Various Artists-Topic, May 30, 2015
Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Dr. Knickerbocker / Tic-Tac (medley) · 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
-snip-
The "Tic Tac" rhyme begins around 1:03 of this
YouTube video.
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update- April 14, 2023
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube sound file and several text (word only) examples of African American rhymes/cheers that are sources for the American children's camp singing game "The Telephone Song" (also known as "You're Wanted On The Telephone").
The Addendum to this post presents two examples of camp version of this African American rhyme/cheer. A YouTube video of an adaptation of that camp version is also included in that Addendum.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric,
cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composers of this rhyme/singing game.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this YouTube example and thanks to all
those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of that sound
file and that video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/doctor-knickerbocker-number-9-rhymes.html
for the pancocojams post that includes a transcription an example of "Dr.
Knickerbocker", the first rhyme that is showcased in that YouTube sound
file.
****
SIMILARITY OF SOME WORDS IN THE 1973 VERSION OF "TIC TAC" WITH LINES FROM SOME "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA" RHYMES
The "Miss Sue From Alabama" family of children's rhymes include a large number of different (variant) examples. There's a number of pancocojams posts about "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes. Some examples of "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes include the lines "Waitin for the clock to go/boom tick tock/boom ticky wally wally/Boom tick tock/Boom ticky wally wally/Stop!" ( or similar lines".
I believe that those lines are connected to the 1973 rhyme "Tic Tac" which is perhaps more widely known now as "The Telephone Song" in American children's camps. That song has the line (which I transcribed as "Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley/Tic Toc Tic Tac e waley waley".
I don't know whether those lines in "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes of those lines in that "Tic Tac" rhyme came first.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/examples-of-miss-sue-from-alabama-with.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of "Miss Sue From Alabama" With Decades Remembered Or Date Collected".
****
EXAMPLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RECREATIONAL
RHYME/SINGING GAME "TELEPHONE" (also known as "Tic-Tac", "Someone's On The Telephone", and other titles.
These examples are given in relative chronological order
with the oldest examples given first.
This date doesn't correspond to the date that these
contributors first chanted or recalled hearing this rhyme/singing game.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
I've chosen the title "Telephone" as the name for
this group of African American recreational rhymes. These rhymes may have
different titles or lines from these rhymes may be combined with verses from
recreational rhymes with other titles (for example "Miss Sue From
Alabama").
Notice that some examples of these rhymes have the "Someone's on the phone" lines combined another recreational rhyme or more than one other recreational rhymes.
WARNING: Some
contemporary examples of "The Telephone Song" include sexualized
lyrics and/or profanity.
Example #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj0DjxXB1Cg [This example is presented in this post as
Showcase Video #1, beginning around 1:02 of that video.
Entire Group -Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Group with the named soloist -Oh, Miss Gloria
Someone's on the phone
Miss Gloria- If it ain't [decipherable male name]
Tell’ em I ain’t home
Entire Group -Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Tic Toc Tic Tac e waley waley
Group without the named soloist - Oh Miss Lucy
Someone’s on the phone
Miss Lucy - If it ain’t
[indecipherable male name]
Tell ‘em I’m ain’t home.
Entire Group- Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Group without the named soloist -Oh, Miss [indecipherable
female name]
Someone’s on the phone
Miss [same female name]-If it ain't [indecipherable male
name]
Tell ’em I ain’t home
Tic Tac Tic Tac e waley waley
Group without the named soloist -Oh Miss [indecipherable
female name]
Someone’s on the phone
Miss [same female name] -If it ain’t James Brown
Tell ‘em I ain’t home
[Other verses with this pattern.]
Group without the named soloist -Oh, Miss Gloria someone on the phone
If it ain’t Jackie Wilson
Tell ‘em I aint home"
-snip-
This 1973 sound file is the earliest example that I've come across of the rhymes/singing games that are now known as "The Telephone Song". This example is called "Tic Tac" after its rhythmic introduction "Tic Tac e waley waley" [or closely sounding words]. "Tic Tac" is chanted with the sound of hand claps and foot stomps.
I've categorize the example given above as a "foot stomping cheers" because of its textual structure and hand clapping/foot stomping accompaniments. If this categorization is correct, it would make this "Tic Tac" one of the earliest examples of foot stomping cheers that I have come across.
Like other foot stomping cheers, "Tic Tac" has a group/consecutive soloist format, meaning that the entire group voices speak first, followed by the group without a soloist, and then followed by a soloist's response. Except for the last two renditions of that rhyme (cheer), the ending words of the soloist's response portions of this rhyme are undecipherable to me. Based on those last two renditions, my guess is that each soloist gives the name of a famous R&B male singer (i.e. "If it ain’t James Brown tell ‘em I ain’t home). Alternatively, a soloist might give a boy's name.
I believe that the purposes of this "TicTac" rhyme/cheer are to provide an opportunity for rhythmic play in which the players have to stay on beat while they think quickly to come up with the name of a famous Black R&B singer (or a boy's name) that hasn't previously been given. Children's camp adapted "The Telephone Song" versions of Tic Tac have dropped those purposes.
Besides the recreational fun of chanting those rhyme, the
purpose of "The Telephone Song" is to familiarize groups of children
with each other's first names.ivebe quick witted
This "Tic Tac" rhyme is from the Gullah people of
South Carolina. Because of its geographic isolation, a large number of African
American folk songs (including children's recreational rhymes) come from the
Gullah people.
Click
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/doctor-knickerbocker-number-9-rhymes.html
for a pancocojams post that showcases "Dr. Knickerbocker", the other rhyme in that St. John's Island
medley.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list.html for Part I of a five part pancocojams series that features examples of foot stomping cheers.
****
Example #2
From bitsy196; Greekchat date 6-25-2003
[Pancocojams Editor: I can no longer find the
link to the Greekchat discussion thread that includes this example, however I remember that it was a discussion thread for remembrances of childhood games that were published by members of historically Black Greek letter sororities.]
"tele-phone, te-te-lephone
hey "bitsy"?
hey what?
your man is on the phone
girl, tell him i ain't home
he only want me for my hips, my lips, my booty and my
this(and point to, well your "womanliness")
i know we were some fresh little girls"
-snip-
I believe that the purpose of this example and some other "foot stomping cheer" examples that are given in this post* is to provide opportunities for girls to show off their foot stomping/dancing skills while experimenting with risque chanting and other unapproved words and motions.
Unlike some other foot stomping cheers, in these "Telephone" cheers it appears that every soloist in each iterations of this cheer said the same thing.
*Foot stomping cheer examples of "Telephone" in this post (besides Example #1) are Example #2, Example #4, and possibly Example #6.
****
Example #3
From
getoffmyskittle;f="http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=38901&page=4
"Does anyone remember this?? (goofy kid-rhymes)" February 6th, 2006
"one goes back and forth between the people playing the
game; I'll just use my name (Monica):
(both)Miss Sue, Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name is Susannah
(Boom chicka boom chicka boomboomboom
Mommy's got the measles, Daddy's got the flu
I ain't lyin', nor are you.
(other person) Hey Monica!
(me) Who's callin' my name?
(other person) Hey Monica!
(me) Stop playin' my game!
(other person) Someone's on the telephone!
(me) If it ain't my baby tell 'em I ain't home!
(both) Sittin' in her rocker, eatin' peanut butter
Watchin' the clock go
Boom ticky wah wah boom tick tock
Boom ticky wah wah clock says stop!"
-snip-
I added italics for "The Telephone" portion of this rhyme. Since at least the 1960s, "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes are usually performed as partner or group hand clap rhymes.
****
Example #4
From Recess Battles: Playing Fighting, and Storytelling by
Anna R. Beresin (University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, 2010, pages 110,
111, in the section of that book whose sub-title is "Steps"), African
American girls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1992
Telephone tel telephone---------repeat
Yo Tasha
Yo
You’re wanted on the telephone
Who is it?
A boy
I know what he wants
He wants my lips my tits -----------------pointing shyly
My grass and my ass
Telephone tel telephone---------basic step: clap, step, clap as above, only slower
Telephone tel telephone---------repeat
Yo Tasha
Yo
You’re wanted on the telephone
Who is it?
Your man
I know what he wants
He wants my lips my tits
My grass and my ass
Telephone tel telephone
Telephone tel telephone---------repeat
Yo Tasha
Yo
You’re wanted on the telephone
Who is it?
A girl
I know what she wants
She wants my man
Goddamn
She’s getting out of hand
Telephone tel telephone
Telephone tel telephone
Yo Tasha
Yo
You’re wanted on the telephone
Who is it?
Your ex
I know what he wants
He wants my lips my tits
My grass and my ass"
-snip-
This is how this example is given in that book. However, when this example was performed in real life, the girl's first name (or nickname) was almost certainly changed with each iteration of that rhyme/cheer.
****
Example #5
From Anonymous; January 12, 2020 at 1:28 AM; comment in the discussion thread for http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss.html
"We sang a totally different version than anything I've seen online. This was around 05 in central GA.
"Miss Sue,
Miss Sue,
Miss Sue from Alabama,
Her real name's Suzianna.
Chicka-boom, chicka-boom,
Chicka boom-boom-boom.
Momma's got the measles,
Daddy's got the flu
I ain't lying, neither are you.
(You) 'Hey (friend's name)!'
(Friend) 'who's calling my name?'
(You) 'hey (friend)!'
(Friend) 'who's playing my game?'
(You) 'your boyfriend's on the telephone's
(Friend) 'if ain't my baby tell him I ain't home, if it is my baby tell him hooooold on'
(Both again)
Sittin in a rocker,
Eatin Betty crocker,
Watchin that clock goin
Boom chicka-wa wa,
Boom tick-tock.
Boom chicka-wa wa,
The clock says stop.
I like coffee,
I like tea,
I like the little boy who likes me
Tick tock!"
There were hand motions for each line, similar to the usual ones. At the last part (boom chicka wa wa) we crossed our hands on our laps and back over and over, when the song ended if they were parallel, you were the little boy, if they were crossed you were the girl. It was really weird now that I think about it but we never did it any of the ways I've seen on YouTube or here!"
-snip-
I added italics to highlight those lines.
****
Example #6
From Anonymous, February 28, 2021;
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss
Miss Sue From Alabama" [comment]
"Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Chicka boom boom boom
Chicka boom boom boom
Mommy's got a fever, Daddy's got the flu
I ain't lyin' and neither are you!
Hey (name)
Who's calling my name?
Hey (name)
Who's playin' my game?
Your honey's on the phone.
If it's not my man, tell him I'm not home
Well it is your man
So get on the bus to the movies, the movies
I love to see the movies
Moonshine, moonshine freeze!
-snip-
This example was
written with this statement: "In
Howell Michigan in the late 70's early 80's we did."
I added italics for the "Telephone" portion of this rhyme.]
****
Example #7
From Colorfully, 2022,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfzHL_1PdbY&ab_channel=EbonyJanicePeace ,
Let's Discuss: Black Girl Childhood Hand Games and Sing Songs, Ebony Janice
Peace [comment]
"Ours were a little less fresh but we had some too..it was really less innocent with the tweens ex[example]
telephone ×4
who is it
a boy ,
I know what he wants
he wants my lips
my tits
my booty
and my hips
Telephone x4
who is it?
a girl...
I know what she want...
she want my man
Go* Dam*
that B is outa hand.
I think some were changed to match the new places they
traveled to as the 'urban' sociallandscape formed. Wow we never said part about
the baby on call the doctor quick quick quick...but yes wow the true meaning is
so clear now. I know a lot were outdated
even in 90s bc words like Colored
boy...but I think a lot if these got more risque over time, with other girls
and with the great migration to cities."
-snip-
I reformatted the comment to increase its readability.
****
Example #8
"Watching the clock go
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
"My sister and her friends used to say:
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Let's make a movie
You got the ABCDEFG
You got the HIJKLMNOP
You got the smooth legs
You got the smooth legs
You got the bald head
You got the bald head
Hey (friend's name), somebody called your name
Hey (another friend's name), somebody wants you on the
telephone
It ain't my momma, sittin at the table
Peeling the potatoes
Tick tock boom boom
Tick tock boom boom
BOOM!"
-Andey McFarlin, 2018;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM
-snip-
I added italics to highlight the "telephone" lines in this example.
****
Example #9
Sitting at the table peeling my potato,
Waiting for the clock to say,
Boom Tic Tock
Boom Tick
Tiyati..Yati
Boom Tick Tock
Boom Tick
Tiyati..Yati
STOP
Hey!! (Your Name Here)
Somebody calling name!
Hey!! (Your Name Here)
Somebody’s playing your game!
Hey!! (Your Name Here)
Somebody’s on the phone!
Well if it ain’t my man
Tell him, I ain’t home
But if it is my man
Tell him “Bring it on”
Boom Tic Tock
Boom Tick
Tiyati..Yati
Boom Tick Tock
Boom Tick
Tiyati..Yati
-
-snip-
I added italics to highlight the "telephone" lines in this example.
****
ADDENDUM - CHILDEN'S CAMP VERSIONS OF "THE TELEPHONE SONG" (also known as "Someone's On The Telephone".
These examples are given in no particular order.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1.
From https://www.facebook.com/campoakspring/videos/telephone/2607755022583239/ Aqua Adventures - "You're wanted on the telephone!"
Camp Oak Spring, August 1, 2018 ·
One person from the group begins this singing game by choosing the name of someone in the group [including the adult leaders] - Hey [person's first name or nickname]
[The person named sings] - Someone's calling my name
Hey [group except for that person named] - Someone's calling your name
[Same person] - I think I hear it again.
Group exceptfor that person named- You're wanted on the telephone
[Person named sings] - Well, if it isn't [randomly picks another person] I'm not home."
-snip-
This singing game is open ended (It can continue as long as the group wants it to (or the time restrictions allow it to. A person should only have one turn as the one whose name is called.
The purpose of this singing game is to help familiarize participants with rhythmic play and help familiarize participants with the names of people in their group.
****
2.
From Re Allyssa, Mar 10, 2017, https://kintsugi.seebs.net/threads/childrens-rhymes.5542/page-2
."The one from camp was
All: A-ring a-ring a-ringa ring ring ring Hey [1]!
1: I think I heard my name!
All: Hey [1]!
1: I think I heard it again!
All: You're wanted on the telephone!
1: If it's not [2] then I'm not home!
All: A-ring a-ring a-ringa ring ring ring Hey [2]!
Etc."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Telephone Song
Pre-School One- Paige and Anna, Mar 20, 2020
****
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