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.
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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"
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.
EXAMPLES OF UNITED STATES CHILDREN'S PARODIES OF THE SONG "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"
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
**
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 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 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
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
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
-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"
"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/
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 include some fanciful but also violent elements such as being chased by the FBI and/or being whooped (spanked/beaten by their mother or beaten up by someone else, and/or landing up in a hospital.
-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
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 πππΉ"
-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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-Jamaican children' parodies of "I Believe I Can Fly" appear to be 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.
- 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 as I believe is in Jamaican Example #3 given above) make those examples more gross than their United States counterparts.
-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.
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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.
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