Playing For Change Singers & Musicians Perform Stevie Wonder's Song "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the song "Higher Ground" performed by singers and musicians associated with the Playing For Change Foundation.

Information about Playing For Change is included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for composing this song, thanks to all singers and musicians who are featured in this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those associated with the production of this video.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/07/stevie-wonder-higher-ground-information.html for the pancocojams post entitled
"Stevie Wonder - "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, and comments),"
That post contains information about and lyrics for Stevie Wonder's song "Higher Ground".

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE "PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION"
From https://playingforchange.org/about/
"HISTORY, MISSION, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION
Playing For Change arose from a common belief that music has the power to connect people regardless of their differences. In 2005, a small group of filmmakers set out with a dream to create a film rooted in the music of the streets. Not only has that dream been realized, it has grown into a global sensation that has touched the lives of millions of people around the world...

When the crew set out, they created a mobile recording studio and went around the world filming musicians in the places where they lived. The sound was then mixed, and although the musicians were never in the same room—or even the same country or continent—they were unified through music with each contributing her or his distinct gifts to the whole. While traveling the world to film and record, the crew got to know the music and people of each community they visited. Those involved wanted to give something back to the musicians who had shared so much with them.

In 2007, the Playing for Change Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Our mission is to create positive change through music and arts education. As one of our students in Nepal stated, “Music is an indispensable part of life -‐ you cannot live without music.” We couldn’t agree more. At the Playing For Change Foundation, we live our lives by this principle and apply it to everything we do."

Higher Ground | Playing For Change | Song Around the World



Playing For Change, Published on Sep 6, 2011

This video is from our second album, "PFC2: Songs Around The World." "Higher Ground" is a song that speaks of the perseverance it takes to reach the higher consciousness. Let's all keep trying together, one heart and one song at a time, until we all reach the Higher Ground.
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Gill T, 2014
"One People!"

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2. noel cruz, 2014
"If there is one thing that is truly consistent in this world, it's that people like to groove."

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3. MissDistarr60, 2016
"I have been sitting here listening to what I consider to be one of the most incredible pieces of music I've heard. Then I pondered on how many times in a row I would end up listening too it because I couldn't stop replaying. Much respect to those involved in the creation of this music and the idea and inspiration of this project. Outstanding and thank you."

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4. MissDistarr60, 2016
"The recording of this amazing song blows me away each and every time I listen to it. Thank you PFC. Keep up the brilliant and very meaning full work. You help make our whispers into a loud and united voice and we need all the help we can get if we want to make a change. Thank you once again!"

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5. Trellompatzanakisa8, 2016
"Sleepers, just stop sleeping, cause it won't be too long............ Absolutely amazing tune!"
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This is a line from the lyrics for Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground". Click the link for the pancocojams post given above for this song to find the complete lyrics.

"Sleepers...stop sleeping" refers to being "conscious" and alert to social issues, as per the contemporary "Stay woke!" movement.

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6. SmokinJoe347, 2016
"People that don't play don't really appreciate just how good these Musicians are, they are countries apart/don't know each other/play differing styles but still come together like they're in the same studio and as a musician myself I have to say, darned impressive. They are "Tighter" than some bands that are together all the time and the music say's it all really......"

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7. Tee Bee, 2017
"ADDICTIVE, I've become a huge fan of Playing for Change. I can't stop viewing you guys' work. Keep it up! Great stuff."

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REPLY
8. Playing For Change, 2017
"Thank you so much for the encouragement!"

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9. JRC 71, 2017
"You guys' make awesome music. Keep on!"

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10. Suze Dunmow, 2017
"Such fabulous music.... Playing For Change.... brings a smile when I feel so down about the human race...."

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11. le chat, 2017
"Suze Dummow - Yes, it gives hope."

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12. Darla Brown, 2017
"Awesome! Clarence Bekker has a beautiful voice"

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13. Flierman, 2017
"Wow great song, great version...so funky!"

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14. Will Webster, 2017
"to be fair whoever edited these clips to make a vid needs a medal - man alive thats some skills"

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15. pancho villa, 2017
"Amazing how they put this together 🤔"

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16. Brian Kingsman, 2017
"playing for change , simply some of the best MUSIC I have seen and heard , so much talent in everything you guys and gals do"

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17. Darcy Cropp< 2018
"Darla Brown and powerful! See how far back from the mic he stands for Stand by Me"

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18. Ron Carpenter, 2018
"To the person who did the mixing: You are a genius. I hope your work becomes available on cd, better yet video, if it hasn't already."

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Stevie Wonder - "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, and comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the song "Higher Ground" performed by its composer, Stevie Wonder.

Information about this song and its lyrics are included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "HIGHER GROUND"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_Ground_(Stevie_Wonder_song)
" "Higher Ground" is a funk song written by Stevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 album Innervisions. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Wonder wrote and recorded the song in a three-hour burst of creativity in May 1973.[4] The album version of the song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version.... Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums and percussion.

[...]

"Higher Ground" is a funk song written by Stevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 album Innervisions. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Wonder wrote and recorded the song in a three-hour burst of creativity in May 1973.[4] The album version of the song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version. The unique wah-clavinet sound in the song was achieved with a Mu-Tron III envelope filter pedal. The bass line is provided by a Moog synthesizer and using overdubs, Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums and percussion.

[...]

Subject
The song lyrics address the issue of reincarnation. Wonder commented, when interviewed by The New York Times:

I would like to believe in reincarnation. I would like to believe that there is another life. I think that sometimes your consciousness can happen on this earth a second time around. For me, I wrote "Higher Ground" even before the accident. But something must have been telling me that something was going to happen to make me aware of a lot of things and to get myself together. This is like my second chance for life, to do something or to do more, and to value the fact that I am alive.[5]

[...]

Critical reception
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 265 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, adding: "'Higher Ground' was recorded just before Wonder was involved in a near-fatal accident in August 1973 that left him in a coma. Early in Wonder's recovery, his road manager sang the song's melody into the singer's ear; Wonder responded by moving his fingers with the music."[6]...

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LYRICS: HIGHER GROUND
(Stevie Wonder)

[Verse 1]
People keep on learning
Soldiers keep on warring
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long

[Verse 2]
Powers keep on lying
While your people keep on dying
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long

[Chorus]
I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Because my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Going to keep on trying
Until I reach my highest ground

[Verse 3]
Teachers keep on teaching
Preachers keep on preaching
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long
Oh no

[Verse 4]
Lovers keep on loving
Believers keep on believing
Sleepers just stop sleeping
Because it won't be too long
Oh no

[Chorus]
I'm so glad he let me try it again
Because my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Going to keep on trying
Until I reach my highest ground
No one's going to bring me down

[Outro]
Until I reach my highest ground
No one's going to bring me down
Oh no
Until I reach my highest ground
Don't let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)


Source: https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-higher-ground-lyrics

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SHOWCASE VIDEO - "Higher Ground" Stevie Wonder 1974



WestLAGuy, Published on Dec 27, 2012

During his 1974 European Tour Stevie Wonder did a live performance on The Beat Club,

Here's "Higher Ground" from INNERVISIONS. On that album Stevie Wonder played ALL the instruments including drums.. On guitar just behind Wonder and to his right is MARLO HENDERSON behind and to Stevie's right, Reggie McBride on bass. Michael Sembello on guitar and T.O.N.T.O.synthesizer, and Ollie E. Brown kickin' ass and takin' names on drums.
Backing Vocals I'm pretty sure should be listed as Denice Williams, Lani Groves and Tasha Thomas.

I played around with the mix to brighten and balance it some.
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers assigned for referencing purposes only)
1. ccth22, 2013
"That drummer was no joke!"

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2. Aaron Thomas, 2014
"PROVOCATIVE, RELEVANT, AND ALWAYS ON POINT...STEVIE WONDER"

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2015
3. Fabián Fornaroli
"Love this man, his fantastic voice and his music... is amazing!!!"

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4. videogameobsession
"I love how Stevie asking to have his monitor levels turned up somehow sounds like it belongs in that part of the song. ;)"

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REPLY
5. She Organizes Houston
"Yes indeed! He's a true professional!"

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6. Liza B
"I get shivers form the beat and the lyrics.
such amazing tune for the soul!"

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7. Shayne O'Neill
"Stevie wonder has a brutally good left hand technique. He's pulling the rythm off that Flea does on the bass on the chilli peppers version, and honestly if you didn't know, you could be forgiven for thinking its the bassist doing it here."

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REPLY
8. dbltrplx, 2016
"AND he is singing a perfect cadence"

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9. King James Mayo
"I love this song stevie kill it"
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"Kill it" here is a high compliment.

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2016
10. wil25z
"Get it, Stevie!!!!!!"

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11. Mark Despatis
"I came here to listen how Stevie played and sang this song. Yesterday (2 April 2016) I listened to a video that included musicians from all over the world in their countries. I think it is an amazing collaboration. The singers Titi Tsira and Clarence Bekker from South Africa and the Netherlands."
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/07/playing-for-change-singers-musicians.html for a pancocojams post on Playing For Change's rendition of this song.

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2017
12. Kurt Adams
"MOTOWN Masterpiece"

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13. Dixie Dale
"You can see Stevie's beloved MuTron II synthesizer at 1:55, which gave his keyboard the famed quacking sound. He even did print ads for this device. Google it."

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14. stonedog23
"Look at the legends that was in his band! And Deniece Williams back there grooving!"

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15. Joost den Houdijker
""No pharmaceutical product could ever equal the rush you get when the band hits that groove, the people are dancing, shouting, and swaying, and the house is rocking!"

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16. Jorge Hernandez
"Awesome live performance !"

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17. Inge Spruyt
"That audience's reaction! Haha..."

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18. Ricky El Diablo
"This much funk is not safe"

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REPLY
19. Pa Tero
"Richard El Diablo Live dangerous!! 😂"

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20. The Omega Point
"I love this song ❤️❤️🙌🏻 so powerful !!"

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21. Ed Rekers
"Thank you for posting,WestLAGuy. Stevie Wonder!!! This is a great group playing with Mr. Wonder too!! This took place over 40 years ago and Stevie Wonder continues on strong today. Wonderful!"

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2018
22. Tzvi Gluckin
"The guitarist labeled “Shuggie Otis” in the video is actually Marlo Henderson. The other guitarist (with the big hollow body) is Michael Sembello (he had a huge solo hit in the ‘80s with “Maniac,” which was also in the movie “Flashdance”)."

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23. liviusss
"Iconic!"

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24. racketman2u
"god, these videos of legends in their younger days are such GOLD! great post."

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15. Aaron Frick
"Can not decide whether or not I like this or the Red Hot Chili Peppers version better."

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REPLY
16. WestLAGuy
"Why not just like them both?"

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27. Lucas Caique
"Yeah. RHCP did cover of this. And it's pretty good. But f&&k* it. The original can't be touched, it has so much energy, so much power. RHCP did a good job, but they didn't bring anything new to the song."
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*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

RHCP= Rd Hot Chili Peppers [band]

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18. 16 VBN
"After all these years I thought red hot hot chili peppers were the original singers of this song. I'm ashamed to be misled."

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19. KutWrite
"Rhis version seems to stop before it's over!

I checked the full show, though, and they do stop there. Too bad... someone was going to do a great guitar solo!"

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30. Darren Winter
"Tuuune!!!"

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31. Melody Sanger
"HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY STEVLAND HARDAWAY MORRIS "STEVIE WONDER"
(MAY 13, 2018)"

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32. Michael Harvill
"One of the marks of a great artist is that they sound fantastic live."

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"Ronald McDonald A Biscuit" & Other Children's Rhymes That Include The Words "A Biscuit" (Information, Comments, & Examples)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- July 15, 2018

This pancocojams post provides information about the words "a biscuit" in certain African American originating children's recreational rhymes.

This post also showcases examples of playground rhymes that include the words "a biscuit".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.

Thanks to all who are quoted in this post.
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This post is a revision of the 2014 cocojams2 post "A Biscuit" Phrase In Playground Rhymes (Examples & Its Possible Source)" http://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-biscuit-phrase-in-playground-rhymes.html "A Biscuit" Phrase In Playground Rhymes (Examples & Its Possible Source)

Content that is found in this post was also included in a now deleted 2014 pancocojams post entitled "The "A Biscuit" Refrain In "Down Down Baby" & Certain Other Playground Rhymes"

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS
"A biscuit rhymes" is my term for playground rhymes that include the words "a biscuit" as a refrain or include a folk processed form of those words.

Here's some comments about these "a biscuit" verses in contemporary children's recreational rhymes:
Connections between the 19th century "A Tisket A Tasket" rhyme and the Jazz song of that title and the "a biscuit" children's rhymes:
I used to think that the word "biscuit" in these contemporary American children's recreational rhymes was used because it rhymed with the nonsense* words "tiscuit" and "tasket" that are from the 19th century "A Tiskit A Tasket" rhymes and/or the Jazz song with that title. I now think that the word "biscuit" in those rhymes probably has nothing to do with those older rhymes and song. However, for the folkloric record, information about "A Tiscuit A Tasket" is provided in the Addendum to this post.

*According to a commenter on https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/a-tisket-a-tasket.1783783/ "[a tisket a tasket] "doesn't mean anything - these are nonsense words that rhyme with basket.". This conclusion is found on other websites.

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Why is the word "biscuit" used in these contemporary recreational rhymes?
Now I believe that the entire time I was wracking my brain for some heavy duty answer, the reason why the word "biscuit" was used in these contemporary children's recreational rhymes was staring me in the face.

It occurs to me that "ah biscuit" refrains are part of "I have a boyfriend" verses. Those verses are combined with other rhymes as occurs with most African American originated children's recreational rhymes. In the beginning of those "I have a boyfriend" verses, after stating that she "has a boyfriend", the chanter describes him as being "so sweet". As such, "sweetness" ties into the "a biscuit" refrain, since one way of eating biscuits was with jelly or jam on top. Furthermore, I believe that "a biscuit" is a shortened form of "as a biscuit" or "like a biscuit".

Here's one example, given below as #5 that conveys the analogy between the boyfriend being sweet and biscuits with jelly or jam being sweet":
"I've got a boyfriend, a-biskit,
He's as sweet as a-biskit,
Ice-cream sugar with a cherry on the top,
Ice-cream sugar with a cherry on the bottom,"...
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Note that in African American Vernacular English, the word "sweet" can have a negative connotation for homosexuality when used to describe a male. but that connotation isn't meant or implied in these children's recreational rhymes.

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Some examples of "a biscuit rhymes" include the word "triscuit". Instead of "triscuit" being a form of the word "tiscuit" in the rhyme/song "A Tiscuit A Tasket", I think it's more likely that "triscuit" is refers to the Nabisco cracker snack with that name. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triscuit for information about "Triscuits".

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Dating the "a biscuit" verses:
The examples of "a biscuit refrain rhymes" that I have found thus far date from 1967 on, with the clip given in the Pizza Pizza Daddy-O film [a clip of which is embedded below] being the earliest example that I've found of those rhymes.

Many of these examples also mention "Ronald McDonald",the mascot for McDonald's fast food franchises. Because that mascot was first created in 1963*, rhymes that include the name "Ronald McDonald can't be older than that date. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_McDonald. I'd love to know if anyone remembers chanting a rhyme with "a biscuit" used as a refrain prior to the 1970s.

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The African American origin of contemporary rhymes that include "a biscuit" verses:
It should be noted that "Ronald McDonald", "Down Down Baby" rhymes, "I've Got A Boyfriend", and the other verses that are featured in this his post [except the 19th century rhyme given in Wikipedia] are probably of African American origin. That African American origin is documented by contributor demographics for the earliest collected examples, and is reflected in the structure, vernacular English, word pronunciation**, topical references, and other content of those examples as well as in the rhymes' performance activities. These statements don't mean that all of the versions of the rhymes that are showcased in this post were composed by African Americans.)

Also, in these a biscuit" rhymes, the word "a" in the phrase "ah biscuit" is pronounced "ah" which is the way that many African Americans generally pronounced that word in our informal conversations.

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SELECTED EXAMPLES OF "A BISCUIT" RHYMES
These examples are published in chronological order based on their publication date online, their publication date in the books from which I retrieved them, or the date that I collected them from face to face contacts. The oldest dated examples are presented first. The rhyme example from the movie Big is presented based on the date of that movie's release.

I've assigned numbers to these rhymes for referencing purposes only. These examples are given as they were found online or in books, or as I transcribed them from my direct collection sources. [Note: A few of these examples are different from the examples given in the cocojams2 post whose link is given above.]

These examples are given without any text analysis.

All of these examples are probably "hand games" (hand clap rhymes), although the performance activity isn't always noted.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of what I refer to as "ah biscuit" (refrain) rhymes.

1. DOEMINIQUE DOEMINIQUE
Doeminique, Doeminique
Doemenique a biscuit
Ooh chee chee wah wah
A biscuit

How do you like your lover?
A biscuit

He’s so fine oh.
Like as cherry wine oh
A biscuit.

How do you know it isn’t so
Ice cream
ice cream
Soda pop
soda pop
Gingerale
Gingerale
Seven-Up
Seven-Up
Now it’s time to do your thing,
Now freeze!
-Eleanor Fulton and Pat Smith [editors]: Let's Slice the Ice: A Collection of Black Children's Ring Games and Chants (Magnamusic, June 1, 1978; no page number given)
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Here are the directions for the clap pattern that is provided in that book. I apologize for not knowing how to re-type clap pattern with the words as it was is given that book, but here's the text of that pattern:

Words of chant Doeme-nique, doeme-nique, doeme-nique a biscuit

One child has one palm facing up (toward the ceiling) and one palm facing downward (toward the floor); the other child turns the opposite palms up and down to strike his partner’s (hand) in the clap.

Each partner reverses the position of his palms

Point the right thumb back over the shoulder

Point the left thumb over the shoulder

On “a biscuit” point the right thumb back and then the left thumb back. The clap pattern described above is repeated for five times. Then continue the “palm up-palm down” pattern through the rest of the chant. Freeze in place on the last word!

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2. DOWN DOWN BABY [From the movie Big]
....Ooh! The spades go, Down! Down! Baby!
Down! Down the roller coaster!
Sweet, sweet baby!
Sweet, sweet delectable!
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pop!
Shimmy, shimmy rock!
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pop!
Shimmy, shimmy rock!
I met a girlfriend a triscuit!
She said a triscuit a biscuit!
Ice cream, soda pop,
vanilla on the top!
Ooh Shelly, walking down the street,
ten times a week!
I met it! I said it!
I stole my mother's credit!
I'm cool! I'm hot!
Sock me in the stomach three more times!

-http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/b/big-script-transcript-tom-hanks.html; The Big movie was released in 1988.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/12/sources-of-big-movie-rap-shimmy-shimmy.html "Sources Of The Movie Big's Rap Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop [Part 1]"

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html "The REAL Meaning Of "The Spades Go" & "The Space Go" In Playground Rhymes".

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3. DOWN DOWN BABY
Down Down Baby
Down by the Roller Coaster
Ah Biscuit
Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pah
Ah Biscuit
Um Shar Shara
Uh she she ahwa
Ah Biscuit
I had ah boyfriend
Ah Biscuit
He’s so fine
Ah Biscuit
Like a cherry pie
AH Biscuit
Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pah
Um Shar Shara
Uh she she ahwa>
I wanna tickle you.
-Diamond, Quala, Ashley, (African American females,under 10 years old); Quinton, Javonte (African American males, under 10 years old); 7/1999; Hand clap rhyme, collected by Azizi Powell, 7/1999 in Duquesne, Pennsylvania

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4. Domino, Domino, Domino biscuit
Ooh chi chi wa wa a biscuit
Kisha’s gotta lover a biscuit
He’s so sweet a biscuit
Like a cherry tree a biscut
Ice cream soda ginger ale pop
Hop on the initial of your sweetheart

Or…

Kisha’s got a lover a biscuit
He’s so sour a biscuit
Needs to take a shower a biscuit
-Kisha, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=31403&page=6 "Old School Chants, 04-02-2003
-snip-
Posters to this blog thread were members of historically Black Greek letter sororities. I think that this example was performed as a hand clap rhyme.

Although no dates are given for most of their comments, from some other things that were mentioned, such as just completing university, my guess is that these "old school chants" are from the early 1980s to the mid 1980s. For instance, although one blogger gave a sub-heading for her post of "the 70s", three bloggers shared examples of a Coca Cola ad jingle ("Have A Coke And A Smile" that aired in 1981. Also, one blogger mentioned her age in 2003 as 23 years old, another blogger indicated that she remembered the rhyme she shared "from the 1985-ish Houston [Texas], and another rhyme included the slang word "fly" which gained popularity because of the 1995 Boogie Boy's record "Fly Girl".

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5. RONALD MCDONALD
Ronald McDonald, a-biskit,
Ronald McDonald, a-biskit,
Ah, shoo-shoo-shoo-wa-wa a-biskit,
I've got a boyfriend, a-biskit,
He's as sweet as a-biskit,
Ice-cream sugar with a cherry on the top,
Ice-cream sugar with a cherry on the bottom,
Down, down, baby, down down the rollercoaster,
Sweet, sweet, baby, I'll never let you go.
Sugar sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, pow!
Sugar sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, pow! (Poke each other in tummy)
-http://ctac.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/biogs/E000440b.htm

Ronald McDonald
Functions: Clapping Game, Language Play and Physical Play
Ronald McDonald is a rhyme that accompanies a clapping game played by some girls.

Details: At School 05
Players: 2
Girls
Age: 11
-snip-
I think that "05" means "2005".

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6. DOWN DOWN BABY
Here's a pretty innocuous version. Clapping rhyme, Atlantic City NJ, late 70's:

Down Down Baby, down by the roller coaster
Sweet Sweet Baby, my heart's in love
Ooh, che-chihuahua
Biscuit
I solemnly love her
Biscuit
She is so sweet
Biscuit
Like a cherry treat
Biscuit
Touche Turtle, pull down your girdle
Biscuit
Ruth Archer, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653&messages=29 "Down Down Baby-Race in Kid's Rhymes", 10 Apr 07
-snip-
For the record, I was an active blogger on this same folk music forum. I wasn't aware that Ruth Archer was from my hometown of Atlantic City, New Jersey until I received an email from her with this example and another rhyme example.

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7. RONALD MCDONALD
Ronald Mcdonald
A biscuit
Ronald Mcdonald
A biscuit
Ah shimmy shimmy walla walla
Biscuit
I've got a boyfried a biscuit
He is as sweet as a biscuit
Ice cream soda with a cherry on the top
Ice cream soda with a cherry on the top
Down Down baby
Down down the rollercoaster
Sweet Sweet baby, I will never let you go
Shimmy Shimmy coco pop
Shimmy shimmy pow
Shimmy Shimmy coco pop
Shimmy shimmy POW!
-Pistachionut, http://www.dance.net/topic/7106059/1/General/Do-you-remember-those-old-rhymes-you-d-sing-as-a-kid.html "re: Do you remember those old rhymes you'd sing as a kid?", Wed Apr 23, 2008

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8. I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE CHARLIE BROWN
I went downtown to see Charlie Brown
He gave me a nickle to buy a pickle
The pickle was sour so he gave me a flower
The flower was dead so this is what he said
Down Down Baby
Down Down The Roller Coaster
Sweet sweet baby sweet sweet I love you so
Shimmy Shimmy coco pop
Shimmy shimmy rah
Shimmy shimmy coco pop
shimmy shimmy rah
I had a boyfriend
a biscuit!
He's so cute...
a triscuit!
Apples on the table,
Peaches on the floor

Step out baby I dont love you anymore!

To the front

To the back

To the side side side

To the front

to the back

to the side side side

Abraham Lincoln sat on a bench

tried to make a dollor out of 50 cents

He missed

He missed

He missed like this !
- kaitlyn renee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdl8NVSJ_Jo "Blast From The Past :]" , Uploaded on May 3, 2009
-snip-
This was in the publisher’s summary statement for that video.

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9. DOWN DOWN BABY
me and my friends do down down baby like this even when we are still 6 years old so it goes like this
down down baby

down down the rollacouster

sweet sweet baby

sweet sweet don't let me go

i have a boyfriend a BISQUIT

he so cute a BIQUIT

apples on the table petch in the frot [floor]

step on baby i don't love you any more

to the front to the back

to the side to the side

to the front to the back

to the side to the side and . . . FREEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-TIFFINILE, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTFdsz8llOI, July 2010
-snip-

This example was given as a comment in that video's discussion thread. I reformatted this example from its run-on sentence form.

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10. RONALD MCDONALD A BISCUIT
I can only remember the down down baby one, our version went like this

Ronald McDonald, ooh ahh a biscuit
Ronald McDonlad, ooh ahh a biscuit
A-shishi-wa-wa, a biscuit
I've got a boyfriend, a biscuit
He's so-oo sweet, a biscuit

Sweeter than an ice-cream, cherry on top
Sweeter than an ice-cream, cherry on top

Down down baby, down down the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet baby, I'll never let you go

Shimmy shimmy cocopop, shimmy shimmy wow!
Shimmy shimmy cocopop, shimmy shimmy pow!



I can't believe that I remember all that!!
-snip-
mal'occhio, 18 November 2010 http://www.essentialkids.com.au/forums/index.php?/topic/845958-hand-clapping-games/

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11. RONALD MCDONALD A BISCUIT
Me and my friends do a ronald mcdonald hand clapping game it goes like this.................?
Ronald Mcdonald [clap clap] a biscuit x2
a chooochoowaawaa a biscuit
i gotta boyfriend a biscuit
he's so sweet as a biscuit
i cant let u go [hug]
ice cream sundae with a cherry on the top
ice cream sundae with a cherry on the bottom
down down down down the rollercoaster
i i luuuv [whatever you like]
boom boom boom boom pow
boom boom boom moo cow
can u guys tell me any other ones
-Taiza, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111217165758AA9Z431, 2011

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12. MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA
"Miss Sue. Miss Sue. Miss Sue from my Ala-bama, Ari-zona, Ala-ska. Sittin' on the r'a'cker eatin' that cracker, watchin' that clock go 'Tick-tock. Tick-tock-sha-wala-wala. Tick-tock. Tick-tock-sha-wala-wala.' A-B-C-D-E-F-G--Wash them haters off'a me. Kaboosha! Kaboosha! I see my mommy! Kaboosha! Kaboosha! I know Karate! Kaboosha, Kaboosha! Oops, I'm sorry! Kaboosha, Kaboosha! Bet'cha can't see me!" And then you freeze. Lol
-FudgeSundae22, 01/16/12 [cocojams.com]
-snip-
I think that "Kaboosha" is a folk processed form of "a biscuit".

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13. DOWN DOWN BABY
Down down baby
Down by the rollorcoaster
Sweet sweet baby
Mama never lets you go
Shimmy shimmy cocoa puffs
Shimmy shimmy wow
Shimmy shimmy cocoa puffs
Shimmy shimmy break it down
I have a boyfriend
A biscuit
He is as sweet as
a biscuit
Down down baby
Down by the rollorcoaster
Sweet sweet baby
Mama never lets you go< GUEST, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653&messages=29 "Down Down Baby-Race in Kid's Rhymes", 02 Oct 13

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14. DOWN DOWN BABY
THEY DID IT WRONG IT GOES DOWN DOWN BABY DOWN DOWN THE ROLLERCOASTER SWEET SWEET BABY SWEET SWEET DONT LET ME GO CHIME CHIME COCANAUT CHIME CHIME RAH CHIME CHIME COCANOUT CHIME CHIME RAE I HAVE A BOYFRIEND,A. BISCUIT HES SO SWEET,A BISCUIT APPLES ON THE TABLE PEACHES ON THE FLOOR STEP OUT BABY I DONT WANT YOU AY MORE!!!!!THATS THE PROPPER WAY TO IT BUT WITH THE SAME RYTHM
-Kassandra Vasquez, [comment in the discussion thread for the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLNpgWmx1PM "Mcdonalds hand game", September 2014
-snip-
The rhyme that was chanted in the video is "Welcome To McDonalds". That version doesn't include any "a biscuit" refrain.

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15. RONALD MCDONALD A BISCUIT
Ronald McDonald, a biscuit (accompanied by thumbs pointing back over the shoulders, first one, then the other)

Ronald McDonald, a biscuit
oh shu shu wa wa a biscuit
ive got a girlfriend a biscuit
shes so sweet a biscuit
sweeter than a cherry treat a biscuit
icecream soda with a cherry on top
icecream soda with a cherry on top
Down, down, baby
Down, down the roller coaster (accompanied by the hand making a horizontal wave motion)
Sweet, sweet, baby (accompanied by both arms crossing the chest)
I'll never let you go
Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop
Shimmy, Shimmy POW! (accompanied by punching the air with a fist just below chest-level)
Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop
Shimmy, Shimmy POW!
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Down_Baby (Eastern Massachusetts Version), quote retrieved November 2, 2014

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16. Ooh shishy wah wah ta biscuit*
I've got a boyfriend ta biscuit
He is the sweetest ta biscuit
Ice cream soda with a cherry on top
Ice ream soda with a cherry on bottom
Down down baby, down by the roller coaster
Sweet sweet baby I will never let you go
Just because I kissed you doesn't mean I love you
Ice cream soda with a cherry on top
Ice cream soda with a cherry on bottom
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Down_Baby , Southern New Hampshire version (late 70's), quote retrieved November 2, 2014
-snip-
*This line may not be the beginning of this rhyme.

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17. The train goes...
Down down baby,
Down down the rollercoaster,
Sweet sweet mama,
My hearts love.
Shimmy shimmy cola bottle,
Shimmy shimmy rock!
Shimmy shimmy cola bottle,

Shimmy shimmy rock!

I gotta best friend,

Likes some biscuits,

She gotta best friend,

Likes some biscuits,

Ice cream cone with a cherry on top,

Ice cream cone with a cherry on top,

T-O-P spells,

T-O-P spells,

T-O-P spells,

TOP TOP TOP!
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Down_Baby (Eastern Massachusetts Version) (Heard in Liverpool, UK), quote retrieved November 2, 2014

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18. RONALD MCDONALD
the version i sing is:
Ronald Mcdonald, a biscuit, Ronald McDoanald, a biscuit, i got a boyfriend a biscuit he's so sweet as a biscuit, ice cream cherry with the cherry on the top, ice cream cherry with the cherry on the bottom, down down baby down by the roller coaster sweet sweet baby i'd never let u go, shimmy shimmy coconut shimmy shimmy up, shimmy shimmy coconut shimmy shimmy down, shimmy shimmy coconut shimmy shimmy bow wow whoop cow. PLUS i call it Ronald Mc Donald
-samantha fox, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCyBMztWUFk [comment from this video's discussion thread; [Note comments are no longer accepted for this video.]

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A VIDEO CLIP OF A SINGING GAME THAT INCLUDES AN "A BISCUIT" REFRAIN
Pizza Pizza Daddy-O



folkstreamer, Uploaded on Aug 3, 2006

A 1967 film by Bob Eberlein and Bess Lomax Hawes that looks at continuity and change in girls' playground games at a Los Angeles school
-snip-
This clip shows only a very small portion of the "A Biscuit" rhyme [the first game shown] as well clips of other singing games. However, the film documents that a rhyme with an "a biscuit" refrain was performed as a circle game in 1967.

Here's my transcription of that "A Biscuit" rhyme which I think is part of an "I Have A Boyfriend" rhyme:
"Dum de dum
Dum de dum
A biscuit
Dum de dum
Dum de dum
A biscuit
Ooh she she wah wah
a biscuit"...

In contrast to the circle formation that is shown in this video, the "I Have A Boyfriend" rhymes that are found in this pancocojams post were probably chanted while performing two partner hand clap rhymes.

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ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT THE "A TISKET A TASKET" RHYME AND SONG
Here's information about the rhyme & song "A Tiscuit A Tasket"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Tisket,_A-Tasket[retrieved July 14, 2018]
"A Tisket A Tasket" is a nursery rhyme first recorded in America in the late nineteenth century.[1][2] It was used as the basis for a very successful and highly regarded 1938 recording by Ella Fitzgerald. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 13188.

Traditional lyrics
The rhyme was first noted in the United States in 1938[3] as a children's rhyming game. It was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the number ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If caught the dropper either was kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart.[2] An early noted version had the lyrics:

A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my mom
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it, I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up
And put it in his pocket.[2]

In some variants, the second line is "I lost my yellow basket". In other variants, the last line is "A little girl picked it up and put it in her pocket".

In nineteenth-century England, the rhyme used in the same game had somewhat different but evidently related words:

I lost my supper, last night,
And the night before,
And if I do this night,
I never will no more.
I sent a letter to my love,
I carried water in my glove,
And by the way I dropped it, I did so, I did so:
I had a little dog that said bow-wow!
I had a little cat that said meow-meow!
Shan't bite you, shan't bite you,
Shall bite you.
I dropt it, I dropt it,
And by the way I lost it.[4]

Lyrics by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald, in conjunction with Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander), extended and embellished the rhyme into a jazz piece that was her breakthrough hit with the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1938. It has since become a jazz standard."...
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-tisket-tasket-information-lyrics-and.html for a pancocojams post entitled ""A Tisket A Tasket" (information, lyrics, and video)".

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RELATED LINK
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-biscuit-refrain-in-down-down-baby.html for a post about "a biscuits" in "Down Down Baby" and certain other playground rhymes. That post also includes a video of the now classic "Sesame Street" clip of girls playing "Down Down Baby". It also includes a clip of Ella Fitzgerald singing "A Tisket A Tasket" in the 1942 movie Ride 'Em Cowboy.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of The Phrase "Shame Shame Shame Hit It" In "Brick Wall Waterfall" Hand Clap Rhymes (Part IV of a 4 Part Series)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This revised pancocojams post was originally published October 2013 with the title "Shame Shame Shame Hit It" Line In "Brickwall Waterfall Rhymes". Additional text examples have been added to this post.

The three other posts in this series have also been revised on July 13 2018.

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This is Part IV of this pancocojams series on children's playground rhymes that include the phrase "shame shame shame" or similar phrases and/or end with the word "shame".

Part IV of this series provides examples of the line "shame shame shame hit it" in "Brick Wall Waterfall" children's hand clap rhymes.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-word-shame-in-childrens-rhymes-part.html for Part I (Shame Shame Double Shame" rhymes).

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/sources-examples-of-i-dont-want-to-go.html for Part II. Part II features early text versions of the rhyme that became "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" as well. Part III also features text examples of and comments about "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" (and similarly titled rhymes) that begin with the phrase "shame shame shame" and/or ends with the word "shame".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/video-examples-of-hand-clap-rhyme-i.html for Part III. That post features videos of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" that include the "shame shame shame" introductory line and/or the "shame" ending.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.

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WARNING: Some websites which provide examples of children's rhymes includes examples & comments that include profanity, explicit sexual content, homophobic references, and other content that I consider to be inappropriate for children. There is also a Hip Hop record that has a title that is the same or similar to this. I consider that record to be very inappropriate for children.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to those who are featured in the videos that are embedded in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
In the United States there are numerous children's rhymes with the title "Brick Wall Water Fall". The examples that are featured in this post can be considered variant forms of that rhyme as most "Brick Wall Water Fall" rhymes don't begin with "Shame Shame Shame Hit It".

Here's an excerpt from a 2013 pancocojams post on "Brick Wall Water Fall" http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/brickwall-waterfall-examples-analysis.html :
"Brickwall Waterfall" is a self-bragging/taunting playground rhyme. The rhyme appears to be either chanted while performing partner handclap routines*, or chanted while standing still & acting out (doing mime-like movements) for certain recited words.

Judging from the frequency of internet postings of "Brickwall Waterfall" (including the number of examples of this rhyme that had been sent in to my Cocojams website which I deactivated in 2014, "Brickwall Waterfall" appeared to have been one of the most widely known contemporary playground rhymes in the United States since 2003. I'm not sure how familiar American children are with this rhyme as of this date [2018). However, various examples of that rhyme continue to be published as YouTube videos and a number of text versions of "Brick Wall Water Fall" are shared as comments in those YouTube videos' discussion threads.

The popularity of "Brickwall Waterfall" is probably due to that rhyme being featured two times in the 2003 American movie Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star.....

Here's one "standard" example of that rhyme without the Shame Shame Shame Hit It" introductory line:
"Brick wall water fall
girl you think you got it all, but you don't i do
So boom with that attitude, peach punch captin crunch, i got something you can't touch, Bang bang choo choo train
wind me up and i'll do my thing
resses peices 7 up
you mess with me i mess you up!"
♥CanadaRox♥, 2008; https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080324173340AAckElf&page=2


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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Shame Shame Shame (hand game)



Elizabeth Brooks, Uploaded on Aug 27, 2011

Alexis and Laysia performing hand game
-snip-
Note that many examples of "Brick Wall Waterfall" don't include the "shame shame shame hit it" line.

Several commenters in this video's discussion thread wrote that that wasn't the "Shame" hand game. Those comments reflect the apparently rather widely held opinion that the title "Shame" refers to the "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" rhymes.

Other commenters in this discussion thread indicated that this featured rhyme's title was "Shame Shame Shame Hit It" and not "Brick Wall Waterfall" (or "That's The Way I Like It")

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EXAMPLES OF THE PHRASE "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME HIT IT" IN THE BRICK WALL WATERFALL HAND CLAPPING RHYMES
Here's my transcription of the rhyme that these girls chanted in this first embedded video. I've numbered the lines in this rhyme for the purposes of text analysis. This version is given as Example #1. These numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

Example #1:
line 1: Shame shame shame Hit it!
line 2. That’s the way un hun un hun
line 3. I like it un hun un hun
line 4. Rain fall waterfall. Girl you think you know it all
line 5. You don’t. I do.
line 6. So poof with that attitude.
line 7. Welcome to McDonalds.
line 9. May I take your order.
line 10. Big mac. Fillet of fish
line 11. Quarter pounder french fries.
line 12. See my pinky.
line 13. See my thumb.
line 14. See my fist.
line 15. You better run.
-snip-
This example demonstrates the way that children create hand clap rhymes by combining lines from various rhymes & songs.
Text analysis:
Line #1: The introductory line "Hit it" is lifted from music and means "Let's begin.]

Lines #2-#3: This verse is lifted from the 1975 hit record by that title which was recorded by KC and the Sunshine Band. These lines are found in a number of hand clap rhymes.

Lines #4-#6: This is part of a version of the rhyme "Brickwall Water fall"

Lines #7-#11: This is part of the "Welcome to McDonalds" rhyme.

Lines #12-#15: This is the "See My Pinky" rhyme. This is the only portion of this rhyme that I chanted in my childhood [Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s.] I recall it as being just a taunting rhyme with no hand claps or any other accompanying movements.

**
Example #2:
Thats different then how we do it. we do it like
"Shame shame shame hit it
thats the way uhhuh uhuh i like it
uhhuh uhhuh (X2)
brickwalll waterfall
girl u think u kno it alll.
u dont i do
so boom witcho attiitude
so boom withcho attitude.
wait come back
i think u need a tic tack.
not 1 not 2
but the whole 6 pack.
sorry to be mean
but u need somme listerene
not a sip not a swollow
but the whole dang bottlle."

then we see who yells shame on u 1st @ the end of it.
-paris porter, , 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br9fAi7HdDk [This is the link for the first video that is embedded in this post.]
-snip-
Paris Porter also wrote:
an sometimes after that we go like
"You lost a dime u drunk some wine
now u look like frankenstein.
yo mama yo daddy
yo baldheaded grannny
she 99
she think she fine.
She going out with frankenstein"

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Example #3
It goes shame shame shame hit it that's the way uh huh uh huh I like it uh huh uh huhx2 splish splash waterfall girl u think u know it all u dont I do so boo with yo attitude wait come back u need a tick tack not one not two but the whole six pack see my pinky see my thumb see my fist u better run peanutbuutter recee cup u mess with me ill jack u up!thats how my school says it,butt theres many different versions. 
-Alexa 29, 2014; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br9fAi7HdDk

**
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Shame Shame Shame hit it handshake



Ravenashlee Cross, Published on Apr 25, 2015
-snip-
The numbers for this example continues from above.

Example #4
Shame shame shame hit it,
that's the way un huh un huh,
I like it un huh un huh,
that's the way un huh un huh
I like it un huh un huh.
Big fat water fall girl
you think you know it all,you don't I do
so push away that attitude
push away that attitude
push away that attitude
see my pinky,
see my thumb,
see my fist
you betta run
see my fist.
See my thighs.
Girl you think you satisfied.
-Nyiah and Raven, April 25, 2015 [These girls' names where published by the video uploader in the video's discussion thread.]

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ADDENDUM
Click http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 for a version of a completely different hand clap rhyme posted by GUEST,Tianna Date: 30 Dec 05 - 11:42 AM. That example begins with the introductory line "shame shame shame/alla bostia"* WARNING: That example is a sexualized version of the rhyme that I call "We Wear Our Hair In Curls".

My guess is that "alla bostia" is a folk etymology form of thee lyrics "tra ra ra boom de a".

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Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-simpsons-handclap-rhyme-examples.html for Example #1 of the hand clap rhyme entitled "The Simpsons". That rhyme begins with the introductory line: "sin,sin,sin". In the context of that rhyme, I believe those words are a form of the words "shame shame shame".

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Visitor comments are welcome.