Edited by Azizi Powell Latest revision - April 15,2023
Two other YouTube sound files showcased in that post document the development of that rhyme in the 1960s and 1970s. Those sound files are Chubby Checker - "Cu Ma La Be Stay" (1960s), and Marsha Hunt - "Oh, no! Not the Beast Day!" (1973).
Various Artists - Topic. Nov 19, 2017
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/09/1978-sound-file-of-new-york-city.html for the transcription for the children's song that is performed in the beginning of this record.
The "Bamalam a Cummala" rhyme begins at 1:10.
Here's my transcription of that rhyme:
Bamalam a cummala
Cummala a beef steak
Bamalam a cummala
Cummala a beef steak
Oh no no no no
a beef steakOh no no no no
a beef steak
beef steak
beef steak
beef steak
beef steak
Bamalam a cummala
Cummala a ice cream
Bamalam a cummala
Cummala a ice cream
Oh no no no no
a ice cream
Oh no no no no
a ice cream
ice cream
ice cream
ice cream
Ice cream
[Follow the same pattern each time with one of these things you eat or drink or with any other item that the group has agreed on beforehand]
pizza
oranges
soda
peaches
gum
grain [?]
2.
amandastacyhill,
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3. Camp Songs | Fi Fi Fo
Mountain Camp Woodside, Aug 5, 2014
"Fi, Fi, Fi Fi Fo.
Comola.
Vista.
Comola, Comola, Comola, Vista,
Woahohoh na nana vista.
enie menie, decimeenie, you are an ernie meeinie.
4. Mama Lama
Various Artists - Topic, May 30, 2015
Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Mama Lama · John's Island children
John's Island, South Carolina: Its People and Songs
℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1973 Folkways Records
Released on: 1973-01-01
WORD ONLY EXAMPLES OF FLEA FLY FLOW
...Used to sing it as a brownie and guide. the rhythm is done by slapping your thighs then clapping your hands.
FLEA
(All lines are done by the leader then echoed)
Flea
Flea fly
Flea fly flo
vista
Cumala, cumala, cumala vista
Oh no no no no da vista
Eeney meaney decimeaney ooh wala wala meaney ex a meaney sal a meaney ooh wala wa
Beat biddley oten doten bobo da beeten doten Shhhhht.
Then you do it FAST!!!
-alison, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8951 RE: meaning - musha ring dumma do dumma da, February 1, 1999
-snip-
"Brownies and guides" are Girl Scouts levels . Notice that this example includes lines from the huge "Eeny Meanie" playground rhyme family.
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2. FLEA FLY FLO
My version is the same as Alison's until the first line that ends with vista (but I learned vistey not vista).
FLEA
Each line is echoed back to the leader.
Flea (Flea) Flea fly (Flea fly) Flea fly flo (Flea fly flo) Vistey (Vistey)
Cumala, cumala, cumala vistey
Oh no no no not the vistey
Vistey ( and then it really changes!)
Eeney meney dis a leenee, ooh ahh ahh meleenee Otchicotchee oochirachee, ooh ahh ooh. Ish bibili oaten doten, why not in doten toten, bo bo ski doten toten hey don areema!
This was always a camp song that was lots of fun because you got faster each time until everyone just collapsed in laughter. I've heard other versions but this is the only one I've ever been able to learn.
-karen k, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8951 RE: meaning - musha ring dumma do dumma da, February 1, 1999
****
3.
flea (flea)
fly (fly)
flea fly flew (ditto)
coomalata coomalata coomalata beestay
no no no no not the beestay
and ended in a sort of scat-rhythm: eee-biddlety-oaten-doaten-wahbat-skee-watten-tatten-SHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!
-Bonnie S.; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47148 RE: eena meena mackeracka (children's rhymes);7/1/2006
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4, 5, 6 - FLEA
In this song, the song leader sings (says) a line and the audience repeats the line. Keep the beat by alternately slapping thighs and clapping hands:
Flea!
Flea Fly!
Flea Fly Mosquito!
Oh no no no no Mosquito!
Get that big bad bug with the bug spray!
PSSSSSSSSSSH (spray can sound)
Repeat three or more times, each time a little faster.
Another Version:
Flea!
Flea Fly!
Flea Fly Flo!
Eenie, meenie, decimeenie, oo wall a wall a meenie!
Ex a meenie, zoll a meenie, oo wall a wall!
Beep billy ott in dotten oh bo ba beaten dotten shh!
Flea!
Flea fly!
Flea fly flow!
Kumalata kumalata kumalata veeslay!
Oh, no no no, not the veeslay.
Ich a mini, satch a mini, oo walla walla mini.
Des a mini, satch a mini, oo walla wall.
A beat billy oaten bobin obo a boatin bobin obo a boatin bobin boatin bobin boatin bobin boatin bobin sssshhh...
Fleas (audience repeats)
Fleas Flies (audience repeats)
Fleas Flies Mosquitos (audience repeats)
Calimine, calimine, calimine lotion
Oh no, no more calimine lotion
Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, itty bitty
Nasty bitey mosquito -- SQUASH (squash is yelled at top of lungs)
Flea!
Flea Fly!
Flea Fly Flo!
Vista
Coo-ma-la, Coo-ma-la, Coo-ma-la Vista
Oh no-no, no, not the vista
Eenie, meenie, decimeenie, oo walla walla meenie!
Ex a meenie, zoll a meenie, oo walla wall!
Beep billy ott in dotten oh bo ba beaten dotten shh!
- Susan Best, Ev Holm, Cathy Porter, http://www.macscouter.com/songs/Repeat.asp [retrieved 1/27/2013]
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7. FLEE FLY FLO
Flee
Flee fly
Flee fly flo
Vista
Coomalah, coomalah, coomalah vista
Oh no no no, not the vista
Eeny meeny decimeeny, oo-ah loo-ah lameeny
Eximeeny zalimeeny oo-ah loo-ah
Ah beat belly oh bo bo do ba dee-bah
Shhhhhhh!
-snip-
https://www.mamalisa.com/?p=3225&t=es
The editor of this website wrote that "Flea Fly Flo is an echo song. Every line the leader says is echoed by the group (or 2nd person)." That website includes another examples of this rhyme.
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