Kool & The Gang's 1980 Song "Celebration" (with information about the origin of that song & what the word "Yahoo!" means in that song)

 

Kool & The Gang - Celebration

KoolandthegangShow, Oct 5, 2009  

REMASTERED IN HD!

Official Music Video for Celebration performed by Kool & The Gang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of Kool & The Gang's 1980 mega-hit "Celebration".

This post also presents information about "Celebration" as well as the lyrics for that song.

The Addendum to this post presents information about the meanings of the word "Yahoo!" in this 1980s R&B song.

The content of this post is presented for historical, linguistic, political, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Kool & The Gang for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This pancocojams post is published on November 4, 2026- the day after the United States' midterm election that transferred control of the United States House and Senate to the Democrats.

Let's celebrate this historic Blue Tsunami!!
 
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INFORMATION ABOUT KOOL &THE GANG'S SONG "CELEBRATION"    
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_(Kool_%26_the_Gang_song)
" "Celebration" is a song by American band Kool & the Gang. Released in October 1980 by De-Lite Records as the first single from their twelfth album, Celebrate! (1980), it was the band's first and only single to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 2016, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]

In 2021, the Library of Congress selected "Celebration" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".[4]

Origins

Co-founder Ronald Bell, the group's saxophonist and musical arranger, said "Celebration" was inspired by the Quran:

I was reading the passage, where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords, the line, 'Everyone around the world, come on, celebration.'[5][6]

In The Guardian, Alexis Petridis stated that Bell liked telling people that "Celebration" was inspired by the Quran but that Robert "Kool" Bell had a different explanation of the song's origin. "Kool" recalled Ronald was listening to the band's earlier hit "Ladies' Night" (1979) and noticed the lyric "This is your night tonight, come on, let’s all celebrate." Then, Ronald decided to build a song out of that lyric.[7]

Composition

"Celebration" … was written as a collaboration by the whole band.

[...]

Commercial performance

"Celebration" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 7, 1981, and held that position for two weeks before Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" overtook it.[11] It remains the band's only Billboard number one hit.

By late 1980, the song had also reached number one on both the Billboard Dance and R&B charts. The song was featured heavily on the radio throughout the year. It has since been frequently used in weddings and parties,[11] and is a popular anthem for sporting events, including serving as the theme song for the St. Louis Cardinals after winning the 1982 World Series. In 1981, it was commonly played by radio stations in honor of the release of US hostages from captivity in Iran.[12] It was also an international hit, reaching number seven in the United Kingdom on November 29, 1980, spending 13 weeks in the chart.">>>

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LYRICS - "CELEBRATION"
(composers- Kool &The Gang)

"[Intro]

Yahoo! (This is your celebration)

Yahoo! (This is your celebration)

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

[Verse]

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

[Chorus]

(Celebration) Let's all celebrate and have a good time

(Celebration) We gon' celebrate and have a good time

[Refrain]

It's time to come together

It's up to you, what's your pleasure?

(Everyone around the world, come on)

[Pre-Chorus]

Yahoo! It's a celebration

Yahoo!

[Chorus]

Celebrate good times, come on (It's a celebration)

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

[Verse]

There's a party goin' on right here

A dedication to last throughout the years

So bring your good times and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate and party with you

Come on now

[Chorus]

(Celebration) Let's all celebrate and have a good time, yeah-yeah

(Celebration) We gon' celebrate and have a good time

[Refrain]

It's time to come together

It's up to you, what's your pleasure?

(Everyone around the world, come on)

[Pre-Chorus]

Yahoo! It's a celebration

Yahoo! It's a celebration

[Chorus]

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate, come on now)

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

[Bridge]

We're gonna have a good time tonight

Let's celebrate, it's all right

We're gonna have a good time tonight

Let's celebrate, it's all right, baby

We're gonna have a good time tonight (Celebration)

Let's celebrate, it's all right

We're gonna have a good time tonight (Celebration)

Let's celebrate, it's all right

[Pre-Chorus]

Yahoo!

Yahoo!

[Chorus]

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come on (It's a celebration)

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come on (Come on and celebrate tonight)

(Baby everything's gonna be alright, let's celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come on

Celebrate good times, come on (Let's have a great time, celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come"
-snip-
online source- https://genius.com/Kool-and-the-gang-celebration-lyrics

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ADDENDUM - Information about the meaning of the word "Yahoo!" in this song
[These online sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.]
Source#1
From AI Overview [This write up is the result of my question "What does the word "Yahoo!" mean in Kool & The Gang's hit song "Celebration"?
"In Kool & The Gang’s hit 1980 anthem "Celebration," the word "Yahoo!" is simply an enthusiastic, joyful exclamation used to pump up the crowd. It holds no hidden meaning, nor does it have anything to do with the technology company of the same name, which wasn't founded until 1994.

The background of how the exclamation ended up in the track comes directly from the band:

• The Southern Porch Vibe: Bandleader and co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell explained that the song was conceptualized after they won two American Music Awards for their track "Ladies' Night". They wanted to capture a soulful, down-home groove. As Robert Bell described it, the track was meant to feel like you were "down south, sitting on the porch in your grandmother's rocking chair," and you suddenly yelled out, "Yahoo! How are you feeling today?!" to express pure, unbridled excitement.

• Spiritual Origins: While "Yahoo!" provides a casual, fun party exclamation, the underlying inspiration for the song actually came from a deep place. Co-founder Ronald Bell conceived the track after reading a passage in the Quran about angels celebrating the creation of mankind. He wanted a universal shout that invited everyone around the world to partake in that ultimate joy."
-snip-
citations given in this AI Overview write-up:
https://www.kcrw.com/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/stories/kool-and-the-gang-celebration

and 

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/kool-the-gang/celebration

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Source #2
From https://www.songfacts.com/facts/kool-the-gang/celebration "Songfacts: Kool & The Gang - "Celebration"
..."Kool & the Gang had something to "Celebrate" when it went to #1 in February 1981, a few month after it was released in October 1980. only American #1. For the next 40+ years it was the closing number at their live shows, sending fans home on a high.

"Celebration" has a much deeper meaning beneath the surface. Kool & the Gang's sax player Ronald Bell, whose Muslim name is Khalis Bayyan, told Billboard that the song came out of a time of religious study. "The initial idea came from reading the Q'uran," he explained. "I was reading the passage where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords and the line, Everyone around the world, come on, let's celebrate."

Bell recalled that he was staying at a hotel in Manhattan when he read the bit of scripture that inspired the song. He says the song is essentially about the creation of mankind, and everyone is invited to this celebration: "Everyone around the world, come on!"

After coming up with the idea, he brought it to the band and they completed the song, with all members contributing. Kool & the Gang generally contributed to the songwriting together and shared the credits.

This song was foreshadowed in the 1979 Kool & the Gang hit "Ladies Night" with the lyrics "Come on, let's all celebrate" near the end. According to Ronald Bell, that was "the key to finishing 'Celebration' ". [...]

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Visitor comments are welcome. 

Some Examples Of "Bragging and Confrontational" Foot Stomping Cheers [2026 Complete Reprint]

Edited by Azizi Powell 

[This is a complete reprint of a pancocojams post with this title that was reprinted in 2025. The original post was deleted from this blog, but the 2025 post remains on this blog.

As of 5:58 AM EST there haven't been any other visitor comments to that 2025 reprint of that post.] 

This pancocojams post presents some examples of a sub-category of foot stomping cheers that I refer to as "bragging and confrontational" foot stomping cheers.

"Bragging and confrontational" foot stomping cheers are the second largest sub-set of foot stomping cheers that I have found online and off-line. Chanters in these cheers brag about themselves or their group and speak in confrontational ways toward an unnamed person or persons.

As a reminder, based on their words, foot stomping cheers often fit into more than one category of cheers.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/some-examples-of-introduce-yourself-my.html for the pancocojams post whose title is  "Some Examples of "Introduce Yourself (My Name Is ___"  foot stomping cheers". [This is the largest sub-category of foot stomping cheers that I have come across,]

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/some-examples-of-dance-style-foot.html for the pancocojams post whose title is "Some Examples Of Dance Style Foot Stomping Cheers That Don’t Include Dance Names"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/some-black-american-girls-ideas-about.html for the pancocojams post whose title is "Some Black American Girls' Ideas About & Expectations Of Romantic Relationships As Suggested By Certain Foot Stomping Cheers"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/some-examples-of-dance-style-foot.html for the pancocojams post whose title is "Information About And A Video Of The Game "Tetherball" With Three Examples of "Tetherball" Foot stomping Cheers". Those cheers are examples of "sports and games" foot stomping cheers..

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those whose memories of these foot stomping cheers are included in this compilation. 
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list.html for Part I (Numbers - C) for Part I of a five part alphabetized pancocojams series of foot stomping cheers that I have come across online and/or off-line. The links to the other parts of this series are given in each post.

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SUB-CATEGORIES OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
I've placed the foot stomping cheers that I've come across into these five different sub-categories:

-Introduce Yourself (My name is __) cheers

-Dance style foot stomping cheers

-Bragging/confrontational cheers

--Romantic relationships cheers

-Sports & games cheers

Most foot stomping cheers are combinations of more than one of these sub-categories.

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SOME EXAMPLES OF BRAGGING AND CONFRONTATIONAL  FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
These examples are presented in relative alphabetical order based on the first letter of the cheer's name.   

This compilation doesn't include all of the  small number of examples of this sub-category of foot stomping cheers that I have come across online or off-line. 

A, B

AH RAH RAH AH BOOM TANG
Group: Ah Rah Rah Ah Boom Tang
Ah Rah Rah Ah Boom Tang
Ah Rah Rah Ah Boom Tang, baby
Ah Rah Rah Ah Boom Tang
Ah Rah Rah Ah Boom Tang
Soloist #1:My name is Renee
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist # 1:They call me Nae
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist #1: And when they see me
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist #1: They say “Ah Rah Rah
You look good, baby.”
Soloist #2:My name is Jennifer
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist # 2:They call me Jenay
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist #2: And when they see me
Group: Ah Boom Tang
Soloist #2: They say “Ah Rah Rah
Twist it, baby.”

(Repeat entire cheer with new soloist until everyone has had a turn).
-Tazi M.Powell (African American female, from her memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the mid 1980s)

The words said as the last line in each soloist's turn may repeat what was previously said or may be different as long as the words stay on beat. 

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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN (Example #1)
Group: Bang, Bang Choo Choo Train.
Watch Indonesia do her thang.
Soloist #1: I can’t.
Group: Why not?
Soloist #1: I can’t.
Group: Why not?
Soloist #1: Because my back is achin.
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 chant with the next soloist who gives her name or nickname. The cheer continues with this pattern until everyone has had one chance as soloist.)
-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 as a hand clap rhyme)
-snip-
I believe that "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" originated as a foot stomping cheer. However,  around 2005, "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" began to be performed as a partner hand clap rhyme.

"Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" is (was) often combined with the children's rhyme "Brick Wall Waterfall". These were by far the most popular recreational rhymes or cheers that were submitted to my cocojams.com website which was online from January 2001 to Oct. 2014.

A lot of children and preteens added examples of rhymes and cheers to that website by writing those examples on an easy to use page that didn't requite an email address. To protect underaged contributors, people who shared examples were asked to use either their first names only or their first name and the initial of their last name. ]

However, I've observed that "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" was (is?) usually performed since around 2005 as a hand clap rhyme and not as a foot stomping cheer. And, to my knowledge,  "Brick Wall Waterfall" has never been performed as a foot stomping cheer. 

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BOOM TICK TOCK 
Boom tick tock
Look at that girl.
Boom tick tock
Look at that girl.
In the mini skirt.
You mess with her
You get your feelings hurt.
She knows karate
From the front to the back.
Jump ____* [Someone randomly calls out an action word; insert a girl's name] She's all that. 
-Naijah S.; (African American female, 9 years old; Hazelwood section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; January 14, 2011; Collected by Azizi Powell

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C, D

CALL REPUTATION
this is a saying call reputation

my name is yonnqa
i'm number one
my reputation has just begun
so if you see me step a side
cause i don't take no jive
oh think she cool
correction baby i no i'm cool
i no karate
i no kunfu
you miss with me
i co it on you
rasasol o dazzo o ox2
-yaya ; 2/23/2007, cocojams.com
-snip-
This is a form of the "Hula Hula" cheer.
-snip-
"cocojams.com" is the name of my cultural website that was online from January 2001-November 2014 when I voluntarily de-activated it. Children, pre-teens, and teenagers contributed many of the examples of children's rhymes and cheers on that website via an easy to use webpage.  

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E,F

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G, H

GATORS
All: Gaaators *
(clap two tines and stomp four times while turning around)
Gaaators
(clap two tines and stomp four times while turning around)
Soloist #1:
Gator’s aint wid it
So Homewood betta quit it **
All: Gaaators
(clap two tines and stomp four times while turning around)
Gaaators
(clap two times and stomp four times while turning around)
Soloist #2: Homewood betta chill out
cause I’ll put their tracks out. ***

Directions:
Repeat entire sequence two more times; start facing forward, first time you say it, you turn to your right while you are clapping two times, 2nd time on the beat, you turn to the back, 3rd time you turn to your left forth time, you turn to the front; then to the “chorus”. Continue the same pattern of the group reciting the first part while a new soloist recites a new different two line mocking or confrontational verse.
-Sha’ona and Conraya; (African American females, 11 years old; Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, collected by Azizi Powell, June 2008

*The Garfield Gators is the name of a community football team in the Garfield section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Garfield is a mostly African American working class neighborhood.

**Homewood is a nearby and rival mostly African American, working class Pittsburgh neighborhood.

***
"tracks" is another term for "(hair) weaves" - fake or real hair that is attached to a female's hair to lengthen it and/or give it more body

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 ___ HAS THE POWER
All:(including soloist named or nickname):
Ree Ree* has the power
to scream and shout.
But Deandre** has the power
to knock
you
out.
Say what?
To knock
you
out.
Okay.

[Repeat the entire cheer with another girl’s name or nickname or with another boy’s name or nickname]
-Riantai (*Ree Ree); African American female, age 8; Faison Primary School (Homewood area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2009; collected by Azizi Powell, October 30, 2009


* a nickname of a girl in your competitor' cheerleading squad’s name or nickname
** a name of a girl in your cheerleading squad

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HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING (Example #1)

Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see me just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.

Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.

Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 14);
-snip-

That book's preface indicates that the source of all of the examples in that book were Black children from Houston, Texas.

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HOLLYWOOD GOES SWINGIN (Example #2)
All: Hollywood goes swingin
Hollywood goes ___swingin
Swingin for the good times
Swingin for the bad times
Soloist #1: My name is Zizi
I’m cool and the gang
Mess with me. I’ll do my thang
If you see me walkin down the street
You betta speak.
Long time, no see
Sexy as I wanna be
Some hittin me high
Some hittin me low
Some hittin me on my-
Don’t ask what
Group: What?
Soloist #1: My b-u-tt butt
That's what.
- Tazi M.Powell, (African American female, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1985-1986); also collected by Tazi Powell from African American girls, Pittsburgh [Lillian Taylor Camp], 1989 & 1990
-snip-
(Repeat from the beginning with the next soloist who says her name or nickname. Continue this pattern until every girl in the group has had one turn as the soloist)
* ___ pause for a beat

The group members decide the order of soloists by the fastest ones to shout out 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. They then form a line (or a half circle facing their usually imaginary audience) in that order. The girls begin stepping for a short while before they start saying the cheer. This is to make sure that everyone is "on beat". They keep doing the step routine when they begin chanting throughout the entire cheer. If someone "messes up the beat", the cheer must start all over again from the beginning using the same order of cheerleaders. At the end of the cheer, the entire cheer begins again with a new soloist. This pattern continues until everyone in the group has the same equal turn as the soloist.

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HOLLYWOOD GOES SWINGING (Version #3)
All: Hollywood goes swingin;.
Swingin’ for the good times.
Swingin’ for the bad times.
Soloist #1: My name is Ebony.
(And) I’m cool and the gang.
You mess with me
And I’ll do my thang.
My sign is Libra
And that’s alright.
Cause all Libra’s
Are out of sight.
All: Hey you,
Check it out!
You! You!
Check it out!
-Tazi M Powell, Pittsburgh, PA, mid 1980s; Collected by Azizi Powell, 1996
-snip-
Repeat cheer with next soloist who gives her astrological sun sign.
The cheer continues until everyone has had one turn as the soloist.

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HOLLYWOOD NOT SWINGING (Version #4)

When we were kids, what were some of your favorite hood cheers? Post 'em here. Mine was "Hollywood Not Swingin'"

Hollywood not swingin', Hollywood not...swingin'

Hollywood not swingin', Hollywood not...swingin'

 

Well my name is Yella, my number's 1,

My reputation is havin' fun,

So if you see me just step aside,

Because this light chick don't take no jiiiiiiiiivvveeee.
-Cocaine,Aug 18, 2006, https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/hood-cheers.43158/ "Hood Cheers"

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HULA HULA (Example #1)
Group: Hula Hula.
Who think they bad?
Soloist #1: I do.
Group: Hula Hula
Who think they bad?
Soloist #1: I do.
Well, I think I’m bad cause
Cara’s my name
and love is my game
I got this boy on my mind
and Lord knows he’s fine.
I got his name on my shirt
And don’t call it dirt.
Group: Ooh, she thinks she’s bad.
Soloist #1: Correction, baby I KNOW I’m
bad.
Group: Ooh, she thinks she’s fine.
Soloist #1:Fine enough to blow YOUR
mind.
-TMP.; Pittsburgh, PA, memories of mid. 1980s (cassette recorded in 1992 ; transcribed in 1996 by Azizi Powell)
-snip-
My guess is that the word "hula" in this cheer's title is a folk processed English form of the Spanish word "hola" meaning "hello". I believe that the "Hula Hula" title has nothing to do with the "hula hoop" exercise toy.

Judging from the multiple examples of foot stomping cheers that I have found with lines from "Hula Hula", it appears that this foot stomping cheer used to be popular with Black girls who chanted and performed foot stomping cheers throughout the United States. There are multiple titles for this cheer,  including "Who Now Who name" and similar spellings. 

As is the case with all foot stomping cheers, this cheer continues without any breaks in the chanting/stepping until everyone has had one turn as soloist. If some one "messes up" (misses the beat or messes up the rhythm by hesitating in their solo part), the cheer has to begin again from the beginning. Consequently, if someone isn't sure that they know this cheer, they'll sit it out rather than attempt to perform it.

Foot stomping cheers always start with the right foot.

"Hula Hula’s" beat is stomp clap; stomp stomp clap. "Stomp clap; stomp stomp clap" appears to be the most often used foot stomping beat. Another beat is stomp clap, stomp clap).

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HULA HULA (Example #2)
Hula Hula
Who thinks she's bad now
Hula Hula
Who thinks she's bad)

I think I'm bad
'Cause Shelly's my name
Black is my color
And love is my game

(Ooh, She think she bad)
[posturing] Ooh, I know I'm bad.

(Ooh, she think she bad)

Ooh, I know I'm bad

(Ooh, she think she bad)
Chile, go kiss my ass (or “Chile, your breath is bad” or “Chile go take a bath”)

repeat rhyme from the beginning.
-bublackberry (African American woman); Connecticut; emailed to Azizi Powell, 11/11/05 .

****
HULA HULA (Example #3)
Hula Hula
Now who thinks they bad
Hula Hula
Now who thinks they bad
I think  I'm bad
'Cause Acie my name
Take a sip of my potion
And dance in slow motion
Uh-huh
She think she bad
Baby baby don't make me mad
Uh-huh
She think she cool
Baby baby don't act a fool
Uh-huh
She think she sweet
Sweetest person you ever meet
Uh-huh
She think she fine
Baby baby I'll blow your mind
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 13); That book's preface indicates that Black children from Houston, Texas were the source of all of the examples in that book.

****

HUMP DE DANDA
All: Hump De Danda
Hump Hump De Danda
Hump De Danda
Hump Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: (Well) My name is Toya.
Group: De Danda, Hump Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: I’m super cool.
Group: De Danda Hump, Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: You mess with me
Group: De Danda Hump, Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: and you’re a fool.
Group: De Danda Hump, Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: I’m goin down
Group: De Danda Hump, Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: to touch the ground.
Group: De Danda, Hump, Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: I’m comin up
Group: De Danda, Hump Hump De Danda
Soloist #1: to mess you up.
All: Humpty Dumpty
sat on ah wall
Humpty Dumpty
had a great fall.
Oosh, ain’t that funky now.
Oosh, aint that funky now.
Oosh, ain’t that, Oosh ain’t that
Oosh, ain’t that funky now.

(Repeat the entire cheer with the next soloist)
-African American girls (ages 6-12 years old; Lillian Taylor camp, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, collected by Tazi Powell, 1991 or 1992 (transcribed from audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1997)

****
I, J

JUMP IN THE CAR
Jump in the car

Put your foot on the gas

Jump back and let ___ pass

She got that whip, whop

Look at that booty

Whip, whop

Don't it look good

Whip, whop

I know you want some

Whip, whop

But you can't get none

Whip, whop
-hotsunset28, August 18, 2006, https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/hood-cheers.43158/ "Hood cheers"

****
K, L

LIKE THAT
One person from the group: Attention Attention 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3
Like that. Ready. Okay.
Soloist #1: My name is Tatayane
And I’m LIKE THAT.
Mess with me and you will get a __* KICK BACK.
All you haters talkin this and that.
I’ll pass it to my home girl Sydney
__ Like that.
Soloist #2 : My name is Sydney
And I’m LIKE THAT.
Mess with me and you will get a __ PUNCH BACK.
All you haters talkin this and that.
I’ll pass it to my home girl Jacquala
___Like that.
Soloist #3 : My name is Jacquala
And I’m LIKE THAT.
Mess with me and you will get a __ SLAP BACK.
All you haters talkin this and that.
I’ll pass it to my home girl Kristina
___ Like that.
-Muffin (African American female, age 10; Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;10/2007; Collected by Azizi Powell
-snip-
"___" indicates that you pause one beat before saying the next word.

****
M, N

MY NAME IS __ (Example #4)
I remembered this cheer from when I was little. (Say this with attitude) You say:

"My name is _________ and I'm a star you mess with me I'll take you far." Others say: "Woo, she thinks she's bad." You say: "Correction baby, I know I'm bad." Others say: "Woo, she thinks she's bad." You say: "Child, please!" (As you say the last line, you put your hand up as if motioning "stop") You repeat this cheer until everyone on the squad has had a turn.
-kelly, 9/27/2006, cocojams.com

****
MY NAME IS ___ (Example #6, Fragment)
My name is Shakeila and I’m number one
I step to the beat and I no it’s fun
all these haters go to hate like this so all
I got to do is left right left.
-Shakeila; age 11; Garfield neighborhood ,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 10/16/2007, [from a written survey that I gave out to students in after-school classes]
-snip-
Shakeila wrote "no" instead of "know". 

****
MY NAME IS ____ (Example #7)
I learned this from my girl sara My name is (enter your name)
and as u can see i the finest chick in Albany
im rough and though cant touch my stuff m
fly like a butterflie i sting like a bee thats why all the boys
tell me break it down shawty
-Samantha; 11/25/2008, cocojams.com

****
NEICY THINKS SHE BAD*
Neicy think she bad yall

"Who me?"-Neicy

Neicy think she bad

Neicy- It aint me who think i'm bad its you who think you bad your underarms your in between, oh girl its killing me (while fanning nose)

One thing you should know is take a bath your dirty ho

Neicy think she bad yall

Neicy think she bad

 

A neighboring cheering squad is usually on the receiving end of this and a fight will most likely break out by second verse
-NicoleBitchie, Aug 18, 2006 https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/hood-cheers.43158/ “Hood Cheers”
-snip-
*This cheer is a variant of "Hula Hula".     

****
O, P

****
Q, R,

ROCK THE BOAT (Example #1)
Hey all! Did anyone do cheers? Me and my girls used to "battle" other groups of girls from different neighborhoods. My favorite:

Rock the boat
rock, rock the boat
Rock the boat
rock rock the boat
My name is Mocha
(chorus sings) Rock the boat
I'm feeling fine
(chorus)Rock the boat
Just like my sign
(chorus)rock the boat
My sign is GEMINI
I say bang, bang choo-choo train
wind me up and I do my thang
Reeses Pieces, Butter cup
you mess with me and I'll F*ck you up


If my momma EVER knew I was cursing like that!!
-Sexy Mocha (Brooklyn, New York), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=5627 Remember When, 7/31/2000
-snip-
This is the way this cheer was written in that comment.

****
ROCK THE BOAT (Example #2)
We are the {school's mascot} rock the boat! We're feelin fine rock the boat! Mess with us rock the boat! We'll blow your mind rock the boat! I said a bing-bang choo-choo train come on {school's mascot} lets do our thang. our reeces peices our buttercup all you gotta do is warm us up! we know karate we know cungfu..mess with us and we'll use it on you!
-Kelley; 12/10/2006, cocojams.com

****
ROCK THE BOAT [Example #3]
this is how we do it at my school:

rock the boat dont tip it over
rock the boat dont tip it over
my name is __
yeah!
im feelin fine!
yeah!
u mess with me
yeah!
ill blow ur mind
so bang bang choo choo train
u look at me and i do my thang
no recces pieces no butter cup
i kno karate i kno kung fu
u mess with ill mes with u!

i kno its tottaly off to wat everyone else is sayin but thats wat we sing on the bus all the time.
-slimeshady100, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9QuTsAtQPY, 2010

****
ROLL CALL 
I learned this from Bring It On (awesome movie RECOMENED!) Roll Call! My name is (your name)(i am rough and tough,etc.) yeh ( and when i shake it Etc.)
yeah (The boys go I Mommy etc.) Whoo Roll call ( next person in line does the same thing until every one is done Every body all together - we are the (your team name) And we are tough And when once we've won we've kicked some but. Goooo (your team's name) I love your site it is one of my resources to get some new awesome cheers from all the great captains or not.
Luv ya
-K-del ; 6/11/2007, cocojams.com
-snip-
This is the way that comment was written on cocojams.com.

In the line "The boys go I Mommy", the word "I" is probably the still currently popular interjection "Aye" ("Ayye" and other similar spellings.). "Aye" means something like "Hey!".

Some African Americans and people of other races/ethnicities in the United States may informally refer to females who aren't adults (particularly elementary school age girls) as "mommy" or "little mama".

**
The words "we've kicked some but"= "butt" and mean something like "We really overpowered that other team".

****
S,T

TABA
This is a call and response chant from the late 70's early 80's Elkhart Indiana

All: Taba Taba Tab. First person: My name is Sonji.
Rest of Group: Tab. First person: I go to school.
Group: Tab. First person: I'm supercool.
Group: Tab I used to gamble. Group: Tab
First person: But now I don’t. Group: Tab
First person: And never will. Group: Tab
First person: Me and my man. Group: Tab
First person: In the van. Group: Tab
First person: Had a fight. Group: Tab
First person: Last night. Group: Tab
First person: He knocked me down.
Group: Tab. First person: I got back up
Group: Tab. First person: And kicked his butt childhood.

The chant starts over again with the next person in the group and so on.
-Sonjala A. (African American female); 3/15/2008, collected by Azizi Powell
-snip-
The term "childhood, in this example, is probably a folk processed form of the exclamation “chile please”.

****

TELL IT (Version #1)
My name is Mocha (Tell it, tell it)
I'm on the line (Tell it, tell it)
I wanna do it (tell it, tell it)
with Nas' sign (Tell it, tell it)
And you know what? (what?)
My man will rough you up.
Hey!!!

The alternate version said, "and you know what? My man don't do enough".
-Miss Mocha, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=31403&page=5,03-28-2003
-snip-
"Tell It' foot stomping cheers can also be considered "romantic relationship" cheers.

WARNING-  Most of the examples of "Tell It" foot stomping cheers that I have come across can be considered "nasty" (sexually explicit or alluding to sexual explicit actions.)
  
* "Nas" is the stage name for an American rapper. His Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nas indicates that he started his recording career in 1991, but his highly regarded album Illmatic wasn't released until 1994. This information suggests that this version of "Tell It" was probably not chanted until 1994. The word "sign" here means Nas' astrological sun sign, or by inference, with Nas or with a male who has Nas' sun sign.

"Nas" in this cheer is not Lil Nas X who recorded "Old Town Road".
Btw, my guess is that these "Tell it" girls' rhymes were inspired by the 1966 hit R&B song "Tell It Like It Is" which was recorded by Aaron Neville and then by other vocalists.

****
TELL IT (Version #2, added March 26, 2020)
One of my line sisters remembered this "mannish" version of "Tell It":

My name is ___________ (Tell it, tell it)
I'm on the line (Tell it, tell it)
smoking reefer and drinking wine
And you know what (What?)
And you know what (What?)
I have a man (Tell it, tell it)
He looks alright (Tell it, tell it)
But he can do it do it do it do it allllll night (Say what!)


She swears they used to say this in elementary school (We're both 23/24). I wonder what those little girls are chanting now.
-Symphony08, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31403.html, 03-26-2003
-snip-
"Line sisters" -women who pledged and joined a particular chapter of a historically Black Greek letter sorority at the same time.

****
TELL IT (TELL IT LIKE IT IS) (Version #3)
tell it, tell it, tell it like it is
uh oh!
tell it, tell it, tell it like it is

me: my name is Goddess
homegirls: tell it, tell it

me: I'm on the line
homegirls: tell it, tell it

me: and I'm gon' do it
homegirls: tell it, tell it

me: with a Scorpio sign
homegirls: tell it, tell it

me: and you know what?
homegirls: what?

me: and you know what?
homegirls: what?

(alternate replies)

me: my man was rollin on the ocean, he was rollin on the sea, and the best part about it, he was rolling on me (insert fast azz 8 year old sexy move here)

OR

me: I'm just gon' kick yo butt
-GODDESS!,  August,18,2006,https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/hood-cheers.43158/ "Hood Cheers"

****
TELL IT TELL IT (Version #4) 
"tell it, tell it
tell it like it is.
I go to school
(tell it tell it)
Smoking kools
(tell it tell it)
I walk the streets
(tell it tell it)
10 times a week
(tell it tell it)
I'm number third
(tell it tell it)
Smoking herb (tell it tell it)....


& the nonsense continues. Smh... my grandmother wouldn't let us sing that one.
-Chrystal Smith (Chicago, Illinois), July 14, 2017 (comment in discussion thread for vlog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfzHL_1PdbY
Let's Discuss: Black Girl Childhood Hand Games and Sing Songs")
-snip-
I reformatted this example from sentence form to line form.

"Number third" is probably a typo for "Number three".  

****
TELL IT (TELL IT LIKE IT IS (Version #5)
Tell it tell it tell it like it is (uh hun)
tell it tell it tell it like it is
My name Nicole (tell it tell it)
I’m on the line (tell it tell it)
And I can do it (tell it tell it)
To the Capricorn sign (tell it tell it)
And you know what? (what?)
And you know what (what?)
Your man was in my body and he did some karate and he
knocked on my door, but he didn’t get no more.
-Black Girlhood Celebration: Toward a Hip-hop Feminist Pedagogy
By Ruth Nicole Brown, published in 2008; Page 43 Google books.
-snip-
WARNING- The second to the last line in this example moves it to the "dirty" [sexually explicit] category.

****
TELL IT TELL IT (Version #6)
My name is ______________ (Tell it Tell it)
Zodiac sign my sign (Tell it Tell it)
And if you don't like it (Tell it Tell it)
You can kiss my behind (Tell it Tell it)
You know what? (What?)
You know what? (What?)
My name ________and I can do it like this! (do a dance)
-Honeykiss1974, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31403.html, 03-26-2003
-snip-
The "1974" in her screen name is probably her date of birth which means that this cheer may be from the mid 1980s.

****
TELL IT LIKE IT IS (Version #7)
" **sings**
tell it, tell it, tell it like it is,
tell it, tell it, tell it like it is,
my name is Cyn (tell it, tell it)
im on the line (tell it, tell it)
and i can do it (tell it, tell it)
with the 'quarius sign (tell it, tell it)
and you know what (what)
and you know what (what)
my man was knockin at my door
he was beggin for some more
he was all on my body
so i had to use karate
then karate didnt work so i did kung fu
and kung fu didnt work so i left it up to you

tell it, tell it, tell it like it is,"
-cyndependent, Location Whycago, 7-24-2007, https://www.nappturality.com/forums/threads/81695-Clapping-Rhymes-hand-Games/page2 {This website is no longer available.]

****

TWO WAY PASS AWAY
All: Two way pass away. Two way pass away.
Soloist #1: Well, my name is Shana.
Group: Two way pass away.
Soloist #1: And if you don’t like it,
Group: Two way pass away.
Soloist #1: You can kiss what I twist.
And I don’t mean my wrist.
-African American girls (around 8-12 years old), Braddock, Pennsylvania*, collected by Azizi Powell, 1985

(Repeat the entire cheer from the beginning with the next soloist and continue repeating until every member of the group has had one turn as the soloist.)

****
U, V

****
W, X

WHAT YOUR HEART BEATING FOR
What your heart beatin for?
What your heart beatin for?
You scared?
What your heart beatin for?
You scared?
I’m not
But they is.
I’m not
But they is.
They betta fall back
Before they get slapped [or cracked].
My name is Raya
And I’m not with that.
[the next soloist immediately starts the cheer again and says the same thing except she gives her name or nickname at the end.
-Canraya E, African American female, 11; and Sha’ona K, age 11, collected by Azizi Powell, June 2008
-snip-
This is a cheerleading cheer that the girls learned from the Garfield Gators. They showed it to me during "free time"during their after lunch break (I was a substitute teacher at their school that day). Usually more than two girls do this cheer.

This taunting cheer was performed to foot stomps that alternated with (individual) hand claps}. Both girls said the first two lines and then one girl said the rest of the cheer. 

The soloist continues doing the foot stomping routine while she speaks. The second girl does the same foot stomping beat as the soloist while the soloist speaks but she is silent and expressionless..

The cheer was then repeated from the beginning with the new "soloist" who says her name and the exact same words. Sometimes minor changes are made, for instance instead of saying "slapped", you can say "cracked".

****
Y, Z

YOU AINT GOIN NO WHERE
Entire Group: You ain’t goin no where
no where
You ain’t goin no where
You ain’t goin no where
no where
You ain’t goin no where
Hey Shadeya
Shadeya
(Soloist #1): Too shy
Group: Introduce yourself
Shadeya: I’ll try
My name is Shadeya
I cheer for Garfield.
My sign is Libra.
And when I’m up
Group: When she’s up.
Shadeya: I’m hot stuff.
Group: She’s hot stuff.
Shadeya: And when I’m down.
Group: And when she’s down.
Shadeya: Don’t mess around.
Group: Don’t mess around
Shadeya: Don’t make me scream
cause you will be _knocked _out.
-snip-
" __ " means to pause a beat. * name your community or school athletic cheerleading team; "my sign" means the person's astrological sun sign.

Repeat the entire cheer from the beginning with the next soloist who says her name or nickname, the name of the sport or community team she cheers for. The girl doesn't have to really be a cheerleader. She is engaging in dramatic play- that is-she's pretending to be a cheerleader.

Continue this pattern until every one in the group has had one turn as the soloist.
-Shadaya, Fort Pitt School; (Garfield), 2002; collected by Azizi Powell; I also collected the exact same cheer in 2008 from Conraya and another girl from the same school.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams

Visitor comments are welcome.

Yo Greasy Grimey Granny - Black Talk In Playground Chants (Complete Reprint #2 Of This 2012 Pancocojams Post & Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is a complete reprint with discussion thread comments* of a 2012 pancocojams post with this same title. That 2012 post is still available on this blog for viewing and for commenting.

*The first reprint (on January 28, 2026) has minor spelling corrections and minor additions to that 2012 post. As of January 28, 2026 at 5:33 AM EST, the original post had a total of 16,453 views (not counting my views) and a total of 18 comments (including my comments). 

As of November 3, 2026 on 5:31 AM EST, that first reprint of that 2012 post has 390 views (not including my views) and no additional visitor comments. 

This second reprint (on November 3, 2026) has minor word changes. As of 5:35 AM EST of that date the original 2012 post has a total of 17,958 views (not counting my views) and a total of 18 comments (including my comments). I'm showcasing this post again because my spirit leads me to do so in accordance with a focus on children's insults/taunting rhymes that for some reason I'm feeling for today (perhaps as one response to the energy of the November 3, 2026 United States midterm elections.) 

****
This post provides information, comments, and examples of what I refer to as "yo greasy grimey granny" playground chants or verses in other playground chants and rhymes.

The content of this post is provided for folkloric and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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

****
GENERAL OVERVIEW
"Yo greasy grimey granny" (also known as "Your Greasy Grimey Granny", "Yo bald headed Granny", "Yo greasy stank granny" and similar titles)are taunting (insult) chant/rhymes that begin with the words "Yo Mama Yo Daddy". I believe the text (words) and the textual structure of these rhymes are indicative of its African American origins.

Judging from YouTube video examples, and other online content, these chants appears to be rather widely known in the United States among children and youth regardless of race/ethnicity.

"Yo Mama Yo Daddy Yo Greasy Grimey Granny" rhymes are chanted by themselves or are  found in combination with other rhymes such as "Brick Wall Water Fall". ("Brick Wall is probably much newer than "Yo Mama Yo Daddy"...)

"Yo Mama Yo Daddy Yo Greasy Grimey Granny" appear to be chanted without any accompanying action, except perhaps for rhythmical body movements.

I'm uncertain when "Yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy grimy granny" chants/rhymes were first chanted. The earliest date that I've read for these rhymes is 1960 (Hat tip to  commenter Anonymous April 16, 2019, Los Angeles California-comment below.] 

The verse " my mother short and fine/she has a butt like mine/ and when she walks down the street/all the cars go beep beep beep" is very closely related to "Yo Greasy Grimey Granny" rhymes and similar lines may be included in those "Granny" rhymes.

****
TEXT EXPLANATION
The core (basic) lines of "yo greasy grimey granny" chants are:
yo mama,
yo daddy,
yo greasy grimey granny
-snip-
Instead of "yo greasy grimey granny", some chanters say "yo greasy stank granny" or "yo bald headed granny".

The lyrics then diverge. Common versions indicate that granny "is 99 and thinks she's fine" (with "fine" here meaning "good looking"). Other common versions skip that line and indicate that granny "has a big behind/like Frankenstein" or "has a big behind/she goes out with Frankenstein".

In the context of this song/rhyme, the word "Yo" means "Your".
"Frankenstein", of course, is the fictitious monster; a "behind" is a "butt" or "booty", and "goes out with" means "to date". Another very common line after "greasy grimey granny" or "bald headed" granny is "with a hole in her panties". There may also be a line about granny sitting on the toilet, which increases the fun, risque nature of this song/rhyme. And there are lots of other versions of this rhyme.

With regard to the version of this chant that has the lines "yo bald headed granny", I think it's important to note that "bald headed" is meant to be a put down (insult). The descriptor "bald headed" is also commonly found in the "mama's having a baby" playground rhymes. Those rhymes are also known as "Fudge Fudge call The Judge. More comments about "bald headed" as an insult will be found in an upcoming pancocojams post.

The core lines for "yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy grimey granny" are often found in other playground rhymes. Among those examples are the very popular rhymes "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train", "Miss Suzie Had A Steamboat", and "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky".

"Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" ("Yo Bald headed Granny") chants demonstrate the importance of dramatization in the performance of children's songs and rhymes. By "dramatization" I mean performing a particular role or roles as exemplified by changing one's voice and mannerisms. Additional comments about this point are found below.

****
ADDITIONS January 30, 2019 - TEXT EXAMPLES
(These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only)
1. Your mama, your daddy
your bald-headed granny
she mean
she green
she need some vaseline
she white
she black
she ain’t coming back
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQxDFVPyoEs Your mama, your daddy, your bald-headed granny, published by TexasGonzo on Jul 6, 2013
-snip-
The summary of this video is "Jon and PJ's first rap song. Both of them are 8 years old"
-snip-
Note that one of these boys is Black and one is White.

2.
"yo moma yo daddy yo bald headed granny shes mean shes green she needs some booty cream"
awsome gaming!, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgnfH__yno
-snip-
This same version was given in the discussion thread for the YouTube video whose link is given above (from a different commenter). 

**
3.
"Yo mama yo daddy yo big fat granny she mean she green she needs but cream
NuketeamYT, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgnfH__yno

**
4.
"My favorite was

Your​ mama your daddy your greasy grandma got holes in her panties loopty loo she a prostitue she go beep beep beep down seasame street

Hahaha I guess my neighborhood was rough"

ClawdeenWolf, https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/black-girl-rhymes-what-was-yours-growing-up.1196979/ WARNING: lipstickalley/com pages often include profanity and/or sexually explicit references.
-snip-
"Sesame Street" is a long running American pre-school educational children's television series.

****
POSSIBLE SOURCE
The military cadence "My Old Granny, She's 91" is probably related to the children's chant "Yo greasy grimy granny". If that cadence is older than the chant, than it's probable its source. Both compositions focus on grannies of a certain age, with the cadence chronicling progressive ages of the person chanting's grandmother while the standard form of the children's chant focuses on one age of someone else's grandmother. Both compositions have the same two line rhyming pattern, but that is the usual pattern for many music genres. One significant difference is that the military cadence praises the grandmother while the children's chant insults her. Here's one example of that military cadence:

My grand mama was ah 92
She used to PT like ah me and you
My grand mama was ah 96
She did her PT just for kicks
My grand mama was ah 107
Well, the poor girl died and she went to heaven
My grandmamma was ah 98
She went side-straddle hoppin' through the pearly gates
My grandmamma was ah 109
She had oh JC double and dime
Lo righta layo
ah left right alayo
-snip-
-Jellisrellish, YouTube video, Jul 25, 2010
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-old-granny-shes-91-military-cadence.html for a pancocojams post on "My Old Granny, She's 91 (military cadence videos, lyrics, & notes).

****
CATEGORIZING THIS CHANT
I believe that "Yo greasy grimy granny" and related titles are children's "pre-dozens" insults rhymes.

 "The Dozens" is one name for the African American originated informal game in which insults are exchanged one at a time between two people. "Yo mama" is a common beginning for many Dozens insults. By "pre-dozens" I mean that children chanting insult rhymes are mimicking the dozens and are learning how to do the dozens.

Suprahajimoto, 2011, a commenter on the "yo greasy grimy granny"video [given as the replacement Video #3 on June 24, 2017] agrees with this idea. Here's that comment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBrAKK30dTA2011
"from whut i understand this was derived from basing eg; your momma jokes maybe from socal or NYC... You would start off by saying your momma...and you would return with each line as a comback saying your daddy....and continue with the rest as a comback without the other party knowing what you where going to say...but this was 35 years ago and old"
-snip-
"Basing" is one of several regional terms for "playing the dozens". i.e " Your mama jokes" are the same thing as "the dozens" because so many of those jokes (insults) begin with the words "Your mama [is]".

"Socal" = southern California; NYC = New York City.

"Yo mama don't wear no drawers". is another children's rhyme that I consider to be "pre-dozens". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/yo-mama-dont-wear-no-drawers.html for a pancocojams post about that rhyme.

****
THE USE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH WHILE CHANTING THIS RHYME
I believe that many African Americans and non-African Americans consciously or unconsciously code switch from standard English to a form of African American English while chanting "Yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy grimy granny" chants. The use of the word "yo" instead of "you" is a clear indication of that language code switching. Note that inspite of the fact that the word "yo" has basically been retired from African American Vernacular English since at least the 1990s, it is still used in many examples of "yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy grimey granny" chants.

The use of "stank" (meaning "stinksvery badly) in one form of that chant is another example of that code switching - "Yo mama/ yo daddy/ yo greasy stank granny") More comments about the word "stank" are given later in this post under the video given as Example #1.

However, code switching to a form of African American English isn't limited to which words are used. That code switching is also indicated by how those words are said (pronunciation and intonation) as well as what body language accompanies that chant.

****
THE USE OF BODY LANGUAGE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN AFRICAN AMERICANS WHILE CHANTING THIS RHYME
I believe that when many people - including African Americans -chant "yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy grimy granny" rhymes they "put on" the pronunciation, intonations, and mannerisms that they stereotypically associate with certain African Americans. I refer to this role as "the fly girl".* However, most people -particularly most non-African Americans - probably consider this type of talk and mannerisms as "acting ghetto" ("acting street").

*"Fly Girl" is the title of the 1985 Hip-Hop song that was recorded by The Boogie Boys. "Fly girl" is also the title of a 1980s foot stomping cheer that had its source in that Hip Hop record, and "Flyy Girl" is the title of a 1993 urban fiction book that was written by Omar Tyree.

The African American Vernacular English adjective "fly" mostly refers to a hip (cool, latest style) way of dressing- having up to date fashion senses. Expanding that core meaning, I believe that "fly girl" refers to a very self-confident, street smart, hip, cool, female (or male if the performers are male) who has a lot of "swag". (The comparable term "fly boy" wasn't used nearly as much as "fly girl", probably because of the negative connotations that were and still are associated with calling Black men boys.)

It's important to note that both Black and non-Black people (in these videos and I believe also in the general public) use those African American speech patterns & body gestures when they are acting out the fly girl role. The problem is that many non-Black people may not realize that when most African American do it, we're acting.

****
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CODE SWITCHING TO AFRICAN AMERICAN ENGLISH WHILE CHANTING A RHYME
"Shabooya Roll Call" is another example of the use of what I believe to be stereotypical urban (street/ghetto) African American speech patterns and mannerisms while chanting certain American rhymes. In the case of the once ubiquitous on social media "Shabooya Roll Call" cheer, YouTube videos suggest that people change their voices and mannerisms to mimic the Black & Latina cheerleaders (Camille, Kirresha, and Leti from the fictitious mostly Black urban high school named Crenshaw Heights) who performed that cheer in the 2006 movie Bring It On: All Or Nothing.

I believe that it's worth noting that the roles that are being dramatized in the cafeteria cheer scene from that movie scene are of two African Americans and one Latina. However, many of the people performing "Shabooya Roll Call" in YouTube videos appear to be White (non-Latina). Given the exaggerated mannerisms of the female characters in that movie scene, especially in the case of Kirresha, the second Black girl in that movie, I believe that it's particularly concerning if people think such depictions exemplify real life Black females and Latina.

I want to emphasize that people of the same race/ethnicity may consciously or unconsciously put on intonations & mannerisms that are stereotypically associated with persons within their race/ethnicity. That kind of role playing is a key feature of confrontational taunting foot stomping cheers . "Shabooya Roll Call" is just one example of that sub-category of children's (usually African American girls) cheers.

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZHjpp8T_k&feature=related for a video example of females performing a dramatization of "Shabooys Roll Call".

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/right-rhyming-pattern-for-shabooya-roll.html for a pancocojams post on "Shabooya Roll Call".

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS, LYRICS, AND COMMENTS
I don't believe that most people who chant this rhyme are aware that they are using a particular type of African American speech pattern and particular types of body gestures that are wrongly associated with all African Americans to act out a particular role while performing this song. I want to be clear that I don't think that this role playing is done to mock, insult, or otherwise ridicule Black people. But I think that it's indicative of how pervasive African American speech patterns and African American originated body gestures are in the United States so much so that (it seems to me that) ) a large number of non-Black people can unconsciously mimic us to and believe that it that mimicking is authentic.

As to what I mean by mimicking Black speech patterns and Black originated body gestures: notice the change in tone and demeanor between those persons in the videos who talk before and after they sing "Yo Mama, Yo Daddy, Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" (or "Bald Headed Granny"). Also, notice the head bobbing, leaning forward into someone else's space (and therefore an aggressive motion), and the eye roll or side eye that is found during the performance of this song. In addition, I found it interesting that the little girl in Video #2 places her right hand or her hip, an aggressive, "I mean business" stance that is typically identified with Black females.

Without any further comments, here are the featured videos and the song's (rhymes') lyrics with the last video added just for fun:

Example #1: Yo Mama, Yo Daddy, Yo greasy stank granny!



Uploaded by CinciDiva on Feb 13, 2011

Yo Mama -- Yo Daddy -- Yo greasy stank granny! LOL!

Yo mama
yo daddy
yo greasy stank granny
she got holes in her panties
she got a big behind
like Frankenstein
your mama got a big oh butt
-snip-
The African American mother in this video indicates that she remembers this video because she is "a child of the 80s"...
-snip-

"Stank" is an African American Vernacular English adjective that means "really stinks". “Stank” can also be an African American Vernacular English(AAVE)  noun. One AAVE meaning for that noun is “someone or something who (that) really stinks”.

No past tense is meant or implied by the AAVE word “stank”.

"Put some stank on it" is one African American Vernacular English saying that includes the word "stank". Another AAVE term that isn't discussed in this post is "stankface".

Although the word “stank” in the saying “put some tank on it” originally meant to have an odorous (stinky) smell, the contemporary meaning of “stank” in that saying doesn’t directly refer to people or things having a bad smell. 

The phrase "add some soul to it" is a synonym for "add some stank to it".

-snip-
The last line "your mama got a big oh butt" is a floating line that can be found throughout African American culture. It's a rip [dis, insult] to say to someone that "your mama got a big butt". However, female teens and young/middle age women who have big butts are usually viewed favorably [as in the R&B/Hip Hop song "Da Butt"], although if the female's butt is considered to be too big, she may be teased for that physical feature. One hurtful teasing referent is to call a girl with a very big butt a "Berta Butt". This taunt probably predates Jimmy Castor's song "Bertha Butt Boogie", but was greatly popularized by that record.

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Example #2: "Your Bald Headed Grammy"



Uploaded by 5beachbabes on May 5, 2011

Your mamma, your daddy, your bald headed grammy, she's 99, she thinks she's fine, she's going out with Frankenstein......
-snip-
I've mentioned above that this little girl uses a lot of African American derived gestures in her performance of this rhyme. I wonder how she learned these gestures.

In my experience, the word "grammy" is usually used as a referent for "grandmother" by non-Black Americans, but that may not be the case throughout the entire United States.

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Video #3: Bald Headed Granny

The video that was initially showcased is no longer available. However, here's my transcription of that 2011 video and my comment about it.

Talk to the hand,
Talk to the butt,
Talk to the man at Pizza Hut
Your mamma
Your Dadda
Your bald headed granny
Go granny, go granny
Go bald headed granny
Yeah!
-snip-
In my opinion, the girls in this video don't use any African American speech patterns. However, the saying "talk to the hand" originated among African Americans. A related video of "talk to the hand" is found below.
-snip-
Here's another similar video:

Greasy Granny Gotta Hole in Her Panty



SmileyD Published on Nov 21, 2007

Little diddy I used to sing as a kid....

Lyrics:

Yo Mama, Yo Daddy, Your Greasy Granny
gotta hole in er panty

Got a big behind, a like Frankenstein
She go beep beep beep down Sesame Street!

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Video #4: Yo Bald Headed Granny



Uploaded by raleighsarusrex on Nov 13, 2007

Lyrics:
Yo mama
Yo daddy
Yo bald headed granny
She's 99
She thinks she's fine
But she's goin out with Frankenstein
-snip-
The smallest boy says this dozens "rip" (insult) towards the end of this video:
"Your mama so fat that she plays pools with the planets, oh baby!"
-snip-
"Your mama so fat" is a typical beginning phrase for the dozens -at least for juvenile versions of the dozens. Notice how the boy says "Oh baby!".

This video features a lot of African American English "dozens style intonations". Also, notice how the biggest boy bobs his head and leans forward with a serious, "grittin" ("mean mug" scowling) look on his face, particularly at the end of this recitation. I think this is done in imitation of the common intimidating stance that Hip- Hop rappers were/are known for.

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Video #5: Mama, Yo Daddy.....



Mandy Bruce - Sherman Uploaded on Oct 19, 2011

Isaiah singing one of their crazy songs.....
-snip-
Lyrics:
Your mommy, your daddy
Your bald-headed granny.

She's 89
She thinks she's fine
She's went out with Frankenstein

Go granny, go go granny.
Her breath stinks really bad.
She needs some tic-tacs.
Not no TIC
Not no TAC.
Just regular tic-tacs.
-snip-
This young African American boy starts this rhyme with a Hip-Hop pose, but reverts to "regular" American recitation body language during most of the rhyme. He also uses mainstream American English in his recitation of this rhyme (Note that he says "your mommy, your daddy" instead of "Yo mama, yo daddy").

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Example #6: YO MamA yo daddy yo bald headed granny



100hikick, Uploaded on Feb 13, 2011
:l
-snip-
Lyrics:
Yo mama
Yo daddy
Yo bald headed granny
She's 99
She thinks she's fine
But she breakin down with Frankenstein
Go granny, go go granny.

In this context, "she breakin down" means she is showing off her best dance moves.

Obviously, the robot's speech pattern is a robotic monotone which is far different from any form of Black speech pattern. However, I admit that I smiled when I saw the robot doing a hip-hop dance. Given the Black roots of this rhyme, I thought that was quite fitting.

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Example #7: Yo Bald headed Granny



sonnym2004, Uploaded on Jul 1, 2011

Miller Kids
-snip-
This video is of six Black siblings (girls and boys) chanting a rhyme that includes a version of "Yo greasy grimey granny". That version is combined with a number of different rhymes. The last portion of this rhyme is given in italics as an indication that I'm not certain of my transcription of those words -which is a shame, as that portion was a taunting rhyme that I haven't come across before or since.

Note: The video starts in the middle of the rhyme that is commonly known as "Ooh ah, I wanna piece of e pie".

Meat too rough, I wanna ride a bus.
Bus too full, I wanna ride a bull.
Bull too black, I want my money back.
Money back too green, I wanna jelly bean.
Jelly bean too red, I wanna go to bed.
Bed not made, I want some lemonade.
Lemonade too sour, I wanna take a shower.
Shower too cool, I wanna be a fool.
Fool too dumb, I wanna suck my thumb.
Thumb too dirty, I wanna ride a birdy.
Birdy too slow, and that's all I know.
Now it's time to count to ten.
Whoever mess up, starts all over again.
[counting fast] 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Brickwall waterfall, girl you think you know it all
You don't I do, so push away that atttitude.
So push away that atttitude.
Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist
Shut your mouth and talk to this.
Now wait, come back.
You need a tic tac.
Not a tic, not a tac.
But the whole six pack.
My mama, my daddy, my bald headed granny
She's 99
She thinks she's fine
But she goin out with Frankenstein
Go granny, go granny, go granny.
Woo!
What's that?
A hat?
A crazy, funky, chicken hat
Oh snap! Hey Dougie
Chile if I look like you
You know that we'd be mad
We see right through your funky hat.
[one child makes sound like a chicken crowing]
Repeat the verse that begins with "What's that".
-snip-
While chanting, these children make pantomine motions and point (at each other at times, and pointing forward). Dance motions are also performed during certain portions of this chant, by one boy in particular.

In contrast to other videos that are included in this post, although the words after the "I wanna ride a bus" verses were definitely taunting rhymes, I don't think that these children put on any Hip-Hop or fly girl body language or pronunciation/intonations.

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RELATED VIDEO: Talk to the hand dr.evil



Uploaded by dfales14 on Feb 22, 2007
-snip-
In this short clip "Dr Evil" said "Talk to the hand 'cause the face don't want to hear it anymore."

The actual African American saying is "Talk to the hand 'cause the face isn't listening." This gesture has its roots in the Kongo culture of Central Africa. That same culture is where these two other familiar hand gestures come from: the angry or determined Black woman's stance of two hands on the hips & the "stop right there" gesture one hand on the hip with the right hand held palms up in front of the waist. This last gesture is closely associated with the R&B group The Supremes 1960s hit song "Stop In The Name Of Love".

Notice the side eye [eye moving from side to side] and the head bobbin stances. Pointing to the hand is an inauthentic aspect in that it isn't usually done in African American culture. Also, usually the right hand is used for "talk to the hand" and not the left hand as done in this video. However, given the cultural connotations associated with the use of the left hand, maybe it was intentional for Dr. Evil to use his left hand for this gesture instead of his right hand.

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REPRINT OF THE ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM THIS POST'S 2012 PUBLICATION

AnonymousApril 24, 2015 at 12:00 PM

I remember reciting "greasy granny" in primary school in 1970, so it's been around for a long, long time.

1. ReplyDelete
   Replies

   
   Azizi PowellApril 24, 2015 at 2:20 PM
   Thanks E. J. Westlake for sharing information.
   
   I'd love more demographical information such as geographical location (city/state), And what were the words to the greasy granny that you recited? Were there any accompanying actions and was it a rip (insult chant?)
   Delete
   
   AnonymousJuly 23, 2015 at 2:39 AM
   I am a 50 year old white guy. in the fourth grade it was a white guy is used to go around saying "your ma your pa and your greasy greasy grandma"
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellJuly 23, 2015 at 10:38 AM
   Thanks anonymous for sharing that information.
   
   I agree that those words to this rhyme were certainly recited by Black people, White people, and people of other races and ethnicities.
   Delete
   
   AnonymousMarch 8, 2016 at 9:31 PM
   Sorry, I didn't see your question. I first heard it in my predominantly African American primary school in Dayton, Ohio in 1970. I don't remember any actions that went with it. "You dirty crook, I made you look, you stole your mother's pocket book. You stole a dime, bought some wine, now you look like Frankenstein. Your Mama, Your Daddy, Your Greasy Granny gotta hole in her panty. She go beep beep beep down Sesame Street!" Later, when I was in a mixed white and black high school (Colonel White) in 1980, we worked this into a cheer the band did at football games.
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellMarch 8, 2016 at 10:10 PM
   Thanks E.J!
   
   I LOVE reading info like this.
   
   Best wishes!!
   Delete
   Reply
2. 
   AnonymousApril 16, 2019 at 1:47 AM

   Windsor Hills Elementary School, Los Angeles CA, 1960s. Black school, during time of Kennedy/Martin Luther King/Bobby Kennedy asassinations. We had a slight variation of it that included "got a wooden boody like Howdy Doody."
   I remember this one, too:
   Forget you, forgot you never thought about you, you're forgotten, you're real rotten
   Forget you back, up your crack, wipe your boody with a baseball bat.

   ReplyDelete
   Replies

   
   Azizi PowellApril 4, 2021 at 6:38 PM
   Anonymous, April 16, 2019. I'm re-reading this discussion thread and see that you wrote "we had a slight variation of it that included...". I'm assuming "it" means the "Yo Mama Yo Daddy Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhyme that I've . If so, the 1960s is the oldest date for those rhymes that I found as of this date (April 4, 2021).
   
   Thanks again!!
   Delete
   Reply
3. 
   Azizi PowellApril 16, 2019 at 7:56 AM

   Hello, Anonymous.
   
   Thanks for sharing those rhymes and including demographics.
   
   I hadn't heard or read either of them before.
   
   For those who may be wondering, "boody" = "botty" = "butt".
   
   I love how that word rhymes with "Howdy Doody".
   
   Here's information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howdy_Doody about that puppet and the television series with that name:
   
   "Howdy Doody was an American children's television program (with circus and Western frontier themes) that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir[1] and telecast on the NBC network in the United States from December 27, 1947, until September 24, 1960.
   
   [...]
   
   Bob Smith created Howdy Doody during his days as a radio announcer on WNBC. At that time, Howdy Doody was only a voice Smith performed on the radio. When Smith made an appearance on NBC's television program Puppet Playhouse on December 27, 1947, the reception for the character was great enough to begin a demand for a visual character for television. Frank Paris, a puppeteer whose puppets appeared on the program, was asked to create a Howdy Doody puppet.[3]
   
   Bob Smith, the show's host, was dubbed "Buffalo Bob" early in the show's run (a reference both to the historical American frontier character Buffalo Bill and Smith's hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.). At first the set was supposed to be a circus tent, but soon was changed to a western town. Smith wore cowboy garb, as did the puppet. The name of the puppet "star" was derived from the American expression "howdy doody"/"howdy do," a commonplace corruption of the phrase "How do you do?" used in the western United States."...

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   SallyApril 3, 2021 at 3:07 AM

   1974 or 75, Beaumont, Texas, elementary school. I've always remembered the version my African American friends and I (a white kid, but that didn't matter much to us) would sing, but I think i'm leaving out some lines:
   
   Ain't yo mama pretty, meatballs on her t***ies,
   ... [I think I'm forgetting a line or two]
   Her B. O. booty-hole, [might have been "big ol'", but I remember hearing it like B. O.]
   Yo mama!, Yo daddy!
   Yo greasy granny got a hole in her panties,
   Big behind like Frankenstein,
   She eats her meat on Sesame Street!
   
   I'm forgetting some lines, and I do remember "wooden booty like Howdy Doody" and "stole a dime and bought some wine" lines, as mentioned above, either in this one or in another rhyme we did.
   
   PS: I came across this cause Nigerian friends' daughters did some Ohafia Igbo hand-clapping games in a video on Hand Jives and it got me wondering if Yo Greasy Granny was more widespread than our school. Thank you so much!

   ReplyDelete
   Replies

   
   Azizi PowellApril 3, 2021 at 2:57 PM
   Thanks, Sally for sharing information about these rhymes.
   
   With regard to the "ain't yo mama pretty" rhyme. I'm aware of this rhyme, but haven't showcased it on pancocojams because this blog is family friendly and that rhyme is quite risque.
   
   But here's a link to one version of that rhyme: http://handmademusic.ning.com/group/wordslyricsramblings/forum/topics/aint-yo-mama-pretty.
   
   **
   That "Yo mama! Yo daddy etc. version you shared is new to me. I'm glad to add it to the collection I'm gathering of those rhymes.
   **
   I'm not sure which rhyme the "wooden booty like Howdy Doody" and the "stole a dime and bought some wine" lines come from. However, they "sound" like a number of children's recreational rhymes that were chanted by African Americans and other folks (And I agree with you statement that race didn't/doesn't matter to you and your friends. I wish that were the case throughout this nation and this world.)
   
   **
   Re your Nigerian friends doing video on Hand Jives. Is it on YouTube? If so, please share a link.
   
   Thanks again, Sally!
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellApril 3, 2021 at 3:07 PM
   Sally, I just re-read these comments and want to point out that Anonymous, April 16, 2019 shared a version of the "wooden booty like Howdy Dowdy" line. :o)
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellApril 3, 2021 at 3:30 PM
   Also, Sally, @ejwestlake. March 8, 2016 at 9:31 PM shared a rhyme that includes the other line you asked about: "You stole a dime, bought some wine, now you look like Frankenstein"
   Delete
   Reply
5. 
   Azizi PowellApril 3, 2021 at 3:20 PM

   Here's a comment that was shared by Andy, Dec. 1, 2019. Andy noted that the version of the rhyme was pretty foul and he would "censor as needed". I didn't do a good job of "censuring" more of the "foul language" that he skipped because that comment still included some words that I don't allow on this family friendly blog. I apologize to any people who were offended by that language. Here's that comment with the words that I edited:
   
   "Ok I stumbled on this webpage trying to find out if I remembered a childhood rhyme/insult correctly.
   While it's not the same cadence as seen in the videos, it has it's own fast talking cadence. It's pretty foul, i'll censor as needed.
   
   You're a two-timing, double-crossing, god-damed m--f--, bean ball b-tch.
   You got a greasy granny with a hole in her panties.
   Your mother's in jail.
   Your father's in hell.
   Your sister's around the corner saying p***y for sale!
   
   I cant recall if there was more to it. That's all I remember from learning it in Texas in the late 70's."
   -snip-
   I responded to this comment thanking Andy for sharing it and remembering to add the geographic location and decade demographics.
   
   I also shared this link to a pancocojams post about "Rockin Robin" ("Tweeleelee") rhymes that usually include a version of the last three lines that he shared: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/rockin-robin-tweeleelee-analysis.html
   
   Note: Many "Tweeleelee" rhymes are rather "dirty".

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   AnonymousAugust 8, 2022 at 2:45 AM

   The Yo Momma Yo Daddy song was a little bit longer as I remember it went like this...
   Acrobati Cincinnati B-U-T-T spell Butt Cincinnati. Yo Momma yo Daddy yo greasy granny got holes in her panties got a big behind like Frankenstein got a big head like Simon, says got stinky feet, and yellow teeth , and go beep beep beep down Sesame Street! This was usually said by the Black kids at my Christian school, including myself!

   ReplyDelete
   Replies

   1. 
      Azizi PowellAugust 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM

      Hello, Anonymous.
      Thanks for sharing that version of "Yo Momma Yo Daddy". I also appreciate you sharing information of who you remember chanting it.
      
      For the folkloric record, what city/state where you in when you first learned this rhyme (Was it Cincinnati, Ohio?) What were the students' ages who sung this song (Was it elementary school, middle [junior high] and/or high school?.) Also, what decade was it?
      
      I'm presuming that students at your Catholic school didn't learn this from their teachers, but sung this at recess or before or after school. Is that right?
      
      Thanks again!
      

      Delete
   2. 
      AnonymousAugust 9, 2023 at 8:54 PM

      1970s Northern Kentucky elementary school. We had 3.
      
      1.
      Mmmm Chew tobacco, you soda cracker, you b-u-t… yo mama, yo daddy, yo greasy granny got a hole in her panties, got an ugly behind like Frankenstein, go beep beep beep down Sesame Street.
      
      2.
      You god-d*mned, mother-f*cking, blue-balled b*tch. Mama’s in the kitchen cooking red hot sh*t. Daddy’s in jail, raising all kinds of hell. Sister’s on the corner saying p*say for sale.
      
      3.
      I can tell by your head, you been eating cornbread, sardines, pork’n beans. Ain’t got no bread, no bread, ain’t got no meat, no meat. Just got that beat.

      Delete
   3. 
      Azizi PowellAugust 10, 2023 at 12:48 AM

      Hello, Anonynous. Thanks for sharing those examples and thanks for amending the spelling of the curse words.
      
      It would be great if you could add some information about each of these examples such as races/genders/ ages. For instance, did older kids chant #2 and younger ones chant #1 and #3? Also, do you remember doing any movements while chanting these rhymes (such as jumping in between ropes or hand clapping or doing foot stomping/hand clapping routines?
      
      I hope you can add this information for the folkloric and cultural record that documents what types of rhymes some kids actually chanted. By the way, do you think kids nowadays where you live (city.state) still know this "Yo Greasy Grimey Granny" Hhyme and these versions of that rhyme?

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