Examples Of African American Foot Stomping Cheers That Mention Astrology (Zodiac) Signs (Part I of a 4 Part Series- Numbers - Letter I)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest edition - November 14, 2024

This is a complete reprint of Part I of a four Part 2021 pancocojams series that provides an alphabetized compilation of all of the text (word only) examples of foot stomping cheers that mention zodiac (astrological) signs that I've come across as of the date of this publication (November 13, 2024).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/11/astrology-zodiac-signs-mentioned-in_19.html for Part II (J - P). of this series.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/11/astrology-zodiac-signs-mentioned-in_11.html for Part III (Q - S) of this series.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/11/astrology-zodiac-signs-mentioned-in_24.html for Part IV (T - Z) of this series.
-snip-
Read the comment section below for some pancocojams posts that are closely related to the subject of African American foot stomping cheers. 

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WHAT I MEAN BY "AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS' FOOT STOMPING CHEERS"
By "African American foot stomping cheers" I mean cheers that originated (originate) among African Americans and were (are) almost always performed in their original form by African American girls. 

This description doesn't mean that these foot stomping cheers weren't (aren't) performed in their original un-modified textual (word) and/or foot stomping/hand clapping styles by females or males who weren't (aren't) African American.
-snip-
Examples of "modified" versions of these foot stomping cheers are found in Bring It On cheerleader cheer movies and among some contemporary "mainstream" cheerleader cheer repertoires.

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A DEFINITION AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS

"Foot stomping cheers" are a type of children's cheerleader cheers" that appears to have been very commonly chanted and performed by two or more African American girls between the ages of six and 12 years old as part of their informal recreational playtime.

Based on online documentation, this relatively new category of children's recreational play appears to have been very widely performed among African American girls throughout the United States from the mid to late 1970s to around 2009. The earliest documentation of these types of cheerleader cheers is the 1978 vinyl record entitled Old Mother Hippletoe, Rural and Urban Children's Songs. That record included four children's cheers, two of which I'd categorize as foot stomping cheers. That record's song notes indicates that these girls were chanting and doing "gymnastic movements" while they pretended to be actual cheerleaders.
More information about the cheers examples that are found in that 1976 record is given in the comment section below for this pancocojams post.

I coined the term "foot stomping cheers" in 2000 for this sub-set of children's cheerleader cheers that have distinctive textual structures and distinctive performance styles. The term "foot stomping cheers" distinguishes examples of that category from other cheerleader cheers. However, these compositions appear to usually be referred to as "rhymes", "cheers". "chants", steps", or "stomps". 

From the late 1980s to 2009 I collected examples of foot stomping cheers from my daughter and her friends, and from other African American girls in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and some of its surrounding African American cities. My daughter also collected some examples of these cheers from African American girls in the mid 1990s as part of her role as a camp counselor in a Pittsburgh area summer camp.

As was the case with the girls whose examples were featured in the Old Mother Hippletoe record, almost all of the examples of the foot stomping cheers that my daughter and I collected were from African American girls pretending to be actual cheerleaders. Those cheers were performed during school recesses and during other leisure time usually without any real audiences. An exception to this description were the formal programs that were held by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania summer camp that my daughter worked at for two years (1989-1990). The shows that the (Alafia Children's Ensembleafter school group that my daughter and I founded and co-led from 1990-2004) were other exceptions to the description that foot stomping cheers were performed as part of girls' leisure time activities. 

A good example of the percussive 4/4 beat that is used for foot stomping cheers is the Pop song "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJYN-eG1zk&ab_channel=QueenOfficial for a sound file of that song. 

I have come across a number of text (word only) examples of foot stomping cheers  in African American discussion threads in which adult women share their remembrances of the hand clap rhymes and cheers (though they may not use that term for those compositions) that they remember playing when they were growing up. Unfortunately, I can only find a few YouTube videos of the performance of foot stomping cheers (and not just the chanting of modified versions of those cheers) from the 1970s -1990s or as I recall them before performed during that time. 

In contrast, I've found hardly any current (post 2009s) examples of these cheers online or elsewhere. This leads me to believe that foot stomping cheers are rarely if ever performed anymore.

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WHY THERE ARE REFERENCES TO ASTROLOGY IN CHILDREN'S CHEERS
Astrology was really popular in the 1970s to the late 1990s. Those decades largely coincides with the relatively brief period of time in the United States when a number of African American (and sometimes other ethnicity/race) girls performed foot stomping cheers.

Astrology's popularity during the 1970s-late 1990s is reflected in the number of references to that subject in various Rhythm & Blues records. Some of those songs are the direct source for specific children's cheers. Other R&B songs which mention sun sign astrology helped to familiarize children with that form of astrology.

Here's an excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_sign_astrology:
"Sun sign astrology is the form of astrology most commonly found in many newspaper and magazine columns. It is a simplified system of astrology which considers only the position of the Sun, which is said to be placed within one of the twelve zodiac signs depending on the month of birth. This sign is then called the sun sign or star sign of the person born that month."
-end of quote-

Astrology (Zodiac) references in children's cheers are almost always "sun sign" references. Since sun signs purportedly provide information about an individual's personality, telling someone your sun sign is a quick way of sharing introductory information.   

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/six-african-american-records-that.html to find a post entitled "Astrology In African American Records".

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NOTES ABOUT THESE EXAMPLES  
These examples are presented in alphabetical order based on the first number or the first letter of the first letter of the first word. 

The source (i.e. book, direct collection, or website) is given below the example along with demographic information and/or comments.

The numbers that are given below for the versions of a specific cheer in this series may not be the same as the numbers for that cheer in the Pancocojams Foot Stomping Cheers Alphabetical List compilation.

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EXAMPLES: NUMBERS - I

CHEERLEADER
All: Cheer.
Leader.
Roll.
Call.
Are you ready?
Soloist #1: Shayla.
They call me Rosa.
Soloist #2: Shana.
They call me Poo.
Soloist #3: Shana.
They call me Shay.
Soloist #4: Jamie.
They call me Jay Jay.
Soloist #5: Jackie.
They call me HaJack .

All: Cheer.
Leader.
Zodiac signs.
Soloist #1: Aquarius.
That’s a dog.*
Soloist #2: Cancer.
That’s a crab.
Soloist #3: Leo.
That’s a lion.*
Soloist #4: Scorpio.
That’s a spider.*
Soloist #5: Scorpio.
That’s a spider.*

All: Cheer.
Leader.
Phone.
Numbers.
Are you ready?
Soloist #1: 348-5110.**
Group: Always busy.
Soloist #2: 348-4554.**
Group: Always busy.
Soloist #3: 348-3322**
Group: Always busy.
Soloist #4: 348-5779**
Group: Always busy.
Soloist #5: 348-4285**
Group: Always busy.
-Shayla, Shana, Shana, Jamie, and Jackie {African American females about 10 years-12 years old}, Braddock, PA; 1985; collected by Azizi Powell, 1985 (transcription of audio tape recording)

*The symbols for Aquarius, Leo, and Scorpio are incorrect.

**These telephone numbers are incorrect to protect the privacy of these girls.  Notice that this was before telephone numbers in Pennsylvania (and elsewhere in the USA) had area codes. The line "Always busy" documents that this was before the telephone "call waiting" feature. If you were talking on the phone when someone called you, that person would get a "busy" signal (a buzzing sound). Therefore the "Always busy" words imply that the person was popular (particularly with boys).
  
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CHECK
Soloist: My name is Shelly
Others: Check
Soloist: They call me Shell
Others: Check
My horoscope is Aquarius
Others: Aquarius
Soloist: If you don't like
Others: Check
Soloist: Without a dial*
Others: Check
Soloist: Just call my number
and check me out.
Others: Check her out
Soloist: Cause I am fine.**
My number is 222-888***
Others: Check
Soloist: That fellow is mine 
Cause I know how to skate
Others: Well alright
Well alright
-Shelly H. (African American female, Cleveland, Ohio, mid 1980s), transcribed by Azizi Powell, May 2007

Repeat cheer from the beginning with the next soloist. That soloist says her name & nickname, and gives her astrological sun sign ("horoscope") and her phone number. In the " I like to ___" line, that soloist indicates what she is good at doing ("sing", "dance", "draw"). This pattern continues with the next soloist until everyone has had one turn as the soloist

 "Check" here means something like "Ok" or "That's Right".

 * "If you don't like without a dial" probably means "If you don't like it without a doubt"

** The word "fine" and the word "mine" are elongated and sung.

*** This isn't Shelly H's real telephone number.  

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HEY MY NAME IS ___
we sing this when we do warm up running before a field hockey game person:hey my name is katie and you kno what i got?? group:uh huh?? person: i got a team thats hotter than hot group:uh huh?? person: good d(defense) and offense too. group: uh huh uh huh. person: were gunna kick the whoopsies outta you!!!! then take turn until the whole group is finished
-kate: 11/23/2006, cocojams.com

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HOLLYWOOD GO SWINGIN' 

Oooooooh, those brought back so many memories, I think I've got one though...

Hollywood go swingin'
Hollywood go swing-in'
Hollywood go swingin'
Hollywood go swingin'

My name is (your name)
I'm cool in the gang
If you don't like it
I'll show you my thang
My sign is (your sign)
and that's alright cuz
all (your sign)
are DYNO-MITE!!
-DiVa X-ta-C, 8/4/2000; http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=5627&page=2 Remember When...

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HOLLYWOOD GOT SWINGERS 
Hollywood got swingers
Hollywood got swingers
Hollywood got swingers
Hollywood got swingers
My name is ______ I'm number 1
My reputation's just begun
My sign's ________ and that's alright
Cuz all ______ are dynamite!

 

Hush chile...I ain't lyin'!!!
- Mz Destiny, 03-25-2003, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31403.htmlold school chants

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HOLLYWOOD IN MY SWINGING 
Tee Hee Hee... [laughing]

we had a similar one...

Hollywood in my swinging...hollywood in my swingin
hollywood in my swinging...hollywood in my swingin

My name is Goddess! and I'm Kool and the Gang..
and if you don't like it let me tell you one thang...
my sign is a scorpio and that's alright
cus all scorpios are dynomite!

homegirls: uh! she think she bad
me: hush honey I know I'm bad

Homegirls: uh! she think she cool
me: cool enough to steal your dude

homegirls: uh! she think she fine
me: fine enough to blow your mind

homegirls: aw girl stop that lyin
me: at least my man didn't leave me crying

 

(repeat until everyone gets a turn)
-Goddess, http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/43158-Hood-Cheers, 9/18/2006

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HOLLYWOOD KEEP SWINGING 

I don't remember all of it but it went something like this:

My name is __________, my number is one,
my reputation is having fun,
those who see me step aside,
mighty (Zodiac sign) don't take no jive.

My name is ______, my number is two,
my reputation is loving you,
those who see me step aside,
mighty (Zodiac sign) don't take no jive

My name is _______, my number is three,
my reputation is being free,
those who see me step aside
mighty (Zodiac sign) don't take no jive.

Each person in the group would pick a number and it would go around until you get to the number 10. I don't remember all the rhymes, but I am sure creative people can think of stuff to say.;)
-sigmadiva, 03-25-2003, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31403.html  Old School Chants
-snip-
In a subsequent post to that discussion thread AKA2D '91 wrote "That was our Hollywood Keep Swinging!"

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HOLLYWOOD SWINGING

All: Hollywood goes swinging.
Swinging for the good times.
Swinging for the bad times
Soloist #1: My name is Ebony.
(And) I’m cool and the gang.
You mess with me
and I’ll do my thang.
My sign is Libra
and that’s alright
cause all Libra’s
are out of sight.
All:
Hey you,
check it out!
You! You!
Check it out!
-T. M. P., (African American female);Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mid 1980s; transcribed from audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1996 
-snip-
The line "I'm cool and the gang" is rather interesting because Kool & The Gang was the Pop group that recorded the hit song "Hollywood Swinging" in 1973. However, those chanting that line may think that phrase means the slang definition of "cool" (hip, up to date with the latest street culture).

It also should be noted that the tune of foot stomping cheers (and other playground cheers & rhymes) that are based on Pop recordings, R&B recordings, or songs from other genres, are usually similar to the tune of those recordings/songs.

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HOLLYWOODS ARE SWINGING 
Hollywoods are swingin, Hollywoods are swingin

My name is Kisha and I’m cool in the gang

If you don’t like it, I’ll tell you one thang,

My sign is Aquarius and that’s alright,

Cause all ‘quarius are dynomite

Others: Uhn, she think she bad

Me: Bad enough to kick yo bleep (I used to say bleep for real back in the day)

Others: Uhn, she think she fine

Me: fine enough to blow yo mine

Others: Ah girl, stop yo lyin’ you know yo man leave you cryin

Hollywoods are swingin, Hollywoods are swingin
-Kisha, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31403.html. "Old School Chants", 03-25-2003

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HUMPTY DUMPTY 

Pancocojams Editor's Note:
This is an excerpt from the 2016 book Yo Mama Mary Mack and Boudreaux and Thibodeaux: Louisiana Children's Folklore and Play by Jeanne Pitre Soileau, Gregory is a 14 year old African American boy who is one of the teenagers who was "babysitting" a group of younger African American girls and boys during a St. Joan Of The Arc church bingo game on August 20, 1979 in New Orleans*, Louisiana.

 Jeanne Pitre writes that Gregory heard a six year old girl reciting a rhyme that ended with the word "ass" and tried to stop her from saying that word. However, the girl continued reciting and said that word. Jeam Pitre writes that "Gregory then raises his voice and forcefully initiates the game “Humpty Dumpty”, partly to cover up what he perceives to be a gaffe.  The older girls, after hesitation and some false starts join with him”.

The following excerpt (including the words in brackets)  is quoted from pages 51-52 in that book.

* "New Orleans" isn't specifically mentioned on those pages. There is a "Joan Of Arc church in New Orleans and in certain other Louisiana cities. However, Jean Pitre is from "New Orleans" and most of her forty years of collection children's folk material is in New Orleans.

 "Hump---ty dump dump dump

 My name is April [Single player steps forward and sings and dances. Other players imitate her moves.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

And I’m fine.

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

Just like my sign.

Hump---ty dump dump dump

My sign is Capricorn

Hump---ty dump dump dump

Now check me out.

Oh oh oh Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

Hump---ty dump dump dump

Now you do it [Points to Gregory]

My name is Gregory [Gregory claps and steps forward. All the players imitate him except for one girl who vies with him for the floor. She can be heard saying all the words to the chant along with Gregory, and shouts out the name of her sign, “Leo” louder than he can say his.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

And I’m fine.

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

Just like my sign.

Hump---ty dump dump dump

My sign is Leo [The girl, her eyes gleaming, outshouts Gregory here. Everybody laughs. Gregory yields center place, steps back and claps his hands along with the girls in the group. The girl takes his place.

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

Bad BAD Leo [Girl looks at Gregory.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump.

Now check me out [Girl does a little wiggly walk, head held high.]

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

Hump---ty dump dump dump

Gregory feels part of the play now. He struts forward, and the noisy crowd he formerly vied with is now rhythmically clapping hands, listening. So he offers “I know another one…”And the girls, filling their eyes at each other, defer to him.

“My name is Gregory

Hump---ty dump dump dump

My sign is Pisces

Hump---ty dump dump dump

My my Pisces [Does an intricate step. All laugh and repeat the step.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump

And I know it [Gives the girls a leer.  Girls laugh, leer back, and follow his steps.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump

And I’m FINE [Gregory struts in a circle, girls follow.]

Hump---ty dump dump dump

And I ain’t lyin’ [Girls clap and laugh and eye-tease the girl who challenged Gregory earlier].

One small girl, about six, says breathlessly. “An’ we know you the man!.”

Hump---ty dump dump dump [Gregory and the other players break up laughing and clapping.]"

 -snip-
Shortly after that passage of that passage of that book the author, Jean Pitre,  wrote that “Humpty Dumpty” is a girl’s game”.

 While I believe that this 1979 "Humpty Dumpty" game is an example of what I call a foot stomping cheer, Jean Pitre doesn't refer to "Humpty Dump" as a cheer. I reached that conclusion because

1. She wrote that "Humpty Dump" is a girl's game.

2. She mentiones girls clapping while they say the words to "Humpty Dump" and also mentions Gregory strutting around a circle. Some people performed foot stomping cheers in a circle.

3. She mentions other people taking the place of the person singing.

4. The words for that example are very similar to the words for other examples of "Humpty Dump"/"Humpty Danda" that I've collected, including references to a person's astrological sign.

5. The line "Check me out" and other confrontational words in that 1979 example are found in a number of  foot stomping cheers, including this 1976 cheer that is poart of "Hollywood Now Swingin'/Dynomite" (included in the 1978 vinyl record Old Mother Hippletoe, Rural and Urban Children's Songs http://www.newworldrecords.org/linernotes/80291.pdf )

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INTRODUCE YOURSELF (Version #1)
Group except soloist: Hey, Shaquala!
Soloist #1: Yo! *
Group except soloist: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: No way.
Group except soloist: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: Okay.
My name’s Shaquala.
Group except soloist: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: They call me Quala.
Group except soloist: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: My sign is Aries
Group except soloist: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: I like to dance
Group except soloist: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: I wanna be a dancer for the rest of my life.

Repeat the entire cheer from the beginning with the next soloist. Each soloist substitutes her identifying information for the same categories (name, nickname, astrological sign, what she likes to do). The cheer continues from the beginning until every member of the group has had one turn as soloist.
-Tazi M. Powell.(African American female); Pittsburgh, PA mid 1980s; transcribed from an audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1996

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INTRODUCE YOURSELF (Version #2)
Introduce yourself
to shy
introduce yourself
I try
my name (say your name)
yeah
I cheer for (say who you cheer for)
my sign is (say your sign)
and when I'm up I'm hot stuff
And when I'm down don't mess around
and when I'm me don't scream or shout or you'll get knocked out!
-De'ajaih; (African American girl); Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); 5/16/2006

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This concludes Part I of this four part pancocojams series on astrology signs in foot stomping cheers.

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