provides one answer to the question about the source for this line "elbow elbow wrist wrist" line. The rhyming line that follows it comes from contemporary urban talk. I suppose it's very possible that someone who participated in a beauty pageant or someone who knew about this reminder for beauty pageant winners could have taken that line and converted it into the verse that is becoming a standard add-on to certain children's rhymes. Of course, we'll never really know for sure if this is line was adopted from beauty pageants or from another source {or from multiple sources}. But I don't think that children created it out of thin air. If anyone else has any ideas about the origin of this line, please send them in to Cocojams!

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A COMPLIMENT
the cheers are all nice
-Nellisha {UK}; 5/20/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Nellisha. I enjoy reading these cheers, too. And hopefully, some cheer squads have added new cheers to their program as a result of reading these cheers that come from folks in various nations throughout the world. If you know some cheers or rhymes, please share some examples with other Cocojams readers!

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FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR CHILDREN
I am a white, 36 year old female born in Florida, raised in California. I have heard many of the rhymes listed through the years. Anyone who hasn't, has not paid much attention to kids in general. I always get annoyed by those offended by things such as this. Most youth are opposed to any authority. Our movies and music are full of that evidence. Does freedom of speech extend only to teachers and grown adults. It seems that once you enter the public school realm that freedom is left at the door. Make a profit by those rhymes then it is under the freedom of speech laws and called art by most. Quit taking everything so seriously and maybe some of the kids will too. These chants and rhymes date back decades and were taken with a grain of salt. I don't think that you can designate a gender or race that is at fault for these rhymes and chants just blame it on really immature children who have a distaste for any authority.
-Xina ; 4/30/2007

Editor:
Thanks for your comment, Xina. I believe your comments refer to the teacher taunts and school yard taunts that are found on Cocojams pages. I'm very interested in receiving other comments about these rhymes and cheers.

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COMMENTS ABOUT TEACHER TAUNTS
I've read through a few pages of your site, and as a teacher and a white woman, I find it highly offensive. I have taught for 36 years, and I never heard any children coming up with the nasty teacher taunts you have posted. You say you are against violence, yet you clearly post violent materials. You say these violent chants are done by whites and that is simply not true. It is no wonder there is trouble between the races when people like you promote hatred against whites AND education.
-Linda S; 4/3/2007

Editor:
Linda, I appreciate your comment. However, I vehemently deny that I am "promoting hatred against whites AND Education". Some of my best friends are White and/or work in education fields. Fwiw, I invite you to read my comments that preface this Cocojams' page. I fully admit that I rewrote part of those comments to better ensure that folks would understand my interest in this subgenre of rhymes, and my speculation that these rhymes appear to me to be better known among White folks than Black folks. I should mention that I collected a considerable number of these rhymes from two Internet discussion forums that I belong to and, with the exception of guest posters to those forums who did not indicate their race, I am aware of the race {and gender} of those people who shared these types of rhymes with me.

See the comments provided below as an example of the type of discussion on this subject that-thanks to the Internet- I have been fortunate enough to have with individuals in various parts of the world:

"Ragdall {Canadian woman, race-White} My comments & questions are in brackets and Ragdall’s responses are in quotation marks.

[Ragdall, I appreciate your contribution and the contribution of others to this thread {on children’s rhymes}, Of course this is just a rhetorical question but I wonder how so many of these rhymes circulate all over the English speaking world {before the Internet age}. Most of these types of rhymes weren't recited on television, radio, records, or tapes. So how in the world did [do] children learn them and how do certain rhymes become 'standards' and other rhymes aren't picked up at all?]

To answer your questions, Azizi,
1) [Were {are?} these types of rhymes chanted mostly by boys and btw what are the usual ages for the boys and/or girls who chant these types of rhymes.]

“In my experience, these were chanted by daring, or attention craving children of either gender. A larger percentage of the children would be involved, as they got older, starting at about age 8. Boys tended to be more daring than girls.”

2} Were these types of rhymes chanted away from teachers?
What, if anything, were teachers' or other adults’ reaction{s} to these rhymes?

“That depended on the individual teachers and the era.
In BC [British Columbia, Canada} "the strap" was removed from public schools in 1973, and corporal punishment of students was regulated very closely. Before that time, students would be far less likely to risk angering a teacher who "couldn't take a joke". These days many children think nothing of repeating anti- school chants within hearing distance of teachers and administrators. It's likely that no action would be taken, or the child would be asked to be quiet, or redirected to another activity.”

3) [Why do you think that kids chanted these types of rhymes? Surely they didn't mean the words, right?]

“We chanted them because they were humorous and a wee bit naughty. We chanted them because it made us "one of the group". No, we never meant the words”. "
{Comments originally posted on http://www.jonbanjo.com/forum/forum.php; and private electronic message to Azizi Powell from Ragdall, 8/28/2005]

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DO YOU KNOW OF ANY HANDCLAP VIDEOS OF DVDS?
Do you know of any videos or DVDs that demonstrate hand claps in action? I barely remember the ones I did as a kid back in the 60's, and now my daughter is starting to participate on her school play yard. I'd love to keep the history going by re-introducing some of the classics... Thank you for this website, I love it!
-Della K.; Seattle, WA ; 4/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Della. I'm glad you like Cocojams! Thanks to our readers, Cocojams has become one of the Internet's best sites for examples of and commentary about children's rhymes & cheers. However, I very much regret that I don't know of any contemporary videos or DVDs that demonstrate hand claps rhymes. I'd love to be able to refer such products to Cocojams readers. However, besides for the small number of videos that I've found on YouTube, I've not found any videos except this one:

PIzza Pizza Daddy-O (1967) looks at continuity and change in girl's playground games at a Los Angeles school.
http://www.media-generation.net/Films/Bess/Bess.htm

I will continue to keep an eye and ear out for any videos or DVDs on children's recreational rhymes, game songs, and cheers. If I find any, I'll be sure to pass on that information. I hope that others will do the same.

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DO YOU KNOW THIS RHYME?
when i was in 6th grade i remember doing a rhyme that was something like ride my pony ride ride ridin my pony thats all i can remember... can you help me out?
-Johanna ; 4/21/2007

Editor:
It's 12/24/2009 and while reposting these comments on Cocojams' upgraded site, I read this request and realized that I remembered reading a game song called "Ride The Pony" on a Mudcat Discussion Forum thread of children's rhymes. I'll add this example to Cocojams' Game Songs & Movement Rhymes, but here it is now-more than 2 years after Johanna asked about it:

"Here we go, ridin' that pony, riding around on that big fat pony.
Here we go, ridin' that pony, this is how we do it:
Front to front to front, oh, baby
Back to back to back, oh, baby
Side to side to side, oh, baby
This is how we do it"
-LNL ; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300

Of course, this might not be the game song that Johanna was thinking of, but as my mother used to say "Nothing beats a failure but a try". :o).

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INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF CHEERS
To Whom it May Concern: I am interested in the history of 3 cheers: Let's go (mascot)(Example: Let's go Mustangs), It's Great to Be a (School and Mascot) (Example: Let's go Highland Hurricanes), and the Woosh Woosh cheer. Around when would these cheers have been first used? Also, how wide-spread do you think each of these cheers are? I know that Let's go (mascot)(Example: Let's go Mustangs) and It's Great to Be a (School and Mascot) (Example: Let's go Highland Hurricanes) are widely used at both the collegiate and high school level. Is this both national and international? Is it also at a middle-school level and these are just common phrases now? Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely
-Emily S.; 4/20/2007

Editor:
Emily S., I'm sorry, but I don't know the answers to your questions. Not a lot of research has been done on contemporary cheer leader cheers and other contemporary children's rhymes in the United States and other countries. Hopefully, some Cocojams readers will have some information that they can share with you. Best wishes!

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WHO INVENTED THAT
who invented that taunt kissing
-evie; 4/9/2007

Editor:
Evie, I don't know who was the first person to make up the taunt that you are referring to. Almost all children's cheers, rhymes, and taunts were made up by people whose names are never known. Before the Internet, a rhymes became known because someone wrote down or recorded the words that he or she remembered or that they saw or heard someone else recite. Rhymes were also shared on the radio, television, and movies. Sometimes children forget all about a rhyme but because someone wrote it down, and/or recorded it, we have that rhyme today. Cocojams is one way of writing down, sharing, and preserving rhymes for kids now, and for kids in the future.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who sends in examples of rhymes, instructions of how to perform those rhymes, demographics about those who perform the rhymes, and comments about of rhymes. {"rhymes" being a catch-all term for handclap rhymes, jump rope rhymes, ball bouncing rhymes, taunting rhymes, children's game songs, cheer leader cheers, and foot stomping
cheers}.

Thanks to folks sending examples in to Cocojams, this website Cocojams has become the number #1 Internet source for examples of & commentary about contemporary English language children's rhymes, cheers, and taunts. For the most part, we will probably never know who made up the words to these rhymes and cheers. However, thanks to Cocojams readers sending in examples, these rhymes stand a better chance of being preserved for future generations of children, teens, and adults.

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THIS IS GREAT STUFF
this is great stuff lolz
-kyla ; 4/10/2007

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WOW
wow these are some good cheers and they come from smart people.
-shawty ; 3/13/2007

Editor:
Thanks for your compliment, shawty. The great thing about cheers is that almost anyone can say them and make them up. That means everyone is smart & creative in his or her own way.

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LOOKING FOR MORE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO DO CHEERS
I was looking for examples of "stepping" and found this site. What fun!!! I teach elementary general music and I use many of these rhymes as movement activities. I also use the rhymes to set various rhythm patterns that are then transferred to drums. I would like to see more directions for the activities that go with the songs and chants. For example, "Foot Stomping Cheers." Do the feet keep a steady beat or are there various patterns which would then make the activity more difficult - and fun. Do you know of sites with more in-depth descriptions of the physical part of the songs/chants?
-Patrick S.; 12/30/2006

Editor:
Unfortunately, I don't know of any websites which provide "step by step" directions or more descriptions on how to do foot stomping cheers or steps. Click on the links to video clips here and on the Cocojams' Fraternity & Sorority Steppin page to see examples of foot stomping cheers, steps, and party walks {strolls}. I hope to add more this year.

Steps, foot stomping cheers, and strolls are three different choreographed "dance" {or movement} performance activities. Foot stomping cheers are much more informal than the other two activities. "Basically" the same bass sounding syncopated foot stomping beats are used for foot stomping cheers & steppin. However, the main difference between the performance of foot stomping cheers and the other two activities is how the performers use the performance space. While girls {and sometimes boys} do foot stomping cheers, they usually stay in one spot, or they don't move far away from that spot. In contrast, when steps and strolls are performed, the group moves throughout the performance floor. Sometimes performers in step routines will be on the floor doing rolls, or will otherwise touch another person's hand or body. This doesn't happen with foot stomping cheers. For instance, the handclaps which are performed during foot stomping routines are individual handclaps, not partner handclaps.

A major difference between foot stomping cheers and steppin is the use of recorded music. Recorded music-usually R&B and/or Hip-Hop is also very much a part of strolls or party walks. Another major difference between stepping and foot stomping cheers is the use of props such as canes. Some fraternity & sorority step teams are known for their twirling canes & their throwing canes {to each other}. Canes are also hit on the floor to add to the percussive sound of the foot stomps that they steppers make.

Another difference between a step performance and foot stomping cheers is that steppers don't always chant, but foot stompers usually recite a chant. Also, steppers usually wear color & style coordinated outfits but foot stompers don't since doing foot stomping cheers is as informal a "play" activity as doing handclap rhymes. Furthermore, in foot stomping cheers, everyone in the group is considered to be equal, but in steppin there often is a leader who serves a role somewhat like a military drill team sargent. This "step master" may demonstrate a movement first and then other members in the group do that movement, and the "step master" may also call out chants.

It's actually quite inadequate to experience these performances just by reading about them. I invite you to check out YouTube and other online step videos, and even better, get thee to a live step show!

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DOES ANYONE KNOW THE CHEER "KEEP THE FAITH"?
I am looking for a cheer that was performed by the Ohio State Cheerleaders back in 1976-1977 called "Keep the Faith". Have you ever heard of it or have access to the lyrics? Thank you.
-joanne S.; 12/2/2006

Editor:
I'm sorry, joanne S. I don't know this cheer. I'm hope that someone who reads this will know it and send in the words.

Here's another resource for Cocojams readers: Mudcat Discussion Forum, http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm , is an online resource that is often helpful in finding out information about the words and sources for various kinds of songs. This online community, of which I'm a member, may also be helpful in coming up with information about university cheers and children's rhymes & cheers. Check Mudcat out! Guests can start threads {series of comments on a specific subject}, and guests can also post on that discussion forum. However, membership is free and it's easy to join. If you do post {write a comment or question} on that forum, let me know by submitting a comment here, or sending me a private message as a fellow member!

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SHOO TURKEY?
I discovered this site while looking for lyrics to a (possible) children's song and game from the Gullah Sea Islands, and found it just delightful to find the gems listed here. Am wondering if i can tap into your expertise: I'm looking for lyrics to a game and song called Shoo Turkey. Any ideas?
-Mark's Mom; 10/8/2006

Editor:
Hello, Mark's Mom. I appreciate your compliment about Cocojams. It is largely because of reader's submission of examples that this site has game songs, rhymes, cheers, and other gems from various oral traditions.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the song that you asked about. Hopefully, one or more of our readers respond to your request.

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WHY KIDS SHOULD BE CHEERLEADERS
I think kids should be cheerleaders cause they could learn how to sing and they learn how to be one in high school. thats why i am one for the first one.
-Ricci; 9/24/2006

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CHRISTIAN CHEERS
My two "kids" are in cheerleading. One is almost 5 and the other 8. I wanted to make them some new cheers and add a little Jesus flare to it. I just made these up as I was reading the cheers. I would love to hear more religious cheers from anyone!
He will rock you. We will We will praise you. Praise you. The lords on the wall lookin’ at us all. Sins in your face big disgrace Jesus will put you back into your place Singing He will He will rock you. Rock you. Jesus will knock em down and win that race. Singing He will He will rock you. Rock you.

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Yes We're Back Yes He’s coming back Yes, He’s coming back And betta than before. The Heavens are here to roc this floor So come on get wit us Get up out ur seat And watch the mighty Lord. Who Rocks The House Who Rocks The House I say Jesus Rocks The house And If Jesus Rocks The House He Rock’s It All The Way
-shawna ; 9/16/2006

Editor:
Shawna, thanks for sending in these examples of Christian cheers. I've posted them in this comment section because they aren't athletic affiliated cheers that recited and performed by children & youth like the other examples on the cheerleader cheers page. Hopefully, other folks will use your cheers with their church and youth groups and will send in additional cheers like this.

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CHILDREN'S SONG ABOUT WASHING CLOTHES
Looking for a children's song about washing the cloths-and then it says "swiish---swaash"??? Help????
-Lisa D. ; 8/17/2006

Editor:
Could you be thinking about the song "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush"? Here's one of many websites with the lyrics and melody for that song: http://ingeb.org/songs/herewego.html

If this is not the song that you are looking for, please let me know. On the meantime, if other Cocojams readers know of other songs with these lyrics, please send them in.

Btw, a great resource for song lyrics is Mudcat Discussion Forum: http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm. Members & guests can start a new discussion or ask questions such as this about this one a specific songs or categories of songs. Check it out!

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HOW DO I JOIN A STEP TEAM OR MARCHING TEAM?
i was just wondering how to become joined in a step team or marching team
-antoinette ; 8/12/2006

Editor:
Antoinette, in some areas of the United States {and perhaps elsewhere} step teams and drill teams are groups that are associated with schools, community organizations, and {in some cases, churches}. If these groups are active where you live, ask your parent/guardian, or a school teacher to help you contact them for information on how you might join. If you are under age 18 years old, Never agree to meet in person someone who you meet on the Internet who might tell you that she or he can help you join a step team or drill team. If you plan to go to a college or a university, some colleges or universities have step teams or drill teams. You may have to try out for a position on these teams. If you're not at or near the age to go to college or you do not plan to go to college, and if there are no step teams or drill teams in your area, then you may have to continue reading about these activities, watching YouTube step team videos and other videos & movies about them, and trying to learn how to do the steps or drill team movements by yourself or with some friends who may also be interested in these activities. If there are no such groups in your area, you may also consider becoming involved with another activity that is located in your area. Best wishes!

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Cocojams readers, do you have other suggestions for antoinette and others who are interested in joining step teams, cheerleader squads, or drill teams? Also, are you aware of any online videos on cheerleading, step teams, or drill teams whose links can be
added to Cocojams Step Team video page? If so, please send in your comments, and the URL {Internet address} for those videos. Thanks!

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LINK TO "KYE KYE KULE" SONG
Hello, my name is Jennifer and I am taking a course on early childhood education. I came across your website while looking for multicultural songs, fingerplays or poems. I find your site to be most informative and fun. I was very interested in the children's game songs page and came across the part on the Ghana song Kye Kye Kule and really was interested in that for teaching phonological awareness in my class. I did some more searching on the web and found a link with al the words and a sound clip of the song. I hope this helps you readers.
http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/kyekyekule.htm
-Jennifer D; 8/5/2006

Editor:
Thanks, Jennifer. It's wonderful to have a sound clip for this song! See the words to Kye Kye Kule below in the Examples section that were sent in by a Cocojams reader from Ghana.

Also, Jennifer, I'd love to learn more about your experiences with teaching phonological awareness to your class-using this song or other songs.

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IDENTIFYING STEP INSTRUCTORS
I am really interested in getting my daughter involved in Street stomping or Foot street stomping. We live in the Washington, DC area, and would like additional information about how to get involved and perhaps bring step to her school some day. I hope to hear from someone soon to point me in the right direction. Thanks!
-margaret c. {Washington, D.C. area}; 6/2/2006

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THESE CIVIL RIGHTS SONGS ARE SO GOOD
These songs are so good. I think they helped the world turn around with these. These songs made a big difference other than Martin Luther Kings words and speeches. These songs meant alot and they still do and they help keep alive memories of the past also Since they were sung long ago when we did not have Freedom. Sincerely
-Thomas S. 2/9/06

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