HANDCLAP, JUMP ROPE, AND ELASTICS RHYMES

This page contains selected examples and comments about handclap rhymes, elastics rhymes, and jump rope rhymes.  Jump rope rhymes and elastics rhymes will be identified by that category's name.*  All other rhymes on this page are handclap rhymes.

*Many jump rope rhymes are also used as ball bouncing rhymes. For a description of elastic jumping {also known as "French skipping"} and other terms, see this comment that I re-posted on this Mudcat Discussion Forum thread about elastics:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=103#2345619 .

You'll notice that this page contains multiple versions of the same rhyme. I'm interested in posting multiple versions of rhymes as a way of documenting the way that the words of a particular rhyme may be the same or different in various cities, towns, and/or nations. Posting multiple examples of the same rhyme also documents the way that the words of a rhyme may change over time.

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click here to send in examples of handclap & jump rope rhymes.

Although it is not required, please include information about how this rhyme is performed. Also, for the sake of folkloric research, please include the following demographical information: where you learned the rhyme {please include the city & state if within the USA, and the nation, if outside the USA}; when you learned this rhyme {year or decade such as 2008, the 1990s, or the mid 1970s}; and who performed this rhyme {age, gender, race/ethnicity}. Thanks!

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Examples of rhymes & cheers are almost always posted the way that readers send them to this website. Some of these examples have typos and other accidental spelling errors or have text messaging, slang, or otherwise purposely misspelled words & phrases. Many of these examples are written without any capitalization at the beginning of a line or punctuation mark at the end of line. This free flowing writing style appears to be the prevailing way that many youth and young adults informally write on the Internet.  Posting examples written this way may result in difficulty understanding the examples. However, I believe that it is important to keep the examples' original form for authenticity's sake and as a means of showcasing the examples' "flavor".

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I reserve the right not to post examples of rhymes on this page that are exactly the same as a previously posted example.  I also reserve the right not to post examples of rhymes that I feel don't meet the standards of this website.

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Special thanks to http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm; and http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php10/1/2003 for permission to repost selected examples from their websites. 

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Examples of Rhymes:

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

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A B C {Version # 2}
I was reading Oh Ah in the handclaps and it sounds really similar to someting my friends and I use to play. I dont think its different because I live in Hawaii. A-B-C, Its easy as 1-2-3, My momma takes care-of-me, My daddy says, Oh Ah, I wanna piece of pie, Pie to sweet, I wanna piece of meat, Meat to tough, I wanna ride the bus, Bus to full, I wanna go to school, School to hard, I wanna jeely-bean, Jelly-Bean to green, Indiana Jones dont move or talk.
-Kaylen ; 3/27/2007

Editor, thanks, Kaylen, for sending in this rhyme. Thanks also for remembering to include information about where you live. It's interesting to see how widely these rhymes are known.  "Indiana Jones dont move or talk" is an interesting way to say "Freeze!".

ABC  {Version #1}
A.B.C.
It’s easy as 1.2.3.
My momma takes care of me.
My father don’t yell at me.

Caught you with your boyfriend.
Naughty, Naughty.
Didn’t do the dishes.
Lazy, Lazy.
Ate all the candy
Greedy, greedy.
Jumped out the window.
Man, you’re crazy!
-multiple sources including an anonymous White woman {Washington, D. C}, collected by Azizi Powell,1999; posted on Cocojams on 2/26/2006

Editor:
I collected this version of "ABC" in 1999 from an anonymous White woman who responded to a written survey on children's rhymes that I requested colleagues at my place of work to complete. In her comments, this woman provided the information that she remembered this rhyme from her childhood in the 1980s. She wrote that she grew up in a predominately Black neighborhood of Washington, D.C.  The woman also wrote that there was more to this rhyme, but she couldn't remember it. I have also collected the same or similarly worded examples from African American women, and African American girls & female teenagers. The lines "A B C/ it's easy as 1, 2, 3" come from the Jackson Five's 1970 hit R&B song "ABC".

Also, see "Eenie Meanie Justaleenie" below for an example of another handclap rhyme with some of the same lines that are found in this example of "ABC {It's as easy as 1 2 3}. Lines that are used in more than one rhyme are called "floating lines" {or floating/traveling verses}.  

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A-B-C-Together
My youngest sister is helping me with this post. She's just left Primary 7 (she's 12, in other words), so her 'help' should contain pretty modern versions...

My sister's version of "A-B-C-Together" goes:

Put your hands together, fingers pointing at the person opposite.
A (slap backs of left hands together, own palms still joined)
B (same with the back of right hands)
C (A but stay together, rather than slapping past)
Together (each clap right hand against own left hand)
Up (Right hands clap above the 'together' hands)
Together (bring back together)
Down (Right hands clap below the 'together' hands)
Together (bring back together)
Back (slap backs of hands together with other person, palms facing you)
To front (clap palms with the other person [ie, above^ but backwards])
knee (touch knee with right hand)
To toe (touch foot with right hand)
Wiggle your bum (basically, do 'the Twist')
Around you go (spin on the spot)
Pull the chain (make a 'pulling chain' action)
Start again.
-Viracocha [Sian] & her sister; {from Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 2007} reposted  with permission from http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=18352&messages=48 Lyr Req: Playground songs; 8/03/2007}

Editor:
Thanks, Viracocha, for giving me permission to repost this and other children's rhymes from Scotland!

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Abulata Cubalata Vista
You start with your hands together in prayer position facing each other, and then you put your left palm up and your right palm down as you clap the first time, then clap your own hands together, then clap palms together straight across, and you continue alternating until the final "MpShhhh!" where you clap hands straight across and then move your hands up and out and apart in a sort of finale. The rhyme goes thus: Abalata Cubalata Cubalata Vista Abalata Cubalata Cubalata Vista Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah NaVista Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah NaVista Eenie Meanie Desameani Oohwah Ahwatameani Eenie Meanie Desameani Oohwah Ahwatameani Bop Billy Op Billy Op MpShhhhh!

I learned this girl handclapping rhyme in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, in Johnson County, one of the richest, whitest and most cultureless counties in the USA. So it may have come to us from some gal who came from a more interesting place... I enjoyed reading the other rhymes on your website, I recently heard of a "Daring Book for girls" on NPR, the author mentioned that in these days of videogames and such it's important not to lose these important components of handed down girl culture. I would love to know if any of these words mean anything at all in another language. When we were girls we had some notion it was "African" but of course we had no idea then there were so many African languages... I wonder if someone had learned it from an African American girl. I loved it and still love it, and I teach it to my friends. It's a great "party trick" to give men - and women who have forgotten - a glimpse into the magical powerful world of girl culture that goes on and grows on, handed down girl to girl perhaps since the beginning of time.
-Amy H.; 12/8/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Amy! I appreciate your compliments and your comments about the importance of children's rhymes. With regard to the origin & meanings of these words, I believe that most of the words are nonsensical words that have no meanings. But, I wonder if  "Cubalata Vista" might come from the Spanish phrase "como la vista". I wrote a comment about that theory on 7/4/2006 in this Mudcat thread {discussion}: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47148 . My theory is that "Abulata Cubalata Vista" belongs to a family of children's handclap rhymes that I call  the "Como La Vista" family. I've posted examples of some other rhymes that I've found which I think also belong to that rhyme "family". I've given those rhymes these titles "and other rhymes featured on this page {thus far-"Ama Lama Kuma La Vista"; "Coomalata Beestay" and "Oo The Beestay". Most of these rhymes include the word "la vista". Many of these rhymes also begin with the words "Flea.. Flea fly.. Flea Fly Flow". In my opinion, those words serve as an introduction to the actual rhyme. Therefore, I used the next words as the title of that particular example. As to my theory about the Spanish origin of these rhymes, that theory stands on rather shaky ground as it's based on the inclusion of the word {words?} "la vista" or a word that is pronounced like it {"beestay"/"veestay"}. Needless to say, I may be completely wrong about the Spanish origin of this children's rhyme.

Also, Amy, let me say that other folks who are from Shawnee, Kansas might take exception to your description of this suburb as being cultureless. After all, every place as some culture. :o)

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Ackabaka
See entries for "My Mother, Your Mother" on this page.
Also, visit Cocojams' Counting Out Rhyme page for additional examples of these rhymes.

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Ah Beep Beep
Ah Beep Beep
Walkin down the street
Ugawa. Ugawa
That means Black power.
White boy.
Destroy..
I said it. I meant it
And I’m here to represent it.
Soul sister number 9
Sock it to me one more time.
Uh hun! Uh Hun!
Source: Tracey S., {African American female} Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; childhood remembrance,1968 ;  collected by Azizi Powell, 2000;{in Pittsburgh, PA};

Editor:
Tracey told me that, although she was in kindergarten at the time, she has clear memories of {Black} older girls & girls her age standing on their porches reciting this rhyme in a taunting way while White policeman were patrolling the streets of her neighborhood during the riots that occurred as a result of Martin Luther King’s assassination. Tracey said that she considered this to be more than a taunt. She said that the rhyme to be an expression of Black pride & unity as well as a taunt directed to the White policemen.

"Ungawa" is a movie industry made up expression found in Tarzan movies where it supposedly was how Native Americans, or Africans or other non-White people greeted each other or talked to each other. During the late 1960s, this word was taken up by Afro-centric Black Americans who added the rhyming phrase "Black power" {power pronounced here as "powa".  Thus a word that was used in demeaning ways found new life as an affirmation of Black pride.

In the example given by Tracey, “white boy. Destroy” means “Destroy white boys”. Whether she knew what she was saying and whether she should have been saying it is a whole 'nuther matter.

"Sock it to me!" was a popular African American slogan during that time that probably originated as a sexualized expression. However, from my remembrance of the use of this saying, "Sock it to me" mostly comes from R&B records where this saying was repeated a "number" of times and meant something like "Give it to me!". In that context, "Give it to me!" meant "Show me what you’ve got", meaning show me your best dance moves. Of course, the best dance moves were also usually the sexy, hip shaking ones, or they were the body to body slow dancing that we called "grinding". So in a way, we’re full circle.

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A Lady On One Foot  {Jump Rope Rhyme}
A lady on one foot one foot one foot a lady on two foot two foot two foot a lady on three foot three foot three foot a lady on four foot four foot four foot a lady on five foot five foot five foot a lady on six foot six foot six foot a lady no foot no foot no foot.
- De'Azia, age 8, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 3/24/2006 

Editor:
When I was growing up, we did this up to "four foot". We started out
with "Lady on two foot". This meant jumping with two feet touching the ground. "Lady on  one foot" meant jumping with on foot touching the ground. "Three foot" meant jumping with two feet and while touching the ground with one hand without missing. "Four foot" meant jumping with two feet while touching the ground with both hands without missing. Then we'd say "Jump out" which might be what "no foot" means here.  I'm not sure what "five foot" & "six foot" means. However, the explanation for "five feet" that is found on this page with the rhyme "Blue Bell" (try to touch all hands and butt to the ground in one jump) may also be what "five feet" means in this "Lady On  One Foot" rhyme. But if so, then what does "six feet" mean?=two jumpers with one butt, two hands, and two feet each?

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All In Together ; Jump Rope Rhyme
All in together
Every kind of weather
January, February,
March, April,
May, June July,
August, September, October,
November, December
{Jump out on your birthday month}
-various sources, including Azizi Powell's childhood memories {Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s} 

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All The Girls In France ; Jump Rope Rhyme
All the girls in France
Do the Hula Hula dance
And they don't wear pants
When they do the Hula dance.
-various sources, including Azizi Powell's memories of Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s

Editor:
I remember singing this while jumping rope or bouncing ball. But my clearest memories of this song is dancing like a "hula hula" girl from Hawaii while I sang this song. There may have been other words to this rhyme, but I can't remember them. Also, I think Hula Hula dance was originally "Hootchie Cootchie" dance, or maybe I just remember reading those words somewhere. I remember thinking it was kinda risque' to sing about people dancing without wearing pants. I thought the words referred to "panties" {underwear} and not pants like jeans. See similar rhymes on this page such as "In The Land of France" and "In The Land of Mars."  Also, see this Mudcat thread for additional examples & information about this family of rhymes:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=102055&messages=43 Folklore: Play Ground Hand Jives

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Ama Lama Kuma La Vista
What about the song that goes like this..

Flea.. Flea fly.. Flea Fly Flow. Ama lama kuma lama kuma la vista, Oh oh oh oh not the vista vista, issilini dissilini Oo aa aa malini, akaraka, cukara ich bam boom, ip diddly ope en bope why not shout and bout........ssssssss.... Bang!

Anybody else know this?..."
-Danny; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php10/1/2003 ; 10/1/2003

Editor:
In my opinion, this is another example of a rhyme that belongs to the "Como La Vista" family of children's handclap rhymes. A listing of what I think are members of this "family of rhymes" is found in my comments to "Abulata Cubalata Vista".

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Apples On A Stick {Version #6}
this is a hand clap very similar to others! apple on a stick it makes me sick makes my heartbeat...246 not because im dirty not because i kissed a boy behind a magazine hey girls having lots of fun (your two names) are having lots of fun we can do the rumble we can do the splits bet ya bet ya can't do this close your eyes and count to ten whoever mucks it up is a big fat hen (count to ten if you muck it up say "(who mucked it up name)so thats the end " if no one mucks it up you say " no one mucked it up so thats the end"
-Annie; 5/30/2008

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Apples On A Stick {Version #4}
Apple on a stick makes me sick makes my heart beat 2-46 not because you're dirty not because you're clean not because you kissed the boy behind the magazine hey girls you wanna have some fun cause here come a lady with a big fat bum she can wibble she can wobble she can even do the splits but i bet ya i bet ya she can't do this close your eyes and count to ten if you muck it up you're a big fat hen. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (if you didn't muck up) we didn't muck it up so that's the end. we're best friends. (if you did muck up) we mucked up and that's the end so start again cause we're not best friends.
-Allie; 2/15/2007

Editor:
"Muck it up" means "mess up".

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Apples On A Stick {Version #3}
The space goes
apple on a stick just makes me sick make my tummy go 2 4 6
not because im hunrgy
not because im clean
just because i kiss a boy behind the magazine
hey girls lets have some fun
here comes (name) with his pant undone
he can wiggle he can wobble he can do the twist
but most of all he cant do this close your eyes and count ten if you messs up start ova again
1, 2, 3, 4, ...
- Cece http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php; 10/9/2005

Editor:
In my opinion, the word "space" in the introductory phrase "The space goes" was originally the word "spades". "Spades" is a colloquial, and often derogatory referent for Black people {African Americans}. The introductory term "The spades go" means that the rhyme is being recited or performed the way that Black people did it. See "Down Down Baby" {from the Big movie} on Cocojams' Game Songs and Movement Rhymes page for another example of a rhyme that contains the introductory phrase "The space goes".

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Apple On A Stick {Version #2}
Apples on a the stick
make me sick.
Make my heart go
Two forty six
Not because I’m dirty
Not because I’m clean
Not because I kissed a boy
Behind a magazine.
-multiple sources, including girls ages 7-10 years; Millview Acres Housing Development (Clairton, PA) 2002; collected by Azizi Powell, 2002

Editor:
I have found this rhyme written separately or as the beginning of a longer rhyme. The girls in Millvue Acres did intricate partner handclap rhymes while chanting this rhyme.

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Apple On A Stick {Version #1) [Jump Rope Rhyme]
I used to spend recesses against the wall for jumping out of the swings in mid-air, and playing tag on the tornado slide, and the girls jumped the rope on the wide walkway there. Here [is one rhymes} that I recall hearing, but the words may be out of order, as this was a while ago.

Apples on a stick, make me sick (slick?).
make my arms (heart?) go two-four-six!
It's not because i'm dirty
It's not because i'm clean
It's not because I kiss the boys
behind a magazine (behind a _____ machine?)
Hey girls, let's have fun!
Here comes a cop with his (vest?) undone!
He can shammey he can shake
He can do the hoochie-koo
But I bet a dollar he can't catch you!
One, two, three, etc.....

Chanted to a double jumprope, I heard this on the schoolyard in Spirit Lake, Iowa around 1982-5. The count continued untill the jumproper missed a lick.
-Neighmond {Chaz J.}; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=56361

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A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea {Version #3}
At my elementary school in Willoughby Hills, Ohio (far east suburbs of Cleveland, white, middle & working class) about 1965-70, the girls had some additional verses to the handclap rhyme "A sailor went to sea sea sea": A sailor went to sea sea sea To see what he could see see see But all that he could see see see Was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea A sailor went to Amsterdam To see what he could Amsterdam But all that he could Amsterdam Was the bottom of the deep blue Amsterdam [I think there were a few more verses with three-syllable place names, but the only ones I can think of now don't seem quite right. Establishing the three-syllable pattern makes the next verse funnier.] A sailor went to Chiiii-na To see what he could Chiiii-na But all that he could Chiiii-na Was the bottom of the deep blue Chiiii-na A sailor went to Frank Frank Frank To see what he could Frank Frank Frank But all that he could Frank Frank Frank Was the bottom of the deep blue Frank Frank Frank A sailor went to En En En To see what he could En En En But all that he could En En En Was the bottom of the deep blue En En En A sailor went to Stein Stein Stein To see what he could Stein Stein Stein But all that he could Stein Stein Stein Was the bottom of the deep blue Stein Stein Stein A sailor went to Frankenstein To see what he could Frankenstein But all that he could Frankenstein Was the bottom of the deep blue Frankenstein The handclap pattern, of which I've forgotten the details, was the same for every verse. It was usually done in pairs, but could be done by any number in a circle. Sometimes after completing all the verses it would be repeated at increasing speed until our hands couldn't keep up or we dissolved with laughter. I found your site through your postings on Mudcat.org, and it's brought back a lot of memories. Lots of stuff here is familiar, and I'll post the versions I remember as I get time. Thanks so much.
-Elizabeth ; 2/17/2008

Editor:
Elizabeth, thank you for sending in that version of "A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea". Thanks also for remembering to include performance instructions and demographical information {elementary school, race, economic class, and geographical location}. I'm glad that you found this website through http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm. I look forward to the possibility of you sharing more rhymes with Cocojams!

For those who aren't familiar with that website, Mudcat is an online, international folk and blues discussion forum. There are a number of threads {series of discussions} at the forum on children's rhymes. One such thread is http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=153 Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky. Hyperlinks to other children's rhymes threads can be found on that page. Membership is free at that forum, and guests can also posts examples and comments, and also start new threads. Try it. You may like it!

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A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea {Version #2}
And an Oz version of
A sailor went to sea sea sea
to see what he could sea sea sea
and all that he could sea sea sea
was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea.

went (to one clapping pattern)

A sailor went to Diz Diz Diz
to see what he could Diz Diz Diz
and all that he could Diz Diz Diz
was the bottom of the deep blue Diz Diz Diz.

then (to another clapping pattern)

A sailor went to knee knee knee
to see what he could knee knee knee
and all that he could knee knee knee
was the bottom of the deep blue knee knee knee.

then (to yet another clapping pattern)

A sailor went to land land land
to see what he could land land land
and all that he could land land land
was the bottom of the deep blue land land land.

and finally (to a combination of all three clapping patterns)

A sailor went to Disneyland
to see what he could Disneyland
and all that he could Disneyland
was the bottom of the deep blue Disneyland.
-Rowan; {Australia; reposted  with permission from http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=18352&messages=48 Lyr Req: Playground songs; 8/02/2007}

Editor:
Rowan, thanks for giving me permission to repost your example on Cocojams!

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A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea {Version #1}
A sailor went to sea sea sea
To see what he could see see see
And all that he could see see see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea

A sailor went to chop chop chop
A sailor went to knee knee knee
A sailor went to oohwhatchakaw
A sailor went to stand by me

Its more to it than this..
-Cheryl G.; electronic message to her aunt Doris H. who forwarded this and other rhymes to Azizi Powell,
11/18/2004

Editor:
Thanks Cheryl and Doris!!!

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Away In France
This song I learned when I was a school girl in Oxon Hill, Maryland in the 1960s: Away in France where the alligators dance, One wouldn't dance so they kicked him in the pants, The pants he wore cost a dollar ninety-four -- And you can get them in your grocery store! (I remember my father singing a variation about Away in France where the women wear no pants, away in France where the men do the same", but Mom snapped, "Douglas, don't be vulgar!", so that's all I remember.)
-Ann N.; 4/29/2007

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Ballerina  [Jump Rope Rhyme]
Ballerina ballerina
Turn around
Ballerina ballerina
Touch the ground
Ballerina ballerina
Double quick
Ballerina ballerina
Do the splits!

{The trick was to do it all skipping.}
-Viracocha [Sian] ; {from Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the early 1990s} reposted  with permission from http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=18352&messages=48 Lyr Req: Playground songs; 7/30/2007

Editor:
"Skipping" here means jumping rope.

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Banana, Banana, Banana In {Elastics Jumping}
Banana, Banana, Banana, in
Banana, banana, banana, out
Banana, banana, banana, on
Banana, banana, banana, out
(On banana, you straddle one elastic - ie one leg in, one leg out, so that you are juming to and fro over the elastics, on "in" you jump inside the elastic, the first "out" involves straddling the elastic with both legs out, whereas the last out was jumping clear of the elastic to finish. Oh and "on" meant you had to land on the elastics.
-Guest; 2/14/2008; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=98; Child's Game: Elastics

Editor:
"Elastics" is one name for a children's jumping game that is played with long rubber bands or string instead of one rope or two ropes. Throughout many English speaking countries, or English speaking populations in various countries, this jumping game has also been called "Chinese Jump Rope", "French Skipping", "African Jump Rope", "Yogi", or other names.  Rhymes are usually chanted while playing this game. Sometimes the words of the rhymes indicated how the player was supposed to jump. Tem42 on 9/21/2006, posting on http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1841337 provided this explanation of one way elastics is played: "You will need three players and a loop of string, rubber bands, or elastic rope. Two players stand inside either end of the loop with their ankles spread slightly apart, the loop pulled tight so as to raise it 3-4 inches off the ground. The third person hops over this rope in a predetermined pattern. If they hop the pattern correctly, the loop is raised up to knee level, and they try the pattern again. Next is hip level (AKA hipsies or underbums); obviously you are not hopping at this point, but leaping. (I have never played with anyone whose hip level was higher than mid-thigh on me, but even so I was exhausted after one round)...The loop of string may be crossed in the center (making a figure eight), allowing for more complex patterns. It may be held higher at one end than the other. Turns and spins may also be added. Footwork can get pretty fancy, especially among older kids. "

Click on that website for more information about jumping elastics. Also, click on the Mudcat Discussion Forum hyperlink presented above for another discussion about "elastics" and for additional examples of rhymes that children {mostly girls} chanted while playing that game. Additional examples of "elastics" rhymes are also found on this Cocojams page. Do you remember playing elastics or do you play it now? If so, send examples & information about this game to Cocojams!

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Banana Split {Version #2}
Banana Split makes me split ookalocka ookalocka 246 not because ya dirty not because ya clean not because ya daddy got a dirty limosine I betcha 5 dollars I betcha 50 cent. I betcha  5.50 U cant do this {clap up and down with a partner and then u hit your elbow wit yo hand and then at the end u do da same but u clap 2 times with your hands clap together}
-Alahna; 8/19/2006

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Banana Split {Version #1} {Elimination handclap game}
Banana Split,
It makes me sick.
Oogah laggah
Oogah laggah
2, 4, 6
If you say 5 you’re out of the game.
Oogah laggah
Oogah laggah
2, 4, 6
-African American girls & boys; ages 6-12 years from the Auburn Terrace after school program {East Liberty section of Pittsburgh}; 2001; Collected by Azizi Powell, 2001

Performance directions:
More than three children stand in circle and begin to chant in unison. After the last line of the unison chant (i.e.“2, 4, 6”), one child quickly says “1”, and the child standing next to him or her in clockwise position says “2”, and so on, but skips the number "5" or any number with "5" in it {they say the next number and not that one}. For instance, after children say 1, 2, 3, 4, the next child must say 6.  Any child says “5” or any number with “5” in it (such as “15” or “25”} is out of the game. Children who take too long to say the correct number} is also out of the game. Ideally, there is not supposed to be any breaks in children giving the next number. Children have to remember  The last child in the game is "the winner". Because the counting could go on forever, players may want to decide ahead of time which number ends this game.

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Bazooka Zooka Bubble Gum {Version #3}
this is one i learned along time ago: my momma she gave me a dime she told me buy a lime but i aint buy no lime i bought some bubble gum bazooka zooka bubble gum (repeat 2x) my momma she gave me a nickel she told me buy a pickle but i aint buy no pickle i bought some bubble gum bazooka zooka bubble gum (repeat 2x) my momma she gave me a quarter she told me buy some water (pronounced woarder) but i aint buy no water i bought some bubble gum bazooka zooka bubble gum (repeat 2x) my momma she gave me a dollar she told me buy a collar but i aint buy no collar i bought some bubble gum bazooka zooka bubble gum (repeat 2x)
-Nancy ; 5/14/2008

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Bazooka Zooka Bubble Gum {Version #2}
I was reading and i was amazed to not see a ceartain ryme...

My mom gave me a nickle she said to buy a pickle I did not buy a pickle instead i bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubble gum!
MY mom gave me a dime she said to buy a lime I did not buy a lime instead I bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.
MY mom gave me a quarter she said to buy some water I did not buy some water instead I bought some bubblegum BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.
MY mom gave me a five she said to stay alive I did not stay alive instead I choked on bubblegum! BAZOOKA ZOOKA bubblegum.
-Guest, BBG; 1/4/2007;  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 ; I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes

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Bazooka Zooka Bubble Gum {Version #1}
My mom gave me a penny
She said to buy a henny
But I didn't buy no henny
Instead, I bought BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

My mom gave me a nickel
She said to buy a pickle
But I didn't buy no pickle
Instead, I bought BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

My mom gave me a dime
She said to buy a lime
But I didn't buy no lime
Instead , I bought BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

My mom gave me a quarter
She said to buy some water
But I didn't buy no water
Instead, I bought BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

My mom gave me a dollar
She said to buy a collar
But I didn't buy no collar
Instead, I bought BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

My mom gave me a five
She said to stay alive
But I didn't stay alive
Instead, I choked on BUBBLE GUM
BAZOOKA, ZOOKA BUBBLE GUM

i learned that one in elementary school... not sure how i remembered it! have fun... whoever needs this
-i know hand games! ; 12/22/2005; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php

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Billy Boy
Two people sit facing each other. I'll do my best to describe the handclap motions... Cross down - start by crossing both hands over your chest, with your finger tips touching your shoulders, then uncross them and smack your thigh's. Your left hand will smack your left thigh and right hand, right thigh. The next step is to clap. When you clap, you begin singing the song. (For example: (cross down) (Clap), When Billy Boy was one..... (now begin claping with your partner - your right hand claps with their right hand - then you clap your hands together, next your left hand claps with your partner's left hand, then you clap your hands together. Repeat until the verse is over. When you start the next verse, begin again with cross down, slap your thighs, When Billy Boy was two...etc.

Verses: When Billy Boy was one, he learned to suck his thumb. Thumb Billy, Thumb Billy, half past one. When Billy Boy was two, he learned to tie his shoe. Shoe Billy, Shoe Billy, half past two. When Billy Boy was three, he learned to climb a tree. Tree Billy, Tree Billy, half past three. When Billy Boy was four, he learned to close the door. Door Billy, Door Billy, half past four. When Billy Boy was five, he learned to swim and dive. Dive Billy, Dive Billy, half past five. When Billy Boy was six, he learned to pick up sticks. Sticks Billy, Sticks Billy, half past six. When Billy Boy was seven, he learned to pray to heaven. Heaven Billy, Heaven Billy, half past seven. When Billy Boy was eight, he learned to roller skate. Skate Billy, Skate Billy, half past eight. When Billy Boy was nine, he learned to tell the time. Time Billy, Time Billy, half past nine. When Billy Boy was ten, he learned to catch the hens. Hens Billy, Hens Billy, half past ten. Cross down, then end!
-Jackie; 8/28/2007

Editor:
Jackie, thanks so much for sending in that example and the instructions on how you play it! It's sounds like it would be fun to do!

See "Poor Pinocchio" below for a similar handclap rhyme.

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Blue Bells ; Jump Rope Rhyme
(Start swinging rope back and forth without doing a full turn) Blue Bells Taco Shells eevy ivy ooover (now regular jump rope) i went down town to see james (or charlie) brown he gave me a nickle to buy me a pickle the pickle was sour he gave me a flower the flower was dead and this is what he said, he said: johnney jump on one foot one foot one foot, johnney jump on two feet, two feet, two feet, johnney jump on three feet, three feet, three feet, johnney jump on four feet four feet four feet johnney jump on FIVE FEET! (try to touch all hands and butt to the ground in one jump. everybody messed up here)
-Talia G.; 12/5/2006

C,D
Cats Dogs In Out {Elastics Jumping}
Cats (straddle one elastic) in (both legs in)
Dogs (straddle the other elastic) out (both legs out)
In out in on
Out twist (jump, straddle the elastic and twist so that it gets twisted around your legs) out

In on in out (jump clear of the elastics to start/finish position), out (straddle both elastics) twist out (back to start/finish position)
-Guest; 2/14/2008; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=98; Child's Game: Elastics

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Cee Cee My Playmate
see Playmate below on this page

****
Cinderella Dressed In Yellow {Version #2} Jump Rope Rhyme
Cinderella dressed in yella,
wen' upstairs to kiss her fella,
she made a mistake,
and kissed her snake,
how many doctors did it take? 1234 . . . ect.

Most of the jump-rope rymes are rather morbid no?
-Tommaeee http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php; at April 1, 2007

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Cin-der-ell-a {Version #3} ; Jump Rope Rhyme
a jump rope song we used to sing went like this: cin-der-ell-a, cin-der-ell-a kissed a frog, and lost her fell-a how many kissed did he get? (then you count how many jumps from there)
-Anna; 9/1/2007

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Cinderella Dressed In Yellow {Version #2} ; Jump Rope Rhyme
cindreella dressed in yellow went upstairs to kiss her fellow. accidentlly kissed a snake how many doctors did it take 1 2 3...keep going until someone missed the jump rope.
-db, 3/8/2006

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Cinderella Dressed In Yella {Version #1} ; Jump Rope Rhyme
From my eleven-year-old daughter come these jump rope rhymes. She says they don't sing them, they are more of a chant than a song. They do this at school during recess.
Cinderella, dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss a fella,
Made a mistake and kissed a snake, how many doctors would it take?
1, 2, 3, 4,...(count until jumper misses.)

Cinderella, dressed in blue, went outside to tie her shoe,
Goodness gracious, she'll be late. How many seconds did it take?
1, 2, 3, 4,...(count until jumper misses.)
-Jon W.; 3/10/98;  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300 ;Cinderella Dressed In Yella

****
Coca Cola Went To Town {Version #2}
another coca cola song...

coca cola went to town diet pepsi shot him down
dr. pepper fixed him up, now were drinking 7up
7up got the flu now were drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell off a mountain now were drinking from a fountain
the fountain broke an now were back to drinking coke
-Guest, mathy, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034; Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky;
3/17/2007
 
****
Coca Cola Went To Town {Version #1}
I have a great song for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(To the tune of Stella-Ella-Olla!!) coca cola went to town, diet pepsi knocked em down,doctor pepper fixed em, now were drinking 7 up, 7 up got the flu, now were drinking mountain dew, mountain dew fell off the mountain now were drinking from the fountain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!  
-amia ; 6/15/2007

Editor:
Amia, thanks for sending in words to "Coca Cola Went To Town". Thanks also for including the information that you sing it to the tune of "Stella Ella Olla". I'm wondering if you play it the same way as people play "Stella Ella Ola" {This is the spelling I prefer, There's no right or wrong spelling for this rhyme title}. I haven't received any examples of Stella Ella Ola yet from Cocojams Readers. However, I have observed the game "Stella Ella Ola" being played in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but the name of the game was "Strolla Ola Ola" or "Slap Billy-Ola". I've collected these rhymes and other versions of Stella Ella Ola. Since you mentioned that rhyme, I'll post some versions of "Stella Ella Ola" and related rhymes on this page under the "S" section of this page.  By the way, I've also collected examples of "Coca Cola Went To Town" but haven't seen or heard it played. I've noticed that "Coca Cola Went To Town" is sometimes combined with other rhymes such as "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". See examples of that below.

I'm interested in finding out if people who know the tunes to both "Stella Ella Ola" and "Coca Cola Went To Town" would agree that they are sung using the same tune. Also I'm wondering if people who have played "Coca Cola Went To Town" do so using the same performance directions as "Stella Ella Ola" {see those directions under the first example of that rhyme below}. Please send in more information about these two rhymes. Thanks!!!

****
Coca Cola Went To Town/There’s A Place On Mars
Coca Cola (clap clap clap)
went to town (clap clap clap)
Hi-C (clap clap clap)
knocked him down (clap clap clap)
7up (clap clap clap)
picked him up (clap clap clap)
Dr. Pepper (clap clap clap)
gave him (clap clap clap)
sleeping pills (clap clap clap)
jelly rolls (clap clap clap)
Theres a place on Mars
where the ladies smoke cigars
every puff they take
is enough to kill a snake
when the snake is dead
you put diamonds in his head
when the diamonds break
it's enough to bake a cake
when the cake is done
it is 1991
when you tie your shoe
it is 1992
when you get stung by a bee
it is 1993
when you slam a door
it is 1994
when you dance the jive
it is 1995
when you pick up sticks
it is 1996
when you like a boy named devon
it is 1997
when you close the gate
it is 1998
when you're feelin' fine
it is 1999
then it gets all cold
then you
FREEZE!
- Miranda; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php  at August 19, 2004

Editor:
I'd like to thank Halifax and other members of Octoblog for giving me permission to repost examples from that website's page on school yard rhymes.  Also, see other examples of "There's A Place Called Mars" and similar named rhymes below.

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Coomalata Beestay
flea (flea)
fly (fly)
flea fly flew (ditto)
coomalata coomalata coomalata beestay
no no no no not the beestay

and ended in a sort of scat-rhythm: eee-biddlety-oaten-doaten-wahbat-skee-watten-tatten-SHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!
-Bonnie S.;  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47148 RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes);7/1/2006

Editor:
Thanks Bonnie, for permission to repost this example. I think this rhyme is part of a family that I call "Como La Vista". My theory is that this rhyme may have a Spanish language source.  I suggested that in the Mudcat discussion whose link is provided above. With regard to that possibility, Bonnie S. wrote: Interesting point about "beestay"'s origins - I spelled it that way because Mark did so above, but I can also remember hearing it sung as "veestay". This was in California where there was/is a lot of Spanish spoken (I was saying Ay Caramba DECADES before Bart Simpson did)...

The example from Mark that Bonnie mentions is titled Oo The Beestay and in the "O" section of this page. See other examples of the "Como La Vista" family of children's rhymes on this page.

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Cowboy Joe ; Jump Rope Rhyme
Cowboy Joe from Mexico,
Hands up (as if someone were pointing a gun at you)
Stick them up (make guns out of your hands and point them straight ahead)
Don't forget to pick them up (pretend to pick up your guns from the ground)
Cowboy Joe, go blow! (escape)

Jump rope rhymes mid 1960s, Oxon Hill, Maryland.

By the way, "Blue bells, cockle shells, eevy, ivy, over" was the preface to most of our jump rope games.
-Ann N., 4/30/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Ann N., for sending in this example and other examples of rhymes. I appreciate your inclusion of performance information and other commentary. 

See "Blue Bells" on this page for another example of the "Blue Bell Cockle Shells etc" line.

**** 
Dogs Dogs
I have a rhyme i had made up and I wanted to share it with you, actually i have two rhymes that I wanted to share my friends did them and when i told them i made them up they didn't beleive me. So here they are City: Phoenix, AZ U.S. recited by a girl,me, 2007 1ST ONE dogs dogs, so harmless and sweet, dogs dogs, they just can't be beat, dogs dogs, so many everywhere, dogs dogs, how many are there? 1,2,3, etc.
-sarah ; 3/10/2007

Editor:
Sarah, thank you so much for sharing your rhymes with me and the rest of the Cocojams readers. I also appreciate you remembering to include demographical information {geographical location, and your gender}. The second rhyme you made up "Panda Bear" is posted on this page under the letter "P". Keep using your creativity!

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Double Double This
Double double this this
Double double that that
Double this
Double that
Double this and that.
-Azizi Powell; observation of African American girls, ages 7-10 years
  old; Fort Pitt Elementary School {Pittsburgh, PA}. collected in 2003
  by Azizi Powell, posted by Azizi in 2005   

Editor:
I've seen this rhyme performed by two children standing facing each other, by four children (two sets of partners who take turns slapping the hands of the two people across from them), and by three children {standing in a triangle formation}.
I have also seen this rhyme performed by more than four children {standing in a circle formation}.

Method of playing in a circle:
If the handclap rhyme is played with more than four children, one person is selected to starts the game.  The children chant together.  On the first word the starter lightly slaps the hand of the person to her or his right.  On the next word, that person slaps the next person to his or her right and so on.  The person whose hand is slapped on the last word of the rhyme is out.  When only two people are left in the circle, they face each other and slap hands with each word.  At this point, the two usually perform a standard handclap routine with the chant becoming faster and faster each time it is repeated.  The person who messes up the routine is out, and the last person remaining is the winner.

Method of playing with a partner, with four children, or with three children:
This handclap routine can be done with two partners or with three children. A standard routine for pairs is:
Select a partner. Face partner. In the case of three children, there are no partners, but the handclapping routine alternates with each child.
Here's a standard handclap routine:  
On “double double” use your upheld right hand to lightly slap the upheld left palm of partner;
On “This This” hold up both hands and lightly slap partners hands two times.
On “Double this and that” hit partners’ two hands with your two hands.

Children may dip when they chant, and slap high, slap low, slap under their legs, and add hip shaking and body swaying movements. Sometimes children may also fancy up a handclap routine by combining body pats such as chest pats and pats to the soles of their feet. However, handclap routines are performed "in place". There is little if any movement away from the spot where the child is standing. 

The most important part of the handclap rhyme is maintaining the correct sequence of hand clap exchanges. The chant helps children do this because you can remember which hand motion goes with which word. 

Usually each time "Double Double This" is chanted, it goes faster.  When this is played as a partner game with one or more sets of partners, those who perform the wrong motion, or don't perform fast enough are out. The  person who is the last one remaining is the winner.

**
See this YouTube video of an Australian version of "Double Double This":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul7xIhmTe6k&mode=related&search=
[Added November 12, 2006; From bodgiefahey]
 
See also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibDns2Py8_o&search=handclap "A Soldier"
[Added November 12, 2006; From bodgiefahey]

****
Down By The River And The Hanky Pank {Version #18}
Down by the river and the hanky pank Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank Goin’ “Ee Ei Oh U Your mama smells and so do you Ping pong ding dong Your daddy smells like king kong!” Teacher teacher comb my hair, Polka dotted underwear Not too big Not too small Just the size of city hall! [I am white. This was taught to me by a Hispanic girl. This is a hand slap game.
-Liz; 9/24/2008

Editor:
Liz, thank you for sending in your version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". Thanks also for sending in two other examples of children's rhymes. I've posted your version of version of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" in the "M" section of this page, and I posted your version of "Jigalo" in the "G" section on Cocojams' Foot Stomping cheers page {since that title is also spelled with a "G"}". Liz, thanks for including demographical information with your examples. This information may be helpful for folkloric researchers who are interested in studying if there are any differences between the types of rhymes & cheers that are known by children and youth who are of different races or ethnicities but we live in the same country.

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Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #17}
down by the bank with the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky with the e i o u eastside westside ding dong see that house on top of that hill that's where me and my boyfriend live smell that chicken smell that rice come on yall let's shoot some...dice
-Guest; 12/15/2007; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=940347/15/2007; Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

Editor:
A variation {variant form} of the lines "see that house on top of that hill" etc. are found in an example of "I Love Coffee I Love Tea" posted on this page under the name "Kyla". Verses used in multiple rhymes and songs are called "floating verses" or "traveling verses". Click on the Mudcat link provided above to read many other examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.   

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Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #16}
Down by the river with the hanky bankys
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
say an
epp
opp
epp
bop
bop
Skittle dittle curly pop
I pledge allegence to the flag
That Micheal jackson makes me gag
Diet Pepsi came to town
Coca-Cola pushed him down
Orange soda picked him up
Now I'm drinking 7 up
7up caught the flu
Now I'm drinking Moutain Dew
Moutain Dew fell off the moutain
Now I'm drinking from a fountian
Foutain Broke
Now I'm drinking plain old Coke
-Guest;  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=940347/15/2007; Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
7/15/2007

****
Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #15}
this is a game that me and my friends play down by the banks of the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank singing eeps iips oops ummps chilly willy ding dong i plege alligence to the flag micheal jack makes me gag coca-cola burned it's butt now we're talkin 7-up 7-up has no caffeine now we're talkin billy jean billy jean is outta sight now we're talkin dynamite dynamite blows up the school now we're talkin really cool 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
-Allie ; 7/14/2007

Editor:
Thanks Allie, for sharing that version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky"! I'm assuming that 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is the countdown that occurs before the dynamite fuses are lit. Of course, I'm sure that you and everybody else reading this knows that it isn't safe to play with dynamite. And of course I'm sure that you and everyone else reading this knows that blowing up the school or any other place without the proper authority and safeguards is a definite no no.  See Cocojams Teacher Taunts page for other rhymes about schools and school officials that also aren't meant to be taken seriously.

In addition, I'm going to take this opportunity to repeat this question to Cocojams visitors-Does anyone know a version of "I pledge allegiance to the flag" that doesn't refer to Michael Jackson? If so, I'd love for you to send it in to Cocojams!  

Also, click http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 "Origins: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" to find examples of & discussion about this particular handclap rhyme. I've taken the liberty of reposting to that thread* some examples of Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky that Cocojams readers have sent in.

Thanks!!!

*Note- a "thread" is a series of comments that are "posted" on an Internet discussion forum. Internet discussion forums are also called "message boards", "bulletin boards", "diaries" that include comments, and/or "blogs". The word "blog" was created by combining part of the word "web" with the word "log" {in this context "log" means "a written record"}. See Cocojams' page on Blog Terms for the meanings of selected other terms that are used on the Internet.

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Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #14}
i learned this from chole,elizibeth1,elizibeth2,abby

Down by banks of hankey-panky were the bullfrogs jumps from bank to bank sayin' eeps iips ohp sacadillain - kerplunk!
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 mickey mouse had a house dohnald duck messed it up who shall pay the caonceacuences mouse or duck (or duck or mouse)1 person said duck or mouse and if it ends up on you you pull your hand away so the other person is out then but if they hit your hand your out
-Guest; 6/21/2007;
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=168 ;
Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky'

Editor:
Thank you, Guest, 6/21/2007 and your friends!

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Down By The River {Version #13 of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky"}
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

Editor:
Cheer Girl, Thanks for sending in the all of that demographical information along with the words to this handclap rhyme.
I've been collecting versions of this rhyme for awhile, and the version you sent is new to me. I'm going to add this version to a thread {series of comments} that I started on this rhyme at this website: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034
Look for it there!

****  
Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #12}
Down by the river in the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank singin e i o u your mama stinks and so do you ping pong donky kong went to school with nothin on asked the teacher what to wear polka dotted underwear not to big and not to small just the size of broward mall hide and seek and playing tag michael jackson is a fag reeses pieces buttercup now we're drinkin 7up 7up has no cafine now we'r drinkin gasoline gasoline is bad for you now we're giinkin mountain dew mountain dew fell of the mountain now we're drinkin from the fountain 1, 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6 ,7 ,8 ,9 ,10.
-x_angel_girl_xox; 1/25/2007 

Editor:
I am including this rhyme and other rhymes with the "Michael Jackson is a fag" line for the folkloric record. However, I want it known that I strongly disapprove of people being called 'fags'.
 
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Down By The River By The Hanky Panky {Version #11}
down by the river by the hanky pank where the bull frog jumps from bank to bank sayin E I O U yo mama stinks and so do you so ping pong ding dong your daddy smells like king kong on your feet and on your toes your brother wears pink panty hoes coca cola stir it up now you've got 7-Up 7-Up has no caffeine so now you are caffeine free so 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!
-chelsea ; 3/27/2007

****
Down By The Rhythm Of The Hanky Spanky {Version #10}
Down By rhythm of the hanky spanky do that do that hanky spanky fe fi fo fum listen to the beat of the drum micky mouse had a house donald duck messed it up who will pay the consequenses Y-o-u.
i learned this in private school blacks and whites sang it along with a different version of "Brick Wall Waterfall" and they sang it before 2003
-gaby {age 12; usa}; 11/15/2006

Thanks, Gaby for sending in that example. Thank you also for including demographical information about who sang this, when, and where. Given your comment, it seems that this version of Hanky Panky was used as an elimination rhyme {a counting put  rhyme, or choosing "It" rhyme}. Would you let us know if this rhyme was recited by one person while pointing to other kid's shoes or fist, and that way determining who was out or who was "It"? By the way, Gaby, I'd also love it if you could also send in that different version of Brick Wall Water Fall.

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Down By The Banks Wit Da Hanky Pank {Version #9}
Down by the bank wit da hanky pank where da bull frogs jump from bank ' bank say eeee ahhh eee haa haa skittle dittle kernal pop I pledge alligence to the flag Michel Jackson makes me gag Coca Cola has no taste Don't make me look at your face You run round you hit the ground i can hear the sound all the way back at the 'down by the bank wit da hank pank where dem bull frogs jump from bank to bank singing eee ahh haaa haa skittle dittle kernal POP!!
-Diana M.; 10/17/2006

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Down By The Banks Of The Handy Mandy  {Version #8}
I heard a version of this [Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky] rhyme 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...
-Uke {Michael B,};  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=13|
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" ; 8/23/2006

Editor:
Thanks Uke for giving me permission to repost your example. There's a lot of examples of this rhyme in that Mudcat thread. Check it out! You can also add your example there too if you want to.

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Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #7}
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
flop
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. ...the children often try to slap pretty hard on the last syllable of "kerPLOP!"- of course, if the next child pulls back successfully, the slapper ends up slapping his/her self!
-Animaterra; 8/22/2006; click on http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=13
{thread title "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky"} for examples of & discussion about this rhyme.  

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Down By The River Near The Hankey Pank {Version #6}
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

Editor:
Veggie. I've seen this performed as a handclap rhyme. Is this the way you do it? I'm particularly glad to see the part about Michael Jackson.

By the way, that part about "coca-cola brought him down" is probably a reference to an accident that occurred in 1984. Twenty-five 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. The word " beligene" that Veggie uses in that example is actually the the name "Billie Jean". This is an example of folk etymology {when a word or phrase is changed because it is mis-heard, mis-remembered, or is unfamiliar to the person who heard it}. In the case of an unfamiliar word, the word is changed to a similar sounding word that is more familiar.

Does anyone else know other examples of this rhyme? If so, please send them in. For the historical record, it would be great if you would also include what state or nation {if outside of the United States} that you are from. Thanks!

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Down By The River Near The Hanky Panky {Version #5}
Down by the river near the hanky panky Where the bull frogs jump from bang to bang singing E I O U Your momma stinks and so do you So ping pong, ding dong your daddy smells like King Kong Under his feet and under his toes your daddy wears pink panty hose
-Missy , 2/26/2006

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Bull Frogs {Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky"; Version #4}
down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
where the epps orps ops triple cycadelic cur-plops.
-Makina L.; Canada 10/18/2005

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Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky {Version #3}
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
- Flojaune G. {Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania}, private email to Azizi
  Powell, August 2004

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Down By The Lake With The Hanky Panky {Version #2}
down by the lake with the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
singing fee fi fo fum
ure momma looks like king kong
didley dong i went to school with nothing on
iu asked the teacher what to wear
polka dotted underwear
not too big not too small
just the size of dadeland mall (or w/e mallu choose
-no name given,  http://octopuses.chaoticinsanity.com
 “Schoolyard  games”, 9/18/2003

****
Down By The Banks With The Hankity Panks {Version #1 of Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky}
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)
-http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php; posted by contortme at September 16, 2003

****
Down Down Baby
See examples of Down Down Baby {also know as "Shimmy Shimmy Co Co Pa"} on Cocojams' Game Songs & Movement Rhymes page. Also, see examples of "I like Coffee I Like Tea" {I Love Coffee I Love Tea"} rhymes that are posted on this page. Those rhymes contain lines that are very similar to some lines in "Down Down Baby" rhymes.  In addition, see examples of "Enie Meenie Justaleenie" as well as examples of  "Down Down Baby I Know Karate" that are posted below.

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Down Down Baby, I Know Karate {Version #2}
A two-person game!

Down down baby
I can do karate (do some judo chops here)
Down down baby
I can shake my body (wiggle around)
Down down baby
I can phone my mommy (pretend you're phoning someone)
Down down baby
Oops! (smack the other person LIGHTLY on the forehead)
I'm sorry!
-Charlotte; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php ; February 4, 2007

****
Down Down Baby, I Know Karate {Version #1}
Down, down baby,
I know karate.
Down, down baby,
I can shake my body.
Down, down baby,
I can call my mommy.
Oops! I’m so sorry *
Down, down baby,
to the front,
to the back,
to the side, side, side **
Watch me do the butterfly ***
-Teneisha (female, 11 years) and Antoinette (female, 10 years); Pittsburgh, PA., 1999

* both girls simultaneously “accidentally” tap each other player on the forehead
** to the beat, both girls jump to the front, then to the back, then to the right, then to the left, and back to the right
*** both girls do “the butterfly”, a hip wiggling R&B dance that was popular around 1994.

Editor:
"Down Down Baby I Know Karate" is a variant form of the widely known rhyme "Down Down Baby" {also widely known as "Shimmy Shimmy Co Co Pa"}. It appears that "Down Down Baby I Know Karate" is usually performed as by two, three, or four or more children clapping hands with another person while chanting this rhyme. That performance activity distinguishes this rhyme from versions of "Down Down Baby" that are done with individual handclaps {when the person claps her or his own hands and not another persons' hands}.  Visit Cocojams' Game Song and Movement Rhymes page for numerous examples of "Down Down Baby".

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Down In The Meadow Where The Green Grass Grows {Example #3} Jump Rope Rhyme 
Down in the meadow where the green grass grows, there sat (name of person jumping) as sweet as a rose. She/He sang he/she sang she/he sang so sweet and along came (other person of opposite sex) and kissed her/him on the cheek. How many kisses did he/she get that week. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, .............. keep going until they mess up on jumping
-miley ; 11/21/2007

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Down In The Valley Where The Green Grass Grows {Example #2} Jump Rope Rhyme
Down in the valley where the green grass grows along came (a name) as sweet as a rose he sang, he sang, he sang so sweet, how many kisses did he get on his cheek? (start counting until they get out with the jump-rope or you could step to it)
-Daelon, age 8; & Shacora, age 11; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania}; 3/21/2006

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Down in the Valley Where The Green Grass Grows {Example #1} Jump Rope Rhyme
Down in the valley where the green grass grows
There sat [girl's name] as sweet as a rose
She sang she sang she sang so sweet
Along came [boy's name] who kissed her on the cheek.
How many kisses did she get?
Ah 1, Ah 2, Ah 3 {keep counting until you miss}
-Azizi; memories of childhood, 1950s; Atlantic City, New Jersey

Editor:
This jump rope rhyme is also titled "Down In The Meadow Where The Green Grass Grows". This rhyme could be sung while jumping rope by yourself or while jumping rope with other kids. As I remember jumping rope with a group of other kids, the jumper didn't sing, but concentrated on jumping. The people who sang were the "enders" who turned the rope, and-sometimes-other kids waiting for their turn as jumper{s}. Once in a while, boys also jumped rope with the girls. If the person jumping was a boy, the gender was changed to "he sang he sang he sang so sweet & along came {girl's name} & kissed him on the cheek" etc.

****
Down In Mississippi
[This is] A jump rope rhyme I remember that probably has an African American origin: Down in Mississippi where the boats go "pushy-whooshy" (Two girls would jump together, and one would pretend to push the other out at the end of the "rhyme." I'm 60 years old and learned these on the playground in Waterbury Connecticut in the early 50s.
-Ellen R.; 11/9/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Ellen R., for sending in that example. I've never "heard" that rhyme before. Thanks, also for sending in an example of "Little Sally Waters" which I posted on Cocojams' Games Children Play page. I also appreciate the fact that you included demographical information {your age, and when & where you remembered learning these rhymes}. Keeping a record of demographical  information helps researchers track & study the continuity & changes that may occur in rhymes over time and space. Also, Ellen R., thanks for including your opinion about the African American origin of this rhyme. Since I've never heard or read this rhyme before, I have no opinion, and haven't seen any documentation that can support or disprove your opinion about the origin of this rhyme. If any Cocojams readers know this rhyme or know one like it, please send in those examples and remember to include demographical information & other comments. Thanks!
 
E,F
Eenie Meenie Pepsa Deenie {Example #3}
Under the Hand Clapping rhymes right after the ABC rhyme is part of a song I learned from an Elementary music teacher in Jackson, TN in 1977! I was a student teacher and she taught it as such.

X X X X
Eenie meenie pepsa deenie
X X X X
Be bop, bop a deenie
X X X X
Education, liberation
X X X X
I love you. Tootie Fruitie,
X X X X
Down, down su-gar
X X x x
Down by the roller coaster
X X X X
Sweet sweet honey -
X X X X
no place to go _ _ _ _
X X X X
a-oh _ _ _
X X X X
Shamrock, Shamrock
X X X X
shammy shammy shamrock
X X X X
Caught you with my girlfriend
(scrape your pointer finger at each other)
Naughty naughty
X X X X
Didn't do the dishes
(two hands together and place beside head, tilted as in sleeping)
Lazy, Lazy
X X X X
Ate all the candy
(Open palms facing partner fingers spread out squeezing the outer digit)
Greedy, Greedy
X X X X
Jumped out the window
(right hand pointer finger circle the ear)
Crazy, Crazy!
samirich {Sammy R.} ; private electronic message to Azizi {Mudcat Discussion Forum}:
3/3/2006

Editor:
Thanks, samirich, for this example. My assumption is that the Xs represent the clapping pattern that is used while reciting this rhyme. Notice that some lines in this rhyme are very similar to lines that are found in the "Down Down Baby" {Shimmy Shimmy Co Co Pa} and "I Love Coffee I Love Tea" family of rhymes

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Eenie Meenie Justaleanie {Example #2}
Eenie Meanie Justa Leanie
Ooca Acla Trackalacka, I love you.
Take a peach, Take a plum
Take a piece of bubble gum.
Teacher, Teacher, Dummy Dum
Gimme back my bubble gum.
Saw you with your boyfriend last night.
How do you know?
I was peekin’ through the keyhold.
NOSY
Wash them dishes
LAZY
Jump out the window
CRAZY
Peaches on the tree, Bananas on the floor
Jump back baby. I Don't Love You No More!
- Donetta A. {Pittsburgh, PA 1984}; collected by Azizi Powell,
  1998; posted by Azizi on 2/26/2006

Editor:
Donetta, an African American woman I know, said she learned this rhyme when she was growing up from her cousin who visited her from the South. There are many versions of this rhyme. For instance, I've seen the line  "Jump back, baby I don't love you no more", often given as "Step back, baby etc". See "Ooh Ah" rhymes below for other examples that I believe are related to this large family of rhymes. 

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Eenie Meenie {Example #1}
Eenie Meanie
Oop pah leenie
Ooh aah umbaleenie
Ashie Mashie
Koh kah lashie
I_ love_ you
-Azizi Powell, childhood memories {Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s}

Editor:
These words are written phonetically. I have no idea what the correct spelling is. The underscore meaning a space before saying the next word. In my opinion, these Eenie Meenie rhymes aren't part of the "Eenie Meenie Minie Mo" family of rhymes, though they have that one line in common. However, there are many other children's rhymes that I believe are part of this family of rhymes. See other "Eenie Meenie" rhymes on this page. I've chosen to post together all of the examples starting with some form of "Eenie Meenie Oop Pah Leenie" or some such wording. I'm I'd love to post other versions of these rhymes. Send 'em in!

****
England, Ireland  {Elastics} {Version #3}
I played elastics in country Victoria, Australia in the mid seventies.
My children are now early primary school and I found "elastics" on the shelf at the toy shop... so I am researching and introducing it to my BOYS(to my husband's dismay - as it is a "girl's game") when we go camping next week.

The rhymes I remember are:
England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Inside, Outside, Monkey Pants
England, Ireland, Scotland Wales, Inside, Outside, Monkey Pants.
....
-Guest, Mrs Brown AUS; 4/2/2008; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=102; Child's Game: Elastics

Editor:
See "Old Lady Leary" below for another example from Guest, MrsBrown AUS.
 
****
England, Ireland  {Elastics} {Version #2}
Elastics used to be something everyone played... [Aus, Sydney]

Yeah, we used knickers elastics too, and it went from ankles, to knees, under-bums, hips, armpits then necks.

Some rhymes;
See "Jingle Jangle" posted below

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Inside outside inside on. [Basically the same.] as the movements she wrote for "Jingle Jangle" [You basically, straddle one side, bounce until you get to the next word. At inside outside, you do just that, jump inside then out side, continue the bouncing, then step on it]
-Guest,Cath.; 3/1/2008; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=98 ; RE: Child's Game: Elastics

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England, Ireland  {Elastics} {Version #1}
I used to play this in Brisbane, Australia back in the early 90s. The rhymes I can remember are:

England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Inside
Outside
Inside
Out
-Guest; 2/14/2008; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=98 ; RE: Child's Game: Elastics

****
Fudge, Fudge, Call The Judge
Fudge, fudge, call the judge, (Sally's*) having a baby.
Wrap it up in toilet paper, send it down the elevator,
What shall it be?
Boy, girl, twins, triplets, boy, girl, twins, triplets...
(repeat until jumper misses)
*substitute jumper's name
-Jon W.; 3/10/98 {from his 11 year old daughter};  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300 ;Cinderella Dressed In Yella

G,H
He Brought Me Ice Cream
He bought me ice-cream, he bought me cake He sent me home with a stomach ache Mama mama, I feel sick Call the docter, quick quick quick! Docter, docter, am I gunna die? Close your eyes and count to five 1,2,3,4,5- I'M ALIVE!!!!!!
-charley ; 5/23/2008

Editor:
This verse is often recited as part of the "Down Down Baby" {I Love Coffee I Love Tea} rhymes.

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Hello Hello Hello Sir {Jump Rope; Elastics Jumping}
Hello Hello Hello sir
meet you at the show sir
no sir
why sir
'cause I've got a cold sir
where'd you get the cold sir
at the north pole sir
what you dioing there sir
catching polar bears sir
how many did you catch sir
one sir
two sir
three sir
four sir
.... ten sir
all the rest were dead sir
how did they die sir
eating apple pie sir
what was in the pie sir
three dead flies sir
what was in the flies sir
three dead germs sir
what was in the germs sir
I don't know sir
shall we start again sir
no sir
why sir
because I've got a cold sir....
-Guest; 1/2/2007; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932&messages=98 ; RE: Child's Game: Elastics

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High How Peccalow {Version #3}
We have a different version of "high low peccalow" here (Herts, England).
Instead of peccalow it reads:

My names is ....
High Low Jigga-low
Jigga-low high Low
High Low Jigga-low
Jigga-low high

You hold onto your friend's right hand with yours and your left hands make contact.
When the song says high, you clap above the joined hands, when the song says low you clap below and when the song says Jigga you clap on the joined hands.
The aim is to run through the song as fast as possible without mucking up the clapping.
We're 17 now, but we still sometimes play it if we've nothing better to.
Usually the most muck ups happen on the second line where it goes low high.
-Guest ,Amon;  http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 "RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?"; 11/25/2007

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High How Jackalo {Version #2}
Very interesting how these rhymes etc. are spread across continents.

Version of the above, called "Jackalo", as a handclapping song, played by middle-class white British girls in private school, Essex, just outside Greater London, end 20th/beginning 21st century:

My name is [each partner holds hands together, palm to palm, as if "praying", then each pair of hands brushes the other]

Hands now parted. Partners face each other.
[Whilst the rest of the song is sung, left hand is held straight out, as if waiting to shake hands. Right hands meet, high and low, to match the rhythm of the song]:

Hi, low, Jackalo, Jackalo, Jackalo,
Hi, low, Jackalo, Jackalo and HIGH !
- jeanie; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100807; Gigalo & other children's rhymes &cheers; 4/15/2007

Editor:
Thanks jeanie for giving me permission to repost your example on Cocojams! Cocojams readers, click on that link to visit Mudcat Cafe. That website has a number of threads {discussions} about children's rhymes. Both guests and members can join in the discussion and add more examples. Also, don't forget to check out Cocojams Foot Stomping Cheers page for examples of the cheer Gigalo which are very much like these "High Low Piccalow" and "Hi Low Jackalo" handclap rhymes.

****
High How Peccalow {Version #1}
my name is high low peccalow,
peccalow,high low high low
peccalow peccalow yo
thats my name don't ware it out..
high low peccalow peccalow Yo

(try to tap the other person on the forehead before they tap you)
-Guest-me and my friends love this one; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 "RE: Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?"; 6/5/2007

Editor:
Cocojams readers, click on the link featured above for examples of handclap rhymes from the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Also, visit Cocojams' Foot Stomping Cheers page for examples of "Gigalo". That cheer includes the line "my hands up/ high my feet down low" which is similar to lines in this handclap rhyme.

****
Hollywood 
Both girls: Hollywood, Hollywood
Hollywood goes swingin
Partner #1: My name is Raya and I'm number 2
Kickin it with Scooby Doo
Hit me high
Hit me low
Hit me where you wanna go.
Repeat the entire rhyme with the partner #1 saying the lines that partner #1 said, but substituting her name or nickname and  preferably changing the number rhyme}
-ConRaya E. {11 years}; Sha'Ona K. {11 years}; African American girls; Pittsburgh, PA; 6/12/2008

Editor:
ConRaya and Sha'Ona demonstrated the performance of this rhymes and other rhymes & cheers for me. See "Momma Momma Can't You See, Version #5 on this page}. In response to my question, they confirmed that the line "hit me where you wanna go" refers to the girl's butt. See examples of this rhyme on Cocojams' Foot Stomping Cheers page. This rhyme was also performed in the late 1970s and 1980s as a foot stomping cheer. I'm not sure which performance activity came first-the handclap routine or the foot stomping cheer. Unfortunately, few people I have spoken with in Pittsburgh, PA area remember this rhyme being performed to foot stomps. However, this example retains the foot stomping lyrical structure and is therefore differentiated from the structure of most other handclap rhymes.   

I,J
I Don't Want To Go To School Anymore
Shame shame shame
I don't wanna go to school no more more more
There's a big fat teacher by the door door door
If she grabs you by the collar
Lord you better holler
I don't want to go to school no more more more

I've also heard a version of this where it was Mexico and a policeman
-Pogo; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 "I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes":
5/22/2005

Editor:
See below for other versions of this rhyme. Also, remember to visit Cocojams' Teacher Taunts page. I placed this rhyme  under "I" and not "S" because I believe that "Shame Shame Shame" is an introductory phrase and not the beginning of the actual rhyme. 

****
I Don’t Want To Go To Mexico {Example #3}
Shame Shame Shame.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
There’s a big fat policeman
at door, door, door.
He’ll grab you by the collar
and make you pay a dollar.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
“Shut the door!” 
-Breeana W. & Tonoya W.{Philadelphia, PA};
collected in 2001 by Azizi Powell, posted on Cocojams 5/12/2004

Editor:
I asked several of my young cousins at a family reunion if they knew any handclapping songs. They performed this one as a partner handclap {two people stand still, facing each other and alternately clap or slap one or two of the other person's hands}.  Each partner tries to be the first to say “shut the door!”  Whoever says it first, lightly flicks the other player on the side of their forehead and then points to them in a “Got ya!” manner.  Each girl leans back to try to not get flicked or tapped on the forehead. It's possible for both of them to get flicked or tapped at the same time. But no one is supposed to get angry about this. This is just one of several rhymes that I have collected that involve children getting flicked or tapped or hit during a rhyme or at the end of a rhyme.

****
I Don’t Want To Go To Mexico {Example #2}
Shame Shame Shame.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
There’s a big fat policeman
at door, door, door.
If he pulls you by the collar
girl, you better holler.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
Shame.
-African American girls & boys {5-12 years}, Pittsburgh, Penn.
collected in 1998 by Azizi Powell, posted on Cocojams 5/12/2004

Editor:
I collected this version in 1998 from a number of school aged African American girls and boys living in various Pittsburgh, PA. neighborhoods. 

"I Don’t Want To Go To Macy’s" {and similarly worded titles that include the word "Macy's"} is probably the source for "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" and other related children's rhymes. Roger Abraham notes in his collection Jump-Rope Dictionary that "I Don't Want To Go To Macy's" was documented as being performed by American children in 1938.  “Macy’s” is the name of a chain of department stores. The most famous Macy's store is located in New York City. My theory is that these children substituted "Mexico" for "Macys" since they weren't familiar with the "Macy's" store or the word “Macy’s”.  This is an example of “folk etymology”  Folk etymology occurs when people change foreign words or unfamiliar words into familiar words or sounds that are similar to the word they don’t know. 

I've posted a variant form of "I Don't Want To Go To Macy's" that is titled "I Won't Go To Macy's" below on this page. My theory is that these children substituted "Mexico" for "Macys" since they weren't familiar with the "Macy's" store or the word “Macy’s”. While I've seen a number of children perform "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area {as well as seeing my Philadelphia cousins perform it}, I've never seen anyone recite the words "I Don't Want To Go To Macy's". Also, no example of "I Don't Want To Go To Macy" that I have read includes the "Shame Shame Shame" introductory phrase or any introductory phrase. I've noticed these kinds of introductory phrases in a large number of African American children's rhymes. Often there also may be an ending phrase such as is found in this example. One seven year old Pittsburgh girl recited the same version that is presented above, but she started the rhyme by saying “Shine, shine, shine”. Because it appears to me that children try to make sense out of their rhymes,  and being ashamed of being caught by a policeman makes more sense in these rhymes than the word shine, I believe that "shine” is another example of “folk etymology” with the source word being "shame".

****
I Like Coffee. I Like Tea {Example #7}
I was taught this version of -I like coffee, I like tea- when I worked at a summer camp in Inkster, MI (suburb of Detroit) in 2002: I like coffee I like tea I like the colored boy an' he likes me so step back white boy you ain't fly i'll get the colored boy to beat your behind last night the night before i met my boyfriend at the candy store he bought me ice cream he bought me cake he brought me home with a belly ache momma, momma will i die close your eyes and count to 5 1-2-3-4-5 i'm alive
-Emily; 12/26/2007

Editor:
Emily, thanks for sending in this version of "I Like Coffee. I Like Tea". Thanks also for including demographical information {the  geographical location where you learned this rhyme, how you learned this rhyme, and the year you learned this rhyme}.

Cocojams readers, see the handclap rhyme titled "I'm A Nut In A Hut" that Emily also sent in.
 
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Take A Peach Take A Plum/ I Love Coffee, I love Tea {Version #6}
take a peach take a plum take a stick of bubblegum
no peach no plum just a stick of bubblegum
I like coffee and i like tea
I like a colored boy and he likes me
So step back whiteboy you don't shine
I get my colored boy to beat ya behind
He beat ya high
he beat ya low
he beat you all the way to Mexico
I saw you with ya boyfriend last night
How Do I know
I peeked out the window
Nosey!
I ate a bunch of candy
greedy!
I didn't take a shower
Dirty!
I didn't do my homework
Stupid!


*i forgot the rest*
- GeminiChix http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php ; February 28, 2006

Editor:
See examples of "Eenie Meenie Pepsa Deenie" on this page for rhymes that contain similar lines as this version of the "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" rhymes.

****
I Like Coffee. I Like Tea {Example #5}
Does anyone remeber the one that has I like coffee i like tea i like a black boy and he likes me so stand back white boys i know your shy I'll get a black boy to beat your behind he'll beat it rough he'll be it tough he'll beat it till you almost had enough.
do you remeber what was first i remember it had have a peach have a plum have a stick of bubble gum bot peach no plum no stick of bubble gum. But something comes before that
-GUEST,kerry; http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm , “Children's Street Songs”, 26 Aug 05

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I Love Coffee. I Love Tea {Example #4}
I love coffee
I love tea
I love a Black boy and he loves me
so step back White boy
you don't shine
I'mma get a Black boy to beat your behind

I met my boyfriend at the candy store.
He bought me ice-cream, he bought me cake,
he brought me home with a belly-ache.
Mamma, Mamma, I feel sick.
Call the doctor - quick, quick, quick.
Doctor, Doctor, will I die?
Count to five and you'll be alive.
1-2-3-4-5. I'm alive.
-collected by Azizi Powell, 1980s-2006; posted on 2/26/2006;

Editor:
This version is widely recited among African American girls in the Pittsburgh, Penn area from about the late 1980s-early 1990s to date {2006}. I've found the same or similar contemporary versions of this rhyme on various Internet sites for contemporary children's rhymes. I've also received the same version of this rhyme from persons in New York City, Georgia, and Maryland. This leads me to believe that this version may be quite widespread. Some examples of the Pittsburgh, PA rhyme that I've collected have this rhyming line at the end: "1-2-3-4-5. I'm alive." Less often, I've heard children say at the end "I'm Alive. And on channel 5". [This was added before there was a channel 5 television station in this area. There still may not be such a channel. The "5" was added because it rhymed with the word "alive"."]
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I Like Coffee I Like Tea {Version #3}
Zing, Zing, Zing,
and ah 1-2-3.
I like coffee, I like tea.
I like a black boy and he likes me.
So step back, white boy, you don't shine.
I'll get the black boy to beat your behind.

Last night and the night before.
I met my boyfriend at the candy store.
He bought me ice cream he bought me cake.
He brought me home with a belly ache.

Mama, mama, I feel sick
Call the doctor, quick, quick, quick
Doctor, doctor, will I die?
Close your eyes and count to five
1-2-3-4-5
I'm Alive!

See that house up on the hill.
That’s where me and my baby live.
Eat a piece of meat
Eat a piece of bread.
Come on baby. let’s go to bed
- Kayla {5 years old}; 2000
collected by Azizi Powell {Alafia Children’s Ensemble, Fort Pitt Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA, 2000}

Editor:
This example was collected during the "Show & Tell" segment of the after-school game song group, Alafia Children's Ensemble that I started and coordinated from 1997-2007. In these portion of the group, children were invited to share rhymes and game songs that they knew. A girl or boy could share these examples along, or with one or more other members of the group. It was customary for children to "sing" along if they knew the "song" that the child or children presented. The group enthusiastically  recited the words to this example along with the 5 year old girl. The girl ended with the words "I'm Alive" and the started to go back to her seat. However, she stopped and continued saying the rest of the rhyme. It appeared as though the rest of the group didn't know the words to that part of the rhyme. Also, many children in the group started sniggering when Kayla chanted the lines "Come on baby, let’s go to bed}. Kayla looked around in confusion. It seemed clear that she didn't understand why the other members of the group were laughing. I thanked Kayla and said some innocuous grown-up thing like "They were married", and quickly moved on to the next child who wanted to share a rhyme with the rest of group. Before Kayla left the group session that day, I privately asked her where she learned that rhyme. She said her mother had taught it to her. Interestingly enough, in the ten years that I conducted once a week after-school game song groups or special event {one time} game song sessions throughout many African American neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and some other surrounding communities, only one other child recited that entire verse-and that child was also a five year old girl who said she learned it from her mother. For the record, the  two neighborhoods where these girls lived were very distant from each other {East Liberty & Northview Heights}. As was the case in first time this entire rhyme was recited, the other group members who were older had recited the rest of the rhyme along with the girl who volunteered to share it, but appeared not to know the last, somewhat risque', verse of that rhyme.

My thanks to all former members, staff & volunteers of Alafia Children's Ensemble! I greatly appreciated the rhymes and game songs that you shared with other group members and me!

Also, see Guest, 12/15/2007's version of "Down By The Banks of The Hanky-Panky" on this page for a very similar use of that last verse that Kyla & the other 5 year old whose name I didn't record, used in their recitation of "I Love Coffee I Love Tea."

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I Love Coffee. I Love Tea {Example #2} Jump Rope rhyme
I love coffee
I love tea
I love the boys and they love me
-traditional; multiple sources

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I Love Coffee. I Love Tea {Example #1} Jump Rope rhyme
I love coffee
I love tea
I love {boy's name} and he loves me
-traditional; multiple sources

Editor:
There are many different versions of the rhyme "I Love Coffee, I Love Tea" {"I Like Coffee, I Like Tea"}. This family of rhymes is very closely related to "Down Down Baby". Since at least the late 1990s, or early 2000s, racial references and lines about fighting have become a part of some of these rhymes. I'm uncertain why that is, but wonder if these lines reflect the racial tensions between school children that may have occurred with the increased integrations of schools.  Visit Cocojams' Game Songs and Movement Rhymes Page for examples of "Down Down Baby" rhymes.    

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I'm A Little Navy Girl {Jump Rope Rhyme}
I'm a little navy (or sailor) girl dressed in blue,
This is what I have to do:
Salute to the captain, (salute & jump)
Curtsey to the queen, (curtsey & jump)
Touch the bottom of the dirty submarine!

(bending over and touching the ground without missing my jump was always difficult for me)
At this point, the jumper had to escape without being hit by the rope.

Jump rope rhymes mid 1960s, Oxon Hill, Maryland
-Ann N; 4/30/2007

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I'm A Nut In A Hut
I learned this hand clap from girls that I worked with at a summer camp in Inkster, MI (suburb of Detroit) in 2002: I'm a nut in a hut I stole my momma's pocket book so what (whatcha gonna do, kick my butt?) I'm craaazy I'm foooolish I'm crazy, I'm foolish I'm crazy, I'm foolish I'm C-O-O-L, cool don't you move ~While spelling out cool (C-O-O-L), you use your hand to form the letters, and afterwards fold your arms (and look tough!), stare at each other, and whoever moves first (like a staring contest) loses.
-Emily; 12/26/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Emily, for sending in this handclap rhyme. Thanks, also for including information about where, how, and when you learned this rhyme. It's also interesting to read how important drama is in the performance of this rhyme and many other children's rhymes. Although I've heard the "stole my mother's pocket book", I've never heard or read this rhyme before. I'm wondering if any other Cocojams readers know this rhyme or know one that is similar to it.

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In The Land Of France
In the land of France
Where the elephants all dance
One wouldn't dance
so they kicked him in the pants.
The pants he wore
cost a dollar eighty four.
-GUEST; 3/31/2008 ; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46932 ; Child's Game: Elastics

Editor:
Thanks to GUEST, and all other Mudcat Discussion Forum members and guests whose examples of rhymes are reposted on Cocojams. Learn about the children's game of elastics which is also known as "French skipping" by clicking on that link. The rhyme "In The Land of France" is part of the family of children's rhymes which include the titles "All The Girls In France"; In The Land Of Mars", In The Land of Oz"; "There's A Place In France" and There's A Place In Mars". See examples of some of these rhymes on this page. Also, visit http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=There%20is%20a%20place%20in%20France for more examples from this family of rhymes. Do you remember reciting any versions of these rhymes? Please send them in to Cocojams! Along with the words that you remember, please include demographical information, particularly where you played the rhyme you remember {city, state & nation, if outside the USA}, when you played first remember playing it {year or decade}, and how you played it {jump rope rhyme, handclap rhyme, elastics or ??} Thanks!

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In The Land Of Mars {Version #2}
In the land of mars where the babys smoke cigars and the men wear bikinis and the women drink martinis and the stuff they drink is enough to kill a mink when the mink is dead they put flowers in its head when the flowers die they put diamonds in its eyes when the diamonds break its enough to bake a cake when the cake is baked its 1991, 92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99, 2000!
We sang that in elementary school in Pennsylvania.
-Aubri; 4/15/2007

Editor:
Thanks, Aubri, for sending in this rhyme. I've wondered why no one has sent in a version of this rhyme before. Btw, thanks also for adding demographical information {the name of your state and, maybe, the year you started reciting this rhyme and stopped reciting it since you started the years with 1991 and ended with the year 2000.

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In The Land Of Mars {Version #1}
In the land of mars
where the ladies smoke cigars
and the smoke they make
is enough to kill a snake
when the snake is dead
they put roses in its head
when the rose has dies
they put diamonds in his eyes
when the diamonds fade
in the year of seventeen seventeen seventeen EIGHT
-steve http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php ; 12/3/2006

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I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag {Version #2}
i pledge alegence to the flag michael jackson is a fag coca-cola beat him up doctor pepper fix him up now you're drinking 7-up we use to say this in grade school in the 90's
-Samantha; 3/15/2008

Editor:
Samantha, thanks for sending in this rhyme. I would like to say, however, that I'm very