Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a description of a sub-category of foot stomping cheers that I refer to as command-refuse /command-agree (crca) foot stomping cheers .
This post also presents an alphabetized list of all the examples of this sub-category of foot stomping cheers that I have come across offline and online.
This sub-category of children's cheer is probably best known for the "Introduce Yourself" cheer that is performed in the 2006 movie Bring It On All Or Nothing, the second movie in the Bring It On cheerleading movie series. (The words for that cheer are given in the "I" section below.)
For more information about these examples and for other examples of foot stomping cheers click.https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list.html "Pancocojams Compilation Of Foot Stomping Cheers (Alphabetical List: Numbers - C)" for Part I of a five part pancocojams collection of foot stomping cheers. The links for the other four posts in that series are given on each page.
Thanks to all those who have contributed examples of these cheers that are included in this collection.
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A DESCRIPTION OF A SUB-CATEGORY OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS THAT I REFER TO AS "COMMAND-REFUSE / COMMAND-AGREE"
"Command-refuse/command-agree" (crca) is my referent for a small sub-set of foot stomping cheers that have a textual pattern which initially showcases the soloist's refusal or reluctance to immediately do what the group commands her to do.
In early examples of those cheers that I've collected, the soloist gives no reason for her refusal to do what the group commands her to do (such as "Show us how you get down" -meaning "Show us how you dance.")
However, in at least one later example of these cheers, the soloist shares the reason why she doesn't want to do what the group demands that she do (i.e. After the first demand, the soloist says "too shy". After the second demand, the soloist says "I'll try').
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EXAMPLES OF THIS SUB-SET OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
The numbers for the versions of these cheer examples may not be the same as the numbers that are given for those examples in the pancocojams foot stomping cheer collection.
The command-refuse/command-agree (crca) section of these cheer examples is given in italics to highlight that portion of that cheer. However, that portion is said the same way as the other words in those cheers.
A. B
BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN (Version #1)
Group: Bang, Bang Choo Choo Train.
Watch Indonesia do her thang.
Soloist #1: I can’t.
Group: Why not?
Soloist #1: I can’t.
Group: Why not?
Soloist #1: Because my back is achin.
My bra’s too tight.
My hips keep movin’ from the left to the right.
Group: Her back is achin.
Her bra’s too tight.
Her hips keep movin from the left to the right.
(Repeat chant with the next soloist who gives her name or nickname. The cheer continues with this pattern until everyone has had one chance as soloist.)
-African American girls ages 7-12 years; (Alafia Children's Ensemble, Braddock, Pennsylvania), 10/1997; collected by Azizi Powell. 10/97; also collected by Azizi Powell from African American girls 7-12 years; Pittsburgh, PA (11/2001 & additional dates through 2005 as a hand clap rhyme)
-snip-
Some examples of "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" were/are? also perform/ed as hand clap rhymes.
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN (Version #2)
Here's one cheer from Saltillo Mississippi
Bang,Bang choo choo train
come on girls let's do our thing
''No''
Why not
cause my back is aching and my bras to tight
my booty's shaking to the left to the right
see my pinkie see my thumb
see my fist so you better run
this is skinny this is fat
this is me i'm all that
i like coffee
i like tea
i like boys and boys like me
so O-U-T spells out.
-Alibeth H., cocojams.com, 10/29/2007
-snip-
"Cocojams.com" was the name of my cultural website that was online from 2001 to October 2014. That website is no longer active, but some content from that website is found on my cocojams2 blog and on this pancocojams blog.
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BANG BANG CHU CHU TRAIN (Version #3)
bang bang chu chu train it really goes like this in new York
(1 person) bang bang chuchu train
let me see u do ur thing
(2 person) i cant
(1 person) why not
(2 person) my back aches my belts to tight
and my booty is shakin from left to right left right left, left right left
-m&m; 10/7/2006, cocojams.com
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BANG BANG CHOO CHOO TRAIN (Version #4)
This was a song that we did at camp a lot, and the first part was sang by everyone in the group but the counselor usually picked the first Person B. Then as the verses continued whoever was Person B last would yell the name of the new Person B.
Person A: Peanut butter Reese's cup sing a song to cheer you up
Bang bang choo-chop train come on (person B) do your thang!
Person B: I can't!
Person A: Why not?
Person B: I just can't!
Person A: Why not?
Person B: My back's aching, my belt's too tight, my booty shaking from the left to the right
Everyone: to the left! to the right! to the left to the right to the left to the right! to the sky, to the ground, my booty's shaking all around that's right we're tight so rick-tick-tick-tick! hold on wait a minute put a booty in it! Jump! Shake your booty! Jump jump! Shake your booty!
(Repeat the song)
-
Claire Jelagin, 2016; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55TnrD5re5g Do You Remember 90s Rhymes
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C,D.
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E, F
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G, H
HOLLYWOOD
Another one I remember is "Hollywood". Did you play Hollywood as a child?
I was thinking some of It was inappropriate. It went like this.
Hollywood goes swingin
Hollywood goes – swingin
My name is Aaya
On the phone
With my purple Reeboks on
[I think it goes like this]
If you see me on the street
Ooh you better start to speak.
“Ugh, she thinks she bad”
B. A. D.” that’s me baby
“Ugh, she thinks she cool”
Cooler than your mama, fool.
“Ugh she thinks she fine”
[Get ready- Begins chanting with a faster tempo]
Fine, fine, blow your mind
Take your man anytime.
Bring him home
Bring him back
I’m still drivin his Cadillac
He bought me one
He bought me two
He married me
Divorced you
Bang Bang and choo choo train
Come on girls, let’s do our thing
I can’t
Why not
“cause I can’t
Why not?
Because my back is hurtin
My bras too tight
My booty shakin from the left to the right
Left right
Left right
Reesie Peesie Buttercup
You mess with me
I’ll mess you up.
end of rhyme.
Original Poster- "What? I think there are a couple of different versions of that rhyme, too."
My name is Aaya
On the phone
With my purple Reeboks on
Ooh she thinks she bad
At least I got a wash rag.
-The Sol Doula, March 8, 2023, Richmond, Virginia “Hollywood Hand Clap Game" #childhoodmemories
*The Sol Doula is a young Black American woman.
-snip-
This example is included in this collection because I remember when "Hollywood Swinging" was performed (in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) as a foot stomping cheer. However, "Hollywood Swinging" is almost always remembered as a hand clap rhyme. There are lots of different examples of this rhyme/cheer. This example is t#12 and is the last example that I've collected as of this date (March 16, 2025) in that pancocojams collection. It is also the only example that includes the command-refusal/command-compliance pattern.
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I, J
INTRODUCE YOURSELF (Version #1)
Group except soloist: Hey, Shaquala!
Soloist #1: Yo! *
Group: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: No way.
Group: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: Okay.
My name’s Shaquala.
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: They call me Quala.
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: My sign is Aries
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: I like to dance
Group: 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
-snip-
*In the context of these cheers, the soloist's response of "No way" means that "I'm not going to show you how to do that dance right now just because you ask me to." The "no way" response doesn't mean "I don't know how to do what you want me to do".
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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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INTRODUCE YOURSELF (Version #3)
Britney:
Hey Amber.
Amber:
Hey what?
Everybody:
Introduce yourself!
Amber:
No way!
Everybody:
Introduce yourself!
Amber:
OK. 1,2,3,4,5, my name is Amber and I say "hi". 6,7,8,9,10, back it up and meet my friend. Hey Winnie!
Winnie:
Hey what?
Everybody:
Introduce yourself!
Winnie:
No way!
Everybody:
Introduce yourself.
Winnie:
OK. 1,2,3,4,5, my name is Winnie and I say "hi". 6,7,8,9,10, back it up and meet my friend.
Hey Britney.
Britney:
Hey what?
Everybody:
Introduce yourself!
Britney:
No way.
Everybody:
Introduce yourself!
Britney:
OK. Sha boo ya, sha sha sha boo ya, roll call. My name is Britney. I cheer so strong. And when I shake it, you better bring it on. Sha boo ya, sha sha sha boo ya, break it down now.
Sierra:
I'm Sierra! And.
[Sierra quits when she realized they've stopped]
-https://www.quotes.net/mquote/981987 from Bring It On All Or Nothing, 2006 (cheerleading movie)
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Group: jigalo ji jigalo say what
Group:hey (persons name)
Peron: yeah?
Group: show me how to break it down
Person:no way!
Group: show me how to break it down
Person: okay... My back ache my bra to tight my booty shake from left to right my hands up high my feet down low and this the way i jigalo (she dances)
Group: her hands up high her feet down low and this the she jigalo
Repeats with other person
-GUEST,Davelinee, 04 Dec 12, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100807 Gigalo & other children's rhymes &cheers
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K, L
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M, N
reeses peices buttercup this is the way i move my stuff bang bang chu chu train come on cudas do your thang i cant why not i just cant why not my back acks the sun top bright i move my hips from the left to right from the left to the right
-GUEST, 28 Sept 10, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100807 Gigalo & other children's rhymes &cheers
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O, P
PEANUT BUTTER IN A CUP
ALL Peanut butter in a cup we sing this song to pump us UP!
Bing Bang choo choo train, come on Bridgette do your thang…
BRIDGETTE: I can’t!
ALL: Why not?
BRIDGETTE: I just can’t!
ALL: Why not?
BRIDGETTE: My back’s aching, the sun’s too bright, my hips popping from left to right. To the left. To the right, to the left, To the right.
ALL: Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right…
Peanut butter in a cup we sing this song to pump us UP! Bing Bang choo choo train, come on Lindsay do your thang…
LINDSAY: I can’t!
ALL: Why not?
LINDSAY: I just can’t!
ALL: Why not?
LINDSAY: My back’s aching, the sun’s too bright, my hips popping from left to right. To the left. To the right, to the left, To the right.
ALL: Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right…
Peanut butter in a cup we sing this song to pump us UP! Bing Bang choo choo train, come on Mitch do your thang…
MITCH: I can’t!
ALL: Why not?
MITCH: I just can’t!
ALL: Why not?
MITCH: My back’s aching, the sun’s too bright, my hips popping from left to right. To the left. To the right, to the left, To the right.
ALL: Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right…
Peanut butter in a cup we sing this song to pump us UP! Bing Bang choo choo train, come on Michelle do your thang…
MICHELLE: I can’t!
ALL: Why not?
MICHELLE: I just can’t!
ALL: Why not?
MICHELLE: My back’s aching, the sun’s too bright, my hips popping from left to right To the left. To the right, to the left, To the right.
ALL: Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right"…
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPCGfa44bF0 Peanut Butter In A Cup; published by GoNoodle, August 24, 2016 [The entire lyrics for this cheer are found in this video's summary
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Q, R
ROCK THE BOAT (Version #1)
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Can you rock the boat? "No way."
Can you rock the boat?! "Ok."
She slides. She slides. She do The Butterfly.
She dips. She dips. She shakes her little hips!
-ti55, Mar 16, 2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9QuTsAtQPY
ROCK THE BOAT (Example #2)
Hey ____!
Hey What?
Hey ____!
Hey what?
Can you rock the boat?
I might.
Can you rock the boat?
Alright!
I slide, I glide, I get on the monkey ride and I want you and you, to rock the boat too.
Rock the boat, don't tip it over.
Rock the boat, don't tip it over.
- Anonymous, July 20, 2017, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/examples-of-childrens-cheer-rock-boat.html
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S,T
SHOW ME HOW YOU GET DOWN (Version #1)
All: I saida D-O-W-N. That’s the way we get down.
D-O-W-N. That’s the way we get down.
Group: Hey, Danielle.
Danielle: What?
Group: Show us how you get down.
Danielle: No way.
Group: Show us how you get down.
Soloist: Okay. I said D-O-W-N.
And that’s the way. That’s the way. That’s the way
I get down.
Group: She saidah D-O-W-N.And that’s the way.
That’s the way. That’s the way she gets down.
Repeat the entire cheer with next soloist who says her name. This continues from the beginning until everyone has had a turn as soloist.
-Tazi M. Powell .(African American female; memories of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, East Liberty/Garfield neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania mid to late 1980s,also collected in same neighborhoods in early to mid 1990s); Collected by Azizi Powell, 1998
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SHOW ME HOW YOU GET DOWN (Version #2)
Group (except soloist): Hey Ree Ree
Soloist (Ree Ree): What.
Group: Show us how you get down
Ree Ree: Too Shy.
Group: Show us how you get down.
Ree Ree: With ah D
The O
The W
The N
And that’s the way
you get down.
The group repeats the entire cheer with the next soloist saying her name or nickname. Continue until everyone has a one turn as the soloist.
-Riantai (Ree Ree); African American female; 8 years old; Faison Primary School (Homewood area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); October 30, 2009
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U, V
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W, X
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Y, Z
YOU AINT GOIN NO WHERE
Entire Group: You ain’t goin no where
no where
You ain’t goin no where
You ain’t goin no where
no where
You ain’t goin no where
Hey Shadeya
Shadeya
(Soloist #1): Too shy
Group: Introduce yourself
Shadeya: I’ll try
My name is Shadeya
I cheer for Garfield.
My sign is Libra.
And when I’m up
Group: When she’s up.
Shadeya: I’m hot stuff.
Group: She’s hot stuff.
Shadeya: And when I’m down.
Group: And when she’s down.
Shadeya: Don’t mess around.
Group: Don’t mess around
Shadeya: Don’t make me scream
cause you will be _knocked _out.
-snip-
" __ " means to pause a beat. * name your community or school athletic cheerleading team; "my sign" means the person's astrological sun sign.
Repeat the entire cheer from the beginning with the next soloist who says her name or nickname, the name of the sport or community team she cheers for. The girl doesn't have to really be a cheerleader. She is engaging in dramatic play- that is-she's pretending to be a cheerleader.
Continue this pattern until every one in the group has had one turn as the soloist.
-Shadaya, Fort Pitt School; (Garfield), 2002; collected by Azizi Powell; I also collected the exact same cheer in 2008 at Fort Pitt school from Conraya and another girl whose name I didn't get.
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