Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about the phrase "don't take no jive".Although Part I of this pancocojams series focuses on the meaning of the word "jive" and the meaning of the phrase "don't take no jive", some of that information is repeated here.
These definitions focus on the noun "jive" as it refers to talk and not the verb "jive" that refers to dance.
This pancocojams post also presents all of the examples of African American girls* foot stomping cheers and hand clap rhymes that I have collected as of this date that include the phrase "don't take no jive". For the folkloric record, please add to this collection.
*I'm using the referent racial/national referent "African American" and the gender referent 'girls" here because these cheers and rhymes originated with African Americans and were mostly performed by African American girls between the ages of 6 years and 12 years old.
I'm using past tense because it appears that these cheers and rhymes are no longer performed or chanted since the early 2000s.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/what-does-dont-take-no-jive-means-in.html for Part I of this pancocojams post. Part I provides more definitions of the word "jive" and "jive talk". An example of an African American girls' cheer with the phrase "don't take no jive" is included in this post along with an example of a university (American) football chant that also includes that phrase.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, linguistic, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This is an updated version of a pancocojams post that was published in 2021.
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WHAT "JIVE" AND "DON'T TAKE NO JIVE" MEAN
These online sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
1. Google search results for "take no jive"
"AI Overview
"No jive" is an expression that means to stop trying to deceive someone or to stop saying something that is untrue:
"Quit jiving me and just tell me where you were!"
"Don't give me this jive"
"Jive" is a slang term that means to speak in a way that is dishonest or deceptive. It can also mean to say something that is foolish or glib. For example, if someone is bragging about something they didn't do, you might tell them to stop their jive.
"Jive" entered the language in the late 1920s. It is often confused with the word "jibe", which means to be in agreement. However, using "jive" to mean "agree" is considered an error.
2.
jive noun (TALK)
[ U ] US slang
talk that has no meaning or is dishonest:
Don't believe a word he says, it's just a bunch of (= a lot of) jive!
[...]
US slang
to try to make someone believe something that is untrue:
Quit jiving me and just tell me where you were!
-snip-
The word "jive" can also be used as an adjective that means something worthless, fake, no good, and/or phony. Example: "Get outta here with that jive talk!"
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT THESE EXAMPLES OF "HOLLYWOOD SWINGING" RHYMES AND CHEERS
"Hollywood Swinging" was a foot stomping cheer that eventually became a two partner hand clap rhyme.
I believe that the foot stomping cheer versions came first because
1. the oldest example of this composition that I've found to date is a cheer version
and
2. the words of some of the hand clap rhyme examples are given as a dialogue while and -sometimes are performed that way, while almost all handclap rhymes are chanted in unison. In foot stomping cheers, each girl takes a turn being the soloist (The "Hollywood rock swinging" line is chanted by the group except for the soloist.)
It's important to note that every "Hollywood Swinging" cheer/hand clap rhyme doesn't include the "don't take no jive" phrase. For example, the earliest version of that cheer that I've found (from Old Mother Hippletoe Record, 1976, Washington, D.C.) doesn't include the words "don't take no jive".
That example is given as #1 in https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/05/examples-of-hollywood-goes-swingin.html Examples Of "Hollywood Goes Swingin" Foot Stomping Cheers & Hand Clap Rhymes (1976 - the early 2000s).
From http://www.newworldrecords.org/liner_notes/80291.pdf Old Mother Hippletoe: Rural and Urban Children’s Songs
(New World NW 291), Band 3
Barbara Borum and other Washington, D.C., schoolgirls, vocals.
Recorded 1976 in Washington, D.C., by Kate Rinzler.
"Unlike the more communal games, neighborhood cheerleading as performed by girls in Washington, D.C., requires rehearsal and is often dominated by a single dynamic girl who solicits recruits and kicks out slackers. Girls practice by themselves, best friends cheer together, groups proliferate, and everyone who wants to gets into the act."...
HOLLYWOOD NOW SWINGIN' / DYNOMITE
Hollywood now swingin'! (4 times)
CALL: Name is Nita.
RESPONSE: Hollywood now swingin'!
Similarly
I know how to swing.
Every time I swing,
Stevie come around.
CALL: He popped me once.
He popped me twice!
All I felt was—dynomite!
RESPONSE: Dynomite, dynomite!
(Twice)
Dynomite!
CALL: Here she is.
RESPONSE:Dynomite!
Similarly
Foxy Brown!
You mess with me,
I'll shoot you down!
Down, down,
To the ground, Up, up,
CALL: Just out of luck!
RESPONSE: Dynomite, dynomite!
(Twice)
-snip-
This vinyl record album was first released in 1978.
-snip-
Here are other links to other pancocojams post about "Hollywood Swinging" rhymes & cheers:
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/examples-of-hollywood=swinigin-hand.html "Examples Of Hollywood Swinging" Rhymes From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (words only)
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list-6.html for examples of "Hollywood Swinging" and some other foot stomping cheers that begin with the letter "h".
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EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S FOOT STOMPING CHEERS THAT INCLUDE THE PHRASE "DON'T TAKE NO JIVE"
The phrase "don't take no jive" is given in italics to highlighting purposes only.
1.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 14)
-snip-
The preface of this book indicates that these examples came from Black children who lived in Houston, Texas.
The saying "take no slack" is usually given as "cut no slack". "Cut no slack" means allowing people to get away with something that is usually not allowed.
****
2.
Group: Angels go swinging
angels go swinging!
angels go swinging,
Angels go Swinging!
Solo: My name is Katy
I'm number 1
my reputation has just begun
so if you see me just step aside
'cause me and my man
don't take no jive
Group: Uh, you thank (think) you bad
Solo: Bad enough to make you mad
Group, Uh, you thank you cool
Solo: Cool enough to go to high school
Group: Uh, you thank you fine *
Solo: Fine enough to MO, **
fine enough to Macho (not really sure what this line means or if we were even saying it right)***
fine enough to hula hoop,
fine enough to kick yo' duke
Everyone: say what, say what
say what say what say what
-Joi;( Birmingham, Alabama; 1990s), cocojams.com
-snip
This example was sent to my no longer active cocojams.com website.
This is a form of the large family of cheers known as "Hollywood Swingin".
The contributor shared that "Angels" is the name of their sports teams at this predominately African American Catholic school.
-snip-
That Spanish word may be most widely known in the USA by the referent "macho man". In the context of this foot stomping cheer, fine enough to "macho" may mean "physically attractive (or sexy) enough to attract macho men.
****
3.
my name is yonnqa
i'm number one
my reputation has just begun
so if you see me
step a side
cause i don't take no jive
oh think she cool
correction baby
i no i'm cool
i no karate
i no kunfu
you miss with me
i co it on you*
rasasol o dazzo o ox2 **
-yaya, cocojams.com, 2/23/2007
-snip-
The contributor wrote that this cheer was called "Call Reputation".
Update: March12, 2021. Other examples of "Razzle Dazzle" that include the "don't take no jive" are added towards the end of this post.
"no"= known
* I'm not sure what "co" means.
** I think ox2 means to repeat that line two times.
****
4. "When we were kids, what were some of your favorite hood cheers? Post 'em here. Mine was "Hollywood Not Swingin'"
Hollywood not swingin', Hollywood not...swingin'
Hollywood not swingin', Hollywood not...swingin'
Well my name is Yella, my number's 1,
My reputation is havin' fun,
So if you see me just step aside,
Because this light chick don't take no jiiiiiiiiivvveeee... .
-Cocaine, 08-18-2006, http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/43158-Hood-Cheers
[WARNING- Some comments and examples in that discussion thread includes profanity and sexually explicit references.]
-snip-
"Hood" cheers mean "cheers that were performed in working class/poor Black American neighborhoods.
Another commenter addressed this contributor by the name "Yella". This commenter apparently changed her screen name for "Yella" to "Cocaine".
"Yella" (yellow) refers to this Black woman's "light" skin color.
Another commenter in that discussion thread indicated that this cheers were from the 1980s.
****
5.
Hey Serenity! Yeah!
Hey Serenity! Yeah!
Introduce yourself! I'll Try!
Introduce yourself! Allright!
My name serenity! Yeah!
Im 24! Yeah!
My reputation is so much more! Yeah!
So when you see me! Yeah!
Just step aside! Yeah!
Cause serenity! Yeah!
Don't take no Jive! 2 3 4.....Hey (whose next) Introduce yourself"
-serenity_24, 12-29-2000, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=4123&page=2 Childhood Chants and Games
-snip-
This Greekchat discussion thread consisted of members of historically Black Greek letter sororities. "I'm 24" means that the commenter was born in 1976 and further document this cheer was performed in the 1980s.
**
6.
ya'll I just remembered this one.
It just came to me..
Hollywood Swingin”
Hollywood (keep) swingin’
Hollywood Swingin”
Hollywood (keep) swingin’
My name is ___ I’m number one.
My reputation is having fun.
So if you see me
Just step aside
Cause mighty ___
Don’t take no jive!
Repeat chorus
My name is ___ I’m number two
My reputation is loving you.
It goes on and on and on and on!
Have mercy!
- AKA2D '91; 12-29-2000, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=4123&page=2; Childhood chants and games
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7.
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-
Another commenter in that discussion thread, AKA2D '91, wrote on 03-26-2003:
"THAT WAS OUR HOLLYWOOD KEEP SWINGING."
****
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: Examples #8-#11 were added on March 12, 2021.
These examples are versions of "Razzle Dazzle" cheers. These cheers have very similar words as versions of "Hula Hula" cheers. There are also versions of "Razzle Razzle" that don't include the "don't take no jive" phrase. As of this date, I don't know of any "Hula Hula" cheers that include the phrase "don't take no jive".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/examples-of-cheer-razzle-dazzle-with.html
for the 2017 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of The Cheer "Razzle Dazzle" (with comments & explanations of verrnacular terms)".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/examples-of-hula-hula-razzle-dazzle.html for the 2018 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of "Hula Hula" (Who Think They Bad), "Razzle Dazzle", "Call Reputation" & Similar Girls' Foot Stomping Cheers"
8.
"I hate these cheers, they are for like the 1st grade, here is a good chant:
Razzle Dazzle, razzle dazzle
hi we are the Hornets and we are number one
and in this razzle dazzle has just began
so if you see us step aside cause we dont take no jive,
razzle dazzle razzle dazzle
Oh she thinks she bad,
lord honey we know we're bad
our skirts are green our shirts are white,
step to us be ready to fight,
razzle dazzle razzle dazzle."
-Cassie and Becca ; 5/22/2006, cocojams.com
****
9.
"*=one clap razzle dazzle (***)
razzle dazzle (***)
our names are cats (or any other team)
we're number one
our reputation has just begun.
so if u see us just step aside,
cats (or other team) baby dont take no jive.
(GROUP 1) ohhh they think their bad.
(GROUP 2) correction baby we know we're bad.
(GROUP 1) ohh they think their hot.
(GROUP 2) ladies....PLEASE!!! "
-Hannah, 9/25/2006, cocojams.com
****
10.
"Razzle Dazzle (all the girls are in a circle, one girl goes in the middle to sing)
my name is ____ i'm number 1,
my razzle dazzle has just begun
so if you see me better step aside
cause this bad girl don't take no jive
(everybody else in the cirle:) ooh. she thinks she's bad
correction baby, i KNOW i'm bad
ooh. she thinks she's fine
fine enough to blow YOUR mind
razzle dazzle uh huh uh huh
razzle dazzle uh huh.
WOO WOO razzle dazzle uh huh
uh huh razzle dazzle uh huh.
WOO WOO (repeat with everybody in the circle) "
-liz ; 6/22/2007, cocojams.com
****
11.
"Hiya great site! Here is a cheer: (Where it says Emily change it to your name)
Razzle Dazzle(clap clap clap) Razzle Dazzle(clap clap clap)
My name is Emily
I'm number one
My Razzle Dazzle has just begun
So when you see me step aside.
You know Emily Don't take no Jive
(Everybody) OOh She thinks she's bad
(person speaking previously) No, baby I know I'm bad."
-Emiii; 5/21/2007, cocojams.com
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list_22.html for an alphabetical listing of foot stomping cheers beginning with the letters (P-Z). The links for four other pages of foot stomping cheer examples are given on that page.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
If you remember any cheers that include this phrase (or any other cheer), please add to the folkloric collection by sharing those examples online. Remember to add demographic information such as where (city and state or nation if outside of the USA) you learned that cheer and when you first learned that cheer (year/decade). Thanks in advance!
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This concludes Part II of this two pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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