Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a compilation of examples of "Miss Sue From Alabama" that includes information about when the contributors remember that rhyme.
These examples may also include some other demographic information such as the race/s of the people chanting these rhymes, the city, state, and/or country where they chanted or heard that rhyme, and/or their gender or the gender of the people chanting that rhyme.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, recreational, and cultural information.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
Please add to the folkloric record by sharing the examples of "Miss Sue From Alabama" that you know along with demographic information in the comment section below.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT ABOUT THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE FOR "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA" RHYMES
Wikipedia has a very brief page about "Miss Sue From Alabama". However, I consider the information on Wikipedia's page about who "Miss Sue" in the "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes was and what the rhyme means to be completely lacking historical perspective or context. In other words, that information is absolute FAKELORE.
Here's the complete quote of that page:
"Miss Sue From Alabama" is a song sung by African
American children in the South at the turn of the 20th century. The children
would then dance with each other. Miss Sue was, in African American folklore, a
prostitute that lured White men to bed and then manipulated them into doing
favors for the Black men on the plantation. She was somewhat of a spy an undercover
agent that worked on behalf of Black men.[citation needed]
The song was recorded in 1934 and 1939.[1]
References
1. Check-list of
recorded songs in the English language in the Archive of Folk Songs"
-snip-
"Check-list of recorded songs etc. refers to this book : https://dp.la/item/69795fb638c9acfac22a1c44035aa5f3
"Check-list of recorded songs in the English language in the Archive of American folk song to July, 1940, v.3"
"Created Date
1942-01-01T00:00:00Z
Description
v. 1. A-K -- v. 2. L-Z -- v. 3. Index
"The collaborative handiwork" of the Library of Congress and the Library of Congress project of the Work projects administration, which was a unit of the Public activities program of the Community service programs of the Work projects administration for the District of Columbia. cf. Acknowledgments, v. 1, p. 4 (1st group)
Creator
Archive of Folk Song (U.S.)
United States. Work Projects Administration (Washington,
D.C.)"
**
LINES FROM "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA" AND LINES FROM THE "TIC TAC" RHYME THAT IS A PRECUSOR TO THE CHILDREN'S CAMP SONG KNOWN AS "THE TELEPHONE SONG"
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/african-american-versions-of-childrens_6.html for a pancocojams post entitled "African American Versions Of The Children's Camp Song "The Telephone Song" ("Someone's On The Telephone")".
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EXAMPLES OF "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA" WITH THE DATES THAT CONTRIBUTORS GAVE FOR CHANTING OR OTHERWISE KNOWING THOSE EXAMPLES
1940s
"Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue from Alabama
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue from Alabama"
-https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-delta-survey-1941-1942/moon-lake-842/miss-sue-alabama-who-de-cat-sail-sail "Miss Sue from Alabama / Who De Cat (Sail, Sail)
Date recorded: August 12, 1942
-snip-
This is my transcription of this rhyme.
Here's information that is included on that online page:
"Contributor(s): Performer: Unidentified girls; Performer: Johnson, Mary; Performer: Harris, Etherine; Recordist: Lomax, Alan; Recordist: Jones, Lewis
Subject(s):
Genre: play song, game song
Instruments: voice
Setting: Mohead Plantation
Location: Moon Lake, Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States
Tape number: AFS6669
Track Number: 3
Archive ID: 6669A3
Transcript:
Belongs to: Moon Lake 8/42"
****
****
1960s
1. "Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue from Alabama
Show me what you can do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Show me what you can do
Miss sue from Alabama
Is this the way you do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Is this the way you do
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey Hey
A doobie-do-wah
Your mama's broke
And your papa's broke
Turn to the east
Turn to the west
Turn to the very one you love the best
Milk in the pitcher
The butter's in the bowl
Can't catch a sweetheart
To save your soul
I think this is the way we sang this game in Northern
Mississippi cira 1965."
-GUESTnanasallthat, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097, Do kids still do clapping
rhymes?, 11 Dec 07
**
2. "Miss Sue, Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey you Scooby -doo
Now let me see you smoothing
-from Yo Mama!: New Raps, Toasts, Dozens, Jokes, and Children's Rhymes from Urban Black America, edited by Onwuchekwa Jemie, (Temple University Press, 2003, page 99) [collected "Collected primarily in metropolitan New York and Philadelphia during the classic era of black street poetry (i.e., during the late 1960s and early 1970s)
https://books.google.com/books?id=9_4fUgF9BFMC&dq=miss+sue+from+alabama+in+other+countries&source=gbs_navlinks_s:
****
1.
All of this while singing:
Miss Sue, Miss Sue, Miss Sue from Alabama.
Hey little girl with the dippity doo,
Your momma's got the measles and your poppa does too.
They've got the A B C D E F G (make a circle around your
right temple like signalling that they are crazy)
They've got the H I J K LMN OP (make a circle around your
left temple like signalling that they are crazy)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft
Karate chop for each syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft Karate chop for each
syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft Karate chop for each
syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
And FREEZE. Both kids freeze first one to move loses. The winning
kid might karate chop or might punch the bicept the losing kids arm. My friends
and I usually just had bragging rights, ah, you moved, I won.
So that's our version. I spent all of second grade in
Terrytown Elementary School."
-Lawyer Assistant, December 21, 2019
[comment] http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss.html "Some Folk Processed Versions Of The Children's Rhyme "Miss Sue From Alabama"
2.
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
Now let’s have a party.
chicka boom boom boom
Now let’s have a tic tac toe
Ah tic ah tac ah tic tac toe
My mother’s in the kitchen peelin white potatoes
My father’s in the alley drinkin lemonade-o
Brother in the clink waitin for the clock to go
boom tic tock boom tick a wally wally (7x)
boom tic tock
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
She ma *
My mother had a baby
My father called it crazy
But, if it’s a girl
I’ll give it a curl
And If it’s a boy
I’ll give it a toy.
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Send it down the elevator
First floor ¬ Stop!
(Think it over)
Second floor -Stop!
(Think it over)
Third floor, you better not stop
'Cause S.T.O.P spells stop.
-Songs for Children from New York City [1976], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzyI9N6i0WU; Transcribed by Azizi Powell from the sound file
-snip-
*"She ma" seemed like it was an utterance that the girls chanting this rhyme caught and then moved on to the "My mother had a baby" verses. "Mother had a baby" is a stand alone jump rope (hand clap) rhyme (a rhyme that can be chanted by itself).
**
3. "Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey you,
scooby do
your Mama's got the measles
Your papa's got the flu
magic measles
magic flu
Take an a b c d e f g
Take an h i j k l.m.n.o.p.
Take a smooth shot
Take a smooth shot
and now freeze."
-Eleanor Fulton, Pat Smith, editors Let's Slice The Ice, (Magnamusic-Baton, 1978; St. Louis, Missouri; p. 16)
-snip-
I think that the words "take a smooth shot" originated from "take a flu shot" [an immunization to prevent against getting influenza [disease].
1980s
1. "Hi there. I'm from Mississippi and was in elementary school
in the late 80's through early 90's. the version of "Miss Sue" I
remember was not listed here. I thought I'd help you out. Last time I heard it,
I think it had varied ever so slightly from when I was in school, but this is
how I remember it: Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss Sue
from Alabama Sittin' in a rocker eatin' betty crocker watchin' that clock go
tick-tock, tick-tock-banana-nana tick-tock, tick-tock banana-nana ABCDEFG-wash
those stains right out'a my knees MUSHKA, MUSHKA, MUSHKA FREEZE (as fast as you
can) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10! I never got the last part...sometimes the rule was you
had to stay still while you counted, and sometimes it was to count the fastest.
The most distinct difference I remember is that there were always three claps
after "Miss Sue." I hope that was helpful."
-Allison [Mississippi; late 1980s, early 1990s}; 2/28/2007;
http://cocojams.com [website no longer available]
2. "
Miss Sue (clap, clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama,
Let's make a movie,
Sittin' in a rocker,
Eatin' Betty Crocker,
Hey wise girl,
Whatcha gonna do,
When your mama's at work,
Baby's got the flu,
Daddy's got the chicken pox,
And so do you?
Take an a b c d e f g,
Take an h i j k l m n o p,
Take a booty shot,
take a booty shot,
And FREEZE!!"
- http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml "Children's Rhymes From the Eighties"
**
2. "Miss Sue (Clap Clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
She's havin a party
Chica Boom Chica Boom Chich Boom Boom Boom
Mama got the measels
Daddy got the flu
I ain't lyin
Neither are you
Just sittin in the field pealing white potatas
Sittin in the hall drinkin achahol
Got to drunk I fell out
How many hours was I knocked out
-http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml ttp://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml "Children's Rhymes From the Eighties"
-snip-
This entire example was written in upper case letters, and was also written in paragraph form. I changed those features in order to conform to the other examples on this page.
****
1990s
"Miss Sue, Scooby Doo
Miss Sue from Alabama
Sittin at the table
peeling mashed potatoes.
Waitin for the clock to go
boom tick tock.
boom ticky wally wally.
Boom tick tock
Boom ticky wally wally.
Stop!
Ah 2 more time.
Boom tick tock.
Boom ticky wally wally.
Boom tick tock.
boom ticky wally wally.
Ah 1 more time.
Boom tick tock
Boom ticky wally wally
Boom tick tock.
Boom ticky wally wally.
Ah no more times.
-Alafia Children's Ensemble, Pittsburgh, PA; 1999 &
2001; Collected by Azizi Powell, 1999 & 2001
-snip-
"Alafia Children's Ensemble" was an after school recreational and performing arts group that I founded in 1999 to 2001 in Braddock, Pennsylvania (1999-2001) and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2001-2002). In Braddock, Pennsylvania the main part of the group was learning, sharing, and performing African American game songs (mostly girls ages 4-12 years, but also a few boys under 9 years old. In Braddock, another part of the group was for children ages 8-12 years who learned African djembe drumming (age requirement 8 to 12 years; the only participants were boys although that wasn't a requirement. In Braddock, almost all of the participants were African American. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the principal's directive, that after-school activity was limited to third grade girls. In Pittsburgh, almost all the participants were African American.
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2000s
Pancocojams Editor: A few of the 2000s examples include the contributor's comment "I do" or "We do" [the rhyme] like this".
1. Dani [United States],
"Hot off the presses from 9-yr-old daughter, provenance
unknown: "Um, just from my friends and all". Haphazard guardianship
indeed!
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her name was Suzianna
Sitting in a rocker
eating Betty Crocker
Watching the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick all around go
Tick Tock
Tick all around
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Gotta wash that stain right out of me
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta crick in my side
Gotta crick in my side
Salt and pepper said "DO NOT MOVE"
(alternate ending)
Salt and pepper said" DO NOT MOVE,
FIRST ONE TO MOVE IS A BLACK-EYED-PEA
SECOND ONE TO MOVE IS A BEAUTY QUEEN"
**
2.
"My school does
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Ms Sue from Alabama
Her name is Suzianna
Mommy's having a baby
Daddy's going crazy
If its a boy I'll give it a toy
If its a girl I'll give it a twirl
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Shoot it down the elevator
First floor stop
Second floor stop
Third floor stop
Gimme that s.t.o.p
Spells stop
Got that a b c d e f g
And that h i j k l m n o p
Now smooth it
Now smooth it
Now keep yo dirty hands off me and do not show yo black eyed
teeth
The you couldn't show your teeth"
- ʟ ᴇ ᴍ ᴏ ɴ ᴄ ʜ ɪ ʟ ᴅ, 2019 [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM&t=6s "Miss Sue Playground Song" published by Irene Kistler Apr 7, 2011
**
3. "I do it really different
We do:
Miss Sue(clap clap clap)
Miss Sue(clue clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name is Suzanna
Sitting in a rockin chair
Eatin cotton candy watching
The clock go tick tock tick tock banana rock
Tick tock tick tock banana rock
Abcdefg wash the spiders off of me booshka booshka I know
karate booshka booshka oops I’m sorry"
-
**
4. "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!"
-Anonymous; January 12, 2020 [comment], http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss.html
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