Monday, September 14, 2020

Examples Of The Children's Rhyme "Flea Fly Flow" (also known a "Cuma La Vista" or similar sounding words)

  Edited by Azizi Powell Latest revision - April 15,2023

This pancocojams post showcases several video and text examples of the children's rhyme "Flea Fly Flow" (also known as "Cumala Vista" or some similar sounding words.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to all those who are featured in this record and thanks to the producers of this record. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/flea-fly-flow-cumala-vista-rhyme-songs.html for the 2013 pancocojams post entitled "The Flea Fly Flow" ("Cumala Vista") Rhyme & Songs That Helped It Grow
That 2013 post presents information about and a YouTube sound file of one song that I believe helped influence the development of the playground rhyme "Flea Fly Flow" ("Cumala Vista").  That video is entitled Desi Arnaz - "El Cumbanchero" (1946),

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).

That 2013 pancocjoams post includes some of the word only examples of "Cuma La Vista" that are also included in this post.
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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEOS/SOUNDFILES OF THE CHILDREN'S RHYME "FLEA FLY FLOW" (also known as "CUMALA VISTA" or similar words)

(These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only

1.  Sissy in de Barn; Bamalam a Cummala


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
g
rain [?]


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2.  
"Kuma La Vista" with the kids of Sola Fe"



amandastacyhill, Mar 28, 2010


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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.

Scatland doon doon, rarara."

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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

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WORD ONLY EXAMPLES OF FLEA FLY FLOW 

These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. 
1. FLEA FLY FLO 

...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


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3.  
FLEA FLY FLEW 

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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