Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: July 15, 2020
This pancocojams post showcases four examples of children's rhymes that mention fictitious characters.
This post is presented for folkloric and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in alphabetical order based on the title used for the rhyme or song parody. The names of the fictitious characters are given in italics the first time that they are mentioned in the rhyme.
Information about the characters and other comments are given below the text example. A video version of that rhyme, or an excerpt of that rhyme or song is presented below the comments.
EXAMPLE #1: IT'S HOWDY DOODY TIME
Buffalo Bob: Say kids, what time is it?
Kids: It's Howdy Doody Time!
It's Howdy Doody Time.
It's Howdy Doody Time.
Bob Smith and Howdy Do
Say Howdy Do to you.
Let's give a rousing cheer,
Cause Howdy Doody's here,
It's time to start the show,
So kids let's go!
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/howdydoodylyrics.html
**
Parody: HOWDY DOODY
It's Howdy Doody Time
This show ain't worth a dime,
And as for Clarabell,
He can just go to hell;
and as for Buffalo Bob,
He is a big fat slob...
Memory, and perhaps the parody too, trails off at that point.
-fretless; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=87050 Lyr Req: Kid's Parodies, 2/14/2007
The puppet's name "Howdy Doody" comes from the vernacular English greeting "Howdy Do". That vernacular greeting is a form of the Standard English greeting "How do you do?"
**
Puppet Playtime-Howdy Doody intro
retrovide0, Uploaded on Jan 11, 2006
Hey KIDS! What time is it?
-snip-
WARNING: Profanity. racist comments, homophobic comments, and religious arguments are found on this video’s viewer comment thread.
****
EXAMPLE #2: MAMA MAMA CAN'T YOU SEE
Mama,Mama can't you see
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
What the baby's done to me
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
Took away my MTV.
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
Now I’m watching dumb Barney
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
tic tac toe three in a row
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
barney got shot got shot by GI Joe
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
who ever got stop get a bump in the head
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
and that is how the game will end
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
- vdsmdac98mcs on Jun 11, 2010 (This is my transcription from video that found below.)
-snip-
"Barney" [is] a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, optimistic attitude [on the American children's television program "Barney & Friends". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_%26_Friends
There are many usually violent parodies of Barney's theme song "I Love You".
"G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the [American] toy company Hasbro" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe
**
mama can't you see?
Uploaded by vdsmdac98mcs on Jun 11, 2010
juego de manos
hand shake games
****
EXAMPLE #3: MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA
St. Matthew's clapping game
Uploaded by burndive on Jan 30, 2009
Girls at St. Matthews show me their clapping game.
-snip-
I'm not sure where this "St. Matthews" school is located. There's a school associated with St. Matthew's University in Grand Cayman, British West Indies. This video may have been taken there.
-snip-
Here's my attempt at transcribing this version of "Miss Sue From Alabama" (Additions and corrections are very welcome.)
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Let's have a party.
Shaboom, Shaboom
Shaboom boom boom/
Mother in the kitchen
cookin the beans
????
????
Comin for pizza.
????
-snip-
This rhyme was performed by two young girl as a two person clapping game, with hip swinging (on the words “Shaboom” and imitative movements (moving one finger back and forth across another finger to imitate the action of “peeling potatoes” and one partner pushing the other person at the end of the rhyme.
-snip-
Here's an African American version of "Miss Sue From Alabama":
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey you,
scooby do
your Mama's got the measles
Your papa's got the flu
magic measles
magic flu
Take an a b c d e f g
Take an h i j k l.m.n.o.p.
Take a smooth shot
Take a smooth shot
and now freeze.
-Eleanor Fulton, Pat Smith: Let's Slice The Ice, (Magnamusic-Baton, 1978; St. Louis, Mo.; p. 16)
-snip-
"Scooby Doo" is a cartoon dog that was created by the Hanna Barbara company. An example of "Miss Sue From Alabama" that was recited in 1965 in Northern Mississippi includes the Jazz scatting phrase "A-doobie-do-wah". I found that example on this Mudcat thread: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? (Guest, nanasallthat; December 11, 2007)
it's very likely that "A-doobie-do-wah" became the name "Scooby Doo", given the increased familiarity with that cartoon dog with that name, and (regrettably) given the fact that many children nowadays know very little about Jazz or scatting.
Most versions of "Miss Sue From Alabama" in the USA include the lines "sittin in the rocker/eating Betty Crocker"/watching the clock go boom tick tock etc". Betty Crocker" is the invented name for a fictitious cook who represented the General Mills company. "Betty Crocker" cookbooks contain all kinds of easy to use recipes, including recipes for bake goods such as cookies, pies, and cakes. Thus "eating Betty Crocker" means eating some baked goods that were created by using a Betty Crocker recipe. As such, I suppose examples of those versions of the rhyme could be considered rhymes that mention fictitious characters. However, since the phrase "eatin Betty Crocker" means "eating Betty Crocker cookies or pastry", "Betty Crocker" is actually a product brand name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Crocker
****
EXAMPLE #4: MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
Miss Susie had a steamboat,
the steamboat had a bell ding ding,
the steamboat went to heaven,
Miss susie went to
hello operator,
give me number nine,
and if you disconnect me,
I'll chop off your
behind the refrigerator
there lay a piece of glass
Miss susie sat upong it
and broke her little
ask me no more questions
tell me no more lies
the boys are in the bathroom
zipping up their
flies are in the city
bees are in the park
Miss susie and her boyfriend
are kissing in the
d-a-r-k
d-a-r-k
d-a-r-k
dark dark dark
the dark is like the movies,
the movies like the show
the show is like the tv set
and that is all i know know know
i know i know my ma
i know i know my pa
i know i know my sister
with the sixty dollar, sixty dollar sixty dollar bra bra bra
my mother is godzilla
my father is king kong
my brother is the stupid one
who made up this song
my mother gave me a nickel
my father gave me a dime
my sister gave me a boyfriend
his name was frankenstein
he made me do the dishes
he made me wash the floors
he made me clean his underweard
then i kicked him out the door
i kicked him over london
i kicked him over france
i kicked him over hollywood and he lost his underpants
-Erin; Octoblog [This website is no longer active.], 4/19/2004
-snip-
"Godzilla" is the name of a giant monster in a series of Japanese films, beginning with IshirÅ Honda's 1954 film Godzilla.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla
"King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a colossal gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong.
"Frankenstein" is actually the name of the creator of the monster in the Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheusthat was written in 1818 by Mary Shelly. No name was given in that book for the monster. However, in the context of these rhymes, and in other contemporary usage, the name “Frankenstein” is a referent for that monster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein's_monster
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to all those whose versions of these rhymes are featured in this post. Thanks also to the persons featured in these videos and the producers & uploaders of these videos.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Latest revision: July 15, 2020
This pancocojams post showcases four examples of children's rhymes that mention fictitious characters.
This post is presented for folkloric and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in alphabetical order based on the title used for the rhyme or song parody. The names of the fictitious characters are given in italics the first time that they are mentioned in the rhyme.
Information about the characters and other comments are given below the text example. A video version of that rhyme, or an excerpt of that rhyme or song is presented below the comments.
EXAMPLE #1: IT'S HOWDY DOODY TIME
Buffalo Bob: Say kids, what time is it?
Kids: It's Howdy Doody Time!
It's Howdy Doody Time.
It's Howdy Doody Time.
Bob Smith and Howdy Do
Say Howdy Do to you.
Let's give a rousing cheer,
Cause Howdy Doody's here,
It's time to start the show,
So kids let's go!
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/howdydoodylyrics.html
**
Parody: HOWDY DOODY
It's Howdy Doody Time
This show ain't worth a dime,
And as for Clarabell,
He can just go to hell;
and as for Buffalo Bob,
He is a big fat slob...
Memory, and perhaps the parody too, trails off at that point.
-fretless; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=87050 Lyr Req: Kid's Parodies, 2/14/2007
The puppet's name "Howdy Doody" comes from the vernacular English greeting "Howdy Do". That vernacular greeting is a form of the Standard English greeting "How do you do?"
**
Puppet Playtime-Howdy Doody intro
retrovide0, Uploaded on Jan 11, 2006
Hey KIDS! What time is it?
-snip-
WARNING: Profanity. racist comments, homophobic comments, and religious arguments are found on this video’s viewer comment thread.
****
EXAMPLE #2: MAMA MAMA CAN'T YOU SEE
Mama,Mama can't you see
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
What the baby's done to me
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
Took away my MTV.
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
Now I’m watching dumb Barney
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
tic tac toe three in a row
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
barney got shot got shot by GI Joe
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
who ever got stop get a bump in the head
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
and that is how the game will end
[clap clap clap clap clapclap]
- vdsmdac98mcs on Jun 11, 2010 (This is my transcription from video that found below.)
-snip-
"Barney" [is] a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, optimistic attitude [on the American children's television program "Barney & Friends". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_%26_Friends
There are many usually violent parodies of Barney's theme song "I Love You".
"G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the [American] toy company Hasbro" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe
**
mama can't you see?
Uploaded by vdsmdac98mcs on Jun 11, 2010
juego de manos
hand shake games
****
EXAMPLE #3: MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA
St. Matthew's clapping game
Uploaded by burndive on Jan 30, 2009
Girls at St. Matthews show me their clapping game.
-snip-
I'm not sure where this "St. Matthews" school is located. There's a school associated with St. Matthew's University in Grand Cayman, British West Indies. This video may have been taken there.
-snip-
Here's my attempt at transcribing this version of "Miss Sue From Alabama" (Additions and corrections are very welcome.)
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Let's have a party.
Shaboom, Shaboom
Shaboom boom boom/
Mother in the kitchen
cookin the beans
????
????
Comin for pizza.
????
-snip-
This rhyme was performed by two young girl as a two person clapping game, with hip swinging (on the words “Shaboom” and imitative movements (moving one finger back and forth across another finger to imitate the action of “peeling potatoes” and one partner pushing the other person at the end of the rhyme.
-snip-
Here's an African American version of "Miss Sue From Alabama":
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey you,
scooby do
your Mama's got the measles
Your papa's got the flu
magic measles
magic flu
Take an a b c d e f g
Take an h i j k l.m.n.o.p.
Take a smooth shot
Take a smooth shot
and now freeze.
-Eleanor Fulton, Pat Smith: Let's Slice The Ice, (Magnamusic-Baton, 1978; St. Louis, Mo.; p. 16)
-snip-
"Scooby Doo" is a cartoon dog that was created by the Hanna Barbara company. An example of "Miss Sue From Alabama" that was recited in 1965 in Northern Mississippi includes the Jazz scatting phrase "A-doobie-do-wah". I found that example on this Mudcat thread: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? (Guest, nanasallthat; December 11, 2007)
it's very likely that "A-doobie-do-wah" became the name "Scooby Doo", given the increased familiarity with that cartoon dog with that name, and (regrettably) given the fact that many children nowadays know very little about Jazz or scatting.
Most versions of "Miss Sue From Alabama" in the USA include the lines "sittin in the rocker/eating Betty Crocker"/watching the clock go boom tick tock etc". Betty Crocker" is the invented name for a fictitious cook who represented the General Mills company. "Betty Crocker" cookbooks contain all kinds of easy to use recipes, including recipes for bake goods such as cookies, pies, and cakes. Thus "eating Betty Crocker" means eating some baked goods that were created by using a Betty Crocker recipe. As such, I suppose examples of those versions of the rhyme could be considered rhymes that mention fictitious characters. However, since the phrase "eatin Betty Crocker" means "eating Betty Crocker cookies or pastry", "Betty Crocker" is actually a product brand name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Crocker
****
EXAMPLE #4: MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
Miss Susie had a steamboat,
the steamboat had a bell ding ding,
the steamboat went to heaven,
Miss susie went to
hello operator,
give me number nine,
and if you disconnect me,
I'll chop off your
behind the refrigerator
there lay a piece of glass
Miss susie sat upong it
and broke her little
ask me no more questions
tell me no more lies
the boys are in the bathroom
zipping up their
flies are in the city
bees are in the park
Miss susie and her boyfriend
are kissing in the
d-a-r-k
d-a-r-k
d-a-r-k
dark dark dark
the dark is like the movies,
the movies like the show
the show is like the tv set
and that is all i know know know
i know i know my ma
i know i know my pa
i know i know my sister
with the sixty dollar, sixty dollar sixty dollar bra bra bra
my mother is godzilla
my father is king kong
my brother is the stupid one
who made up this song
my mother gave me a nickel
my father gave me a dime
my sister gave me a boyfriend
his name was frankenstein
he made me do the dishes
he made me wash the floors
he made me clean his underweard
then i kicked him out the door
i kicked him over london
i kicked him over france
i kicked him over hollywood and he lost his underpants
-Erin; Octoblog [This website is no longer active.], 4/19/2004
-snip-
"Godzilla" is the name of a giant monster in a series of Japanese films, beginning with IshirÅ Honda's 1954 film Godzilla.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla
"King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a colossal gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong.
"Frankenstein" is actually the name of the creator of the monster in the Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheusthat was written in 1818 by Mary Shelly. No name was given in that book for the monster. However, in the context of these rhymes, and in other contemporary usage, the name “Frankenstein” is a referent for that monster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein's_monster
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to all those whose versions of these rhymes are featured in this post. Thanks also to the persons featured in these videos and the producers & uploaders of these videos.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
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