Examples Of "Ice Cream, Soda" Jump Rope Rhymes & Examples Of "Lemonade" Hand Clap Rhymes

Wee Sing - Topic, Jun 7, 2018

Provided to YouTube by TuneCore

 Wee Sing and Play ℗ 2011 Early Bird Recordings. © 1997 by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. Wee Sing ® of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Released on: 2011-04-16

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Edited by Azizi Powell 

Latest revision- August 3, 2025

This pancocojams post presents examples of the "Ice Cream, Soda" jump rope rhymes and examples of the "Lemonade" hand clap rhymes

I believe that "Ice Cream Soda" jump rope rhymes are the precursor for the Lemonade hand clap rhymes.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the contributors of examples of these rhymes that are included in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of the videos that are showcased in this post and thanks to the girls who are featured in one of those videos. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/examples-of-childrens-hand-clap-rhymes.html for the pancocojams post " "Lemonade Crunchy Ice" (Hand Clap Rhyme Videos & Word Examples) .

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
The purpose of this pancocojams blog is to showcases the music, dances, language practices, & customs of African Americans and of other people of Black descent throughout the world. However, the content of this post about children's rhymes and the content of many other pancocojams posts about children's rhymes may depart from the purpose as stated above.

I publish posts about recreational children's rhymes because I'm interested in and enjoy learning about and observing performances of that subject. I believe that recreational children's rhymes and the ways that they are performed demonstrate children's creativity. I also believe that children's recreational rhymes serve as windows to the world of children's perspectives, attitudes, values, hopes, and concerns. I'm also interested in the ways that people use language, and children's rhymes document new and adapted forms of language use.

The children's recreational rhymes that are featured in these pancocojams posts may not have originated with any Black person (in the United States or elsewhere) and may not have been adapted or chanted by Black people (although it's likely that many of the examples that are featured in pancocojams post have indeed been/are adapted and/or chanted by Black people in the United States or and/or elsewhere)..      

Note that pancocojams posts on particular recreational children's rhymes don't purport to be a comprehensive collection of those rhymes.

For the folkloric and cultural records, please share examples of and comments about these  
rhymes (with demographic information) in the discussion thread below. Thanks!
 
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"ICE CREAM, SODA, LEMONADE" JUMP ROPE RHYMES
These examples aren't given in any particular order.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Note and Example #1 
" “Ice cream, soda, ginger ale, pop, tell me the initial of my sweetheart.”

This skipping song is perfect for National Ice Cream Day! Will you skip or enjoy an ice cream cone?

This recording was made in 1950 by celebrated Nova Scotia folklorist Helen Creighton. During her career—part of which she spent working for the Museum—she recorded over 4,000 songs in English, French, Gaelic, Mi’kmaq and German.

 Recorded by Helen Creighton, Glen Haven School, June 1950. CR-At-32.19

#IceCreamDay
-Canadian Museum of History, July 17, 2022, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=560250092503633

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Note and Example #2
.. "informant" Alexandra “Ally” Batter was born on April 22nd of 1999 and grew up in the suburbs of Connecticut" [White American female]; Collector’s Name: Ella Ketchum ‘21"

“Ice Cream Soda” is usually played with a single rope, although in other versions of the game, two ropes can be used. The rhyme associated with the game goes as follows:  “Ice cream soda, cherry on the top, who’s your boyfriend I forgot? A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H…” Children then continue chanting the letters of the alphabet continuously until the jumper stops jumping (either because of exhaustion or due to tripping). The letter of the alphabet that is being chanted at the particular moment that the jumper stops jumping holds special importance as the tradition of the game holds that the surrounding children must quickly think of the first person they know whose first name begins with that letter. Whichever person is thought of first is considered the “boyfriend” of the jumper in the context of the game."...
-https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/folklorearchive/2019/06/03/ice-cream-soda-jump-rope-game/,  "This entry was posted in Verbal Lore on June 3, 2019 by f0034p3.

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Example #3
"Ice Cream Soda
Lemonade
Pop
Tell me the name of your sweetheart.

A-B-C" [Continue chanting the alphabet until the jumper misses.]
- Wee Sing, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOrL3iPbxl0, Jun 7, 2018 [This is the transcription for the video that is given at the top of this page.]

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Example #4
"Ice cream soda, cherry on the top, who's your boyfriend? I forgot. A, B, C..."
"The jump rope rhyme "Ice Cream Soda" is a classic playground game where the last letter of the alphabet spoken while jumping determines the first name initial of the jumper's "boyfriend." The rhyme ...continues through the alphabet. When the jumper stops, the letter they landed on determines the initial of the "boyfriend." "
-Google topic search; AI Overview [retrieved August 2, 2025] 

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Example #5
"I just joined, but I also remembered another one. It was used for clapping games and jump rope.

"Ice cream, soda, lemon-ade,

tell me the initials of your boyfriend's name.

Is it a..b..c..d..etc.."

you keep going while speeding up the rythym and the letter you land on is your supposed boyfriend's initial which you and your friends spend a few minutes giggling and teasing over."
-KittenFu, 17 Jul 09, childrens rhymes taught or caught, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=122330&desc=yes

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Example #6
"Ice cream soda, cherry on top. Who's your boyfriend, I forgot. Is it A, B, C, D....." -@burningcole2538, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rucp0rWs4pU "Jump Rope Rhymes, published by Jane Chein, May 11, 2017

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE ENDING OF LEMONADE HAND CLAP RHYMES
"Lemonade" is a two partner recreational rhyme with a lot of different versions. These rhymes includes hand clapping and imitative actions.

My guess is that "Lemonade" hand clap rhymes evolved from "Ice Cream Soda" jump rope rhymes.

There are two "families" of  hand clap rhymes that both have the title "Lemonade": "Lemonade Crunchy Ice" and "Lemonade Ice[d] Tea". I don't know which "family" of this rhyme came first. However, both of these rhymes have versions with the "turn around, touch the ground".... freeze" endings. These movement lines are lifted from earlier jump rope rhymes.

The "kick you boyfriend out of town" lines appear to be a newer addition to these hand clap rhymes. I haven't come across any "Lemonade" rhyme example that includes the "kick your boyfriend out of town" before 2012

If you remember that ending before 2012, please share that information (with demographics (city/state and year) in the comment section below. Thanks!

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SOME EXAMPLES OF "LEMONADE" HAND CLAP RHYMES
These examples are given in chronological order with the oldest examples given first.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

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LEMONADE (Version #1)
Lemonade Crunchie ice Sip it once Sip it twice Lemonade ,crunchie ice, sip it once,sip it twice turn around, touch the ground, FREEZE(see who stays still the longest)
-http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #2)
"I work with kids everyday. Kids of both genders do them. I still hear "Miss Lucy," but the favorite this summer seemed to be:

Lemonade (clap, clap, clap)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it once (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it twice (clap, clap, clap)
Lemonade, crunchy ice,
Beat it once, beat it twice,
Lemonade, crunchy ice,
Beat it once, beat it twice (gets faster and faster and continues until someone misses a clap)

Boys really like this one.
-Guest Sharyn, 22 Sept. 2003, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
-snip-
"Miss Lucy" is probably the rhyme "Miss Lucy [or "Miss Susie"] Had A Steamboat".

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LEMONADE, CRUNCHY ICE (Version #3)
Lemonade (clap, clap, clap)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it once (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it twice (clap, clap, clap)
Lemonade, crunchy ice,
Beat it once, beat it twice,
Lemonade, crunchy ice,
Beat it once, beat it twice (gets faster and faster and continues until someone misses a clap)
-GUEST, Sharon; 9/22/2007, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097, "Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?"  

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LEMONADE, CRUNCHY ICE (Version #4)
Lemonade,

(clap, clap, clap)

Crunchy ice*

(clap, clap, clap)

Sip it once*

(clap, clap, clap)

Sip it twice*

(clap, clap, clap)

Turn around (turn around)

Touch the ground (touch the ground)

Kick your brother out of town!

And stomp! (jump)

 

*You can play this with two people. While you’re saying these lines you clap each other’s hands in the following way: one person’s left hand is clapping down and their right hand is clapping up while the second person faces the first and does the opposite. Then switch the hand that’s clapping up to clap down, and the one clapping down to clap up.
-https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/, May 21,  2008

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LEMONADE, ICE TEA (Version #5)
Lemonade,

Ice Tea,

Coca Cola,

Pep-si

 

Lemonde, Ice Tea, Coca Cola, Pep-si

Drink ’em up

chug ’em down

Kick Dr. Pepper

Out of town.
-goofy, July 23, 2009, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #6)
lemonade
crunchy ice
sip it once
sip it twice

lemonade
crunchy ice
sip it once
sip it twice

turn around
touch the ground
stand back up
& break it down
-MomWith3 June 23, 2009 ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fObLyGkV_mA&feature=grec_index "Lemonade" [This video is no longer available.]
-snip-
In African American Vernacular English "break it down" means "to do your best dance moves".

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LEMONADE (Version #7)
i reamember

Lemonade

(clap clap clap)

cruchy ice

(clap clap clap)

beat it once

(clap clap clap)

beat it twice

(clap clap clap)

Lemonade, cruchy ice, beat it once, beat it twice

turn around

touch the ground

kick your boyfriend out of town

FREEZE

American Cheese
-Olivia, May 16th, 2010 https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE (Version #8)
i work at a camp an we do it this way

Lemonaid

(Clap, clap, clap)

Crunchy ice

(Clap, clap, clap)

Sip it once

(Clap, clap, clap)

Sip it twice

(Clap, clap, clap)

Sip it once sip it twice

turn around

(turn around)

Touch the ground

(touch the ground)

Kick your boy friend

Fishy fishy

In the water

Bet’cha don’t know Harry Potter

FREEZE!!!

(freeze)
-Sam, August 3, 2011, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE (Version #9)
I remember it this way: Lemonane(clap clap clap)ice tea(clap clap clap)coca cola(clap clap clap)Pepsi(clap clap clap)lemonade ice tea coca cola Pepsi tourn around touch the ground kick your boy friend out of town FREEZ!(who ever freezes the longest wins)!
-Juliette, March 22, 2012,  https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE HAND GAME (Version #10)
Lemonade (clap, clap, clap)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it once (clap, clap, clap)
Beat it twice (clap, clap, clap)
Lemonade, crunchy ice, beat it once, beat it twice
Turn around
Touch the ground
Kick your boyfriend out of town
And freeze.

Lemonade, Ice Tea, Coca Cola, Pepsi
Turn around
Touch the ground
Kick your boyfriend out of town
And freeze.
-Brooke Bailey. Oct 20, 2013; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNGugQZHyac, Lemonade Hand Game

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LEMONADE ICE TEA (Version #11)
lemonade

(clap clap clap)

ice tea

(clap clap clap)

coco cola

(clap clap clap)

Pepsi

lemonade

iced tea

coco cola

Pepsi

turn around

touch the ground

kick your boyfriend out of town

freeze

american cheese

i think i got to sneeze

achoo

bless you

peace

freeze
-Taylor, October 18, 2015, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE ICED TEA (Version #12)
I know this:

Lemonade (Clap Clap) Iced Tea (Clap Clap) Coca-Cola (Clap Clap) Pepsi (Clap Clap) Lemonade, Iced Tea,Coca-Cola,Pepsi, turn around, touch the ground, kick your boyfriend out of town, and FREEZE. And FREEZE, and do the Mac-n-Cheese. WORD
-Alexa, December 2, 2015, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE ICE TEA (Version #13)
Lemonade
Ice Tea
Coca-Cola
Pepsi
Lemonade, Ice Tea, Coca-Cola, Pepsi
Turn around
Touch the ground
Kick your boyfriend
Out of town
Freeze like American cheese.
Mama had a baby
Daddy going crazy!
-CONKLE GIRLS, Jan 2, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50alfEi78E
S and P face off for their school yard version of Lemonade Iced Tea hand clap
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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #14)
Lemonade (clap clap clap)
Crunchy ice (clap clap clap)
Sip it once (clap clap clap)
Sip it twice (clap clap clap)
Lemonade, crunchy ice, sip it once, sip it twice
Turn around, touch the ground
Kick your boyfriend out of town
Strike a pose, touch your nose
-Hohoba, February 11, 2017. https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #15)
I heard it like this:

[first time is slowly]

Lemonade

Iced Tea

Coca-Cola

Pepsi

[now fast, but in rhythm]

Lemonade

Iced Tea

Coca-Cola

Pepsi

Turn Around (turn around)

Touch The Ground (touch the ground)

Kick Your (boyfriend, girlfriend, teacher, brother, etc.) Out Of Town

And Freeze! (freeze)

N u stay frozen until someone moves
-- May May,July 24, 2017, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE (Version #16)
How I remember it is…

 

Lemonade, ice tea,

Coca-cola, Pepsi,

Mama had a baby,

Daddy’s going crazy,

First Mississippi said stop (stop),

Second Mississippi said stop (stop),

Third Mississippi said keep on going till your hands get red and hot

(keep going until someone messes up not saying anything).
-Jade, August 29, 2017,  https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/what-one-mississippi-two-mississippi.html for my comments about the meaning of the "Mississippi" referents in this "Lemonade" rhyme and in two other "Lemonade" rhymes in this post. That linked post also presents information about the meaning of "One Mississippi" etc. phrases  in other contexts besides these children's rhymes.  

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LEMONADE (Version #17)
I remember it like

Lemonade

(clap,clap,clap)

crunchy ice

(clap,clap,clap)

Sip it once

(clap,clap,clap)

Sip it twice

(clap,clap,clap)

Lemonade

crunchy ice

sip it once

sip it twice

turn around

touch the ground

kick your boyfriend out of town

flip your hair I don’t care

and pose
- Someone, July 6, 2018, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/ 

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LEMONADE (Version #18)
I learned two the first like this:

Lemonade, [ clap 3 times ]
crunchy ice, [ clap 3 times ]
check it once, [ clap 3 times ]
check it twice, [ clap 3 times ]
lemonade, crunchy ice, check it once, check it twice
turn around,
touch the ground,
get back up,
and break it down.

The second like this:

Lemonade,
Iced tea,
Coca-cola,
Pepsi,
Momma’s havin’ babies,
Daddy’s goin’ crazy,
One Mississippi says stop,
Two Mississippi says stop,
Three Mississippi says keep on going ’till you mess up.
Sing like on american idol
cheese; word
-.lillia legend, April 24, 2019, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE ICE TEA (Version #19)
I remember it like this

Lemonade (clap,clap,clap)
Ice tea (clap,clap,clap)
Coke-cola (clap,clap,clap)
Pepsi (clap,clap,clap)
Lemonade
Ice tea
Coke-Cola
Pepsi
Turn around touch the ground, kick your boyfriend out
of town. Flip your hair I don’t care paparazzi everywhere. Freeze American cheese.
-Koryn Banks, August 3, 2019, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE ICED TEA (Version #20)
I remember it like this:

Lemonade (clap clap clap)

Iced Tea (clap clap clap)

Coca cola (clap clap clap)

Pepsi (clap clap clap)

Lemonade

Iced Tea

Coca Cola

Pepsi

 

Turn around

Touch the Ground

Kick your boyfriend out of town

Freeze Like American Cheese

Applebees

Chucky-Cheese’s

Word

Fly like a bird-bird-bird-bird-bird-bird-bird

Word

*peace signs*
-Hailey, September 30, 2019, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #21)
Lemonade
Crunchy ice
Sip it once
Sip it twice
Lemonade
Crunchy ice
Sip it once
Sip it twice
Turn around
Touch the ground
Kick your boyfriend out of town
Loser
Whatever
Fly away together
Eye, Eye Pumpkin Pie
Hip Hip Potato Chips
Butt Butt Pizza Hut 
-The Brown haired Beauty, November 7, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG8jnTYhU7k

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LEMONADE ICE TEA (Version #22)
I remember it like this:

Lemonade (clap x3)
Ice Tea (clap x3)
Coca Cola (clap x3)
Pepsi (clap x3)
Turn around
Touch The Ground
Kick Your Boyfriend Out Of Town
And Freeze Like American Cheese
(claps while saying) First Mississippi Says Stop
(claps while saying) Second Mississippi Says Stop
(claps while saying) Third Mississippi Says Keep On Going Till Your Hands Get Red And Hot Like A Cherry On Top
(continues clapping until one stops)
-Kaydin, April 24, 2021, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/lemonade-a-handclapping-rhyme/comment-page-1/

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LEMONADE (Version #23)
Lemonade, crunchy ice
sip it once
sip it twice

Lemonade crunchy ice
sip it once
sip it twice

turn around touch the ground
wiggle wiggle wiggle till your pants come down
-Teara E, 2021 [comment from the discussion thread for] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwhAP3nwJWQ&ab_channel=VibingWithP "90’s HAND GAMES WITH TAKEEYA LA’TI ( HILARIOUS)"

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LEMONADE (Version #24)
"Y’all forgot lemonade...😭 “lemonade... crunchy ice....sip it once... sip it twice... lemonade crunchy ice sip it once sip it twice turn around touch the ground kick you your boyfriend out of town!” *Go get some lashes
-@brooklynstampley851,2020 [comment in]the discussion thread for]-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwhAP3nwJWQ "90’s HAND GAMES WITH TAKEEYA LA’TI ( HILARIOUS 🤣 ), published by Vibing With P, Jan 11, 2021

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LEMONADE (Version #25 and Version #26)
I remeber in kindergarden i would play this lemonade game that goes like:

lemonade (clap clap clap)
crunchy ice (clap clap clap)
sip it once (clap clap clap)
then sip it twice (clap clap clap)
lemonade, crunchy ice, sip it once, sip it twice, turn around, touch the ground, kick your boyfriend outta town, now freeze, and pose,( and for some reason my friends and i would add) like american cheese!

and sometimes it could be different and go like this:

lemonade (clap clap clap)
ice tea (clap clap clap)
coca-cola (clap clap clap)
pepsi (clap clap clap)
lemonade, ice tea, coca-cola, pepsi, turn around, touch the ground, kick your boyfriend outta town, now freeze, and pose, like american cheese!
-Rhonda Robinson, 2021 [comment in the discussion thread for] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&ab_channel=Geneas [This video is no longer available.

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LEMONADE (Version #27)

garzacrew, 2023, https://youtube.com/shorts/wc09nLIrHhI?si=EVH4zh_0D3C3KGQX

Here's my transcription of that version of "Lemonade" 
lemonade
(clap clap clap)

crunchy ice
clap clap clap)

sip it once
clap clap clap)

sip it twice
clap clap clap)

lemonade, crunchy ice, sip it once, sip it twice
(chant faster with one clap of partner’s hands after each word)
turn around
(quickly turn around until you face front again)
touch the ground
 (crouch down and quickly touch the ground then stand back up)
kick your boyfriend out of town
(turn to the side and kick high in the air)
and pose and pose
(strike a dramatic pose)
and toes and toes and toes ay!
 (skip in place showing off your toes)
ay! (belly bump your partner)

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #28)
Lemonade, crunchy ice, sip it once, sip it twice Repeat again but faster Turn around, touch the ground, touch your nose, make a pose FREEZE
-rcsmalls, 2023, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/OlderGenZ/comments/18d0wii/how_many_versions_of_lemonade_crunchy_ice_hmhave/ "How many versions of "Lemonade, Crunchy Ice" hmhave you lived through?"

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LEMONADE CRUNCHY ICE (Version #29)
I always did it “lemonade crunchy ice sip it once sip it twice turn around touch the ground kick your boyfriend outta town, FREEZE, American cheese I think I gotta sneeze bless you acho Pikachu….
-emmaaaa🐚💐, 11, 2024,
https://www.reddit.com/r/OlderGenZ/comments/18d0wii/how_many_versions_of_lemonade_crunchy_ice_hmhave/ "How many versions of "Lemonade, Crunchy Ice" have you lived through?"

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LEMONADE (Version #30)
Lemonade, clap, clap, clap, crunchy ice, clap, clap, clap, sip it once, clap, clap, clap, sip it twice, clap, clap, clap, lemonade, iced tea, Coca-Cola Pepsi, turn around, touch the ground, kick your boyfriend out of town, and freeze American cheese makes me wanna sneeze achoo I push you
-☀️⚡️🔱Cooper🔱⚡️☀️, 5-21, 2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/OlderGenZ/comments/18d0wii/how_many_versions_of_lemonade_crunchy_ice_hmhave/ "How many versions of "Lemonade, Crunchy Ice" have you lived through?"

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