Latest revision - December 3, 2018
This pancocojams post documents examples of "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" children rhymes that have what I refer to as the "Batman in the kitchen" verse.
This post also documents examples of the "___'s on the potty" verse that often follows the above mentioned verse in "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" rhymes.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE "JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS" PARODY SONG/RHYME
"Jingle Bells Batman Smells" is a parody of this currently standard version of the late 19th century song "Jingle Bells":
Jingle bellsOther parody versions of "Jingle Bells" that begin with the words "jingle bells jingle bells", "Jingle bells Santa smells," or "Jingle bells shotgun shells" predate "Jingle Bells Batman Smells". Children's versions of These "Jingle Bells" parody songs or rhymes are usually sung without any accompanying physical activity such as jumping rope or hand clapping. Many of the "Jingle Bells" parody songs or rhymes are violent and/or gross.
Jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun is is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Hey!
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WHEN WERE "JINGLE BELL" PARODIES FIRST SUNG?
Based on commenters recollections of examples that are found on various internet websites, these other "Jingle Bells" parodies are documented from the 1950s, but might be earlier.
Versions of the children's rhyme "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" are documented to have been chanted in 1966 or shortly thereafter (as per various commenters in the the Rob Weir collection of those rhymes whose link is given below.) That 1966 is the year that the Batman television series first aired on American television. In addition to children's versions of these parodies, "Jingle Bells" parody verses are also found in some military parodies and fraternity chants.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE BATMAN'S IN THE KITCHEN" VERSE AND IT'S POSSIBLE SOURCE
The focus of this pancocojams post is examples of "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" that include what I refer to as a "Batman's in the kitchen" verse. This verse is found in (what appears to be) a small number of examples of the children's rhyme "Jingle Bells Batman Smells".
I've published two previous pancocojams posts about "Jingle Bells" parody songs.* In this post, I'm interested in what appears to be very clear similarities between the "batman in the kitchen" verse and the same pattern of verses in the bawdy* 1940s Black American song "Doing The Dirty Boogie" and other folk compositions such as the children's rhyme "Rockin Robin" (also known as "Tweeleelee", some historically Black fraternity chants, and some military cadences. [Bawdy" means "dirty", "obscene", "vulgar", "indecent", "x rated", "risque" etc.]
Like the verse in those above mentioned compositions, the "batman in the kitchen" verse describes multiple characters doing different things. In some versions of that bawdy adult song, and in the versions of the "Rockin Robin (Tweeleelee), that verse starts with "mama" being in the kitchen. However, in the "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" rhymes that contain this verse, it's usually "Batman" who is the one in the kitchen. The action that is reported in the last line of the verses in the bawdy song and the children's rhymes is usually the most risque action of them all.
Example:
Batman’s in the kitchen,
Robin’s in the hall,
Joker’s in the bathroom
peeing on the wall.
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In some of the "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" rhymes that contain a "Batman in the kitchen" verse, that verse is immediately followed by a verse that I refer to as "___'s on the potty".
Example:
Penguin’s on the potty,
His arms too short to wipe,
Catwoman’s in the litter box
And the Riddler smokes a pipe."
*The word "potty" in this verse means "bathroom".
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There are numerous versions of the "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" children's song. However, only a few of the versions that I've found include a verse that is similar to the verse in the 1940s bawdy song "Doing The Dirty Boogie" or the 1950s bawdy song "Ala Boogie".
If the 1940s song "Doing The Dirty Boogie" or the similar 1950s song "Ala Boogie" is the source for the pattern of the "batman in the kitchen" verse in the "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" children's rhyme (and "mama's in the kitchen" verse in the "Rockin Robin" children's rhyme), it's highly likely that children ever recognize/d that connection.
The only dirty or risque words that are usually included in the "Batman in the kitchen" verse that is the focus of this post is someone "peeing" ("pissing") on the wall. Children may consider the "___ 's on the potty" verse to be risque just because people aren't supposed to talk about a person sitting on the potty. Also, children may consider that they are challenging society's norms and having fun while doing so when they chant about someone not being able to wipe his or her butt, equating Catwoman with an actual cat sitting in a litter box pooping. And, smoking a pipe may also be considered somewhat challenging society's norms in today's non-smoking cultures.
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SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE "BATMAN'S IN THE KITCHEN" VERSE AND "MAMA'S IN THE KITCHEN" IN "ROCKIN ROBIN" RHYMES
The children's rhyme "Rockin Robin" (also known as "Tweeleelee" or a similar sounding word) often includes a verse which I call "mama's in the kitchen". That verse fits the same pattern as the "batman's in the kitchen" verse in "Jingle Bells Batman Smells". I believe that pattern originally came from or at least early on came from the above mentioned "Doing The Dirty Boogie" song.
Here's an example of the "mama's in the kitchen" verse from "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") rhymes:
Momma's in the kitchen cooking rice.
Daddy's at home shooting dice.
Brother's in jail raising bail [or pissin in the pail}
Sister's in the corner sellin
fruit cocktail.
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There are a lot of different versions of "Jingle Bells Batman Smells". However, the "Batman in the kitchen" verse that is found in a few of those versions appears to be relatively stable, i.e. There appears to be very few changes in the wording of that verse over a period of time, and throughout multiple geographical areas.
In contrast, there's much more variation in the words to the "mama's of the kitchen" verse that is found in "Rockin Robin" children's rhymes.*
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WHEN WERE THE "BATMAN IN THE KITCHEN" VERSIONS OF "JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS" FIRST CHANTED?
I'm not sure when "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" songs that includes the "batman in the kitchen" verse were first sung.
1975 is the earliest documented date for the a Jingle Bells Batman Smells" that includes the "Batman in the kitchen" verse. (Rob Weir collection; comment by Kim given after Example #1 found below).
The earliest date that I found for the "Rockin Robin" children's rhyme (with or without its "mama in the kitchen" verse) is "in the 1970s". "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") is associated with The Jackson Five's 1972 record "Rockin Robin" and not with Bobby Day's 1958 recording of that song. Note that no examples of the "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") rhyme have been found for the late 1950s or the 1960s.
If 1975 really is the earliest date for the "batman in the kitchen" verse and if the earliest date for "mama in the kitchen" verse is 1972 (when the Jackson Five recorded their version of that song), then the "Rockin Robin" rhymes with that verse were chanted before the "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" rhymes with that verse.
-snip-
* Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/documenting-some-examples-of-verse-from.html for the pancocojams post entitled Documenting Some Examples Of The "Mama's In The Kitchen" Verse From The Adult Only Songs "Doing The Dirty Boogie" & "Ala Boogie" In "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") Hand Clap Rhymes for (word only) examples of "Doing The Dirty Boogie" song, the "Ala Boogie" song, and the children's rhyme "Rocin Robin" ("Tweeleelee").
* Also, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/examples-of-black-fraternity-chants.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of Black Fraternity Chants That Are Based On The "Mama's In The Kitchen" Verse From The Bawdy Song "Doing The Dirty Boogie"
WARNING: Some of the content of those pancocojams posts may not be suitable for children.
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EXAMPLES OF JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS THAT INCLUDE A VERSE OR VERSES WHOSE SOURCE MIGHT BE THE BAWDY SONG "DOING THE DIRTY BOOGIE"
These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only. The verses that are the focus on this post are given in italics.
All of these examples are from the comment section of https://www.robweir.com/blog/2006/01/jingle-bells-batman-smells.html Jingle Bells, Batman Smells by ROB on 2006/01/09
Note: This pancocojams post doesn't include duplicate examples of this rhyme that are found in the above cited compilation and there may bbe other examples of this rhyme in that compilation that I inadvertently didn't retrieve.
Thanks Rob Weir for encouraging the collection of examples of these rhymes and thanks to that article's commenters!
WARNING: Many contemporary (1970s on) "Jingle Bells Batman Smells" rhymes are very violent. Some of the examples of that rhyme which are found below include violent content.
1. "Batman’s in the kitchen,
Robin’s in the hall,
Joker’s in the bathroom
peeing on the wall.
Penguin’s on the potty,
His arms too short to wipe,
Catwoman’s in the litter box
And the Riddler smokes a pipe.
O, Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg,
The Batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker got away!"
-Anonymous, 2008/01/05
-snip-
Another blogger, Kim ,2014/02/11 wrote
"This is the one I learned in 1975"
-snip-
The "penquin's in the potty" verse which ends with the word "pipe" can also be considered a form of this rhyme that is the focus of this post.
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2.
jingle bells,
batman smells,
robin layed an egg!
the batmobile lost a wheel,
and joker`s song is gay!
oooooh..
jingle bells,
shotgun shells,
mad hatter is dead!
robin got a .22,
and shot him in the head!
ooooooooh!
*chorus*
prancing through the snow,
joker has his day,
taking all the jewls,
laughing all the way!
mwa hah hah!
next verse:
batmans in the kitchen,
robins in the hall,
jokers on the porch,
peeing on the wall! penguins on the potty, his arms too short to wipe,
catwomans in the litter box,
and robin smokes a pipe!
theres more but i cant remember…
-Nikki, 2008/05/27
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3. Jingle Bells,
Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg,
Batmobile lost its’ wheel
and joker got away
hey!
*repeat*
Batman’s in the kitchen,
robin’s in the hall,
joker’s in the bathroom,
peeing on the wall
hahaha!
Batman’s going swimming
Robins in a dance
Joker’s sitting in the sun
peeing in his pants!
*chorus*
atleast from what I remember joker had urinary problems XD possibly a prostate exam was due
-Atata, 2011/11/19
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4. Robin in the kitchen,
Batman in the hall,
Joker in the bathroom,
Peeing on the wall..
:} mwahaha
-DanielJBarragan, 2012/01/11
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5. I heard
Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
The batmobile has lost a wheel
And Joker got away, hey!
And
Batman’s in the kitchen
Robin’s in the hall
Joker’s in the bathroom peeing on the wall
And
Jingle Bells, Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
The Batmobile has lost a wheel
And Joker thinks he’s gay, hey’
-George, 2012/06/14, "Growing up in Georgia, born ’97."
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6. Mine is a very recent contribution, as I heard it in 2000-2001, but here goes…
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg.
The batmobile lost a wheel (or Mr. Freeze cut the cheese)
And the Joker got away!
Batman’s in the kitchen,
Robin’s in the hall,
Joker’s in the bathroom,
Peeing on the wall!
(Hahaha!)
-Plum, 2012/07/17
-snip-
Oh, I’m sorry! That was in California. :)
-Plum, 2012/07/17
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7. This year my kids came home from friends in Oklahoma singing:
Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid a gun,
shot a tree, made it pee, in 1983
Batman in the kitchen
Robin in the hall
Jokers in the bathroom
peeing on the wall!
Catgirl in the litterbox
oh what fun it is to die in a onehorse open sleigh! (my son made up the very last line).
-Maria, 2014/01/07
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8.
Batman in the kitchen,
Robin in the hall,
Joker in the bathroom,
Peeing all over the wall!
hahahahha
- Friv, 2014/08/01
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9. jingle bells batman smells robin layed a egg bad mobile lost a wheel and joker got away…hey! Badmans in the kitchen, robins in the hall, jokes in the washroom… Peeing on the wall! The snow is turning read, I ink I’m going to be dead… WAKE Up in the morning with stiches on my head!
-9.Me, 2014/11/17
-snip-
"Badmans" is probably a typo for "Batman's" and "jokes" is probably a typo for "Joker's".
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10. This is what I learned at daycare around age 10 in Ca
Oooh… Jingle Bells, Alfred smells, Robin laid an egg.
The bat mobile lost a wheel, but Bat Girl saved the day.
Batman’s in the kitchen, Mad hatter’s in the hall,
Joker’s in the backyard peeing on the wall.
Penguin’s on the potty, His arms too short to wipe,
Catwoman’s in the litter box, while the Riddler smokes a pipe.
Oooh… Jingle Bells, Alfred smells, Robin laid an egg.
The bat mobile lost a wheel, but Bat Girl saved the day.
I see some people saying the words don’t make sense because Robin couldn’t lay eggs, well when I was a kid to ‘lay an egg’ meant you let a stinky one rip. So I’ve always took the words to mean he farted.
-Kat, 2015/01/24
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11.
I heard something like this : Jingle bells, You smell, like a rotten egg, the batmobile lost a wheel and threw it on your head! HEY
Are you in the kitchen, maybe in the hall, are you in the bathroom peeing on the wall? HEY
Zombies hate the pit, you were there too, I saw you eat a HappyMeal, and then you needed to poo. Eh?
Jingle bells, You smell, like a rotten egg, the batmobile lost a wheel and threw it on your head! HEY
-JY, 2015/02/12
-snip-
This example repeats the last line three more times.
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12. I remember ‘thinking’ that I had writen:
“Batmans in the kitchen,
Robins in the hall,
Jokers in the bathroom, peeing on the wall” in response to ‘jingle bells, batman smells” around 1988 in GA. A year or so later, I remember having an argument with a friend that I had written that, but he claimed to hear it in KY around the same time I ‘wrote it’. I found this site because I had the same question.. how quickly do these spread? And, perhaps, I subconsciously heard it before that, but I can remember working out the rhyme and feeling accomplish as a 5 or 6 year old.
Chris A, 2015/01/30
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REPLY
Human memory inserting details is a funny thing 8) I used to sing that with my second grade class, which would have been 1981. It was sung to the opening tune of “Lulu Had a Baby”.
David A, 2015/12/31
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13, O.k., kids, it was 1966-67 , growing up on post at Fort Knox, KY, when I heard the full rendition with Robin in the hall and the chorus where the joker got away in part to the bat mobile’s lost wheel. But the only part my 2nd grade brain remembered was the chorus because the intro was too long winded. Besides the chorus was the funniest part to sing to our parents."-
-Jeff, 2012/09/10
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