Little Ariel Bell, Aug 13,
2020
-snip-
[Portuguese [Brazil]“Apple on a Stick” é um jogo divertido de bater as mãos. Existem várias maneiras de cantar e bater. Eu aprendi assim. Enquanto minha irmãzinha e eu esperamos o bolo assar, fazemos este jogo divertido. ...
Apple on a stick
Makes me sick
Makes my heart beat two forty six
Not because your dirty
Not because your clean,
Not because you kissed the boy behind the magazine!
Girls, boys having fun
Here comes the lady with the big fat bum,
She can do the splits
she can do a cartwheel
but I betcha
she can’t do this
close your eyes and count to 10
if you mess it up
you’re not my friend
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
you did it
you did it
your still my friend
that’s the end of chapter 10
-snip-
Correction: The English word "your" that is given in this transcription should be spelled "you're" [meaning "you are".]
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Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Revision - October 1, 2025
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of "Apple On A Stick" hand clap rhyme.
This post presents the meaning of the words "makes my heart beat (or go) 246" in the verses of "Apple On A Stick" hand clap rhymes.
This post also presents the meaning of these other words in some "Apple On A Stick: rhymes:
-"pickle up her (or "his") bum"
-"muck it up"
-
big fat bum"
The content of this post is presented for linguistic, cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those whose rhyme examples are featured in this post. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-not-because-youre-dirty-line-in_12.html for the 2014 pancocojams post entitled "The Precursor Of & Early Examples Of "Apple On A Stick" (Not Because You're Dirty/Not Because You're Clean") Rhymes"
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WHAT DOES "MAKES MY HEART BEAT 246" MEAN?
Source #1
From https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/
Shambazzle,2015
"Apple on a stick makes me sick...
... makes my heart beat 2-4-6
This catchy (read:annoying) verse can be heard after unlocking the Pediatric Care unit for the Medical Wing in the Base of Operations.
This is a popular clapping game played by children (mostly?). The 2-4-6 references a heartbeat/heart rate of 246, which can be indicative of a pending heart attack.
The full verse is below (and varies greatly depending on who you ask):
Apple on a stick makes me sick,
Makes my heart beat two-forty-six,
Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,
Just because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.
Girls, boys, have a lot of fun,
Here comes Johnny with a pickle up his bum,
He can wibble he can wobble he can even do the splits,
But I bet ya ten bucks that he can't do this.
Close your eyes and count to ten,
If you muck it up you're not my friend. (eyes closed)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
You didn't muck it up so you're my best friend.
The more you know!
****
Source #2
Information about "heart rate of 246" from AI Overview
"A heart rate of 246 bpm is dangerously fast and requires
immediate medical attention. This rapid rate, known as tachycardia, indicates a
serious arrhythmia, such as atrial flutter or a very rapid form of
supraventricular tachycardia, where the heart chambers are not filling
properly. Seek emergency care by calling 911 or going to the emergency
department, especially if you experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of
breath, dizziness, or fainting.
Why a heart rate of 246 is dangerous
Tachycardia: A normal resting heart rate is typically
between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). A heart rate of 246 bpm is well
above this and is considered tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heart
rhythm”….
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WHAT DOES "HERE COMES ___ WITH A PICKLE UP HER (OR "HIS") BUM" MEAN?
Here's the result of AI Overview for this phrase "pickle up her bum":
" "Pickle up her bum" is not a common phrase; it is likely a misremembered or distorted version of the vulgar idiom "have a stick up one's ass," which describes someone who is very stiff, serious, uptight, or humorless. The original idiom uses "stick" to represent a rigid or unyielding personality."...
-end of quote-
AI Overview would be more correct that "pickle up her (or "his") bum" isn't a common phrase. However , it is common in a number of versions of the British (and Australian) English's recreational rhyme "Apple On A Stick" (but not in United States' versions of those rhymes.
While the phrase "have a pickle up her bum" comes from the phrase "have a stick up one's ass), I believe that those words in children's recreational rhymes should be taken literally- i.e. They mean that the person actually has a pickle up their bum (butt). My guess is that children use/d those words because of the scene it describes is comical, not vulgar or referring to someone who is stiff or serious.
Here's an example of a rhyme with that phrase:
Apple on a stick, makes me sick,
Makes my heart beat two forty-six,
Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,
Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.
Girls, boys, have a lot of fun,
Here comes Madonna with a pickle up her bum,
She can wibble, she can wobble, she can even do the splits,
I bet you can't even do this:
Count to ten, you're a big fat hen.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. (Clap with eyes closed while
counting)
You didn't muck it up so you're my best friend. (Hug each
other)
-© Childhood, Tradition & Change 2011
https://ctac.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/biogs/E000060b.htm [Australia]
****
ALTERNATE WORDS: "WITH AN APPLE UP HER BUM"
Instead of "here comes __ with a pickle up her bum", some versions of "Apple On A Stick" have the phrase "here comes ___ with an apple up her bum". Those examples are probably also from the United Kingdom or Australia and not the United States.
Here's an example of that version:
"We had a slightly different one;
Apple on a stick makes me sick Makes my heart beat 246 Not because you’re dirty not because you’re clean Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine
Boys girls having fun here comes the lady with the apple up
her bum She can wibble she can wobble she can even do the splits I betcha I
betcha you can’t do this Close your eyes and count to 10 if you muck it up
you’re not my friend 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 You didn’t muck it up so you’re my
best friend (You mucked it up so you’re not my friend)"
-Dapper_Ad_602, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/
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WHAT "HERE COMES __WITH A "BIG FAT BUM" MEANS
Some versions of "Apple On A Stick" have the words "with a big fat bum" instead of "with a pickle up her (or "his") bum".
The words "big fat bum" in some versions of this rhyme mean "big fat butt [ass; behind]
Here's a comment exchange about those versions of that rhyme" from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_XBWIQvnNI&t=1s
Maxine, 2022
"It’s amazing to see the evolution of these games across the
world. Like we used to say “here comes the lady with the pickle up her bum” in
apple on a stick!
**
Reply
Fidget Town, 2022
"It's Apple on a stick is different these days it is:
Apple on a stick it makes me sick it makes my heart beat 246 not because you’re
dirty not because you are clean, just because you kissed the boy behind the
magazine, boys girls having fun and here come the lady with the big fat bum she
can do karate she can do the splits but I bet ya I bet ya she can’t do this,
close you eyes and count to 10 if you muck it up your not my friend, 123456789
10 you didn’t muck it up so your my friend and that the end of chapter 10 AMEN"
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WHAT "MUCK IT UP" MEANS
"muck it up" = mess it up
The words "with a pickle up his bum" and the words "muck it up" almost guaranties that the example is from an English speaking country other than the United States because people in the United States didn't use those phrases in the past and don't use those phrases now (September 23, 2025).
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SHARE THE VERSIONS OF THESE RHYMES THAT YOU KNOW!
It's impossible to compile all of the possible examples of "Apple On A Stick" or any other children's recreational rhyme because new versions are constantly being created accidentally (as a result of folk processing) or on purpose.
However, you're invited to share the examples of this rhyme that you know in the comment section below. Don't forget to add demographic information such as the year or decade you first learned that example and where (city, state, and/or nation) you first learned it.
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