Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update- April 26, 2025
This pancocojams post presents an example of the contemporary hand clap rhyme "Milkshake" from a 2018 YouTube video (vlog) entitled of "1990s hand games" *.
This post also includes comments about this rhyme from the discussion thread of that YouTube vlog.
In addition, this pancocojams post includes a link to a Tik Tok video of "90s hand games*" that ends with a brief clip of "Milkshake". Selected comments about this "Milkshake" rhyme from that Tik Tok videos discussion thread are also included in this post. (I'm sorry. I'm unable to embed TikTok videos in this pancocojams blog.)
The Addendum to this post provides information about Kelis' R&B song "Milkshake". I've chosen not to include a link to a YouTube video of Kelis' 2003 record "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard" because of its sexualized content.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, and recreational purposes.
Latest Update- April 26, 2025
This pancocojams post presents an example of the contemporary hand clap rhyme "Milkshake" from a 2018 YouTube video (vlog) entitled of "1990s hand games" *.
This post also includes comments about this rhyme from the discussion thread of that YouTube vlog.
In addition, this pancocojams post includes a link to a Tik Tok video of "90s hand games*" that ends with a brief clip of "Milkshake". Selected comments about this "Milkshake" rhyme from that Tik Tok videos discussion thread are also included in this post. (I'm sorry. I'm unable to embed TikTok videos in this pancocojams blog.)
The Addendum to this post provides information about Kelis' R&B song "Milkshake". I've chosen not to include a link to a YouTube video of Kelis' 2003 record "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard" because of its sexualized content.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyright with their owners.
Thanks to Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, the composers of the song "Milkshake" and thanks to Kelis for recording this song. Thanks also to Geneas and Atiyah, the two vloggers who shared examples of this and other hand games. Thanks to asia.lintv for sharing a brief clip of this rhyme in her 2020 Tik Tok video and thanks to all those who are quoted from that Tik Tok discussion thread.
-snip-
*Although "My Milkshake" hand clap game wasn't created until 2003, it is mistakenly listed in both of the online sources for these recreational rhymes as a "90s hand game".
***
Thanks to Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, the composers of the song "Milkshake" and thanks to Kelis for recording this song. Thanks also to Geneas and Atiyah, the two vloggers who shared examples of this and other hand games. Thanks to asia.lintv for sharing a brief clip of this rhyme in her 2020 Tik Tok video and thanks to all those who are quoted from that Tik Tok discussion thread.
-snip-
*Although "My Milkshake" hand clap game wasn't created until 2003, it is mistakenly listed in both of the online sources for these recreational rhymes as a "90s hand game".
***
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Update April 26, 2025: The November 4, 2018 YouTube vlog that included the "My Milkshake" hand game was Part I of a two part vlog that featured this two African American young women sharing 1990s hand games. (Many of these hand games were played before the 1990s and the "Milkshake" hand game was created until 2003).
Unfortunately, I've just found out that that vlog is now listed as "private". That also means that the comments that were part of those vlogs-including examples of other rhymes- are no longer available. :o(
Unfortunately, I've just found out that that vlog is now listed as "private". That also means that the comments that were part of those vlogs-including examples of other rhymes- are no longer available. :o(
****
INFORMATION ABOUT "MY MILKSHAKE" HAND GAME
"My Milkshake" (also known as "Milkshake" and "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard") is an English language children's hand clap game that consists of words from Kelis' November 23, 2003 R&B record "Milkshake". As of this April 26, 2025 update to this pancocojams post, I've only found two video examples of that hand clap game: The now unavailable 2018 YouTube vlog and a 2020 Tik Tok video. Based on those examples, it appears that the words, tune, and tempo for that hand clap game is consistent, but the movement routines can vary.
Thankfully, I documented all of the only comments about the "Milkshake" rhyme that were included as of 2020 in the discussion thread for that YouTube video. I also have documented representative examples of the comments about that rhyme that are included in that Tik Tok video's discussion thread. Based on the two online discussion threads for those videos (, it appears that "My Milkshake" wasn't (isn't) as well known as a number of other hand clap rhymes "from the 90s". The vloggers of that YouTube video correctly attributed the "My Milkshake" hand game rhyme to Kelis' hit R&B record. However, neither the vlogger nor any commenter in that Tik Tok discussion thread mentioned Kelis' "My Milkshake" record. I wonder if they knew about that record.
INFORMATION ABOUT "MY MILKSHAKE" HAND GAME
"My Milkshake" (also known as "Milkshake" and "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard") is an English language children's hand clap game that consists of words from Kelis' November 23, 2003 R&B record "Milkshake". As of this April 26, 2025 update to this pancocojams post, I've only found two video examples of that hand clap game: The now unavailable 2018 YouTube vlog and a 2020 Tik Tok video. Based on those examples, it appears that the words, tune, and tempo for that hand clap game is consistent, but the movement routines can vary.
Thankfully, I documented all of the only comments about the "Milkshake" rhyme that were included as of 2020 in the discussion thread for that YouTube video. I also have documented representative examples of the comments about that rhyme that are included in that Tik Tok video's discussion thread. Based on the two online discussion threads for those videos (, it appears that "My Milkshake" wasn't (isn't) as well known as a number of other hand clap rhymes "from the 90s". The vloggers of that YouTube video correctly attributed the "My Milkshake" hand game rhyme to Kelis' hit R&B record. However, neither the vlogger nor any commenter in that Tik Tok discussion thread mentioned Kelis' "My Milkshake" record. I wonder if they knew about that record.
"My Milkshake" hand game is an example of a very small number of contemporary English language hand clap rhymes from the United States that I've come across that are based on R&B and other popular records from the 2000s.
The lack of online examples or mention of that rhyme and of any other newly composed English language children's hand games may the result of the Feb. 2019 decision that YouTube made to prohibit discussion threads for any children's videos. Before that ban, YouTube discussion threads used to offer a treasure trove of examples of and comments about children's recreational rhymes and chants. Click https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/18244954/youtube-comments-minor-children-exploitation-monetization-creators for an article about that decision.
Under that YouTube policy, the discussion thread for the YouTube vlog that was embedded in this pancocojams post was permitted because no children are featured in that vlog.
****
The comments about the "Milkshake" hand game that were posted in both that now unavailable YouTube vlog's discussion thread and also in the (currently still available) Tik Tok video discussion thread suggest that this rhyme isn't that well known. However, in response to a commenter who said that she didn't know that "Milkshake" hand game, one of the YouTube vloggers Geneas wrote that she thought everyone knew that hand game.
(In response to another commenter's question, Geneas, one of the two young African American women who are featured in this vlog, shared that she and her friend Atiyah are from "Jersey". In Part II of their vlog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-NKrzvqz_I&t=2s&ab_channel=Geneas, ** in response to another commenter's question about where they are from, Geneas shared that they were from Newark, New Jersey.)
The R&B song "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The yard" uses coded words to refer to a subject or subjects that is/are inappropriate for children. As such, that song can be considered part of the bawdy (dirty, nasty, sexualized) category of songs. It's unlikely that most children who have chanted or who still chant this rhyme really understand what the words mean.
-snip-
** I learned on April 26, 2025 that that vlog (and its discussion thread) is no longer available.
** I learned on April 26, 2025 that that vlog (and its discussion thread) is no longer available.
****
LYRICS FOR THE HAND GAME "MILKSHAKE" (also known as "My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard")
5, 6, 7, 8
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
-snip-
This is how that hand clap rhyme was chanted in the YouTube vlog that is no longer available.
With the exception of the introductory numbers, these are the same lyrics as the chorus of Kelis' 2003 "Milkshake" R&B song.
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
-snip-
This is how that hand clap rhyme was chanted in the YouTube vlog that is no longer available.
With the exception of the introductory numbers, these are the same lyrics as the chorus of Kelis' 2003 "Milkshake" R&B song.
Those numbers may not be the actual lyrics to this hand game, but are recited in this example to help the clappers get "on beat".
The Tik Tok version of "Milkshake" is the same as this example, except that it doesn't include the last line.
****
The Tik Tok version of "Milkshake" is the same as this example, except that it doesn't include the last line.
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE "MY MILKSHAKE" HAND GAME FROM THAT 2018 YOUTUBE VLOG'S DISCUSSION THREAD
These are all of the comments about this hand game that were posted to that vlog's discussion thread as of November 16, 2020 at 11:04 AM ET. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
These are all of the comments about this hand game that were posted to that vlog's discussion thread as of November 16, 2020 at 11:04 AM ET. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Taylor Carroll, 2020
"You two are awesome! I have never heard several of these! I especially love the milkshake one at the end."
**
REPLY
2. Taylor Carroll, 2020
"Also, what are the words to that one? I heard, "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. My (something?) is better than yours, my (something else) is better than yours, I can seat you but I have to charge." I'm not sure if I'm hearing it right, but I want to learn it!"
**
3. Shenia Edwards, 2020
"i love shame shame shame, and mama mama, swing swing,hands up, that's the way and milkshake i still play it i'm 13 btw"
**
4.
"I thought Kalis made Milkshake up by herself..."
**
5. Angel Hill, 2020
"I never heard of milkshake hand game"
REPLY
6. Geneas
"Angel Hill lol wow I thought everybody played that game that’s my favorite one"
**
7. Aseena Irving, 2021 [Added to this post on January 24, 2022]
"I’m sitting here tryna figure out when milkshake was turned into a hand game and why nobody told me 😩🤣"
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LINK TO A TIK TOK VIDEO THAT INCLUDES THE "MILKSHAKE" HAND GAME & SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THAT VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD ABOUT THAT HAND GAME
From https://www.tiktok.com/@asia.lintv/video/6830919677623930118 "Who
remembers these? 90s hand games all millennials know", published by asia.lintv, 2020-5-25
Asia Lin and her sister are young African American women who are shown doing brief clips of four hand clap games that she indicates are known to "all millennials. i.e. people born between 1981-1996) Here are those hand clap games with the titles that are given to those rhymes and the words to those rhymes that are heard in that video.
1. tweet baby ("He rocks in the tree top all day long/Huffin and a puffin and a singing his song).
2. shame shame shame (Shame Shame Shame/I don't want to go to Mexico no more more more/There's a big fat policeman at the door door door")
3. 'Mama Mama ("Mama Mama can't you see")
4. "Milkshake" ("My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard/You're right. It's better than yours/ Damn right. It's better than yours".)
****
Asia Lin and her sister are young African American women who are shown doing brief clips of four hand clap games that she indicates are known to "all millennials. i.e. people born between 1981-1996) Here are those hand clap games with the titles that are given to those rhymes and the words to those rhymes that are heard in that video.
1. tweet baby ("He rocks in the tree top all day long/Huffin and a puffin and a singing his song).
2. shame shame shame (Shame Shame Shame/I don't want to go to Mexico no more more more/There's a big fat policeman at the door door door")
3. 'Mama Mama ("Mama Mama can't you see")
4. "Milkshake" ("My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard/You're right. It's better than yours/ Damn right. It's better than yours".)
****
Numbers in this discussion thread are given for referencing purposes only. A lot of the commenters indicated that they didn't know the "Milkshake" rhyme.
1. asia.lintv Asia Lin, 2020-5-25
"Who remembers these ?
**
2. bangaa, 2020-5-25
"I know all but milkshake and I was born 2003"
**
3. Kia💚, 2020-5-26
"Never knew milkshakes one"
**
4.
**
Reply
4. 💫, 2020-6-3
"it's Michael Jackson went to town with a different song"
-snip-
The "Michael jackson Went To Town" rhyme that is referenced in this comment probably has the same tune as "Yankee Doodle Went ToTown". That isn't the same tune as this "Milkshake" rhyme.
**
5. J.Bandzz💵, 2020-5-28
"2001 baby and I have played all of these"
**
6. farrah, 2020-6-7
"I am 13 and I know all these but the milkshake one I did not know that was a thing"
**
7. 💜, 2020-6-7
"I knew all of them except milkshake"
**
8. @casandrasconcha, 2020-6-7
"@jan_ai imma learn the milkshake one"
**
9. ✰𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐢✰, 2020-6-8
"I never heard of the milkshake one"
**
10. 50kBrat.Journey👜💸,
"I know all of them"
**
11. lanyahwithnoi, 2020-6-9
"thank you so much. i have been trying to find out the name
of the last one for years"
**
12. Aries ♡, 2020-6-12
"i only didn’t know the last one"
**
13. Jamie💋,
"never seen the milkshake one"
**
14. SimpingforSilco, 2020-6-18
"Oh my god I’ve played all of them except the milkshake one 😭 dang my childhood was lit 😎"
**
15. @ngell 🎀 , 2020-6-19
"Well I’m 08 and I know all of them 🤣"
**
16. J.Bandzz💵, 2020-6-28
"2001 baby and I have played all of these"
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT KELIS' "MY MILKSHAKE" RECORD
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkshake_(song)
" "Milkshake" is a song by American singer Kelis from her third studio album, Tasty (2003). Written and produced by the Neptunes, the song was originally offered to Britney Spears for her fourth studio album, In the Zone, but was rejected and given to Kelis instead. It was released as the lead single from Tasty in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24, 2003. According to Kelis, "milkshake" in the song is used as a metaphor for "something that makes women special." The song is noted for its euphemistic chorus and low beat R&B sound.
" "Milkshake" is a song by American singer Kelis from her third studio album, Tasty (2003). Written and produced by the Neptunes, the song was originally offered to Britney Spears for her fourth studio album, In the Zone, but was rejected and given to Kelis instead. It was released as the lead single from Tasty in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24, 2003. According to Kelis, "milkshake" in the song is used as a metaphor for "something that makes women special." The song is noted for its euphemistic chorus and low beat R&B sound.
Background
"Milkshake" was written and produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, known collectively as the Neptunes.
[…]
Music video
The music video for
"Milkshake" was directed by Jake Nava.[42] In the video, Kelis enters
a diner called Tasty's Yard. She dances suggestively, and puts her lips around
a cherry, which causes a mother to cover her child's eyes....
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
The comment given as #2 above is a good example of how the words that are chanted may be mis-heard or mis-remembered and result in folk processed adaptations.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the words to that rhyme (that are the same as Kelis' 2003 R&B record), that commenter thought the words might be "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. My (something?) is better than yours, my (something else) is better than yours, I can seat you but I have to charge."...
Since the "Milkshake" rhyme is based on Kelis' hit 2003 R&B record with that title, it disproves the belief that children don't play hand clap games in the 2000s.
DeleteA number of YouTube commenters wrote and (when those discussion thread are still open) write that children nowadays don't play hand clap games. I believe a more accurate statement is that fewer children in the United States play hand games in the 2000s than children did in the mid 20th century through the 1990s.
Some versions of the children's singing game "Going To Kentucky" include the words "shake it like a milkshake".
ReplyDeleteHere's one example of that singing game that is called "I Went To California"
From https://www.retrojunk.com/community/post/index/14175 Jump Rope/Hand Clapping Rhymes
Senseimike, 2007
“I remember one that the girls used to do... stand in a circle and sing this while the one in the middle did this little dance.....
I went to California
the San Fransisco fair
I saw a seniorita
with flowers in her hair
Now shake it, shake it, shake it
shake it if you can
shake it like a milkshake
and shake it once again
Wobble to the bottom
and wobble to the top
turn around and turn around
until we holler stop
when they did the turn around part... the person in the middle would spin around with a finger pointed and when they hollered stop whoever they were pointing to was the next one in the middle... and this went on and on and on
The reason I remember this so well after over 20 years is because my fourth grade teacher tried to encourage the boys to play this with the girls. She wanted to prove that skipping rope, doing these little rhymes, and the hand clapping things didn't make you a sissy and that boys could do girl things/girls could do boy things. I never saw her try to encourage any girls to play football with the boys though....."