Multiple Examples Of The Children's Rhyme "I Went Downtown" ("To See Charlie Brown" or "To See James Brown")

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- December 15, 2023

This pancocojams post provides multiple examples of the children's jump rope/hand clap rhyme "I Went Downtown". I added the words "to see Charlie Brown" in parenthesis because it appears from my online research that this is the title that is most often used for these rhymes since at least the beginning of 2000.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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

DISCLAIMER:
This isn't meant to be considered a comprehensive compilation of "I Went Downtown" children's rhymes.

Although pancocojams focuses on Black cultures throughout the world, by no means is this post meant to convey or imply that this rhyme is of Black origin or that all of these examples featured in this post were composed by Black people.
-snip-
This post initially included a section on precursors to the "I Went Downtown to see Charlie Brown"  or "to see James Brown" lines. On Dec. 15, 2023 I've removed that content and published a separate post entitled "I Went Downtown To See Mrs Brown (or "To See Buster Brown") Children's Rhyme". Here's the link for that post  ____________ 

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS
This post includes examples of the jump rope (and later, hand clap] children's rhyme "I Went Downtown". Earlier examples of these rhymes have the line "I went downtown to meet [or "to see"] "Mrs. Brown" [or "Miss Brown"]. Some contemporary examples use the name "James Brown", but most contemporary (2000s to date) examples of this rhyme that I have come across online have the first line/title "I Went Downtown To See [or "to meet"] Charlie Brown". I haven't found any online versions of this rhyme where children chant "I went downtown To see Chris Brown", but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some examples of that rhyme, given the popularity that R&B singer.

It seen very likely to me that the last name "Brown" was chosen because it rhymes with the word "town" and later "downtown". It also seems likely that by at least the mid 20th century the name "Charlie Brown" replaced the earlier names "Mrs. Brown" or "Miss Brown" because of the growing popularity of the Peanuts comic strip/animated movie character "Charlie Brown". It also is self-evident to me that in those rhymes that use the name "James Brown" instead of some other "Brown" name, "James Brown" refers to the R&B superstar. That said, all children who recite "I Went Downtown" rhymes may not connect the person named in those rhymes with the Peanuts character or with the R&B singer/composer.

I don't know when the first contemporary (20th century) version of "I Went Downtown" was first recorded or published.

All of these examples were retrieved from online websites, videos, or blogs from 2004 to June 23, 2017. No racial or ethnic information (and very little other demographic information) was cited for any of the examples that are featured in this post. That said, I think it's very likely that some of the children who have chanted "I Went Downtown" rhymes are Black. And, the inclusion of the term "black power" in one of the example given below, probably means that that chanter is Black. However, it's also possible that the inclusion of the term "Black power" and the verse from which it comes could just mean that the chanter isn't Black but knows that particular rhyme and knows the other African American originated rhyme that which is used as the end of that particular version of "I Went Downtown".*

*The end lines in that version come from the hand clap rhyme "Tweeleelee" or a similar sounding title.

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CHANGES IN THE TEXT OF THESE RHYMES FROM PRECUSOR VERSIONS
As is the case with a lot of recreational children's rhymes after at least the 1960s, some examples of "I Went Downtown" To See ___ Brown" include verses from at least one other independent rhyme (a rhyme that can be chanted by itself). The examples that include a line or lines from another rhyme or rhymes depart from the "traditional" "I Went Downtown" trading rhymes format which is centered around one item being traded for another item, again and again. 

Another change in the words for some examples of these rhymes is the addition of risque and/or sexualized words or references. Athough certain playground rhymes have had decidedly risque words, I hadn't found any risque versions of "I Went Downtown..." rhymes prior to around 2015. Some of those examples and others that I've found since have mildly sexualized content, such as "a boy kissed u he until took u to the movies and un dressed u"...

In one video's viewer discussion thread one commenter accused another commenter of changing the words to her (or his) version to includes sexualized references [my summary] because "this is a children's rhyme". But the commenter replied that that was how she was taught the rhyme from her cousins in California [Yeah- blame liberal California ;o)]

I wondered if that commenter had made up that line about a boy undressing a girl he had taken to the movies-until I read a number of other similar examples of that version in that discussion thread and in another video's discussion thread. So I guess it's authentic...

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RHYME EXAMPLES
These examples are given in no particular chronological order.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only. 

Additional examples are welcome and can be posted in the comment section below (hopefully with performance activity and demographic information.)

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1. From Sarah, Octoblog, Schoolyard games; 7/17/2005 [blog no longer active]
I WENT DOWNTOWN TO MEET CHARLIE BROWN
heres one that me and my friends do:
i Went down town to meet charlie brown
he gave me a nickle that bought me a pickle
the pickle was sour so he bought me a flower
the flower was dead so this is what he said:
down down baby down by the rollercoaster
sweet sweet baby never wana let you go
just because i kissed you doesnt mean i love you
shimmy shimmy coco puffs
shimmy shimmy pow
shimmy shimmy coco puffs
shimmy shimmy pow
My momy your momy live across the street
18,19 Alligator street
Boom Bang Choo Choo Train
wind me up i do my thang
( hit the person beside you)
Oops i'm Sorry!"

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2. From bettingonalice, Octoblog, Schoolyard games; 1/1/2007 [blog no longer active]
I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE JAMES BROWN
I went downtown to see James Brown
I gave him a nickel to buy me a pickle
The pickle was sour, so he gave me a shower
The shower was cold, so he gave me a bowl
The bowl was cracked, so he gave me a snack
Now I want my money back, Jack

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3. From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323122038AA6gzqe bunnycrazy751, 2007
I went downtown to see Charlie Brown
He gave me a nickle to buy me a pickle
The pickle was sour so he gave me a flower
The flower was dead and this is what he said said said!
Down down baby. Down by the river.
Peaches on the table, Picture on the floor.
Stand back baby I don't love you anymore.


Hope this helped. I love this poem/song.

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4. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323122038AA6gzqe, darwineann , 2007
I went down town, to see Miss Brown. She gave me a nickel, to buy a pickle. The pickle was sour so she gave me a flower. The flower was black so she gave me a smack. The smack was hard so she gave me a card. And on the card it said: Little Spanish dancer turn around(turn around) . Little Spanish dancer touch the ground( and then you touch the ground) . Little Spanish dancer tie your shoe (jump on one leg, pretend to tie shoe). Little Spanish dancer sixty four ski doo .

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5. From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323122038AA6gzqe, Ryleigh, 2014
I went down town to see charlie brown,
He gave me nickel, so i bought me a pickle,
the pickle was sour so i got me a flower,
the flower was dead so this is what he said,
Down Down Baby Down By The Rive,
Sweet Sweet Baby Mama Never Let You Go!
I Caught You With Ur Boyfriend Naughty Naughty!
Doin the dishes, LAZY LAZY
Jump out the window! CRAZY CRAZY!
Itzy bitzy soda pop... Izy bityz boo! Itzy Bitzy Soda Pop! A Boy Likes (Hate Love, ECT...) You!

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6. From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323122038AA6gzqe, unknown013, 2007
I went downtown
To see Ms. Brown,
She gave me a nickel
To buy a pickle,
The pickle was sour,
So I bought a flower.
The flower was dead, she gave me a tack.
The tack was sharp, she gave me a harp.
The harp was broke, she gave me a cloak.
The cloak was tight, she gave me a kite.
The kite away flew, and I did too.

Source(s):
http://clatterymachinery.wordpress.com/category/lyrics/ [This content is no longer on that page.]

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7. From -macdaddyeo1 on Feb 9, 2010 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY1r5Mr-XmM&feature=related (transcribed from video by Azizi Powell) ;video no longer available
I WENT DOWNTOWN TO MEET CHARLIE BROWN
i went down town to meet Charlie Brown
He gave me a nickle so i got a pickle
The pickle was sour so he gave me a flower
The flower was dead and this is what he said
Down down baby up on the rollercoaster,
Sweet sweet baby never should i let you go,
Just because I kissed you doesn't mean I love you.
Shimmy shimmy coconut I know karate.
Shimmy shimmy coconut, Oops I'm sorry.
That's not funny. I'm tellin mommy

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8. I went downtown to see charlie Brown



balance massage therapy, Published on Sep 30, 2012

A rhyme to help kids with eye hand co-ordination and sequencing.
-snip-
Here's my transcription of this rhyme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs

I went downtown to meet Charlie Brown
He gave me a nickel so I got a pickle
The pickle was sour so I bought a flower
The flower was dead so this is what I said
Down down baby
Do the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet baby
Never washed the dishes
Naughty naughty baby
Jumpin out the window
Itchy itchy soda pop you are out
Itchy itchy soda pop you are out
Itchy itchy soda pop you are out
[one girl says -It just goes for forever

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9. The Midnight Moonie, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs [comment]
This is what me and my friends do i went downtown to see charlie brown.he gave me a nickle to by me a pickle .the pickle was sowr so he gave me a flower. The flower was dead so this is what he said peaka peaka moniki peaka paeka chew peaka peaka moniki he kissed you he took you to the movies and he undressed you

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10. Hanna Orlando, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs [comment]
This is how it goes...
I went downtown to see Charlie Brown He gave me a nickel to buy a pickle The pickle was sour so he gave me a flower The flower was dead so this is what he said Icky Icky soda pop icky icky doo icky icky soda pop a boy likes you He took you to the movies and undressed you Is that true Red and Blue

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11. Mollie Sowel, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs [comment]
that's not how it goes it goes I went downtown to see Charlie Brown he gave me a nickel and bought me a pickle the pickle was sour sour so he gave me a flower the flower was dead so this is what he said icky icky soda pop icky icky icky icky soda pop a boy likes you

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12. It's Kimmy, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs [comment]
No it's:I went Downtown to see Charlie Brown he gave me a nickle to buy me a pickel the pickel was sour so he gave me a flower the flower was dead so this is what he said pica pica monica a boy kissed u he took u to the movies and un dressed u

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13. Lania Ranae, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvWPLzT4ZRs [comment]
Mine is:
Went downtown and saw James brown he gave me a nickel so I bought me a pickle the pickle was sour so I bought me a flower the flower was old and it say black power black power yo momma need a shower don't laugh haha don't laugh haha yo daddy need a bath haha.. Momma in the kitchen stirring that rice, daddy's in the corner shooting that dice brothers in jail coming his hair and sisters in the corner saying fruit cocktail

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14. Charlie Brown clapping song.



Halle Nielsen, Published on Jun 12, 2014

Clapping song
-snip-
Here's my transcription of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-fm43SsqE
[girls singing in unison and performing partner hand clapping]

I went downtown to see Charlie Brown
He gave me a nickel to buy a pickle
The pickle was sour so I bought a flower
The flower was dead so I just said

[girls change to chanting and miming]
Down down baby do the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet honey just because I kissed you
Doesn’t mean I love you
Shimmy Shimmy co co pop
Show off your body and FREEZE

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15. Ruby Hernandez, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-fm43SsqE [comment]
A10 goes a little bit like this I went downtown to see Charlie Brown he gave me a nickel to buy a pickle with the flu so he gave me a flower but the flower was dead so this is what he said red white blue A boy kissed you could take you to the movies with it with his arms around you that's how it goes okay

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16. Ruby Hernandez, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-fm43SsqE
I meant to say I want downtown to see Charlie Brown he gave me a nickel to buy a pickle but the pickle was Sour so flower but the flower was dead so this is what he said red white blue a boy kiss you with his arms around you that's how it goes bye bye Sia

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17 & 18. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AClapping_game/Examples

Charlie Brown Went Downtown
I went downtown to see james Brown, he gave me a nickel, to buy a pickle, but the pickle was sour, so he gave me a flower, the flower was dead so this is what he said "Down down baby, down by the rollercoaster, sweet sweet baby, never going to let you go, Shimmee shimmee cocoa pop, shimmee shimmee pow. he gave me a bowl the bowl was crap so he gave me a smack

A Slightly Different Version of Charlie Brown:
I went downtown to see Charlie Brown.
He gave me a nickel so I bought myself a pickel.
The pickle was sour so I bought myself a flower.
The flower was dead so I said,
"Down, down, baby, down by the roller coaster."
Just because I kissed ya, doesn't mean I love ya."
Sugar, sugar cocoa puff! Sugar, sugar pow wow!"
Sugar, sugar cocoa puff! Sugar, sugar pow wow!"

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19. From http://funclapping.com/song-list/charlie-brown/
I went downtown
To see Charlie Brown,
She gave me a nickel
To buy a pickle,
The pickle was sour,
So I bought a flower.
The flower was dead, so he said.
Down Down baby, do the roller coaster.
Sweet sweet honey (lick your fingers), No No No.
Just because I kissed (kiss hand)
Doesn’t mean that I love you (pat heart)
Shimmy Cocopops show off your body
(stand in model pose and jump)
and Freeze.

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20.
From bratzdan78 on 03/04/05, http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/inthe80s/smf/1109960765.shtml
Subject: Re: Those clapping songs
I went downtown
to see charlie brown
he gave me a nickle
to buy a pickle
the pickle was sour
he bought me flower
the flower was dead
this is what he said

hot shot baby
chicken and gravy
here comes a lady
with a bald head baby
*point to other person* THATS YOU

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21. 
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350&page=5 I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes, GUEST,Baby*Shake., 31 Jan 08 

i went down town to see Charlie Brown

he gave me a nickle so i bough a pickle

the pickle was sour so he gave me a flower

the flower was dead and this is what he said

"down down baby down by the ocean,

sweet sweet baby never should i let you go,

chity chity bang bang i know kar-out-tay,

chity chity bang bang show off your body,

chity chity bang bang freeze.

and never ever let your mama say tell you to say please

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