What "One Mississippi, "Two Mississippi", Etc. Mean In Versions of "Lemonade" Children's Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell 

This pancocojams post showcases three hand clap examples of "Lemonade" that I came across that include the referents "One Mississippi",  "Two Mississippi", and "Three Mississippi".

Two of those examples are from the "Lemonade, Ice[d] Tea" family of "Lemonade" recreational rhymes and one of those examples are from what appears to be the larger "Lemonade Crunchy Ice" family of "Lemonade" recreational rhymes.

This pancocojams post includes what I believe is the meaning of "One Mississippi" etc. in the context of those rhymes and also includes information about the meaning of "One Mississippi" etc. in other contexts.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the contributors of examples of these rhymes that are included in this post. Thanks to the mamalisa.com website which is the online source for these showcased examples and a number of other examples of "Lemonade" rhymes.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/examples-of-ice-cream-soda-jump-rope.html.for the related pancocojams post "Examples Of "Ice Cream Soda" Jump Rope Rhymes & Examples Of "Lemonade" Hand Clap Rhymes".

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only.
The "Mississippi" referents in these examples are written in italics for highlighting purposes only.

LEMONADE (Version #1)
"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/

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LEMONADE (Version #2)
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 #3)

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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PANCOCOJAMS' EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT THESE EXAMPLES
These are the only examples of rhymes that I've come across to date that include those "Mississippi" lines. 

It's interesting that two of these examples have lines from the "Mama's Had A Baby" (or "Mama's Having A Baby" rhymes. 

Do you know these "Lemonade" examples or any other children's rhymes that include these "Mississippi" lines? If so, for the folkloric record, please share those examples in the discussion thread below along with demographic information, particularly the city/state you lived in when you learned or heard that example, and the year/decade you learned/heard that example. Thanks!

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WHAT DOES "FIRST MISSISSIPPI"/"ONE MISSISSIPPI" ETC. MEAN IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE RHYMES?
 Here's what I think about the words "First Mississippi said stop (stop), Second Mississippi said stop (stop), Third Mississippi said keep on going till your hands get red and hot" (or the words "One Mississippi", "Two Mississippi", and "Three Mississippi" in three of these "Lemonade" rhymes:

I think that the word "Mississippi" is a rhythmical way of saying "Miss" (a referent for a young  female. (I think the meaning of "miss" as a general referent for a young girl. Two examples from rhymes would be Miss Mary Mack and "Little Miss Muffet". In contrast, the title "Miss" (spelled with an uppercase "M") is used to refer to an unmarried woman.as in the rhymes "Miss Sue From Alabama" and "Miss Lucy Had A Steamboat".

In the context of those "Lemonade" examples "First Mississippi"/"One Mississippi" means "the first miss (the first young girl). "Second Mississippi"/"Two Mississippi" means the second miss (the second young girl) and "Third Mississippi"/'Three Mississippi" means "the third miss" (the third young girl).

Also, it occurs to me that the nickname "Ole Miss" for the University of Mississippi reinforces my guess that "First Mississippi"/"One Mississippi" are creative referents in those "Lemonade" rhymes for a young miss (a young girl). 

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WHAT "ONE MISSISSIPPI", "TWO MISSISSIPPI" ETC. MEAN IN OTHER CONTEXTS
 My curiosity about the words "One Mississippi" etc. in these "Lemonade" children's rhymes led me to this linguistic forums' discussion thread about those terms:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/7bia76/origin_of_using_mississippi_when_counting/ "The Origin Of Using Mississippi When Counting"

Here are two comments from that discussion thread

Gnorrn, 2017
"It is mentioned in the 1936 book How to Use Psychology in Business, during a somewhat bizarre passage about conserving energy when climbing stairs:

Various methods of using muscles yield varying efficiencies. In climbing stairs, for instance, the most efficient rate is one step about every second; every 1.2 seconds, to be exact. This can be gauged individually, without the help of a stop watch, by counting: "One -- Mississippi; two -- Mississippi; three -- Mississippi; etc." This comes close to indicating a second on each count. Stair climbing is actually about fifteen times as energy consuming as covering the same distance on the level."...

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Assistant Bot, 2024
"Counting "one Mississippi, two Mississippi..." is a common way to measure time, especially in informal settings. The phrase serves several purposes:

Time Measurement: It provides a rough estimate of seconds. Each "Mississippi" is generally understood to represent about one second, making it a simple method for timing events without needing a stopwatch.

Consistency: Using "Mississippi" helps standardize the counting pace. The rhythm of saying "Mississippi" naturally elongates the count, making it more consistent than simply counting numbers, which can be rushed or slowed down.

Cultural Reference: The phrase is widely recognized in American culture, often used in games, sports, and activities where timing is essential, such as in hide-and-seek or counting down for a race.

Engagement: It adds a playful element to counting, making it more enjoyable, especially for children.

Overall, counting "one Mississippi, two Mississippi..." is a practical and culturally ingrained way to estimate time in various social contexts."
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I'm glad that I learned this about the meaning of "One Mississippi", "Two Mississippi" etc. in other contexts. However, I still think that my explanation is the correct one when in comes to children's rhymes. In that context, "One Mississippi" means "the first Miss (the first young girl)".

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