Friday, September 20, 2013

The Changing Face Of Punchinella (history & song lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: March 8, 2021

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on "Punchinello"/"Punchinella". This post provides information about the development of the character who became "Punchinella"/"Punchinello". Particular attention is given "Punchinella"/"Punchinella" as a clown or jester character, that character's physical appearance and how he was portrayed.

A big change in how people view Punchinello/Punchinella is that few children playing those singing games associate that character with a maronette puppet of a clown.

This post also features song excerpts that aren't children's singing games which mention Punchinello. Two YouTube examples of these songs are also provided in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/examples-of-singing-game-punchinella.html Part II of this pancocojams series. 

Part II of this pancocojams series focuses on the development of children's singing game "Punchinella"/"Punchinello". Special emphasis is given to versions pf this singing game from the United States.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who composed and performed these songs. Thanks also to those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube examples.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This pancocojams blog usually focuses on music, dance, and customs from African Americans & other Black people throughout the world. However, sometimes this blog also focuses on children's rhymes and singing games that weren't created by Black people but may have been played or are still played by Black people-in the United States, in Jamaica, and presumably elsewhere. For that reason, and because I find this subject interesting, I'm including information about and examples of "Punchinello in this blog.

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Part I: THE HISTORY OF PUNCHINELLA/PUNCHINELLO
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulcinella
"Pulcinella, Italian pronunciation: [pultʃiˈnɛlla]; often called Punch or Punchinello in English, Polichinelle in French, is a classical character that originated in the commedia dell'arte of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry.

His name, from Italian pulcino ('chick'), refers to his distinguishing feature: a long beaklike nose. According to another version, Pulcinella derived from the name of Puccio d'Aniello, a peasant of Acerra, who was portrayed in a famous picture attributed to Annibale Carracci, and indeed characterized by a long nose...

Always dressed in white with a black mask (hence conciliating the opposites of life and death), he stands out thanks to his peculiar voice, whose sharp and vibrant qualities produced with a tool called a swazzle contribute to the intense tempo of the show. Pulcinella often carries around macaroni and a wooden spoon. According to Pierre-Louis Duchartre, his traditional temperament is to be mean, vicious, and crafty and his main mode of defense is to pretend to be too stupid to know what's going on...

Many regional variants of Pulcinella were developed as the character diffused across Europe. In Germany, Pulcinella came to be known as Kasper. In the Netherlands he is known as Jan Klaassen. In Denmark he is Mester Jakel. Russian composer Igor Stravinsky composed two different ballets entitled Pulcinella and Petrushka, inspired by him. In Romania, he is Vasilache; in Hungary he is Vitéz László, and in France Polichinelle, while in the United Kingdom he inspired the character of Mister Punch of Punch and Judy."...

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From http://www.jesterbear.com/Aradia/Punchinello.html
" "Punchinello" is one of those intriguing and enigmatic figures in folklore that wander all over through several cultures and periods. He absolutely orginated in Italy, where he traditionally appeared in a baggy white suit with a black half mask with a nose resembling a bird beak. He is a short clownish figure often having a large pot belly or paunch".

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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_Judy
"Punch and Judy is a traditional, popular puppet show featuring Mr. Punch and his wife, Judy. The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically the violent Punch and one other character...

The Punch and Judy show has roots in the 16th-century Italian commedia dell'arte. The figure of Punch derives from the Neapolitan stock character of Pulcinella, which was anglicized to Punchinello. He is a manifestation of the Lord of Misrule and Trickster figures of deep-rooted mythologies. Punch's wife was originally called "Joan."

The figure who later became Mr. Punch made his first recorded appearance in England on 9 May 1662, which is traditionally reckoned as Punch's UK birthday.[1] The diarist Samuel Pepys observed a marionette show featuring an early version of the Punch character in Covent Garden in London. It was performed by an Italian puppet showman, Pietro Gimonde, a.k.a. "Signor Bologna." Pepys described the event in his diary as "an Italian puppet play, that is within the rails there, which is very pretty."

In the British Punch and Judy show, Punch wears a brightly coloured jester's motley and sugarloaf hat with a tassel. He is a hunchback whose hooked nose almost meets his curved, jutting chin. He carries a stick (called a slapstick) as large as himself, which he freely uses upon most of the other characters in the show. He speaks in a distinctive squawking voice, produced by a contrivance known as a swazzle or swatchel which the professor holds in his mouth, transmitting his gleeful cackle".

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EXCERPTS OF AMERICAN SONGS ABOUT PUNCHINELLO
These examples are given in chronological order with an excerpt of the oldest song posted first.

The complete lyrics for each of these songs can be found at http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=68881
Hat tip to MMario, Amos, and Jim Dixon for posting lyrics & information about those songs.

Notice that in each of these songs the name of the character is "Punchinello" and not "Punchinella". Also, notice that in each of these songs, the character is a clown.

Example #1: LAUGH CLOWN LAUGH
...Even though you're only make believing
Laugh, Clown, laugh!
Even though something inside is grieving
Laugh, Clown, laugh!
Don't let your heart grow too mellow
Just be a real Punchinello, fellow...

Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians (vocal: Ted Waring) - 1928
Ted Lewis & His Band (vocal: Ted Lewis) - 1928"

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Example #2: PUNCHINELLO DON'T BE A DOWNHEARTED FELLOW
Words and music by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright (1939)
Featured in the Tony Martin/Rita Hayworth film "Music In My Heart" (1940)
As sung by Monte Rey.

...Oh, Punchinello,
Don't be a downhearted fellow.
Oh, Punchinello,
Though your heart is breaking in two,
Smile through those teardrops.
Maybe someday she will listen,
And kiss you,
And whisper,
"I miss you; I need you; I do."
Punchinello,
Funny fellow,
Your funny old dream may come true."...
-snip-
"IMDb.com gives the following soundtrack information for No Other Love (1940):

PUNCHINELLO
(1939)
Music and Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
Sung a cappella by George Humbert
Performed by Tony Martin and The Brian Sisters (uncredited)
Reprised Tony Martin, Edith Fellows and danced by Rita Hayworth (uncredited)"

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Example #3: HEY, PUNCHINELLO (1954)
with Jerry Lewis
in the movie "Three Ring Circus"

"There's a famous man who's the idol of every clown
He started the profession and his tricks he handed down
So everyone who has a yen to be a happy man
Calls on Punchinello to help him if he can...

The clown in the circus will get a special pride
When people laugh the kind of laugh that warms them up inside
Punchinello, hey Punchinello
Oh the face of every clown's a work of art
Punchinello molto bello
You ring a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell a bell here in my heart
Hey, Punchinello"...

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VIDEO EXAMPLES OF PUNCHINELLO SONGS [NON-CHILDREN'S SINGING GAMES]
Example #1:Looping the Loop - Poor Punchinello - Die Todesschleife (D1928)



peter hackenbusch, Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010

Some scenes from "Looping the loop", a German Silent from 1928 with great actor Werner Krauss, directed by Artur Robison, theme song (Lyrics by Lewis & Young, Music by Lew Pollack) sung by Tenor Frederick Vettel.

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Example #2: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis - Hey Punchinello

DeanMartinForever, Uploaded on Jun 28, 2007



from "3 Ring Circus" 1954

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Visitor comments are welcome.

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24 comments:

  1. kimbolOctober 1, 2014 at 9:48 PM

    Interesting! Particularly since my source isn't listed :). I learned it as a Girl Scout Brownie in the mid-1970s; it's listed in my "orange book" handbook, copyright late 60's (I think). In the mid-1980s I lived in Pittsburgh and was a "junior leader"... and taught it to my troop of GSBrownies. It's a popular game for 6-9 year olds.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Azizi PowellOctober 2, 2014 at 4:50 PM

      Thanks for your comment. kimbol!

      I remember singing a "Punchinella" rhyme during my childhood in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the mid 1950s. The words that I remember suggest that it was sung while playing a one person in the middle circle game. Here are those words;
      What can you do, punchinella, punchinella
      What can you do punchinella in the shoe.

      We can do it too punchella punchinella
      [same pattern as above]

      Who do you choose punchinella punchinella
      [same pattern as above]
      -snip-
      If I recall correctly, the person in the middle closed her or his eyes. pointed while turning around the center. At the end of the song, the person who sh or he was pointing to was "It" and the game began again from the beginning.

      This is the way I recall my children-who grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. in the 1970s and the 1980s playing it-although they may also have said "punchinella in the zoo. I also recall some children saying "Punchinella 42".

      I'm curious which way did you learn this singing game and which way it was featured in your "orange handbook".

      And, btw, it's good to hear from a felllow Pittsburgher, even though you moved away from that city :o)

      Kimbol, this is th sis t
      e i. eeeem

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 21, 2022 at 8:50 AM

      Oh wow! I've been going down the rabbit hole of find the lyrics and origin of games from my childhood. I grew up in Georgia and we played Punchinella (in a shoe) in the 80's when I was in elementary school. We played it the exact same way that you described. It's amazing how I was able to find this information. Thanks so much for sharing.

      Delete
    3. Azizi PowellAugust 21, 2022 at 9:01 AM

      Hello, Anonymous.
      You're welcome and thanks for your comment.
      I'm convinced that you can find just about anything (good or bad) on the internet.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousJuly 1, 2024 at 12:15 AM

      It was “Punchinella in the shoe” in my playground in Chicago in the 1960s too. If has bugged me my entire life: What’s the shoe got to do with anything? LOL!

      Delete
    5. Azizi PowellJuly 1, 2024 at 7:41 AM

      Hi, Anonymous. I also wondered about the connection to Punchinella and a shoe until I got older and realized it was just about rhyming,.

      Best wishes!

      Delete
  2. kimbolOctober 8, 2014 at 3:06 PM

    Proper citation time! :) _Brownie Girl Scout Handbook_, 1963, p 144
    v1: Here's Punchinello, Punchinello, funny fellow / Here's Punchinello, Punchinello, funny you! ("Punchinello" stands silent in the center of the ring while everyone else sings.) v.2 What can you do, Punchinello, funny fellow? / What can you do, Punchinello funny you? (P moves self in some silly way.) v.3 We can do it too, Punchinello, funny fellow / We can do it too, Punchinello, funny you! (Everyone including P does same move.) v.4 Whom do you choose, Punchinello, funny fellow / Whom do you choose, Punchinello funny YOU! (P spins like you describe)

    The handbook doesn't mention how they decided to include it... Girl Scouts use all SORTS of oral tradition for their songs & games. I moved every few years growing up, learning new songs & teaching new-to-them songs wherever I ended up. But this really is my fave for early elementary -- they'll play FOREVER! (in 6-9 year-old time :D)
    (waves hi! from Austin TX... missing real fall & real leaves & real cold right about now -!)

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    1. Azizi PowellOctober 8, 2014 at 6:16 PM

      Thanks, kimbol! I think that "Punchinello funny fellow/funny you" probably is the earliest form of that rhyme or at least it's much older than "Punchinella in the shoe" and Punchinella 42".

      It's also interesting that the gender changed from male (Punchinello) to female (Punchinella), for some reason or another.

      (waves hi back from not too cold yet Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where the leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground. I wish we wouldn't have to deal with the ice and snow, but I know that is coming in a few months if not sooner.)

      Delete
  3. Ms. BoopNovember 29, 2017 at 11:59 PM

    I grew up in Pittsburgh as well in the 70's. We used to sing it as follows:

    "What can you do Punchinella, Punchinella? What can you do Punchinella in the shoe?

    We can do it too Punchinella, Punchinella. We can do it too Punchinella in the shoe.

    Choose your partner Punchinella, Punchinella. Choose your partner Punchinella in the shoe."

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Azizi PowellNovember 30, 2017 at 1:35 AM

      Hello, Ms. Boop.

      Thanks for sharing your remembrances of "Punchinella" along with demographics.

      Was "Punchinella" played as a circle game with one person in the middle? And was the new Punchinella chosen at random (by the person in the middle closing her or his eyes and turning around pointing until the end of that song) or was the new middle person purposely chosen?

      Also, would you please share the age range of children who played this game and whether this game was independently played (meaning children deciding to play on their own). Also, was "Punchinella" mostly or always a girl game?

      Btw, I'm also from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (since 1969) :o)

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 14, 2018 at 3:45 AM

    I came to this pahes after searching for punchinella little fella on Google. I have a very very vague memory of it and not sure ifcit was whrn i was in the brownies in the 60s. This was in orsett essex england .

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Azizi PowellDecember 14, 2018 at 8:34 AM

      Thanks, Mary Wilde for sharing your memory of "Punchinella" with us and thanks for including where you learned it.

      I've read other versions of "Punchinella" that refer to "punchinella little fellow" or "punchinella funny fellow".

      Btw, I didn't know that there were "Brownie" (Girl Scouts) in England, but come to think of it, I have heard of Girl Guides so I guess that Brownies are a division of Girl Guides in England like it's a division of Girl Scouts in the USA.

      Delete
  5. bakingmecrazyApril 9, 2021 at 8:24 AM

    I learned this as a child in Jersey Coty in the late 60’s. It went like this:

    Look who’s here,
    Punchinella, Punchinella!
    Look who’s here,
    Punchinella in the shoe!

    Now, what can you do,
    Punchinella, Punchinella?
    What can you do,
    Punchinella in the shoe?

    Now we can do it too,
    Punchinella, Punchinella!
    We can do it too,
    Punchinella in the shoe!

    Now, who do you choose,
    Punchinella, Punchinella?
    Who do you choose,
    Punchinella in the shoe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 9, 2024 at 12:17 PM

      Yes! This is how I know it. It also included hand clapping and foot stomping for rhythm, if I remember correctly. Oh, and we said, "Choose your partner, Punchinella, Punchinel-la.." instead of "Now, who do you choose".

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 9, 2024 at 12:18 PM

      Also, I grew up in Atlanta, GA in the 70s.

      Delete
    3. Azizi PowellJuly 9, 2024 at 12:39 PM

      Thanks, Anonymous to adding the version of Punchinella that you remember to this collection and thanks for remembering to add demographic information. Best wishes!

      Delete
  6. Azizi PowellApril 9, 2021 at 12:04 PM

    Thanks for sharing that example, bakingmecrazy.

    And thanks for including demographic information (Jersey City and the late 1960s).

    I've come across a number of versions of Punchinella that have the line "Punchinella in the shoe". In addition to the fact that the word "shoe" rhymes with the word "do", I wonder if the line "Punchinella in the shoe" replaced "Punchinella funny you" in the 1940s and 1950s of the fictional character Buster Brown and his dog Tige who lived in a shoe. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Brown for information about Buster Brown.

    That page includes this information:
    "Playground games
    Buster Brown makes an appearance in several children's playground games. There is a skipping rope rhyme that starts "Buster Brown | Went to town | With his pants | On upside down."[15] There is also a game played on a seesaw where one rider will stop the seesaw with the other rider in the air and chant, "Buster, Buster, Buster Brown, what will you give me if I let you down?" The rider stuck in the air then offers an imaginary payment of grandiose proportions (e.g., "every Barbie doll ever", "the Moon and all the stars").[16][17]"

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  7. UnknownMay 23, 2021 at 1:32 PM

    There is a song I think from the 70's that says "in my dreams I saw punchinello, yeah i saw punchinella", then somewhere down the line it says something about shooting stars. Had this tune in my head for a couple of years but cannot figure it from you tube. Any thoughts. Suzy Holt, Manchester UK

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Azizi PowellMay 23, 2021 at 9:48 PM

      Sorry, Unknown. I'm not familiar with that song.

      Maybe someone reading this knows it and will share it here.

      Best wishes!

      Delete
  8. ShadeSeptember 2, 2021 at 10:24 AM

    At Roger Q. Mills Elementary in Dallas, Texas cira 1960 it was a playground game. All the kids stood in a circle with one person in the middle. Then we sang:

    Oh, look who is here Punchinella funny fella
    Look who is here Punchinella funny you

    Oh, what can you do Punchinella funny fella?
    What can you do Punchinella funny You?

    (then the person in the middle would do something like jump up and down then all the other kids would jump up and down too singing)

    Oh, we can do it too Punchnella funny fella
    We can dot it too Punchnella funny you

    (Then the person who was "it" in the middle of the circle would cover their eyes with on hand, spin around in circle pointing their other hand while the children sang)

    Oh, who do you choose Punchnella funny fella
    Who do you choose Punchnella funny you

    (Whomever the person in middle was pointing to when the sang ended was "it" next and the whole thing started over again)

    I LOVED PLAYING PUNCHNELLA and will find myself spontaneously singing Punchnella to this day.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Azizi PowellSeptember 2, 2021 at 10:43 AM

      Shade, thanks for sharing your memories of "Punchinella"!

      Thanks also for remembering to add demographic information and how you played this game.

      What you shared is the way that I remember playing Punchinella in the 1950s in Atlantic City, New Jersey only not with the words "funny fella" and "funny you" (as described in my October 2, 2014 at 4:50 PM comment above).

      Best wishes!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 17, 2022 at 9:35 AM

      What can you do punchinella funny fella what can you do punchinnella funny clown we can do it to punchinello funny fellow we can do it too punchinellafunnyclown

      Delete
    3. Azizi PowellAugust 17, 2022 at 11:31 AM

      Anonymous, thanks for sharing that version of "Punchinella".

      I appreciate it.

      Delete