"Billie Jean Went Down The Street Singin "Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do" Lines In "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post documents some examples of the recreational rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that include the line or versions of the line "Billie Jean Went Down The Street Singin 'Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do". 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those whose examples of these rhymes are included in this post. Thanks to these featured singers and thanks to the publishers of the embedded videos of these songs.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [Updated Feb. 6, 2024]
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" is an English language recreational rhyme that originated in the mid 1960s United States.as a children's song. Based on my collection of children's recreational rhymes, I believe that "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, probably is now the most widely known recreational rhyme in the United States and probably is the recreational rhyme that has the largest number of versions. 

One documentation of the popularity of "Down By The Hanky Panky" rhymes is the Mudcat Forum discussion thread that is given in this pancocojams post as "Source #1. I started that discussion thread on August 21, 2006. As of February 6, 2024 that discussion thread has 10 pages of comments and is still open for comments. For the folkloric record, here's the first post (comment) on that discussion thread:

From: Azizi
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:12 PM

"This thread provides examples of, commentary about, and a possible song source for the children's rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky".

"Down By The Banks/Hanky Panky" [for this thread known as "Hanky Panky"] appears to be a relatively widely known contemporary handclap rhyme in the United States. {At least it appears from my observations and the comments of various Internet informants that at least currently "Hanky Panky" is chanted while doing partner handclap rhymes. I can't say whether it has always been so, or is always so now}.

I'm wondering if this rhyme is known in Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere. Any examples and/or thoughts on this rhyme would be greatly appreciated."


For the folkloric record, here's the latest post (comment) to that Mudcat discussion thread as of February 6, 2024:

GUEST,EddieIzVeryDed :D
Date: 19 Dec 23 - 06:15 PM

"yall r sooo off
the correct version is:

down by the banks of the hanky panks
where the bullfrogs jump from banks to banks
singing eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jackson makes me gag
coca cola burned his butt
now we're talking 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
now we're talking billie jean
billie jean is out of sight
now we're talking dynamite
dynamite blew up the school
now we're talking really cool
really cool is really neat
now we're talking stinky feet
stinky feet is way tot smelly
now we're talking big fat belly
big fat belly ate too much
now we're talking double dutch
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

 

then the person gets out and stuff
this is the correct version"

As is the case with that December 19, 2023 example, most of the comments in that Mudcat discussion thread are examples of that rhyme that are added by "guests" i.e. non-members of that folk music discussion forum who probably learned of that discussion thread from googling (doing internet searches for examples of) that rhyme. 

This pancocojams blog has multiple posts about "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky", including a two part series entitled "Some Examples Of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes With Geographic Locations (A -J)" 
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-i-of-some-examples-of-down-by_22.html

In "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" and similarly titled rhymes, the woman's name "Billie Jean" is lifted from American Pop singer Michael Jackson's 1983 mega hit song with that title. However, some children who chant that rhyme may not be aware of that fact (and based on some of those examples, some of those children may not even be aware who Michael Jackson was. i.e. lines such as "I pledge allegiance to the flag/Michael Jackson is my dad.")

The words "[walking] down the street singin' "Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do" in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes have their source in the Pop song "Do Wah Diddy" that was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. That song was originally recorded in 1963 by the American vocal group the Exciter, but became a mega hit when it was recorded in 1964 by the British group Manfred Man. (It's unlikely that children chanting those words know that information or care on way or another.)

Here are YouTube videos of both of those records along with a link to a  Wikipedia page about each song:

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Official Video)

Michael Jackson, Oct 3, 2009  

"Billie Jean" was the first short film made for 'Thriller,' the biggest-selling album of all time. The short film for this No. 1 single, directed by Steve Barron, made history as the first video by a black artist to receive heavy rotation on MTV, and was later ranked by the network as one of the 100 greatest music videos of all time..
-snip-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean

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Doo Wah Diddy Manfred Mann

jarichards99utube, Feb 8, 2015
-snip-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Wah_Diddy_Diddy
-snip-
Here's the first verse of "Do Wah Diddy" from https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/manfred-mann/do-wah-diddy-diddy :

"There she was just a-walkin' down the street, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

She looked good (looked good), she looked fine (looked fine)

She looked good, she looked fine and I nearly lost my mind”….

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SOME EXAMPLES OF "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY RHYMES" WITH THE LINE "BILLIE JEAN WENT DOWN THE STREET SINGIN' DO WAH DIDDY DIDDLE DUM DIDDY DO" (or similar words)

All of these examples have the title "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" or similar titles. These examples are given without their titles. 

The online sources for these examples are given in no particular order and those sources are  numbered for referencing purposes only. 

The focus words in those rhymes are given in italics for highlighting purposes only. 

Source #1
Mudcat: "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky" [This is a 10 page discussion thread as of Feb. 5, 2024; These numbers are added in this pancocojams post for referencing purposes only.] 

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=4

1
.
"Down by the river on a hanky panky where the bull frog jumps from bank to bank i said A-E-I-O-U bamboo micheal jackson went to town coca cola shot him down mountain dew shot him up now were talking 7 up 7 up has no caffine now were talking billy jean billy jean went down the street singing do a diddy diddy dum diddy 1-2-3"
-GUEST,guest :), 10 Apr 08 

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2.

"the one i remember was in second grade and a group of girls usually would get in a circle and play a clapping game and at the end of the song the last person that got clapped was out until there was only one person left.

down by the river where theres hanky panky
and the bull frogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
your mama smells like king kong
pledge allegience to the flag
michael jackson is a fag
coca cola's burning up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffeine
now we're talking billy jean
billy jean saw his sister walking down the street singing do-a-ditty-ditty-dum-ditty-do. do-a-ditty-ditty-dum-ditty-do.
icky picky ponky daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
icky picky ponky!

 

And all these versions are REAL for the people who recite them."

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https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=6

3.

"Here is the one

I know:

Down by the banks of the hanky Panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a e i o u
Michael jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
Mountain dew shot him up
now were talkin 7 up
7 up has no cafene
now were talkin billie jean
billie jean went down the street singin
doo a dilly dilly dum dilly do
singin do a dilly dily dum dilly do

That is the version that I know..."

-Guest,Jenny, 08 Apr 09

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4.
"Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a, e, i, o, u. bang bang
micheal jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
now were talkin 7up
7up with no caffein
now were talking billy jean
billy jean went down the street singin
do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
singin do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"
-GUEST,SaeraLove, 03 Nov 09

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5.
Down by the bank by the hanky pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
singing eeeps ops ohps ooops
listen to the rythym of the ding dang dong
michael jackson went to town
pepsi cola shot him down
dr. pepper fixed him up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffiene
now we're billie jean
billie jean went down the street singing
dooo waaah diddy didy dum diddy dooo
-Guest; Mudcat: November 6, 2009 

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https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=8

6.
Down by the riverside hanky panky
Where the bulfrogs jump from bank to banky
Sayin eas ise oas wes
Chilly willy ding ding dong
Michael Jackson went downtown
Coca cola brought him down
Diet pepsi picked him up
Now we're talkin 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
Now we're talkin bily jean
Billy jean went down the street sayin:
Doo a ditty ditty dum ditty doo
-GUEST,K_Hunter, 25 Jul 11

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https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=9

7.
"i'm from mississippi and these are the lyrics we always sang!!

down by the river of the hanky lanky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky singing A E I O U bamboo michael jackson went to town coca cola shot him down dr pepper shot him up now we're talkin seven up seven up has no caffeine now we talking billy jean billy jean went down the street singing doo ah diddy diddy dum diddy doo singing A E I O U bamboo"
-GUEST,  04 May 20 

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8.  

"I'm from Kentucky and I've never seen my version before, down by the banks of the hanky panks where the bullfrog jumps from banks to banks saying eeps ips ops oops, listen to the rhythm of the ding dang dong, Michael Jackson went to town Pepsi-Cola shot him down dr. Pepper fixed him up now we're talking 7UP, 7up has no caffeine now we're talking Billie Jean, Billie Jean went down the street singing do da Diddy Diddy dum Diddy do, Lincoln Lincoln I've been thinking what on Earth have you been drinking is it whiskey is it wine oh my gosh it's suppertime 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10"
-GUEST, Date: 10 May 20 

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9.
"Here's what I remember:

Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops chilly willy ding dong
Michael Jackson went to town
Coca cola him down
Coca cola brought him up
Now he's drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine, now we're talking Billie Jean
Billie Jean's momma said 'Do wa diddy, diddy dum, diddy do"
Inky pinky ponky daddy had a donkey
Donkey died, daddy cried
Inky pinky ponk-Y
-GUEST,Guest, 30 Oct 20" 

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Source #2

WARNING- Some of the examples of rhymes on that page include profanity, sexually explicit references, and/or other socially unacceptable terms.

http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/inthe80s/smf/1109960765.shtml "Those clapping songs"
"This is one of those circle clapping games that I learned at camp (It's a variation of some here)

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jumped from bank to bank
Singin' eeps, ipes, opes, oops
Chilly willy ding dong
Michael Jackson went to town
Coca cola brought him down
pepsi cola brought him up
now we're singing 7-up
7-up has no caffeine
now we're singing Billy Jean
Billy Jean and mama went to town
singing
"doo-a-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-do"
singing
"doo-a-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-do"
hinky, pinky, ponky
daddy bought a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
hinky, pinky, pon-KEY!  (get slapped on Key and you are out)
-Kat123, 03/19/10

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Source #3
http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A,2011
"Down by the banks of the hanky pank,
where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank,
sayin eeps, ipes, opes, oops,
listen to the rhythm of the ding dang dong.
Micheal Jackson went to town,
pepsi cola shot im down
Dr Pepper fixed im up,
now were talkin 7up
7up has no caffine,
now were talkin billy jean.
billy jean was walking down the street singin,
Ooh, I diddy diddy dum diddy doo.
Lincoln, Lincoln I been thinkin.
what on earth have you been drinkin
is it whiskey is it wine
OMG its turpentine 123...9"
-MufinCat123, 2011

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Source #4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4_3DRn049g&feature=emb_logo 
"Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying pies ipes opes epes Listen to the rythem of the sing dang song Michael Jackson went to town Coco Cola shot him down Dr Pepper fixed him up Now we are talking seven Up Seven up has no caffeine now we are talking Billy Jean Billie Jean was walking down the street singing oh I diddly diddly doo Lincoln Lincoln I been thinking what on earth have you been drinking is it whiskey is wine oh my gosh it's turbinetine 123 9"
-skyetf, 2013;   comment in "Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky - Clap Game", published by Jenny Rice, Oct 10, 2012

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Source #5

WARNING- This example includes profanity with spelling that I amended.

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-i-of-some-examples-of-down-by_22.html

"Central Kentucky in 2019 at least,

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
singing Es Is Os Us
Listen to the rythm of the ding dang dong
Coca cola went to town
Pepsi Cola Shot him down
Dr Pepper fixed him up
Now we're talking Seven Up
Seven Up has no caffiene
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Billy Jean went down the street singing
Do a ditty ditty dum ditty do
Mickey Mouse had a house
Donald Duck messed (or f--ked)* it up
who will pay the consequences
Y - O - U"

It was a LONG game I played with at least 15 people often in marching band. It started slow and always sped up at Seven Up, and we slapped each other's hands in a circle so hard it hurt."
-Anonymous, March 30, 2023 
-snip-
I thanked Anonymous for that example and I noted in that reply that his example documents that profanity can be found in these rhymes that used to be (but no longer are) for elementary or middle school children only.

Here's the comment that Anonymous sent in reply on March 31, 2023:
"That was in highschool, between the ages of 15 to 18 years old. During practice we'd use the PG version, but if we played it outside of school some would use that word instead."

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Source #6
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-ii-of-some-down-by-banks-of-hanky.html
"So delightful to read these!

the one we played in central NC in the early 2000s went like this!

Down by the banks of the hanky panky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank-y With a a-e-I-o-u bang bang bang Micheal Jordan came to town

Coca-Cola brought him down

Dr Pepper brought him up Now we're talkin' 7-Up 7-Up has no caffeine Now we're talkin' billy jean Billy Jean walked down the street singing do ah diddy diddy dum diddy do

Singing do ah diddy diddy dum diddy do"
-Anonymous, September 29, 2022

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