Latest Update: Feb. 26, 2023
This is Part I of a two part series that presents some examples of English language playground rhymes that include the name of actors, singers, or other famous people. This post features playground rhyme examples in this category whose titles begin with A - L.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/playground-rhymes-that-include-names-of_54.html for Part II of this series. Part II continues with playground rhymes examples whose titles begin with M-Z.
The online source for each example is given after the rhyme.
Information about these famous people can be found on their Wikipedia pages. However, when just the first name is used for a celebrity, I've added a brief statement about that celebrity.
Most of these examples contain no information about how the rhyme is performed. However,
I believe that most of these examples are either hand clap rhymes or jump rope rhymes.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those whose examples are quoted in this post.
This post isn't meant to be a comprehensive collection of English language playground rhymes that include names of famous people. In most cases, I'm only showcases one version of these rhymes. However, all of these rhymes have multiple versions.
-snip-
Examples of rhymes that include a name or names of
politicians are purposely omitted from this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/playground-rhymes-that-include_87.html for a pancocojams post that showcases examples of that category of playground rhymes that include names of politicians. Those rhymes may also include the names of other famous peoples who aren't politicians.
****FEATURED EXAMPLES
Note: These examples are presented in alphabetical order based on the rhymes' titles (usually the first few words of there first line.) The titles are written in capital letters.
In each example the first mention of the famous person's name is given in italics.
A, B
APPLES ON A STICK
apples on a stick,ganna make me sick,ganna make my heart go 246 246, not cause im dirty,not cause im clean,not cause ya kissed a boy behind a magizine,hey girls wannah have some fun here comes justin bieber with his pants un done,close your eyes and count to 10,when your finished, you got to kiss your boy friend
-alexis, https://losemyway.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/hand-clapping-games/ Hand Clapping Games, January 8, 2012
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WENT TO FRANCE
Benjamin Franklin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First the heel, and then the toe,
Spin around and out you go.
-Adele Greil, https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/ The Great List of Jump Rope Rhymes & Skipping Songs
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BOB MARLEY
Bob Marley
Drives a Harley
Round town
He’s a clown (repeat)
-NZ Playground Language Clapping Games, ©Laurie and Winifred Bauer 2002, https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/lals/research/projects/language-in-the-playground-project/publications/lip70.pdf
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C, D
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE [Version #1]
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance
First he did the Rumba
Then he did the twist
Then he did the Highland Fling,
And then he did the splits.
There's also "Betty Grable went to France,/To teach the soldiers how to dance." (The rest is the same.)
Source: "An Australian version of the Charlie Chaplin Skipping Song, as sung at Salisbury Primary School in Brisbane, Australia in the mid 1950s" quoted in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping-rope_rhyme
****
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE [Version #2]
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First he did the rumba,
Then he did the kicks,
Then he did the salsa,
Then he did the splits!
-https://wehavekids.com/education/jump-rope-songs
****
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE [Version #3]
Charlie Chaplin went to France,
To teach the ladies the hula dance.
First on the heels,
Then on the toes,
Around and around and around you go.
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
Touch the bottom of the submarine.
~Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher, https://www.buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
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CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE [Version #4]
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First the heel, then the toe,
Then the splits, and around you go!
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
And turn your back on the Nazi submarine!
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping-rope_rhyme
****
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Christopher Columbus
Sailed the ocean blue
In fourteen hundred
And ninety two.
Christopher Columbus
Was a very brave man.
He sailed the ocean
In an old tin can.
Source: Abrahams (1969)
http://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
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CHUBBY CHECKER HOW ABOUT A DATE
I only can remember one song. Chubby Checkers how bout a date, I'll meet you at the corner at half past 8. I was always the one to twirl. Never wanted to jump rope.
-
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY RHYMES
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
These "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes include examples with other titles and examples that include names of famous people other than Michael Jackson. However, there are LOTS of examples of (what I refer to as) the "Michael Jackson versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". For example, most of the "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" rhymes mention Michael Jackson.
It appears from what I've read online it wasn't until after
Michael Jackson died that these rhymes replaced his name with the name of another
singer or celebrity who is/was still popular with some people but is disliked by others for one
reason or another. For example, "[insert famous person's name] makes me gag" or " [insert famous person's name] sings so bad". In that category, the three celebrities whose names appear to have replaced Michael Jackson are Miley Cyrus, Justin Beiber, and Lady Gaga.
Disclaimer: For the folkloric record, I've included examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" and "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" rhymes that include the word "fag". However, it should be noted that the word "fag" is an offensive referent for people who are homosexual, and I believe that word shouldn't be used.
Here's a comment from a blogger in that "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky" Mudcat thread about the substitution of another celebrity's name for Michael Jackson's name and about the use of the word "fag":
"Sadly we really did and still do sing the line about Michael Jackson being a fag. In elementary and middle school we also had a similar rhyme ("I pledge allegiance to the flag and Michael Jackson is a fag. He used to play with little toys but now he plays with little boys.") and I can remember saying it at a very young age, before I had any idea what a 'fag' was. It was meant to be innocent and not offensive to anybody. Also, since Michael Jackson's death (may he R.I.P.) many people have substituted Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus for Michael Jackson or changed that line to "Michael Jackson makes me gag". My particular group of friends has done both ("Lady Gaga makes me gag") and I think it's kind of a nice modern version of the song." Guest,guest-Mandi, age 14; 24 Dec 10 http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034,
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #1)
My friends play it like this:
where the bullfrogs jumps from bank to bank
We're sayin ep op ep op op
skiddle diddle kernal pop!
I pledge alligence to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola messed him up
now we're drinking 7up
7up has no caffine
now we're drinking gassoline
Gassoline not good for you
now we're drinking Mt. Dew
Mt. Dew fell off the Mt.
now we're drinking from a fountain
The fountain broke
and now we're back to drinking coke
-Guest, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky, [hereafter given as Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky], 17 Mar 08, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky,
-
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #2)
Down by the river
To the hanky pank
Where the bullfrog jumps
from bank to bank
saying E I O U
Your mama stinks and so do you
So ding dong ping pong
Your daddy smells like king kong.
Michael Jackson went to town
Dr. Pepper brought him down
Coca Cola brought him up
Now he's drinking 7-Up
7-Up with no caffine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Inky Binky Bonky, Daddy had a Donkey
Donkey died
Daddy cried
Inky Binky Bonkey
-Guest ,ME!,Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 6/25/2008
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #3)
Here is the one I know:
Down by the banks of the hanky Panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a e i o u
Michael jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
Mountain dew shot him up
now were talkin 7 up
7 up has no cafene
now were talkin billie jean
billie jean went down the street singin
doo a dilly dilly dum dilly do
singin do a dilly dily dum dilly do
-Guest,Jenny, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 08 Apr 09
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #4)
That is the version that I know...
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a, e, i, o, u. bang bang
micheal jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
now were talkin 7up
7up with no caffein
now were talking billy jean
billy jean went down the street singin
do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
singin do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
-Guest,SaeraLove, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 03 Nov 09
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANTS (Example #5)
down by the bank of the hanky pank, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank. ya say e pa e pa pa. skittle dittle kernel pop. i pledge allegiance to the flag. michael jackson makes me mad. coca cola has caffeine. now i'm drinking gasoline. gasoline went out of fuel. so now i'm drinking mountain dew. mountain dew fell off the mountain so now i'm drinking from the fountain. one day the fountain broke, so now i'm drinking plain old diet coke... diet coke went ran out of diet so now i'm drinking sunny d. sunny d fell off the sun so now i'm counting 10 to 1. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
kids at my school usually ended at the diet coke part but one of my friends added a continuation
GUEST a, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 20 March 11
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #6)
in Rochester, NY it goes like this
down by the bank of the hanky pank;
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank;
saying E-I-O-U;
yo momma stank and so do you;
so ping pong donkey kong
martin luther king jr;
mickey mouse bought a house;
donald duck messed it up;
he couldn't pay the rent;
so he got kicked out;
O-U-T;
out
we would do process of elimination by eliminating whoever got to the letter -T they we would start over the song until we got to the last person
-Guest, Guest , Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 6, 2011
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #7)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Singing Eeep Op Eeep Op
Skiddle diddle eep op op
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Miley Cyrus makes me gag
Miley Cyrus came to town, Coca Cola shot her down
Dr. Pepper drink it up, now we're drinking 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine, now we're drinking gasoline
Gasoline ran out of fuel, now we're drinking Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell off the Mountain, now we're drinking from the fountain
Fountain broke, now we're drinking PLAIN-OLD-DIET-COKE
-GUEST, 20 Mar 11, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #8)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank. Say As Es Is Os ees I did it.
Bing Bong your daddy smells like King Kong.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag.
Coca-cola burnt him up
Now we're talkin 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Billy jean went out of style.
Now we're talking Bobby Brown.
B-o-b-b-y B-r-o-w-n went out of town
GUEST,amy in Kentucky,Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 01 May 14
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANTS (Example #9)
I learned this version in Elementary school in North Carolina.
Down in the banks with the hanky pants
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
Singing epes ipes opes oops chilly willy ding dong
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Beiber makes me gag
Coca-Cola brought him up now we’re talking 7 up
7 up has no caffeine now we’re talking Billy Jean
Billy Jean ran out of sight now we’re talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking really cool
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The last person clapped obviously being out. When two people
were left they would lock hands so that one person’s arms were crossed and the
others wasn’t. They would then sing the song and try to make sure their arms
weren’t crossed at the end.
-GUEST, 22 Nov 18, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #10)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
were the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
going epps ieps ops oops
Listen to the ker-plop
i pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson sings so bad (which he doesn't)
Pepsi Cola burned him up
now he's drinking 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
now he's drinking gasoline
Gasoline has no good taste now he's drinking toxic
waste(then the melody changes)
there's a place on mars, where the babys smoke cigars and
the boys wear bikinis and the ladies drink martinis
(then it ends something like this)mirror mirror on the wall
who's the fairest of them all!
At the end who ever got landed on would be out and then it
would start over with the remaining players.
-GUEST,Marissa, 19 Dec 18, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
saying e, i, o, u, chilly willy ding dong
lets play a game of ping pong,
i pledge alligence to the flag
Michael Jackson dances rad,
coca cola bust it up,
now were talking 7 up,
7 up has no caffiene,
now were talking billie jean,
billie jean ran out of sight,
now were talking bobby brown
had a big frown
-marymuch, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, November 2011
**
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #12)
down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky singing a e i o u micheal jordon went to town pepsi cola shut him down mountain dew shut him up now we are talking seven up sevenup with no calffeine now we are talking bille jean bille jean went down the street singing didee didde didde dum didee doo
-timothy & kimberly b, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121211173034AAyQw1S , "lyrics to down by the banks in the hanky panky where the bull frogs jump", 2015
-snip-
My guess is that basketball star Michael Jordan's name is mentioned in these rhymes because that name was confused with pop star Michael Jackson.
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #13)
"i learned: down by the bay with the hanky panky where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank sayin eap op skiitle dittle kernal pop i pledge alligence to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag coke coala has caffine now we are talkin jelly beans"
-Chianne Wallace, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk
****
DOWN BY THE RIVER WITH THE HANKY PANKY (Example #14)
Down by the river with the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Singing E, I, O, U, your mama stinks and so do you
King Kong, Donkey Kong, went to school with nothing on
Asked the teacher what to wear, polka dotted underwear!
Not too big and not too small, just the size of Broward Mall
I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag
Pepsi cola burnt him up, now we’re drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine, now we’re singing Billy Jean
Billy Jean is out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school, now we’re talking really cool
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Whoever was clapped on one was I guess out. Actually I remember that my first ever exposure to Michael Jackson was through these rhymes, I remember quite a few featured him. We also had a lot of songs about killing our teachers and burning down the school, you know, innocent schoolyard games!...
-Elle, October 3, 2009, https://kateharding.net/2009/10/02/miss-lucy-had-friday-fluff/
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DOWN BY THE RIVER WITH THE HANKY PANKY (Example #15)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky, where the eaps ops soda pops, hey mr lillypad went ding dong, I pledge allegiance to the flag, Justin Bieber makes me gag, Coca Cola soda pop, soda pop has no caffeine now we’re talking billy jean, billy jean went out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite, dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking really cool, really cool, really cool 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” wow I still remember that (also at the end of the counting you would have to be the first person to touch the other’s forehead and whoever did it first won)
-kayla ames, 2021; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&t=3s&ab_channel=Geneas
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #16)
This is the version I learned at a Girl Scout camp in Virginia in about 2010!
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Said-a eas, ice, ohss, oos
Listen to the big bull frog (drawn out)
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Bieber makes me gag
Pepsi-cola's burning up,
now we're drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine,
now we're drinking gasoline
gasoline is bad for you,
now we're drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell off a mountain,
now we're drinking from a fountain
the fountain broke and now we're drinking
plain, old, coke
-Anonymous, Feb. 26, 2013, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-ii-of-some-down-by-banks-of-hanky.html?sc=1677
****
Down by the river, silver rock. Michael Jackson don't wear
no socks, say e pie pie pie, o pie pie pie, 1,2,3,4... -
E, F
EENIE MEENIE GYPSY QUEENIE
Eenie meenie gypsy queenie
Ooh ah allimeenie
Atchie Caughtchie Liberace
I love you. [pause]
Saw your boyfriend the other day
What's his name?
John Wayne.
How did you know?
Peekin' through the keyhole.
Nosy!
Hate to do the dishes.
Lazy!
Jumpin' through the window.
Crazy!
Eenie meenie gypsy queenie
Ooh ah allimeenie
Atchie Caughtchie Liberace
I love you!
-ramblerla, White female, mid-1970s in Yreka, California
In the mid-70s in Yreka, California
****
G, H
GEORGIE BEST
Georgie Best
Superstar
Walks like a woman
And he wears a bra
The bra's too big
He wears a wig
And that's why they call him
A sexy pig.
-http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=360 Seedy Songs and Rotten Rhymes - the poetry of the playground
****
HOLLYWOOD GOES SWINGING
Both girls: Hollywood.
Hollywood.
Hollywood goes swingin.
Hollywood goes
Swingin.
Swingin for the good times.
Swingin for the bad times.
Soloist #1: My name is Teneisha
and I’m number 9.
I’m kickin it with Ginuwine.
If you ever see me on the street,
you better speak.
“Long time, no see.”
Sexy as I wanna be.
Some hittin me high.
Some hittin me low.
Some hittin me in my-
Don’t ask what.
Other girl: What?
Soloist #1: My b u t t b u t t butt.
That’s what.
-Teneisha (10 years) and Antoinette (11 years), African American girls, East Hills section of Pittsburgh, PA; 1998; collected by Azizi Powell, 1998
-snip-
"Ginuwine" is the stage name of one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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HEAD AND SHOULDERS, BABY ONE TWO THREE
Remember this one?
Head and shoulders, baby One Two Three
Head and shoulders, baby One Two Three
Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders
Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders
Baby One Two Three
Round the world, baby One Two Three
Round the world, baby One Two Three
Round the world, Round the world,
Round the world, Round the world,
Baby One Two Three
(Then we'd do an Elvis Presley verse while pretenting to play guitar and shake hips and wobbly legs. Next was Jackie Gleason)
Then we'd do the whole ensemble
Head and Shoulders, Round the world
Elvis Presley, Jackie Gleason
Baby, One Two Three
-http://www.streetplay.com/discus/ Streetplay.com Discussion: Girl Games: Clap & rhyme / tongue twisters / word games: Clap and Rhyme: Archive through June 8, 2000
****
I, J
I AM A LITTLE FIRST GRADER (Example #1)
for swing swing swing our school did this c,c,c at the bottom of the c im a little (whatever grade or age) pretty as can be be and all the boys around my blox are fightin over me me my boyfriends name is CHRIS BROWN! He lives in alabama with 25 toes and a big fat nose and this is how my story goes see my pinky see my thumb see my fist you better run hold up wait come back you needa tic tac not one not two but the whole six pack not ya mama not ya daddy but ya bald headed granny she wish she wish she wish she had hair like this
-Iysmqt :o, 2021; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&t=3s&ab_channel=Geneas
-snip-
Regarding the line "c,c,c at the bottom of the c", some other hand clap games begin with the introductory line "swing swing swing at the bottom of the sea".
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I AM A LITTLE FIRST GRADER (Example #2)
imma little six grader
as pretty as can be be
my boyfriend name is bow wow
he lives in ohio
and this is how my story goes
one day I was walking
I saw my boyfriend talking
to the ugliest girl
in the whole wide world
and this is how my story goes
k-i-s-s kiss you l-o-v-e
love you m-i-s-s miss you
and this is how my story goes
a b c d
so keep yo hands away from me.
- http://www.home-school.com.au/resource/skipping-rope-jump-rope-hopscotch-songs.html , 3/21/2005
-snip-
"Shad Gregory Moss (born March 9, 1987), better known by his stage name Bow Wow (formerly Lil' Bow Wow), is an American rapper and actor." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Wow_(rapper)
****
I am a pretty __ first grader
As pretty as can___ be be.
My boyfriend's name is__ Chris Brown
He lives in Ala__bama.
One day when I was___walking
I saw my boyfriend __ talking
To the ugliest girl in the whole wide world.
And this is what he said.
I K-I-S-S
I M-I-S-S miss you.
I L-O-V-E love you.
ABCDEFG
Get your black hands off of me.
I K-I-S-S Kiss you!
-Naijah S. (African American female, 9 years old; Hazelwood section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; January 14, 2011; Collected by Azizi Powell 1/14/2011
-snip-
The __ means to pause one beat.
I asked Naijah if the line "get your black hands off of me" meant that people weren't happy about being Black. She quickly said "I love my Black heritage".
****
I AM A SIXTH GRADER (Example #4)
imma little six grader
as pretty as can be be
my boyfriend name is bow wow
he lives in ohio
and this is how my story goes
one day I was walking
I saw my boyfriend talking
to the ugliest girl
in the whole wide world
and this is how my story goes
k-i-s-s kiss you
l-o-v-e love you
m-i-s-s miss you
and this is how my story goes
a b c d
so keep yo hands away from me.
- http://www.home-school.com.au/resource/skipping-rope-jump-rope-hopscotch, March 21, 2005
-snip-
"Bow wow" is the stage name of the young African American R&B singer.
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD [Example #1]
Sham,sham,sham
I don't want to go hollywood
No more,more,more
there is a big fat Michel jackson
At my door,door,door
he'll grab me by the hips
Make me kiss his lips
I don't want to go hollywood
No more,more,more
-Anonymous on Sunday, November 19, 2000, www.streetplay.com/discus/
Streetplay.com Discussion: Girl Games: Singing: Silly songs, theme songs, etc.: Archive through November 27, 2000 [This website is no longer available]
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD [Example #2]
shame shame shame,
i don’t wanna go to hollywood no more more more,
theres a fat michale jackson
at the door door door,
he grabbed me by the hips,
kissed me on the lips,
i don’t wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-Shasta, http://losemyway.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/hand-clapping-games/ No More 3x5's Hand Clapping Games; August 12, 2010
-snip-
I've placed this example under the letter "I" because I believe that "shame shame shame" are introductory words (and perhaps also commentary about the story told in the playground rhyme) and not the title of the rhyme.
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD [Example #3]
i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more theres a skiny micheal jackson ant the door door door so he grabbed me by my hips kissed me on the lips i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0KMFSj-FrQ
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD [Example #4]
i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more theres a skiny micheal jackson ant the door door door so he grabbed me by my hips kissed me on the lips i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-Ja’ Kayla Jasmine, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=e0KMFSj-FrQ [comment]
****
J I GYPSY
J-I gypsy
Muhammad Ali
Where on earth could her lover be?
I don't think anybody got further than that or either I
forget the rest.
-Symphony08, 03-26-2003, Location: Illinois, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=31403&page=3 "Old School Chants"
I LIKE COFFEE, I LIKE TEA (Example #1)
Here’s how I heard it as a child in late 70s/early 80s Atlanta:
I like coffee I like tea
I like the Jackson 5 and they like me
So step back white boy you don’t shine
I’ll get the Jackson 5 to beat your behind
Last night and the night before I met my boyfriend at the candy store
He bought me ice cream he bought me cake
He brought me home with a stomach ache
Mama mama I feel sick
Call the doctor quick quick quick
Doctor doctor shall I die
Close your eyes and count to 5
1 2 3 4 5 I’m alive
See that house on top of the hill
That’s where me and my baby gonna live
Gonna cook some oatmeal cook some bread
Come on baby let’s go to bed
-Sarah, November 3, 2020, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html [comment]
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I LOVE COFFEE I LOVE TEA (Example #2)
I love coffe I love tea
I love Chris Brown and he loves me
I met my boyfriend at the candy store He brought me ice cream He brought me cake
He brought me home with a bellyache Momma Momma I feel sick Call the doctor quick quick quick Docter Docter will I die Count to five and you will be alive
12345 I'm alive 678910 I'm dead again
-shima, http://www.streetplay.com/discus/, March 13, 2007
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I LIKE COFFEE I LIKE TEA (Example #3)
"Here’s how I heard it as a child in late 70s/early 80s Atlanta:
I like coffee I like tea
I like the Jackson 5 and they like me
So step back white boy you don’t shine
I’ll get the Jackson 5 to beat your behind
Last night and the night before I met my boyfriend at the
candy store
He bought me ice cream he bought me cake
He brought me home with a stomach ache
Mama mama I feel sick
Call the doctor quick quick quick
Doctor doctor shall I die
Close your eyes and count to 5
1 2 3 4 5 I’m alive
See that house on top of the hill
That’s where me and my baby gonna live
Gonna cook some oatmeal cook some bread
Come on baby let’s go to bed
-Sarah, November 3, 2020,
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html [comment]
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I'M SHIRLEY TEMPLE AND I'VE GOT CURLY HAIR [Version #1]Another “Singing Game” (with the girl who was “Shirley Temple” in the middle of a circle) that emerged in Scotland in the 60s and was known to every girl in England by the mid [19]70s:
I’m Shirley Temple, the girl with curly hair
I’ve got two dimples and my skirts up there
I’m not able to do the Betty Grable
I’m Shirley Temple, the girl with curly hair.
I’m got a leg like nobody’s business
I’ve got a figure like Marilyn Monroe
I’ve got hair like Ginger Rogers
And a face like I don’t know
Oh Salome, Salome
You should see Salome
Hands up there, skirts up there
You should see Salome
Swing it, swing it
You should see her swing it
Hands up there, skirts up there
you should see her swing it
-http://playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/shirley-temple.html
-snip-
The editor of that post wrote "Along with Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple dominated chants and rhymes for a good chunk of the 20th century. Many of these also appear as Charlie Chaplin rhymes; the two names were used more or less interchangably."...
-snip-
Additional examples of "Shirley Temple" rhymes are given in this pancocojams post and in Part II of this pancocojams series.
-snip-
The portion of this rhyme that begins with the line "You should see Salome" probably refers to the woman named Salome who danced before King Herod (as mentioned in the Bible).
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salome
The gospel story of her dance at the birthday celebration of her stepfather, who had John the Baptist beheaded at her request, inspired art, literature and music over an extended period of time. Among the paintings are those by Titian and Gustave Moreau. Oscar Wilde's 1891 eponymous play, and its 1905 operatic setting by Richard Strauss, are among the literary and musical realisations which endeavoured to portray her. She also appeared in film, for instance in a 1953 Salome film starring Rita Hayworth in the title role.
-snip-
My guess is that the 1953 film mentioned above may have inspired the reference to Salome in this children's rhyme.
Also, read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_the_Seven_Veils
I'M SHIRLEY TEMPLE AND I'VE GOT CURLY HAIR [Version #2]
I’m Shirley Temple and I’ve got curly hair.
I’ve got dimples and wear my skirts to there.
I’m no able to be a Betty Grable.
But I’m Shirley Temple and I’ve got curly hair
I’ve got legs like Betty Grable.
Ive got a figure like Marlyn Munroe.
I’ve got hair like Ginger Rodgers
And a face like a big yoyo.
Oh Sabrina Sabrina did you ever see Sabrina.
Hands up there skirts up there did you ever see Sabrina.
-Annmarie Palmer November 8, 2017, http://playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/shirley-temple.html
"We sang a version of the Shirley Temple song that was different in Wishaw"[England]
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG [Version #1]
I pledge allegience to the flag; Michael Jackson is a fag.
Pepsi Cola burnt him up- now he's drinking 7UP!
7UP has no caffiene; Now he's singing Billie Jean.
Billie Jean was not his lover and his nose is made of rubber!
Rubberface, but don't repeat it- now his dance steps are to Beat It.
Beat It now & don't you tell her this fine tale about the Thriller.
-http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG [Version #2]
Here’s a reader submission that the contributor first heard in 1984 in Placentia, CA. It would probably get kids in a lot more trouble now than it did back then.
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Michael Jackson is a fag.
Pepsi Cola burnt him up,
now he’s drinking 7-UP.
The rhyme circulated a lot, and appeared in at least three scholarly works on children’s folklore in the mid-late 80s, and there’s a 1994 book about black identity in popular culture which identifies it as a jump rope rhyme. When I heard it (circa the spring of 1992 in Des Moines), there were two more lines:
7-UP made him pee,
now he’s drinking Pepsi Free.
-http://playgroundjungle.com/2011/01/michael-jackson-and-the-pledge-of-allegiance.html
-snip-
The book that is mentioned in the comments for this example is Ceramic Uncles & Celluloid Mammies: Black Images and Their Influence on Culture by Patricia A. Turner (Anchor Books, 1994, Page 94)
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I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE JAMES BROWN (Example #1)
(hand game)
I went downtown
to see James Brown
He gave me a nickel
to buy me a pickle
The pickle was sour
He gave me flower
The flower was dead
And this is what he said
Then we went into down down baby
At the end we'd just go
Shimmy shimmy cocoa puff
Shimmy shimmy rah
Shimmy shimmy cocoa puff
Shimmy shimmy BREAKDOWN (and do the move where you put one hand on the floor behind you, and one hand in the air. Shoot...I can't breakdown like that anymore )
-Symphony08, (Location: Illinois); 03-26-2003, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=31403&page=3
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I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE JAMES BROWN [Example #2]
And the James Brown one:
I went downtown to see James Brown
I gave him a nickel to buy me a pickle
The pickle was sour, so he gave me a shower
The shower was cold, so he gave me a bowl
The bowl was cracked, so he gave me a snack
Now I want my money back, Jack
-bettingonalice, Octoblog (website no longer active), January 1, 2007
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I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE JAMES BROWN [Example #3]
I went downtown
To see James Brown,
She gave me a nickel
I bought me a pickle,
The pickle was sour,
I bought me a flower.
The flower was dead,
You know what I said?
I said “Ooh-she-wah-wah
I got Black power.”
-From http://halton-hamilton.tripod.com/id15.html Page 156
-snip-
This is described as an example of this cheer from Black sources.
****
I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #1)
My daughter, who is eight, is still doing clapping rhymes, though the ones she does are different from the ones I did in the 50s and 60s. (These, by the way, are in England). The one she seems to do mostly is:
I went to a Chinese restaurant
To buy me a loaf of bread, bread, bread.
He wrapped it up in a five pound note
And this is what he said, said, said:
My name is
Elvis Presley,
Girls are sexy
Sitting in the back seat
Drinking pepsi.
Where's your father?
Died in a fishtank..Last night
What did he die of?..Raw fish.
How did he die..Like this.
On the "Like this" they pull a strange face as of somebody dead. She says there are various versions of the rhyme. We used to do the first bit, but not the bit beginning with "Elvis Presley"
- MBSLynne [location-United Kingdom] Do kid still do clapping rhymes?’ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 , 9/21/2003
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I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #2)
i walked into a chinese restuarant to by a loaf of bread, bread, bread
he wrapped it up in a five pound note and this is what he said said said
my name is elvis presley
girls are sexy
sitting in the back seat drinking pepsi
girls go kiss kiss
boys go yeah"
-GUEST, 18 Oct 07; https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300
****
I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #4)
Well I learnt:
I....went to a Chinese restaurant to buy a loaf of bread he wrapped it up in a five pound note and this is wat he sed there's elvis Presley sitting in the backseat drinking pepsi havin a baby in the navy watching the clock go tick tok tick tok banana head tick tok tik tok banana head A B C D E F G wipe those cob webs off ur knees singin I tie Ippy Jenni is a hippy I yie Ippy Ippy I APPLE PIE!!
-patrice grevanne; 2012; [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ3Ny8pm9oc
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I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #5)
a song we always used to sing (another version of i went to a chineses resterant)
I went to a chinese resterant to buy a loaf of bread-bread-bread
He wrapped it up in a £10 note and this is wat he said-said-said
My name is elvis preisly
girls are sexy
sittin on the back seats
drinkin pepsi
had a baby
named it daisy
showed it to a lady
she went crazy
joined the nazy
boys go kiss kiss
girls go woah (at which point we wud lift up our skirts or do a front handspring)
-GUEST,baby louise;28 Apr 08; https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300
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I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #6)
We did
I went to a chinese restaurant to buy a loaf of bread bread bread
They wrapped it up in a five pound note and this is what they said said said
My name is
Elvis Presley
Girlfriend lesley
snogging in the bathroom
baby's bathroom
woohoo!
something like that anyhow
-Debby H (28), 13/06/2010, https://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/being-mum-794/parenting-advice-192/434766-playground-clapping-rhymes-your-childhood.html
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I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #7)
Omg I love this thread!
The only ones I can remember though are the "A Sailor
Went To Sea"...the "High low" one & the "I went to a
chinese restaurant to buy a loaf of bread bread bread, he wrapped it up in a
five pound note & this is what he said said said...my name isssss Diana
Ross I am a movie star...can't remember the rest
-Anonymous, 16/06/2010
**
I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #8)
I went to a Chinese restaurant
To buy a loaf of bread bread bread
She wrapped it up in a five pound note
And this is what she said said said
My name is Diana Ross
I am a superstar
With curly wurly knickers
And a criss cross bra
I’ve got the hips, lips, sexy legs!
-
****
I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #9)
Me and my friend made one a up a couple years ago
It was the same base as our schools original just we changed
the names
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I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #10)
we did: I went to a chinese res-tur-rant to buy a loaf of bread bread bread. The lady at the counter, she was standing on her head head head. she asked me what my name was, and this is what I said said said, my name is... Elvis Presley, girls are sexy, sitting in the backseat, drinking pepsi, at the movies, watching goonies. and fred is what i said said said. thats what we did when I was in like grade 1, 2 and 3 -Liky Grak, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlc3h2BO5M&t=159s&ab_channel=retrorestore , 2020
I WENT TO A CHINESE RESTAURANT (Example #11)
This is the version I had always done - i Didn't see it anywhere else.
I went to the chinese rest-ur-aunt
to buy a loaf of bread, bread, bread
they asked me what my name was
and this is what I said, said, said
My name is ee-ay, ee-ay
nick-a-ny, nick-a-ny
pom-pom-poodle
willie-willie whiskers
my name is
Elvis Presley
girls are hmm - hmm (the good odl days when sexy was a bad word)
sitting in the hot tub
drinking diet pepsi
My name is
Chief Roast Beef
-Guest Caroline, 22 June 09
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J-I GYPSY
J-I gypsy
where she been
she been around the world and back home again
she's a lover undercover
get down with ya mama
so spell your name on 1 foot (then she did it)
now spell your name on 2 feet (then she did it)
or
J-I gypsy
Muhammad Ali
Where on earth could her lover be?
I don't think anybody got further than that or either I forget the rest.
-Symphony08, (Location: Illinois); 03-26-2003, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=31403&page=3
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K, L
LITTLE SHIRLEY TEMPLE
Little Shirley Temple
she bought a penny doll
she washed it, she dried it
then she let it fall
She called for the doctor
the doctor couldn’t come
along came the ambulance
rum, tum, tum
(alternate ending: because he had a pimple on his bum, bum, bum)
(early 50s)
-http://playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/shirley-temple.html
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LIZZIE BORDEN
Lizzie Borden took an axe
She gave her mother forty whacks
After she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
Lizzie Borden got away
For her crime she did not pay.
-quoted in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping-rope_rhyme
"Historical rhymes
Other rhymes are highly topical, and sometimes survive long after the events that inspired them have disappeared from the headlines. Perhaps the most notorious rhyme of this type is one that began circulating during the 1892 trial of Lizzie Borden. Despite Lizzie's desire to stay out of the public eye, children would follow her around and chant the rhyme. It later started being used as a rhyme used when skipping-rope"...
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This concludes Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Please share additional examples or additional versions of these examples in the comment section below.
I specifically remember a jump rope game or hand clap game, from the 80's) where we chose Micheal Jackson or Elvis Presley, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. All of these brought back a lot of play ground memories.
ReplyDeleteHello, Anonymous. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteThere's a number of jump rope rhymes and handclap rhymes that mention Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson.
I hope that you have happy memories of these playground rhymes.