Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - May 22, 2025
This pancocojams post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on the African American originated cheers entitled "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train".
This post from that series presents a compilation of examples of children's "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" rhymes and cheers from the early 1970s to 2010. These examples are given in chronological order by year, if that information was given. Some of the contributors included geographical locations with their example.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/bang-bang-choo-choo-train-rhyme-cheer.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train rhymes and cheers (early sources & examples)"
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/05/bang-bang-choo-choo-train-documenting.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" (Documenting Dates For Examples Of This Rhyme: from 2011 to 2025)
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/01/bang-bang-choo-choo-train-tik-tok.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train Tik Tok Challenge Dance Compilation (Dancing To A Clip Of The 1995 Song "Giddy Up Let's Ride")".
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SELECTED EXAMPLES OF BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN & CLOSELY RELATED RHYMES
Most of these examples are presented in relative chronological order based on the date that they were published online (with the oldest examples given first).The examples that have no publishing dates are usually given by the date that I retrieved them from their online sources.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
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No title for this example was given by its contributor. The title that I use for this example is
"You're Left/Funky Nassau" [Example #1]
Warning- This example includes profanity and other graphic language.
"i remember a song girls would sing more than the guys..in the polo grounds projects 155th 8th ave.. a group of girls singing it loud walking from school everyday from ps 156 i think it was..it went
youre left
youre left
your left right left
my ass is shakin
my belts too tight
my balls are shakin from left to right
umm funky nassau
umm funky nassau
your momma
your poppa
youre greasy nanny
youre awful nanny
you toot and toot ?
dont prostitute
dont try to switch
you dirty bi-ch*
no hesitation
no revelation
just go to hell
and ring my bell
it was 1970 I remember…
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*The complete word is spelled out in this example"
-
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Notice that this example doesn't include the words "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" or "Brick Wall Waterfall".
The street names included in this example are from New York City.
"Funky Nassau" was a hit 1971 R&B song that was recorded by the funk group Beginnings of the End. The group was from Nassau, Bahamas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beginning_of_the_End_(band)
The recording date for that record suggests that the 1970 date for that "Funky Nassau" chant which frank in ny gave may have been actually 1971.
frank from ny wrote a question mark after the phrase "you toot and toot". "Toot" may be a slang term for cocaine.
-snip-
Thanks to anonymous for sharing a similar example of this rhyme in this post's comment section. It's likely that that example was chanted before the 1997 example [given as Example #2] that I collected in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN [Example #2]
"Bang, Bang Choo Choo Train.
Watch [girl's name] do her thang.
[Girl] I can't.
Group: Why not?
[Girl] I can't
Group: Why not?
[Girl] Because my back is achin.
[And] My bra's too tight.
My hips keep movin' from the left to the right
Group: Her back is achin.
Her bra's too tight.
Her hips keep movin from the left to the right."
-Repeat this from the beginning, with each girl in the group having one turn as the soloist. (The turns were determined by how fast the girls shouted first, second, third etc.)
-African American girls ages 7-12 years; (Alafia Children's Ensemble, Braddock, Pennsylvania), 10/1997; collected by Azizi Powell. 10/97;
also collected by Azizi Powell from African American girls 7-12 years; Pittsburgh, PA (11/2001 & additional dates through 2005. Notice that the textual structure of these examples correspond to a particular kind of foot stomping cheers i.e. the group asks a girl (the soloist] to do something and the girl first refuses. The group speaks again and the girl responds with her statement and dance motions)
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In 1995 rapper Kinsui released a Hip Hop record entitled "Giddy Up Let's Ride". That record includes the words "Bang bang choo choo train/let me see you do your thing" words from that rhyme/ Also, the bridge of that 1995 record includes more words from that rhyme
"Go left, go right
Go left, right, left, right
My back is aching, my belt's too tight
My booty shakin' from left to right
Go left, go right
Go left, right, left, right
My back is aching, my belt's too tight
My booty shakin' from left to right"...
-snip-
Those words are directly from military cadences. In 2021 TikTok dances challenges entitled "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" included a brief clip of Kinsui's record.
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DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR (2003 American movie) [Example #3]
Brick Wall,
Water Fall,
Dickie Thinks He Got It All,
But He Don’t And I Do,
So Boom With That Attitude,
Peace, Punch, Captain Crunch,
I Got Something You Can’t Touch,
Bang Bang Choo-Choo Train,
Wind Me Up,
I Do My Thing,
No Reese’s Pieces, 7Up,
Mess With Me,
I’ll Mess You Up.
-
-snip-
This is an exception to the rule that the example is presented based on its publishing date. For this example I used the date that the movie was released.
These words are also documented in https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325258/characters/nm0101799/ "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" Jenna Boyd As Sally Finney".
Here's the second time in that movie script that the composition that is now known as "Brick Wall" Waterfall" was chanted:
[characters]: Dustin Diamond, Corey Feldman, Barry Williams: "Brick wall, waterfall, Danny thinks he's got it all. But he don't, and we do, so boom with that attitude or Reese's Pieces, Seven-Up, mess with us, we'll mess you up!
Sally Finney: Cut! That was *so* good!
- [turns around and whispers]
Sally Finney: They're driving me *crazy*!" "
-https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325258/characters/nm0101799/ "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" Jenna Boyd As Sally Finney".
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In the first scene from that movie which includes a version of what has become known as the "Brick Wall Waterfall" rhyme, Sally Finney is responding to words that Dickie Roberts said to her. Read those words in the discussion thread below of this pancocojams post.
Also, read my comment in this pancocojams post's discussion thread below for information about "Brick Wall Water Fall" in that movie.
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No title given [Example #4]
"the version that i know is a little longer:
loser loser double loser
as if whatever
get the picture break a wall
waterfall
girl/boy you think you got it all?
you don't, i do
so boom with that attitude
peace punch
captain cruch
i got something you can't touch
bing bang choo choo train let me see you do you thing
i can't, why not?
because i can't, why not?
because my back is aching my shoes are too tight
and my hips are shaking from the left to the right
the left to the right
loser loser with a twist
elbow elbow wrist wrist
wipe a tear blow a kiss
kiss this
honey, you ain't got none of this"
-posted by yooimhere at June 24, 2006; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php
[This website is no longer active.]
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BANG BANG CHO CHO TRAIN [Example #5]
"Hey I am a 13 year old african american girl. I go to school in japan. there are lots of these kinds of songs.
bang bang chocho train
round me up and Ill do my thang
no recise pices no butter cup
you mess with me Ill mess you up
I know karate I know kong fu
I aint scared of no girl like you.
It goes on and on all races here say them. young and small"
-Davonna {Japan}, cocojams.com, 7/16/2006
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BANG BANG CHU CHU TRAIN [Example #6]
bang bang chu chu train it really goes like this in new York
(1 person) bang bang chuchu train
let me see u do ur thing
(2 person) i cant
(1 person) why not
(2 person) my back aches my belts to tight
and my booty is shakin from left to right left right left, left right left
-m&m; 10/7/2006, cocojams.com [This website is no longer active.]
-snip-
I'm not sure if this is performed as a cheer or as a hand clap rhyme.
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BING BAN CHOO CHOO TRAN {Example #7]
bing ban choo choo tran,
girl you think you got it all
but you dont, I do
so whoosh with the attitude.
rock and roll baby,
in control baby,
up and down baby
move it all around.
elbow elbow wrist wrist
shut up girl you just got dissed...
-Paige, March 6, 2007 -cocojams.com/ taunting rhymes [This was submitted to my multi-page cultural website. I voluntarily de-activated that website in 2014. That website is hereafter given as "cocojams.com].
-snip-
"Whoosh with that attitude" means to quickly get rid of your attitude (or else). This line is often given as "Poof with that attitude".
The verse beginning with "rock and roll baby" to "move it all around" is probably a folk processed version of the Caribbean Soca record "Roll It Gal".
"Elbow elbow wrist wrist" originated as the movements that fashion models had to do to wave to people. However, in these taunting rhymes that phrase probably means "preparing to hit someone (wave your fist at someone).
"Dissed" means "insulted". That word is a clip of the word "disrespected".
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No title given [Example #8]
"actually...iv heard a lot of versions of the one i'm about to say but i can't seem to remember all of it...
aywyz, i just know part of it goes like
"Brick wall, Waterfall.
Girl/Boy you think you know it all, you don't, I do.
So BOOM with that attitude!
hey hey
choo choo train
come and watch me do my thing,
boy/girl,
u watch out,
cuz if u mess me up I'll mess u up
P.U!
back it up back it up,
girl/boy u obviously need a tic tac,
not 1 not 2 but you definitely need the whole dang pack!
bye bye got 2 go, cant waste time with you dumb folk"
& that probably sounds weird...
i have a feeling that i either 4got words orthe rhyme just changed as it was passed formperson to person.
well, byebye!
-GUEST Random Person2007 (eRiCa 3/26/07); https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100061
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN [Example #9]
Bang Bang Choo Choo Train
Wind me up, and I'll do my thing.
Get it. Get it. Get it. Get it.
Go it. Got it. Got it. Got it.
And "Oomph! [clap] and let it roll.
Oomph! [clap] and let it roll.
-wkumusicgirl Uploaded on Nov 6, 2007; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx1zZ3zKiyA&ab_channel=wkumusicgirl
-snip-
This is a video of a young girl demonstrating a "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" cheerleader cheer routine.
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN [Example #10]
"Here's one cheer from Saltillo Mississippi
Bang,Bang choo choo train
come on girls let's do our thing
''No''
Why not
cause my back is aching and my bras to tight
my booty's shaking to the left to the right
see my pinkie see my thumb
see my fist so you better run
this is skinny this is fat
this is me i'm all that
i like coffee
i like tea
i like boys and boys like me
so O-U-T spells out."
-Alibeth H., cocojams.com, 10/29/2007
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BRICK WALL WATERFALL [Example #11]
"Brick wall waterfall
girl you think you know it all
You dont I do
So boom with that attitude
resses pieces coco puff
you mess with me
Ill mess you up
bang bang cho cho trian
Come on girl and shake that thang
because we cant and we’re not
because we cant and we’re not
my back is aching and my skirts to tight
my bootys shaking from the left to the right
my eyes are rolling from front…back…
side…side…front back side side side
Let me see your body fly
5678 let me see your booty shake
All lyrics by me hotlady1177 and my friend fatima"
-tishae chappelle, Feb. 15, 2009; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSbCOuhek4E&ab_channel=tishaechappelle [video]
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN [Example #12]
"Bang bang choo choo train
come on girl shake that thang,
i cant why not i cant why not
cuz my back is aching
and my bras too tight
and my booty's shaking
from the left to the right.
My daddy says my shorts are too tight
but my boyfriend says they fit just right.
brick wall waterfall girl you think you know it all
you dont i do so BOOM with your attitude.
girl be gone
your breath is mighty strong
wait come back you need a tic tac
not one not two but the whole dang pack.
dang girl you mean
and you need some listerine, not a sip, not a cup,
but the whole dang bottle.
peanut butter reese cup,
bet this punch will shut u up."
-
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TUITY FRUITY [Example #13]
"Group except soloist: Tuity Fruity shake your booty
(Yeah) Watch Nasya do her duty
Nasya: I won’t
Group: Why not?
Nasya: My back is achin and my belt’s too tight.
My butt is shakin from left to right.
Hey jump in, pull it, and jump out.
Jump in, pull it and jump out
[Continue with the next girl].
-Nasya; African American female, 8 years; Faison Primary School (Homewood area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); October 30, 2009, collected by Azizi Powell
-snip-
Notice that this example conforms to the text (word) structure of foot stomping cheers ' group/soloist pattern. This is the earliest text structure and performance activity for "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" children's recreational rhymes.
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No title given [Example #14]
"I used to do it this way
i got the looks and the brains
so peace punch in your face
brickwall, waterfall,
girl you think you got it all
but you dont, i do
so boom witht that attitude
so peace, punch captain crunch
i got something you cant touch
bang bang choo choo train
wind me up i do my thing
reeces pieces, 7 up, mess with me
i mess you up"
-
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN [Example #15]
"ur all wrong! its
my name is nicky
i'm feeling groovy
u mess with me
i kick ur
hey watch ur mouth
i said bang bang choo choo train
wind me up and i'll do my thing
i kno karate
i kno kung foo
u mess with me i mess with u"
-nickytwilight4eva, http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments=1&v=cx1zZ3zKiyA, 2010
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BRICK WALL WATER FALL[Example #16]
"it goes brick wall waterfall you think that u got it all
but u dont i do so boom with the attitude peace punch captian crunch i got
something u cant touch bang bang choo choo train come on girls lets do our
thang daddy daddy shake that body fruity tuti shake that booty uh im commin
down uh 2 touch da ground uh im commin up to kick some buts!"
-famousstar236, 2009,
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BRICK WALL WATERFALL [Example #17]
"AZ, USA
Brickwall waterfall, girl you think you know it all, you
don't, I do, so leave, begone, you're breath is too strong, wait, come back, i
think i got a tictac, not a tic, not a tac, but the whole darn pack!
PA, USA
Brickwall waterfall, girl you think you know it all, you
don't, i do, so BOOM w/ that attitude, Peace, punch, Captain Crunch
I've got something you can't touch
Bang bang choo choo train
Wind me up, I do my thing.
Reese's pieces buttercup, mess with me, i'll mess you up!"
-
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No title given [Example #18]
"I was born in 1960, am 50 years old, and was raised in the African-American community of New Orleans, La. When this story came to my attention in email, I responded that the infamous "booty cheer" is a marching chant or cadence, and I remember hearing variations of it as a child and teen. One of those is this one:
"To the right, to the left, to the right, left, right.
My back is aching,
My drawers too tight,
My booty's shaking from left to right.
To the left, to the right, to the left right left"
-Nordette Adams, September 21, 2010, http://www.blogher.com/how-booty-cheer-migrated-six-year-olds "Child Kicked Off Squad When Mother Protests Cheer"
-snip-
Based on Nordette Adam's comments, this example is from the early 1970s.
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
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12. Deõne N, 2013
" my back is achin my belts to tight my booty shakin from left to right."