"Fudge Fudge Call The Judge" Rhymes (with demographic information: city/state & decades chanted)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some examples of the children's rhyme "Fudge Fudge Call The Judge' (or similar titles) with demographic information (the city and/or state and- if given-the decade that the contributor remembers chanting that rhyme).

The play activity (jump rope, hand clapping game, or counting out) that accompanies these rhymes may also be given with these examples.

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

This compilation partially documents where (what states in the United States) and when (what decade) these rhymes were chanted. I'm also interested in documenting what performance activity accompanied this rhyme (jump rope, hand clap rhymes etc) and what words were chanted (which versions of this rhyme).

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who contributed these rhyme examples.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/12/fudge-fudge-call-judge-twins-triplets.html for the 2011 pancocojams post entitled "Fudge Fudge Call The Judge" - Twins & Triplets In Playground Rhymes".

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/mamas-having-chocolate-baby-line-in.html for the closely related 1013 pancocojams post entitled "Mama's Having A Chocolate Baby" Line In Fudge Fudge Call The Judge Rhymes".

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
The examples of "Fudge Fudge Call The Judge" with demographic information are a very small sub-set of examples that I've found of this rhyme on the Internet. All of these examples  were/are chanted within the United States. 

The internet source for these rhymes is given as a hyperlink after the rhyme example/comment.

For what it's worth, I haven't directly collected any examples of this rhyme during the decades that I collected rhymes and chants mostly from Black children in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. (However, note that one example given in the Pennsylvania section below documents that it was chanted by two Black children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also, another example in the Pennsylvania section is from a person in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, a city located  very near Pittsburgh, PA. 

I haven't I haven't found any examples on the internet for this rhyme from LOTS of states in the United States, although its likely that some versions of those rhymes were chanted in those states.

I also haven't found any examples of "Fudge Fudge Call The Judge" from outside the United States, although I would be very surprised if that rhyme hadn't been chanted anywhere else in the world.

I'm interested in documenting additional examples of these rhymes-with demographics-from the United States and from elsewhere. Please share examples with demographics and information about what play activity was done while the rhyme was/is chanted.

**
The earliest examples in this pancocojams compilation are from the '50s (Flint, Michigan) and the late 1950s (Chicago, Illinois , and Michigan City, Indiana). 

However, the Ballad Index (https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/MHAp239C.html)
indicates that the earliest example of this rhyme is from 1934 and gives the following information for the rhyme family that I call "Fudge Fudge Call The Judge":
"Oh Fudge, Tell the Judge

DESCRIPTION: "Oh, fudge, Tell the judge, Mother's got a baby. Oh, joy, It's a boy, Father's nearly crazy." "Wrap it up in tissue paper, Send it down the elevator." "First floor, second floor... send it out the back door."

AUTHOR: unknown

EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Henry, from Mrs. Henry C. Gray, or her maid)*

KEYWORDS: mother father baby judge nonballad | fudge

FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,So)

REFERENCES (8 citations):

Henry-SongsSungInTheSouthernAppalachians, p. 239, (no title) (1 short text)

Carey-MarylandFolkloreAndFolklife, pp. 79, "(no title)" (1 text)

McIntosh-FolkSongsAndSingingGamesofIllinoisOzarks, p. 110, "(Fudge, fudge, tell the judge)" (1 text)

Abernethy-SinginTexas, p. 14, "(Fudge, fudge, tell the judge)" (1 text)

Solomon-ZickaryZan, p. 58, "Elevator"; p. 83, "Fudge, Fudge" (2 texst)

Ainsworth-JumpRopeVerses, #63, "(Fudge, fudge, tell the judge)"; #79, "(Fudge, fudge, tell the judge)" (1 text)

Delamar-ChildrensCountingOutRhymes, p. 118, "Fudge, fudge, tell the judge"; p. 127, "Fudge, Fudge, Tell the Judge" (2 text)

NorthCarolinaFolkloreJournal, Teri John, "A Collection of Jump Rope Rhymes," Vol. XXI, No. 1 (Apr 1973), pp. 15-16, "(Fudge, fudge, here comes the judge)"; "(Daddy, Daddy, Call the Doctor)" (2 texts; the second appears to be the same piece but doesn't mention fudge or the judge)

Roud #19318."
-snip-
*My guess is that "her maid" refers to a Black female. 

** 
Notice that that page cites rhymes from the following states that aren't represented in this pancocojams compilation: Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. My guess is that  US(Ap,MA,MW,So) refers to the United States regions or states of "Appalachia", "Maryland", "the Midwest", and "the South". [Corrections for these abbreviations are welcome.] 
 
**
The examples in this pancocojams post aren't numbered or given in any order other than their geographical location (state). 

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EXAMPLES WITH DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

ILLINOIS

"I was thinking about the 'fudge fudge' rhyme recently after seeing a childhood friend, so I googled it. Here are the lyrics from the Chicago suburbs in the late 1950s:

Fudge, fudge, call the judge
Mama's got a new-born baby
It isn't a girl
It isn't a boy
It's just an ordinary baby
Wrap it up in tissue paper
Send it down the elevator
First floor – miss! (deliberately miss)
Second floor – miss! (deliberately miss)
Third floor – kick it out the door (kick while jumping)
Mama don't want her baby no more."
-Kim, https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3573#:~:text=Jump%20Rope%20Rhyme,Send%20it%20down%20the%20elevator.

**

"I think this was from Chicago (late 50's) where my sisters were little but it might be from Saint Louis (early 60's) where I was little, but I don't think so. I don't remember jumping rope to it, I remember hearing my sisters singing it to me and saying it was a jumprope song. It is almost identical to Guest, Mary's, above, late 50's Michigan. We sang it Hudge, Fudge, which might be the way it was sung and might be us from being half Hungarian, Hogy vagy (pronounced roughly hodge fudge if you kind of "y" instead of "g" the end of each word.

Hudge, Fudge, Call the Judge
Mama got a newborn baby
Not a boy, not a girl,
Just an ordinary baby

Wrap it up in tissue paper
Send it down the elevator
First floor-stop
Second floor-stop
Third floor- shut the door
Momma don't want the baby no more"
-Mrrzy, 28 Oct 15 - 08:01 PM, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99131&messages=21 , Lyr Req: Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge
-snip-
The example that Mrrzy mentioned in her comments from Guest Mary is given in the section for the state of Indiana.

**

"FUDGE, FUDGE, TELL THE JUDGE/
MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY/
IT ISN'T A BOY,/
IT ISN'T A GIRL/
IT'S JUST A NEW BORN BABY/
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR/
FIRST FLOOR, SECOND FLOOR,
THIRD FLOOR: OUT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED ON THE PLAYGROUND IN CHICAGO, ILL.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: 03-29-1967"
-https://libraries.udmercy.edu/find/special_collections/digital/cfa/index.php?term=CHARACTER&field=keyword&start=60 , citation #1

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit , Michigan  
-snip-
I've reformatted every example from this collection that I quoted to enhance their readability. 

 ****
INDIANA

"In Michigan City, Indiana, in the late 50's at our Catholic grade school we jumped rope to:

Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge
Momma's got a newborn baby
It isn't a girl
It isn't a boy
It's just an ordinary baby

Wrap it up in tissue paper
Send it down the elevator
First floor-push
Second floor-Push
Third floor- Kick 'em out out the door
Momma doesn't want that baby anymore"
-GUEST, Mary, 18 Feb 11 - 9:55 AM https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99131&messages=21 , Lyr Req: Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge

****
MICHIGAN

"Back in the 50s in Flint, MI. We chanted while jumping rope: Fudge, fudge. Call the judge. Mama's gonna have a new born baby. Wrap it up in tissue paper. Send it down the elevator. First floor - miss. Second floor - miss. Third floor - kick it out the door. (kicking motion)" -dulcimer42, 01 Aug 1-10:53 AM, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99131&messages=21 , Lyr Req: Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge

**
"Here's the version of "Fudge,Fudge," that we had in our neighborhood in Ford River (by Escanaba, Michigan, in "the Upper Peninsula: Fudge, fudge, call the judge, Mama's got a newborn baby; It isn't a girl, It isn't a boy, It's just a plain old baby; Wrap it up in tissue paper, Put it in the elelvator, First floor miss. (miss on purpose) Second floor miss. (miss on purpose) Third floor miss. (miss on purpose) Fourth floor, kick it out the door, Mama doesn't want that baby no more!"
-Kathy Corcoran,  Wed Feb 15, 2006, https://archive.homeschool.co.uk/jumprope-songs/fudge-fudge.html

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE,/
CALL THE JUDGE/
CAUSE MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY./ 
AIN'T A GIRL./
AIN'T A BOY./
IT'S JUST AN ORDINARY BABY./
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER./
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR. 
FIRST FLOOR/ STOP./
SECONDFLOOR-MISS,/
THIRD FLOOR-TURN AROUND./
FOURTH FLOOR-GET OUT OF TOWN.

 Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM*

 Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER

Date learned: 11-13-1970"
-https://libraries.udmercy.edu/find/special_collections/digital/cfa/index.php?term=CHARACTER&field=keyword&start=60; The James T. Callow Folklore Archive, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit , Michigan

[In the section for Michigan in this compilation, this link is hereafter given without its link as "the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive", citation #1]
-snip-
There are multiple examples of this rhyme within the same geographical location (city and or state) in The James T. Callow Folkloric Archive. I've showcases some of the different versions of that rhyme from that source.

The entries for the examples from the  The James T. Callow Folklore Archive also have the line "Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse". I chose not to include this line in these entries.

*There's a city in Michigan named "Birmingham". This geographic location probably refers to that city and not to the more widely known city of Birmingham, Alabama.

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE/
MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY./
NOT A BOY, NOT A GIRL,/
JUST A PLAIN BABY./
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
SEND IT UP THE ELEVATOR./
FIRST FLOOR: HOP,
SECOND FLOOR: STOP.
THIRD FLOOR: SKIP.
FOURTH FLOOR TRIP./
FIFTH FLOOR RED HOT PEPPER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; SPEED-JUMP

Date learned: 10-20-1969"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #1

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE./
MOMMY'S GONNA HAVE A NEW BORN BABY/
IT ISN'T A GIRL. IT ISN'T A BOY./
JUST A PLAIN OLD BABY./
WRAP IT UP IN TOLIET PAPER./
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR.
FIRST FLOOR: STOP/
SECOND FLOOR : MISS/
THIRD FLOOR : JUMP UNTIL YOU MISS

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump

Date learned: 10-01-1967"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #1

**

"FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE./
MOMMY HAD A BABY,/
PAPPY GOING CRAZY./
WRAP IT UP IN TOILET PAPER/
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR./
FIRST FLOOR MISSED.
SECOND FLOOR MISSED.
THIRD FLOOR MISSED.
FOURTH FLOOR MISSED.
FIFTH FLOOR MISSED,
SIXTH FLOOR MISSED.
SIXTH FLOOR YOU HAD BETTER NOT MISS
BECAUSE THE BABY WAS BORN AT HALF PAST SIX.

Where learned: KEATING SCHOOL*

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: 11-00-1967"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #1.
-snip-
*"The Keating School" in this entry probably refers to a school of that name in Detroit, Michigan.  

**

"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE/
MOMMA HAS A NEW BORN BABY.
IT'S NOT A GIRL, IT'S NOT A BOY/
IT'S JUST AN ORDINARY BABY./
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER./
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR.

( A RECITAL OF FLOORS BEGINS.)

NOW UNTIL THE FLOOR WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE JUMPERS BIRTHDAY.

 Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

 Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump

Date learned: 02-27-1967"

-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #1

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE/
MOMMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY/
IT ISN'T A GIRL, IT ISN'T A BOY/
IT'S JUST AN ORDINARY BABY/
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
PUT IT ON THE ELEVATOR/
 FIRST FLOOR: MISS ETC. UP TO
THE SIXTH FLOOR: DON'T MISS CAUSE THE BABY WAS BORN AT HALF PAST SIX.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP"
-https://libraries.udmercy.edu/find/special_collections/digital/cfa/index.php?term=CHARACTER&field=keyword&start=80 , citation #2; the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE,
IT AIN'T NO GIRL, IT AIN'T NO BOY,
JUST AN ORDINARY BABY.
MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY./
FIRST FLOOR STOP- THE ROPE STOPS,/
SECOND FLOOR STOP - THE ROPE STOPS,
THIRD FLOOR STOP,- THE ROPE STOPS,/
RED HOT PEPPER. (JUMP UNIL MISSES.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; SPEED-JUMP

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR."
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #2

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE/
MAMA'S GOT A NEW-BORN BABY./ 
IT AIN'T VANILLA/
IT AIN'T COCONUT/
IT'S JUST A CHOCOLATE BABY./
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
THROW IT DOWN THE CHUTE/
FIRST FLOOR: MISS,
SECOND FLOOR : MISS,
THIRD FLOOR : OUT THE DOOR. EVERYBODY OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME ; CHARACTER

Date learned: 10-02-1971"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #2

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE./
MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY.
IT ISN'T A BOY, IT ISN'T A GIRL./
IT'S JUST AN ORDINARY BABY.
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER,/
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR.
FIRST FLOOR-STOP (THE ROPE STOPS)
(ROPE BEGINS) SECOND FLOOR-STOP (ROPE STOPS)
(ROPE BEGINS) THIRD FLOOR, BABY FLOOR, ALL OUT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS FOR A GROUP TO JUMP TO. UPON REACHING "THIRD FLOOR" EVERYONE MUST JUMP FROM THE TURNING ROPE.

 Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT

 Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME ; CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: 03-01-1971"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #2

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, TELL THE JUDGE/
 MAMA HAS A NEW BORN BABY./
 IT ISN'T A GIRL, IT ISN'T A BOY/
IT'S JUST A NEW BORN BABY.
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
SEND IT UP THE ELEVATOR.
FIRST FLOOR: MISS,/
SECOND FLOOR: MISS/
THIRD FLOOR: KICK IT OUT THE DOOR/
MAMA AIN'T GOT THE BABY ANYMORE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: 01-29-1968"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #2

**
"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE,/
MAMA GOT A NEW BORN BABY./
IT ISN'T A GIRL, IT ISN'T A BOY,/
IT'S JUST A PLAIN OLD BABY.
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER,/
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR:
FIRST FLOOR: MISS,
SECOND FLOOR: MISS.
THIRD FLOOR MISS,
FOURTH FLOOR: MISS,
FIFTH FLOOR : MISS .
SIXTH FLOOR: DO NOT MISS"
CAUSE THE BABY WAS BORN AT HALF PAST SIX.

Submitter comment: FROM THE CHILDREN OF HER NEIGBORHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: SUMMER 00001964"
-the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive, citation #2
 
**** 
NEW JERSEY

"I grew up in northern New Jersey in the 60's.
For some reason today I was trying to remember this jump rope jingle.

This is what I recall:
Fudge, fudge, call the judge
Mama's got a new born baby
Papa's going crazy
It's not a boy
It's not a girl
It's just an ordinary baby
Wrap it up in tissue paper
Send it down the elevator
1st floor stop (the jumping stopped)
2nd floor miss (you'd deliberately miss)
3rd floor turn around
4th floor touch the ground
5th floor get out (you'd jump out)"
-GUEST. Susan Price,  19 Oct 17 - 08:42 PM, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99131&messages=21 , Lyr Req: Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge

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NEW YORK

"I was in elementary school in the Bronx in the early 2000s. We sang it like this:

Mama's having a baby
Papa's going crazy
If it's a boy, I'll give it a toy
If it's a girl, I'll give it a curl
Then wrap it up in toilet paper
Send it down the escalator
SECOND FLOOR!
Stop! Take it easy
FIRST FLOOR!
Stop! Take it easy
S-S (slap hands twice)
T-T(slap hands twice)
O-O(slap hands twice)
P-P(slap hands twice)
Spells STOP!"
-E. Correa, February 13, 2017, http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/12/fudge-fudge-call-judge-twins-triplets.html [comments]
-snip-
The Bronx is a borough in New York City, New York.

****

OHIO

"FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE
MAMA'S GOT A NEW BORN BABY/
PAPPA'S GONE CRAZY/
HOW MANY BABIES DID MAMA HAVE? (COUNT)

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOLD IN ELYRIA, OHIO

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump

Date learned: 03-29-1967
--https://libraries.udmercy.edu/find/special_collections/digital/cfa/index.php?term=CHARACTER&field=keyword&start=60; The James T. Callow Folklore Archive, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit , Michigan

****
OHIO/INDIANA
"This was how we sang it in Ohio and Indiana...

 Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge

Jump Rope Rhyme

Fudge, fudge, call the judge!
Mama's had a newborn baby!
Wrap it up in tissue paper,
Send it down the elevator.
Twins, triplets, boy, girl...

(Repeat the last line until you miss or run out.)
-Freddy, https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3573#:~:text=Jump%20Rope%20Rhyme,Send%20it%20down%20the%20elevator.

****
FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE/
MOMMA HAD A BABY./
IT'S A BOY, IT'S A GIRL/
PAPPA'S GOIN' CRAZY./
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MCKEESPORT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Date learned: 10-03-1968
--https://libraries.udmercy.edu/find/special_collections/digital/cfa/index.php?term=CHARACTER&field=keyword&start=80 , citation #2; "the James T. Callow Folkloric Archive"
-snip-
McKeesport is a city that is very close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

**

"Hey, had this rhyme just jump into my brain. I couldn't remember how it started. I don't remember saying , "Fudge". I believe we started it like this...
Momma's gonna have a baby
Is it gonna be twins just maybe
If it's a boy, give it a toy
If it's a girl give it a curl
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Send it down the esculator
First floor STOP. Second floor STOP
Third floor you better get off or you will get a POP.
I'm from Pittsburgh Pa. We sang this with the hand clap game."
-GUEST, ABC, 21 Feb, 2019 , http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/12/fudge-fudge-call-judge-twins-triplets.html

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