Jamaican Children's Parodies Of "I Believe I Can Fly" That Mention Easter Buns

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on Jamaican Easter bun (also called "spice buns".

This post presents some information about R. Kelly's 1996 R&B/Pop song "I Believe I Can Fly". That post also presents several Jamaican  children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" that include references to "Easter bun".

In addition, this pancocojams post compares those Jamaican children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly". with some United States children's parodies of that song. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/easter-bun-jamaican-tradition-recipes.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video about Jamaican Easter buns and other Jamaican Easter food traditions. This showcased video includes a demonstration of how to make homemade Jamaican Easter buns (spice buns).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-history-and-cultural-traditions-of.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents the history of and other information about Jamaican Easter buns (also called "spice buns")..

The content of this post is presented for social and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/comparisons-between-united-states.html  for the closely related 2018 pancocojams post entitled "Comparisons Between United States Versions & Jamaican Versions Of Children's Parodies Of "I Believe I Can Fly, I Got Shot By The FBI"

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/archived-links-for-pancocojams-posts.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Links For Pancocojams Posts About "I Believe I Can Fly" Parodies".

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"
From https://genius.com/R-kelly-i-believe-i-can-fly-lyrics 
“I Believe I Can Fly” is a song written by, produced and recorded by American artist R. Kelly, featured in the soundtrack of and known as the hit single from the film Space Jam, released on November 26, 1996. “I Believe I Can Fly” was later internationally released on Kelly’s 1998 album R..

[...]

“I Believe I Can Fly” also received similar success in eight other countries by topping the charts, including in the UK. The song was certified gold in seven countries, including France and Germany, and certified platinum in the United States and the United Kingdom.

“I Believe I Can Fly” went on to win three Grammy Awards, and was ranked at number 406 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, published in 2004.

[...]

Since the release of “I Believe I Can Fly”, many covers and parodies have been made of the song."

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INFORMATION ABOUT JAMAICAN EASTER BUNS
Source #1
From https://seasonedskilletblog.com/jamaican-easter-bun/ "Jamaican Easter Bun Recipe (Spice Bun)" By Taneisha Morris, Mar 26, 2023, Updated Mar 20, 2026

"Jamaican Easter Bun, also known as spice bun, is a sweet spiced bread dotted with rum-soaked fruit, coated in a delicious honey-fruit glaze. Serve this Caribbean delicacy with your Jamaican Easter feast or as an anytime snack with cheese!

[…]

Jamaican Easter buns are sweet and moist with a hint of savoury flavour. They are a traditional fare for Easter and I can’t imagine the Easter holiday without bun and cheese! Once March rolls around, you can be sure to find supermarkets in Jamaica stocked with all kinds of bun. Of course, it can be eaten throughout the year but it’s a special treat during the holiday. "...

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Source #2
From https://jamdownfoodie.com/jamaican-easter-bun/ Delicious Jamaican Easter Bun Recipe: Sweet and Spiced Delight by Yaniki Tucker (no publishing date given]

Jamaica is a primarily Christian nation and all Christian holidays are held sacred there. Easter is no exception and the observance of Easter starts as early as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and generally, people decide to give up one indulgence during this time. Many people choose to give up eating red meat and chicken and stick with eating fish and seafood. At the end of Lent, which is marked by Good Friday, people begin the feast of Easter with a spiced bread dubbed Easter Bun and fried fish. The bread is a sweet bread that is studded with dried fruit and heavily spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. It is traditionally eaten with Jamaican processed cheese but it is also very delicious with mild aged cheddar cheese."...
-snip-
This page continues with a recipe and baking instructions.

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EXAMPLES OF UNITED STATES CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: I'm presenting the United States examples before the Jamaican examples because this song and its children's parodies originated in the United States.
 

Example #1:
I believe I can fly.
I got chased by the FBI. (or less often "I'm being chased by the FBI").
It's all because of those collards greens
that I ate with those chicken wings.
I believe I can fly.**
See me running through that open door.
I believe I can fly.
I believe I can fly.
-African American boys & girls (ages 7-12), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, collected by Azizi Powell, 1999

**

Example #2

I believe I can fly!
I got shot by the FBI.
All I wanted was a chicken wing.
From McDonalds or Burger King.
I still believe I can fly!
I got caught by the Pepsi Guy.
All I wanted was a Mountain Dew!
He shot me with his 42.
I'll always believe I can fly!
Until the day I die.
A clown hit me with a pie.
And was that one hot guy.
I believe I can soar.
I got killed by an open door.
All I needed was 20 cents!
For a package of junior mints.

HOPE THIS HELPS its the full song
-Hollie, 2007, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070526124029AA1nFbA ""what is The lyrics to the funny i believe i can fly?" I Believe I Can Fly Funny Lyrics" [This site is no longer available]

**
Example #3

I believe i can fly
i got shot by the fbi
all i wanted was a chicken wing
french fries from burgerking
i believe i can soar
got caught robing a dollar store
all i wanted was a balloon
but they gave me some loony toons
i believe i can fly
-angiiemary, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw06X9WZ59I "i believe i can fly", 2010

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Example #4

"I believe i can fly

I got shot by the fbi

All i wanted was a chicken wing

So i blew up burger king

I believe i can soar

I got hit by an apple cooooore

I hit my dog with a frying pan

He hit me back with a mini-vaaaaaaaaan!"
-snoopdawgproductions, Published on Nov 8, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlVpjke9Vs

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Example #5
"I believe I can fly

I got shot by the FBI

All I wanted is some chicken wings, cornbread, and collard greens

I believe I can soar

I got a whoopin at the grocery store

I told my daddy I can't take no more

I got shot by the FBI"
-Mari and mike, Jun 25, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak 

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Example #6
"In third grade, i heard some kids singing this...

I believe i can die
I just got shot by the FBI
all i wanted was a chicken wing.
how did i end up in burger king?
my mom hit me with a frying pan...
so i hit her back with 3 trashcans
thats how she ended up in the hospital....
and how i got this popsicle"
-hiMay 15, 2015, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/childrens-parodies-of-i-believe-i-can_2.html [comments]

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Example #7

”I believe I can fly, I got shot by the FBI. All I wanted was some chicken wings, and some fries from Burger King. I believe I can soar, FBI broke down my do-oo-or. I believe I can fly." Was the version I remember."
-8bhizzel8, 2024, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/1az97ml/i_believe_i_can_fly_i_got_shot_by_the_fbi_finish/ "Nostalgia "I Believe I Can Fly"

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Example #8
"mine was completely different! I’m from the SF bay area and this was the early 2010s:

“I believe I can die

I got shot by the ice cream guy

all I wanted was a popsicle

but instead I went to the hospital

he hit me with a frying pan

so I hit him with a minivan

then I thought i was superman”
-guitartheater, 2025,
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/1az97ml/i_believe_i_can_fly_i_got_shot_by_the_fbi_finish/ "Nostalgia "I Believe I Can Fly"

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Example #9
"Born in 1991 in Oregon. My friends and I sang this version all the time in 2nd-3rd grade probably:

I believe I can die

I got shot by the FBI

All I wanted was a chicken wing

At the local Burger King

I believe I can die

I got ran over by the ice cream guy

All I wanted was a popsicle

But wound up in the hospital

I believe I can die"
-Anonymous, December 29, 2025 https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/childrens-parodies-of-i-believe-i-can_2.html [comments]

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Example #10
"I believe I can fly I got shot by the FBI All I wanted was a chicken wing and some of those collard greens I believe I can soar I got a whoopin at the grocery storeeeeeeeee"
-Sufficient_Ad7660, 2026, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/1az97ml/i_believe_i_can_fly_i_got_shot_by_the_fbi_finish/ "Nostalgia "I Believe I Can Fly"

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EXAMPLES OF JAMAICAN CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"

Example #1
"I know this: I believe i can fly I believe i can touch the sky i been shot by an fbi but the fbi never had a gun so he shot me with a easter bun but easter bun never had no cheese so he shot me with a gung peas gung peas never have no seed so he shot me with a mango seed mango seed never have no hair so he shot me with beer but beer never have cork so he shot me a bobocloth"
Tyrone Sings13, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]
-snip-
Read my note about this version in the Comparison section immediately below

**
Example #2
"i believe i can fly i got shot by an FBI the fbi never have nuh gun so him shot me with a easter bun the easter bun never i have nuh cheese so shot me with a gungo peas the gungo peas never have nuh seed so him shot me with a mango seed the mango seed never have nuh hair so him shot me with a red strip beer the red strip never have nuh cork so him shot with a bomboclat
-Faith, 2013, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090624005743AAxbczS

**
Example #3
"Jamaican version: I believe I can fly I got shot by a FBI ,FBI never have no gun so he shot me with a easter bun ,easter bun never have no cheese so them shot me with a red stripe bear,red stripe bear never have no cark so them shot me with a ......etc.

Hot_Adhesiveness_846, 2023, 

https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/jy6ghl/i_believe_i_can_fly_i_got_shot_by_the_fbi_all_i/

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Please add to this compilation by sharing examples of Jamaican (or other Caribbean) children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" in this pancocojams post's discussion thread below.

For the folkloric and cultural record, please remember to add where you first sung or first heard this parody (the nation/city/ town ot the city/state if in the United States) and when (decade or year that you first sung or first heard this parody. Additional information that you  share about your version of this parody would be appreciated.
 
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COMPARISONS BETWEEN UNITED STATES CHILDREN'S PARODIES AND JAMAICAN CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"*

*I've directly heard some examples of United States children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly". I've also come across LOTS of online examples of United States children's parodies of this song. In contrast, I've only come across three examples of Jamaican children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly". Consequently, this comparison may not be completely accurate.

United States children's parodies 
-always use a storytelling format that include some fanciful but also violent elements such as being chased by the FBI and/or some other person/group for supposed wrong doing; also being whooped (i.e. beaten by) their mother or someone else, and/or landing up in a hospital, and other occurrences

-usually feature the person at a fast food restaurant (such as Burger King of KFC) or at a grocery store wanting to buy something that is usually sold at some off those fast food restaurants (such as "chicken wings" and "fries", i.e. "French fries", or "Junior Mints" candy) or wanting to buy some food products that aren't sold at any of those restaurants or grocery stores (such as already cooked "collard greens" and already cooked cornbread). 

Jamaican children's parodies 

-contain cultural content that is very familiar to Jamaicans but rarely  rarely known in the United States.

Read this YouTube comment that was given as a reply to Example #1 of the Jamaican children's parody examples [given in this pancocojams post immediately above] and my rely to that comment [Unfortunately, the YouTube policy that prohibited comments for children's videos deleted all of the comments for this video and many more.]

 

Here's the only comment that was written in reply to Example #1:

"Tyrone Sings what u make no sense at all 😂😂🚹"

-Jeremiah Grant, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak 

**
The reason why Tyrone Sing13's version probably makes no sense to most people in the United States is that it is full of cultural referents from Jamaica that aren't known to people from the United States.

Here's the comment that I wrote on October 1, 2018 in response to Jeremiah Grant's comment

"+Jeremiah Grant, actually Tyrone Sings13 's example does make sense from a Jamaican (and possibly other Caribbean) standpoint. References to "easter buns" are found on various websites, including one that notes that "The Jamaican Spice Bun is eaten year-round however it is a must with cheese have during the Easter season.". "Gung peas" = "gungo peas", also known as "pigeon peas", "mango seeds" are self explanatory. Finally, I think it's likely that Trone Sings13 meant to write "so he shot me with a bobocloth". The probable meaning for "bobocloth" (more often also given as "bloodcloth" and a "bombocloth") is the cloths that were used before the invention of "maxi pads" and "tampons"

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The few Jamaican children' parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" that I've come across are far less violent than the United States children's examples. They include Jamaican cultural references (such as Easter bun and ) that are well known in Jamaica but aren't known to most people in the United States.

-Unlike the examples of United States children's parodies of this song, the Jamaican children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" that I have come across use a trading rhymes textual style*

- The inclusion of the word "bombocloth" ("bobocloth") in some Jamaican children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" ( or the allusion to that word that may also be  in Jamaican Example #3 given above) make those examples more gross than their United States counterparts. But, then again, what may be a small subset of United States children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" include the risque (sexualized) word "ding-a-ling"**. And what may also be a small subset of United Kingdom children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" include the equivalent term "dangly bits". **
-snip-
*Here's my explanation about trading rhymes 
from http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/childrens-trading-rhymes-such-as-hush.html:
"Trading rhymes" is my term for a category of children's rhymes in which throughout the rhyme one defective item is traded (exchanged) for another item which also turns out to be defective. The last word in the first line of each verse rhymes or near rhymes with the last word in the second line:
Example:
Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

Or the example includes internal rhymes within each trading item line:
Example:
Pie too sweet I wanna piece of meat
Meat too rough I wanna ride a bus

**
Probably the most widely known example of "trading rhymes" in the United States is "Hush Little Baby, Don't Say A Word" (Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird").

The trading rhyme format that these Jamaican examples use is in contrast to almost every United States example of "I Believe I Can Fly" parodies that I've come across.

** Here's an example of a "I Believe I Can Fly" children's parodies that include the risque (sexualized) word
 "ding-a-ling":

"My son told me this one today from his school.

 

I believe I can die

I got shot by the FBI

All I wanted was a chicken wing

Then I got shot in the ding-a-ling

Unknown. June 22, 2015,  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/childrens-parodies-of-i-believe-i-can_2.html

-snip-
**Also, here's an example of a "I Believe I Can Fly" children's parodies that include the risque (sexualized) words "dangly bits":, Both of these comments are also from the discussion thread of that same 2013 pancocojams post:

the ones that came up in my school were i belive i can fly i got shot by the fbi all i wanted was a bag of chips but thats all i remember it was more from 2005-2007
- Anonymous, September 12, 2015 

**

Reply

**

Yep, I know this is old but it was "but I got shot in the dangly bits", haha!
-Anonymous, January 14, 2017 

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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Jamaican Examples Of The Children's Recreational Rhyme "Rockin Robin" ("Twee Twee Twee")

gracia cutie,  March 24, 2021

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - January 10, 2024

This pancocojams post showcase one video example and presents text (word only) examples of Jamaican versions of "Rockin Robin" ("Twee Twee Twee"). 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-

The R&B song "Rockin Robin" was first recorded in 1958 by African American singer Bobby Day.

Michael Jackson recorded "Rockin Robin" in 1972. That was Michael Jackson's second solo record independent of his singing with his siblings The Jackson 5. The "tweeleelee" title and refrain for "Rockin Robin" recreational rhymes mimics the "tweeting" sound that robins and other birds make.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/07/some-rockin-robin-twee-lee-lee-rhymes.html for Part I of a two part pancocojams series that presents text (word only) examples of "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") rhymes. With the exception of the two examples that are showcased in this January 9, 2024 pancocojams post, all of the examples in that pancocojams series are from African Americans. 

Also, click the "Rockin Robin" tag below for additional pancocojams post of that recreational rhyme.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES

These examples are given in no particular order.

Example #1. [This is my transcription of the first rhyme that is chanted in the embedded video. Additions and corrections are welcome.]

TWEET TWEET TWEET

Tweet tweet tweet
and away we go
Rockin in the treetop
All day long
Rockin and talkin and singing this song
All the little girls from JBC
Like to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Go wash your body
Tweet TweetTweetTweet
Go wash your body
Tweet TweetTweetTweet
Mother in the kitchen
Cookin rice and chicken
Father upstairs drinkin milk
Drinkin milk is a very good thing
So when I run out
You run in
When I count to twenty
The room must be empty
5, 10, fifteen, twenty

-snip-
Video description: A Black woman and a Black girl are shown standing outside and performing a partner handclap routine while chanting this rhyme.

The Jamaican custom of chanting "Rockin Robin" as a recreational rhyme almost certainly was adopted from the United States.

The words beginning with "So when I run out" document that this was originally chanted as a jump rope rhyme. It's likely that "Rockin Robin" was also originally chanted as a jump rope rhyme in the United States before the performance activity changed (like so many other recreational rhymes in the 1970s) to doing hand clap routines while chanting. 
 
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Example #2

twee twee twee, and the way we go,
so rocking in the tree top,
all the days long,
rocking and puffing and singing the song,
all the little girls from JBC,
like to here the robin go twee twee twee,
go wash bagie,
twee twee twee

jonny and i went to the beach
jonny bruk a bottle and throw it on me,
mom told dad,
dad told mom,
mom got a beaten with a mmm stick,

so freezy american cheese,
don't skin your dirty teeth
colgrate is very cheap.
-babygirl200922, March 2012 ; [ comment in discussion thread for] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpexeCmzKjM Jamaican Children Playing, published by Josh Christenson, Feb. 11, 2010
-snip-
This example was given as a comment in this YouTube video's discussion thread. Unfortunately, all comments are now deleted.

"bruk"= broke

"colgrate"= misspelling of the American toothpaste brand "Colgate"

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Do you know any examples of "Rockin Robin" ("Twee Twee Twee") from Jamaica or any other countries outside of the United States? If so, please add to the folkloric record by sharing the words to example/s that you know in the comment section below. Please remember to add demographic information (where you learned that version, when you learned it, and how you performed it i.e. hand clap rhymes, jump rope rhyme etc.) Thanks!

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of The Jamaican Ring Game "Yes Barrister" (also known as "Skipping In Di Ring", "Yes Balinda", and similar titles)

Jamaican Kids Songs, Dec 6, 2018 -snip- This animated video has a Christmas theme. However, this Jamaican game can be played at anytime and actually has nothing to do with Christmas. **** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of the Jamaican children's ring (circle) game song "Skipping In Di Ring", also known as "Yes Barrister", "Yes Balinda", and "Yes Bawlinda". Three lyrics for this Jamaican ring game are included in this post along with performance directions for this game. The content of this post is presented for cultural and recreational purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to the unknown composer of the "Skipping In Di Ring" song and thanks to the person or persons who created this children's game. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who produced this video and published it on YouTube. -snip- This is part of an ongoing pancocojams post about Jamaican children's play. Click the "Jamaican children's play" tag and other tags below for other pancocojams posts in this series. **** EXAMPLES OF THE JAMAICAN CHILDREN'S RING GAME "YES BARRISTER" (AND OTHER TITLES) These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. EXAMPLE #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH4sJ7kRNKw [This is the lyrics for the example that is sung in the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.] SKIPPING IN DI RING Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) choose di one yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Bring him come to judge (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah mawga bwoy yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah mawga bwoy yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) choose di one yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Bring har come to judge (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah fat girl yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah fat girl yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) choose di one yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Bring him come to judge (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah hansome bwoy yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah hansome bwoy yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) choose di one yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) Bring har come to judge (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di ring (Yes Bawlinda) Skipping in di Ring (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah pretty girl yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) A dis yah pretty girl yuh love (Yes Bawlinda) -snip- From https://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Mawga/1178 magwa = Skinny **** EXAMPLE #2 From https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/jamaican_ring_games.html 10 Timeless Jamaican Ring Games: This is how we do it Punchinello! [No author or publishing date given; retrieved on Bov.24, 2023]

...."8. Yes, Barrister (Skipping in the Ring)

I was introduced to this one when I came to St. Elizabeth. The participants select a ‘judge” who occupies a position just away from the ring.

Everyone sings a song, “Skipping in the ring”. The judge invites a selected person to “choose the one yu love” and bring to the judge.

The ring goes silent as judge asks a series of questions to which the person who made the selection must respond such as:

Judge: A dis ya man yu love?

Participant: Yes Barrister!

Judge: A tall man (or any other adjective describing the person) yu love?

Participant: Yes Barrister! 

At this point the judge may ask additional questions to amuse the audience at the expense of the ‘loved one’ and may finally decide to keep them in the ring or kick them out.

If the love one was kicked out a new round of selection begins. Both adults and children play this game. Warning: you may not find all the judge’s adjectives complementary. It’s all in good fun though."...
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Elizabeth_Parish
"Saint Elizabeth, one of Jamaica's largest parishes, is located in the southwest of the island, in the county of Cornwall."... 

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EXAMPLE #3
From https://jahmykah.blogspot.com/2013/01/some-jamaican-ring-games.html Some Jamaican Ring Games [comments]

Unknown, October 12, 2015
"can some one please remind me how Yes Balinda plays? doing characterization with my grade seven children and want to use it to get them in the mood"

** 

Reply

Cassius October 14, 2015 

"The game is played with the ring (R) responding to things the (RL) says with "Yes Balinda!"

 

(RL) Skipping in the ring

(R) "Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Skipping in the ring

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Choose the girl/boy you love

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Choose the girl/boy you love

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Bring her/him come to judge

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Bring her/him come to judge

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Is this the boy/girl you love?

(R)"Yes Balinda!"

 

Usually (RL) dishes out insults and (R) responds with yes balinda. The (RL) can say kick him/her out the ring or keep her/him in the ring and then the song begins again.

(RL) Skipping in the ring

(R) "Yes Balinda!"

(RL) Skipping in the ring

(R)"Yes Balinda!" "

**
Reply
Anonymous, October 27, 2018 

"We say "yes barrista" instead of bahlinda.

Nd the barrista will bring har to the judge"

And guess what? A dis yah game mi love.”

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Jamaican Children's Ring Game: Twenty Four Bounces (video, words, & performance directions)

Uploaded by ochoriostube on Jun 13, 2009

 "She can do the 24 boxes, up and down the 24 boxes".
-snip-
Based on the information that I've read about this game, the word "boxes" in that summary should be "bounces".

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update - September 15, 2022

This pancocojams post showcases the Jamaican ring game [circle game] that is titled "24 Bounces."

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video. Thanks also to commenter Ms. W who shared her memory of playing this game in the comment section for another one of my Google blogs.
-snip-
This video is featured in my Zumulayah blog. It was first titled "Twenty Four Boxes". That title was based on the publisher's caption that was given for this video: "She can do the 24 boxes, up and down the 24 boxes".  However, On April 11, 2021 I read a comment from Ms. W who remembers playing this game and believes the game is "Twenty four Bounces" and not "Boxes". I've therefore changed the title of this post. Ms. W also shared that there was a Jamaican song called "24 Bounces" and provided this link to that Dancehall song  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=pqH-1iwMvf8&ab_channel=CircleSound  Bramma - "24 Bounces" (Winnings Riddim Nov.2010 prod. by Di Genius).

There was also a very popular Jamaican Dancehall dance called "The Willie Bounce". The Willie Bounce is included in this 2014 YouTube video of popular Dancehall dances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emT6teS9S6o&ab_channel=danceja 
"22 BOGLE STEPS (Authentic Dancehall)" LATONYA STYLE demonstrates Dancehall Steps created by the legendary Gerald "Bogle" Levy aka Mr. Wacky (The Man, The History and The Dance)

****
SONG LYRICS - 24 BOUNCES
There she* goes around the ring
Around the ring
Around the ring
And if you see her way over yonder
Tell her you love her
And give her 24 bounces
She can do the 24 bounces
Up and down the 24 bounces

*Change to he [him] when a boy is the middle person.
-snip-
The last two lines suggest that "24 bounces" was the name of a dance step.

****
PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION
Here's the performance description for 24 bounces.

The group forms a wide circle [also called "the ring"].

One person is selected to stand in the middle of the circle.

The people forming the circle begin singing while standing in place. They may also clap in time to the song’s beat.

The middle person doesn't sing, but runs or walks around the inside of the circle .

At a specific point in the song, the middle person stands in front of someone who, presumably, he or she randomly picks.

The middle person then does some type of movement which the person she or he is standing in front of has to exactly mimic.*

After this action [or after doing this two times], the middle person exchanges places with the person in the middle, and becomes the new middle person.
-snip-
Alternately, in this Jamaican "24 bounces" game, the foot movements that the middle person and the foot movements of the person she (or he) selects.

I wonder if the Jamaican game "24 bounces" is a survival of or adaptation of Ghana's Ampe game. Here's information about that game:
from https://www.ottiya.com/magazine/2/playing-and-learning-through-rhythm-and-song-in-ghana/ Playing and Learning through Rhythm and Song in Ghana; June 2, 2019 
by Yaba Haffar 

"Ampe

Ubiquitous in the country and played mostly by girls, Ampe is a game of jumping, clapping, and probability, played by two individuals or more, or two teams of an equal number of players. The game is said to have been around for at least two centuries, but its exact history is obscure. The basics of the game are as follows:

Two individuals decide to either represent the ‘same leg’ team or the ‘opposing leg’ team

The two players face each other and clap in unison twice.

Upon the second clap, both players simultaneously jump up twice. Keeping with the rhythm is essential.

On the second landing of the second jump, each player is required to ‘play a leg’, that is, select and put forward either their left or right leg.

If the legs put forward align together (for example, player A’s right foot to player B’s left), the ‘same leg team scores a point; if the legs do not align (for example, player A’s right foot to player B’s right), the ‘opposing leg’ team

This process goes on for as long as agreed from the rules set at the outset of the game by all parties. The winner or winning team then celebrate in style – often with a special combination of song, dance and sometimes friendly taunting of the losers! Ampe can be more complex, extensive, and stylistically played based on the number and personalities of the players involved. In Ampe, every player must contribute to the game. It requires teamwork and good rhythm and serves as a great form of exercise for the young and young at heart."...

****
ADDED Sept. 15, 2022
Here's another description of the Jamaica children's game 24 Bounces that I found on this website: https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/jamaican_ring_games.html  Ten Timeless Jamaican Ring Games

"5) Twenty Four (24) Bounces

Bring your dancing shoes because in this lively game the participants get a chance to show off their dancing skills.

The song talks about a girl/boy from over yonder who impresses everyone with his/her ability to do the 24 bounces.

At this point the girl/boy chooses a dancing partner and begins to dance. The lead singer challenges the dancer by complicating the dance e.g. way down low, side by side, back to back, foot to foot and so on.

The dance partner then takes over and the bounces continue. Soon you’ll be doing the 24 bounces too… that is if you don’t have two left feet."

****
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Comparisons Between United States Versions & Jamaican Versions Of Children's Parodies Of "I Believe I Can Fly, I Got Shot By The FBI"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: April 1, 2026

This pancocojams post features some examples of children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" (I Got Shot By The FBI") from the United States and from Jamaica.

Information about R. Kelly's 1996 pop/R&B song "I Believe I Can Fly" is included in this post along with my analysis of some differences between the United States versions of these rhymes and the Jamaican versions of these rhymes.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to R. Kelly for composing the song "I Believe I Can Fly". Thanks also to those who contributed examples and/or videos that are featured in this post.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/childrens-parodies-of-i-believe-i-can_2.html for a 2013 pancocojams post entitled Children's Parodies Of "I Believe I Can Fly" (text & video examples)

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/archived-links-for-pancocojams-posts.html for a hyperlinked archive of pancocojams posts on "I Believe I Can Fly" children's parodies.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"
"I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song written, produced and performed by American singer R. Kelly, from the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, and was later included on Kelly's 1998 album R.

In early 1997, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100; it was kept from the number one spot by Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart". Although Kelly has had two number one songs on the pop chart, "I Believe I Can Fly" is his most successful single. It reached the number-one spot of the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and remained there for six non-consecutive weeks, keeping "Un-Break My Heart" from the top position of that chart for four of those weeks. "I Believe I Can Fly" also topped the charts in eight countries (including the United Kingdom), has won three Grammy Awards, and was ranked number 406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. The music video was directed by Kelly with Hype Williams.[1]

[...]

Parodies
In the 1999 episode "The Best of Both Worlds" of the animated TV series KaBlam!, in the Life with Loopy segment, the song was spoofed as "I (Don't) Believe I Can Fly."

In 2013, the song was parodied by sports radio show Tim & Sid, spoofing the song as "I Believe in Masai", in reference to Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri.

In 2016, the song was parodied as "I'm Convinced I Can Swim" by "Art Smelly" from the soundtrack to the hit film Earth Jelly in an episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."...
-snip-
"I Believe I Can Fly" children's parodies are based on the chorus of R. Kelly's 1996 song:
[Chorus]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

Source: https://genius.com/R-kelly-i-believe-i-can-fly-lyrics

****
EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY" FROM THE UNITED STATES
Excerpt for Example #1, these examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Example #1:
I believe I can fly.
I got chased by the FBI. (or less often "I'm being chased by the FBI").
It's all because of those collards greens
that I ate with those chicken wings.
I believe I can fly.**
See me running through that open door.
I believe I can fly.
I believe I can fly.
-African American boys & girls (ages 7-12), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, collected by Azizi Powell, 1999
-snip-
This example is the first time that I heard of any parody version of "I Believe I Can Fly". I collected this version during a cultural presentation that I conducted in 1999 at a children's recreation center in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a prelude to my presentation of traditional, adapted traditional, and contemporary African American game songs and cheers I asked the children in attendance what game songs they like to sing or play. Parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" was the most popular song that was mentioned and the most enthusiastically sung by boys and girls in attendance of these cultural sessions in various (mostly Black) Pittsburgh neighborhoods from 1999 to about 2003.

The parodies I heard in Pittsburgh were always the same as or very similar to the one given above. All of those examples had the same tune and tempo as the chorus to R. Kelly's record*. No body movements such as individual hand clapping, partner hand clap routines, jumping, or dancing accompanied the singing of these parodies.

I never learned how these parodies became so widely known among these children. They just said they made it up or they learned it from hearing other children sing it.

*Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc for the official YouTube video of
R Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly".

**Added October 4, 2018:
In a number of "I Believe I Can Fly" children's parodies this line is given as "I believe I can soar". The word "soar" rhymes with the word "door" in the subsequent line in this example and in many other examples. However, the boys and girls in this group (and some others) may not have known the word "soar" and therefore repeated the line "I believe I can fly".

**
Example #2:

I believe can fly I got shot by the fbi



mari, Published on Jun 25, 2014

Mari and mike
-snip-
[Here's my transcription of this video, written in poetry/song line format instead of the paragraph form that is used most of the time for online comments]

"I believe I can fly
I got shot by the FBI
All I wanted is some chicken wings, cornbread, and collard greens
I believe I can soar
I got a whoopin at the grocery store
I told my daddy I can't take no more
I got shot by the FBI"

**
Example #3:
"I believe I can fly, got shot by the FBI, all I wanted was a bag of chips, then they shot off my dangling bits..."
-Daniela Lopez, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]

**
Example #4:
"@Daniela Lopez When I was 5 it was, I believe i can fly, i got shot by the FBI, all i wanted was a bag of chips, then hit my sister in the bits
-IA Gaming, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]

**
Example #5
"I believe I can fly I got shot by the FBI all I wanted was some Burger King but instead they gave me chicken wings I believe I can soar got a whoopin at the grocery store I told my daddy I can't take it no more I got shot by the FBI"
-Gavin Walsh, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]

**
Example #6:
"I believe I can fly, I got shot by the FBI, All I wanted was a chicken wing, From McDonald's or Burger King, I still believe I can fly, I got caught by the Pepsi Guy, All I wanted was a Mountain Dew, Then he shot me with his 42, I'll always believe I can fly, Until the day I die, A clown hit me with a pie, After I told him to go die, I believe I could soar, I got killed by a open door, All I needed was 20 cents, For a package of Junior Mints.

That's the version I like!!"
-fireland47, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxEagMd8m0

**
Example #7:
"I believe I can fly, then I got shot by the FBI, all I wanted was a chicken wing, from KFC or Burger King. I believe I can soar, then I got hit with the kitchen door.

I love how everyone has their own special versions :)))"
-King Melik's Broadcast, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxEagMd8m0

**
Example #8:
"I believe I can fly I got shot by the pizza guy all I wanted was some onion rings or some mc Donald’s or Burger King I believe I can sore my mamma slapped me at the grocery store even though I was 34"
-FAKEJAKEPAUL TEAM 10, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxEagMd8m0

**
Example #9:
"The version we sang was I believe I can die. Got shot by the FBI. All I wanted was some chicken wings. Some corn bread and some collard greens. I believe I can sore. Got a beaten in the grocery store."
-Purple Capricorn, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxEagMd8m0

**
Example #10:
"real version: I believe I can fly I got shot by the FBI all I wanted was a chicken wing cornbread and collard greens I believe I can soar I got hit by the kitchen door
-Angela Evans, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxEagMd8m0

****
Example #11:
"I learned it like this ~ I believe I can fly, I got shot by the FBI, all I wanted was a chicken wing; from McDonalds and Burger King. I ended up in the hospital. And all they gave me was a popsicle. I looked beside me in the garbage can, and inside there was a naked man."
-jasmine chan, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak

**
Example #12:
This is how I learned it. I believe I can fly, I got shot down by the FBI all i wanted was a chicken wingggggg, but i didn't get my chicken wing. So i went to burger king I asked for a side of fries, but i didn't get my side of fries. all i wanted was a side of fries, so i blew up burger king yeah yeah i blew up burger king. I believe I can fly i got shot down by the FBI so i went to the hospital all i got was a popsicle and i looked in a garbage can and i saw a naked man. All i wanted was a chicken wing
-MaddieIsVeryBored, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak

**
Example #13:
"I believe I can fly I got shot by the FBI all I wanted was some chicken wings from McDonald's or Burger King and hit my mom with the frying pan she hit me back with the minivan i ended up in the hospital then I got a free popsicle 😄😄😄😄😂😂😂"
-Shanielia Williams, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak

**
Example #14:
"I made another version that's way better than guys I believe I could fly I got shot by the FBI all I was trying to do is playing my PS4 but my mom came screaming at my door"
-these pistolsonly aQ, 2018
-snip-
Ps4 = Sony PlayStation 4 Slim [video game console]

**
Example #15:
i believe i can fly got shot by the fbi, all i wanted was a chicken wing, but then they shot me in the dingaling.iwent to the hostpital, and they replaced it with a popcicle, i got hit by a metal door, and that hurt so much more.
Source(s):
boys in my classes still sing it
-Myra L, 2009, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090624005743AAxbczS


**
Example #16:
"I believe I can fly. I got shot by the FBI. All I wanted was a chicken wing, mashed potatoes and collard greens. I believe I can soar. My momma beat me at the grocery store. I believe I can fly. I believe I can fly. 🦅
-Sandy Rivera, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc [official video of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"]

**
Example #17:
"I believe I can Fly, I got shot by the FBI,My Mom hit me with a frying pan, I hit her with a trash Can, I believe I can fly
-Marsh VEVO, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc [official video of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"]

**
Example #18:
I Believe I can fly I got shot by an fbi all a wanted was a chicken wing a cross the street from Burger King I believe I can fly I believe I can fly
-Yanelba Reyes, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc [official video of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"]

**
Example #19:
"I believe I can fly,
Got shot by the pizza guy,
All I wanted was some onion rings,
From McDonald's or Burger King,
I believe I can soar,
My mom slapped me in the grocery store,
Even though I'm 24,
I still got an imaginary dinosaur"
-itznajah, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc [official video of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"

**
Example #20:
"I believe i can fly
I got shot by the fbi
All i wanted was a chicken wing
So i blew up burger king
I believe i can soar
I got hit by an apple cooooore
I hit my dog with a frying pan
He hit me back with a mini-vaaaaaaaaan!"
-snoopdawgproductions, Published on Nov 8, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlVpjke9Vs

****
EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY" FROM JAMAICA
Example #1
"I know this: I believe i can fly I believe i can touch the sky i been shot by an fbi but the fbi never had a gun so he shot me with a easter bun but easter bun never had no cheese so he shot me with a gung peas gung peas never have no seed so he shot me with a mango seed mango seed never have no hair so he shot me with beer but beer never have cork so he shot me a bobocloth"
Tyrone Sings13, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]
-snip-
Here's some information about Jamaica's Easter buns from https://jamdownfoodie.com/jamaican-easter-bun/
"Jamaica is a primarily Christian nation and all Christian holidays are held sacred there. Easter is no exception and the observance of Easter starts as early as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and generally, people decide to give up one indulgence during this time. Many people choose to give up eating red meat and chicken and stick with eating fish and seafood. At the end of Lent, which is marked by Good Friday, people begin the feast of Easter with a spiced bread dubbed Easter Bun and fried fish. The bread is a sweet bread that is studded with dried fruit and heavily spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. It is traditionally eaten with Jamaican processed cheese but it is also very delicious with mild aged cheddar cheese."...

**
Example #2
"i believe i can fly i got shot by an FBI the fbi never have nuh gun so him shot me with a easter bun the easter bun never i have nuh cheese so shot me with a gungo peas the gungo peas never have nuh seed so him shot me with a mango seed the mango seed never have nuh hair so him shot me with a red strip beer the red strip never have nuh cork so him shot with a bomboclat
-Faith, 2013, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090624005743AAxbczS

**
Example #3
"Jamaican version: I believe I can fly I got shot by a FBI ,FBI never have no gun so he shot me with a easter bun ,easter bun never have no cheese so them shot me with a red stripe bear,red stripe bear never have no cark so them shot me with a ......etc.

Hot_Adhesiveness_846, 2023, 

https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/jy6ghl/i_believe_i_can_fly_i_got_shot_by_the_fbi_all_i/

****
NOTES ABOUT SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOME UNITED STATES AND SOME JAMAICAN EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"

UNITED STATES VERSIONS:
The Wikipedia page for the song "I Believe I Can Fly" that I read on October 3, 2018 and the version of that page that I read in April 1, 2026 have a section on parodies of this song. However, neither of these versions of that page mention the apparently widespread and long lasting (since 1999) custom among boys and girls in the United States and elsewhere of singing parodies that they made up or heard elsewhere of this song.

The earliest children's parodies of R. Kelly's song "I Believe I Can Fly" that I heard is from 1999. [Example #1 above]. Numerous versions of these children's parodies are found online, particularly in discussion threads for YouTube videos of R. Kelly's song or in YouTube discussion threads of children singing those parodies. [Note that after February 2019, YouTube instituted a policy of disallowing comments on YouTube discussion threads for children's videos.]

**
This 2018 YouTube comment documents that some children in the United States were still reciting parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" in 2018:
* "Ya it's still a huge parody in my school"
-krista lime, October 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc [from the discussion thread for R Kelly’s official YouTube video of "I Believe I Can Fly"]

I'm interested in knowing whether children in the USA, in Jamaica, and elsewhere still sing/recite parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" in the 2020s. Please share any information about this in the discussion section for this post. Thanks in advance!

**
I heard boys and girls ages 5 to 12 years old sing these songs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (from 1999 to around 2003). I have also seen videos of children reciting these examples and commenters mention that they remember reciting these examples in school or write that they are still reciting these parodies in school.

That said, it's also possible that children began to sing these parodies after hearing them or similar parodies that were sung by adults (for instance, children may have heard a parody of that song "in the 1999 episode "The Best of Both Worlds" of the animated TV series KaBlam!, in the Life with Loopy segment, the song was spoofed as "I (Don't) Believe I Can Fly." [as indicated in the Wikipedia article that is cited above). I haven't found a transcript of that segment, but note that no children's versions that I've heard or found online have the line "I don't believe I can fly". Also, in probable contrast to that 1999 television spoof, almost all of the children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" feature "FBI" as the rhyme for the word "fly".

**
The usual format for these United States children's versions of "I Believe I Can Fly" appears to consist of a series of two line verses with the last word in the first line of each verse rhyming with the last word of the second line. However, the format that is used for Example #12 given above is the same as the format that is used for the two Jamaican examples given below.

**
None of the children's parodies of this song that I've heard or found online have the inspirational message that is found in R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" song.

**
Almost all of the children's parody examples refer to being shot by the FBI" (Federal Bureau of Investigation). The referent "FBI" rhymes with the word "fly". (Note that the older referent for FBI agents "G men" isn't used in any of these examples). However, by at least 2009, I've read a few references online in examples of these rhyme parodies to being shot by "the pizza guy" or "the grocery guy" instead of "the FBI".

**
A number of United States versions of children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" include references to dishes that are considered "soul food" (African American associated food): chicken wings, cornbread, and collard greens. These references don't necessarily mean that these parodies originally were composed by African Americans as they could have easily been composed by a non-African American spoofing African American cultural traditions.

**
United States versions of children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" contain a number of references to the widely known fast food restaurants Burger King, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), and McDonalds.

**
United States versions of children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" are much more violent now (in 2018) than they were in 1999. In addition to being shot by the fbi, children sing about getting a whooping (beating) from their mother or their father, being hit by their mother a frying pan or a trash can, and hitting her back, slapped by an open door, blew up Burger King, got hit by a minivan etc.

**
At some point (date?) examples of United States versions of children's parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" started to include the sexual referents "dangling bits", hot me in the dingaling, a "naked man in a trash can.

****
JAMAICAN VERSIONS
I came across the Example of a Jamaican children's version of "I Believe I Can Fly" given as Example #1 in the Jamaican section above in the discussion thread for the video that is given as Example #1 above. I was surprised to read this version as I didn't know that parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" were recited in Jamaica. After finding that example, I searched online for additional Jamaican or Caribbean examples of this parody and found one other example (given as Example #2 in the Jamaican section above.

Here's the only comment that was written in reply to Example #1:
"Tyrone Sings what u make no sense at all 😂😂🚹"
-Jeremiah Grant, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMTpyrncak [video given above]

**
The reason why Tyrone Sing13's version probably makes no sense to most people in the United States is that it is full of cultural referents from Jamaica that aren't known to people from the United States.

Here's the comment that I wrote on October 1, 2018 in response to Jeremiah Grant's comment
"+Jeremiah Grant, actually Tyrone Sings13 's example does make sense from a Jamaican (and possibly other Caribbean) standpoint. References to "easter buns" are found on various websites, including one that notes that "The Jamaican Spice Bun is eaten year-round however it is a must with cheese have during the Easter season.". "Gung peas" = "gungo peas", also known as "pigeon peas", "mango seeds" are self explanatory. Finally, I think it's likely that Trone Sings13 meant to write "so he shot me with a bobocloth". The probable meaning for "bobocloth" (more often also given as "bloodcloth" and a "bombocloth") is the cloths that were used before the invention of "maxi pads" and "tampons".

As a self-described community folklorist whose particularly interested in Black children's rhymes and cheers, I'm curious if kids or teens in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean sing this parody or other "I believe I can fly" parodies and if so, when they started doing so."

**
The three Jamaican examples of "I Believe I Can Fly" parodies that I found use what I call a "trading rhymes" format.

Here's an excerpt from a pancocojams post about trading rhymes http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/childrens-trading-rhymes-such-as-hush.html:
"Trading rhymes" is my term for a category of children's rhymes in which throughout the rhyme one defective item is traded (exchanged) for another item which also turns out to be defective. The last word in the first line of each verse rhymes or near rhymes with the last word in the second line:
Example:
Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

Or the example includes internal rhymes within each trading item line:
Example:
Pie too sweet I wanna piece of meat
Meat too rough I wanna ride a bus

**
Probably the most widely known example of "trading rhymes" in the United States is "Hush Little Baby, Don't Say A Word" (Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird") which is given as Example #4 & Example #5 below.

The trading rhyme format that these Jamaican examples use is in contrast to every United States example of "I Believe I Can Fly" parodies that I've found except for Example #12 above.

Also, in contrast to the United States versions of these parodies, some lines of the Jamaican versions of "I Believe I Can Fly" don't rhyme. Also, the three Jamaican examples that I've come across aren't as violent as some of the United States examples. However, the inclusion of the word "bombocloth" ("bobocloth") in the Jamaican versions make those examples more gross than their United States counterparts.

Please share any examples of these children's parodies that you know along with demographic information (where- city/state in the USA or the nation & city outside of the USA; when (decade or year, and who (gender/s and ages that you first sung or chanted this rhyme. I'm also interested in knowing if you sung this song with any physical activity such as jumping rope or doing hand claps. Thanks in advance for sharing this information for the folkloric and cultural record.
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