Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update - Hovember 2, 2025
This post presents some examples of "Down By The Hanky Panky" rhymes that include the name of one or more famous person.
I'm publishing these examples separately because there are so many different versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.
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The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, and recreational purposes.
Thanks to all those whose examples are quoted in this post.
This post isn't meant to be a comprehensive collection of English language playground rhymes that include names of famous people.
Please share additional examples of children's recreational rhymes that include names of famous people in the comment section below. Thanks!
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This pancocojams series is created to document some examples of a sub-set of playground rhymes (recreational rhymes) that include the name/s of one or more famous people, In addition, these examples can serve as windows into the world of certain populations of children-particularly girls of certain ages-revealing some of their attitudes, opinions, perceptions, concerns, preferences, values, and other socialization/cultural indices.
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" is a HUGH sub-set (family) of children's recreational rhymes. These rhymes are widely found throughout the United States as well as in some other English speaking nations.
"Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky, Where the bull frogs jump from bank to banky, sayin eeps opps soda pops, leap off a lily pad and went kerplop! -Dayton Ohio 🎀"
- floatingbodys, 2024
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
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Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank-y,
Saying E, I, O, U,
East Side, West Side, Ping, Pong!"
-Bretta, https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1769
As these examples document, most long form examples of this rhyme includes the name of Pop singer Michael Jackson or the name of another famous person.
For the folkloric record, I've included examples of the long versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes that include the word "fag" in their "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" portions. However, it should be noted that the word "fag" is an offensive referent for people who are homosexual, and I believe that word shouldn't be used."
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HOW THESE EXAMPLES ARE PRESENTED IN THIS COMPILATION
These examples are presented in alphabetical order based on the first letter of the rhyme that includes at least one famous person's name. The titles are written in capital letters..
The online source for each example is given after the rhyme.
Brief information about a famous person can be found in each Part of this compilation after the first example in that Part that includes their name.
Most of these examples contain no information about how the rhyme is performed. However,
I believe that most of these examples are either hand clap rhymes or jump rope rhymes.
Other brief explanatory notes may be added after a few of these examples.
This compilations doesn't include "nursery rhymes" (also known as "Mother Goose rhymes").
Examples of rhymes that include names of politicians and no other famous person are purposely omitted from these pancocojams "Names of famous people"series
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/playground-rhymes-that-include_87.html for a pancocojams post that showcases examples of that category of playground rhymes that include names of politicians. Those rhymes may also include the names of other famous people who aren't politicians.
FEATURED EXAMPLES
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #1)
My friends play it like this:
where the bullfrogs jumps from bank to bank
We're sayin ep op ep op op
skiddle diddle kernal pop!
I pledge alligence to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola messed him up
now we're drinking 7up
7up has no caffine
now we're drinking gassoline
Gassoline not good for you
now we're drinking Mt. Dew
Mt. Dew fell off the Mt.
now we're drinking from a fountain
The fountain broke
and now we're back to drinking coke
-Guest, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky, [hereafter given as Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky], 17 Mar 08, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky,
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson
"Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his musical achievements broke racial barriers in the US and made him a dominant figure worldwide. Through his songs, stages, and fashion, he proliferated visual performance for artists in popular music, popularizing street dance moves such as the moonwalk, the robot and the anti-gravity lean. Jackson is often deemed the greatest entertainer of all time"...
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #2)
I learned this and forgot most of it (not complete! but it goes sort of like this....
Down by the bay in beverly hills
where the bull frog jumps from bank to banky
and the heeps hops, coffee shops,
we all drink mochas and we wear flip flops
(faster)
I pledge allegence to the flag
Michal jackson makes me gag
coca cola has cafeine and now we're talking billy jean
billy jean when out of style now lets sit and talk a while
diddy diddy donkey
daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
diddy diddy donkey!
theres a party round the corner wont you please please come
bring your own cappuchinos and your own chewing gum
what is your boy friends name?______ (whoever the clap lands on has to come up with a name)
_______ will be there blowing kisses in the air saying I love ______ (who ever came up with the name) saying I love_____ saying O U T spells you are out!
OR
______will be there blowing kissed in the air singin' I... Love...Ma..Ma...Mia, singin' I love ma...ma...mia singin' O U T spells you are out!
-GUEST,mooseormeece?, 21 May 08, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #3)
Down by the river
To the hanky pank
Where the bullfrog jumps
from bank to bank
saying E I O U
Your mama stinks and so do you
So ding dong ping pong
Your daddy smells like king kong.
Michael Jackson went to town
Dr. Pepper brought him down
Coca Cola brought him up
Now he's drinking 7-Up
7-Up with no caffine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Inky Binky Bonky, Daddy had a Donkey
Donkey died
Daddy cried
Inky Binky Bonkey
-Guest ,6/25/2008, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky,
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #4)
Here is the one I know:
Down by the banks of the hanky Panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a e i o u
Michael jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
Mountain dew shot him up
now were talkin 7 up
7 up has no cafene
now were talkin billie jean
billie jean went down the street singin
doo a dilly dilly dum dilly do
singin do a dilly dily dum dilly do
-Guest,Jenny, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 08 Apr 09
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan
"Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ,[8] is an American businessman, former professional basketball and baseball player, who is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time,[9][10][11] he was integral in popularizing basketball and the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s,[12] becoming a global cultural icon.[13]”…
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #5)
That is the version that I know...
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
with an a, e, i, o, u. bang bang
micheal jordan went to town
coca cola shot him down
now were talkin 7up
7up with no caffein
now were talking billy jean
billy jean went down the street singin
do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
singin do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
-Guest,SaeraLove, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 03 Nov 09
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DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANTS (Example #6)
down by the bank of the hanky pank, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank. ya say e pa e pa pa. skittle dittle kernel pop. i pledge allegiance to the flag. michael jackson makes me mad. coca cola has caffeine. now i'm drinking gasoline. gasoline went out of fuel. so now i'm drinking mountain dew. mountain dew fell off the mountain so now i'm drinking from the fountain. one day the fountain broke, so now i'm drinking plain old diet coke... diet coke went ran out of diet so now i'm drinking sunny d. sunny d fell off the sun so now i'm counting 10 to 1. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
kids at my school usually ended at the diet coke part but one of my friends added a continuation
GUEST a, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 20 March 11
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #7)
in Rochester, NY it goes like this
down by the bank of the hanky pank;
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank;
saying E-I-O-U;
yo momma stank and so do you;
so ping pong donkey kong
martin luther king jr;
mickey mouse bought a house;
donald duck messed it up;
he couldn't pay the rent;
so he got kicked out;
O-U-T;
out
we would do process of elimination by eliminating whoever got to the letter -T they we would start over the song until we got to the last person
-Guest, Guest , Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 6, 2011
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
"Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through the use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience against Jim Crow laws and other forms of legalized discrimination."...
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #8)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Singing Eeep Op Eeep Op
Skiddle diddle eep op op
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Miley Cyrus makes me gag
Miley Cyrus came to town, Coca Cola shot her down
Dr. Pepper drink it up, now we're drinking 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine, now we're drinking gasoline
Gasoline ran out of fuel, now we're drinking Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell off the Mountain, now we're drinking from the fountain
Fountain broke, now we're drinking PLAIN-OLD-DIET-COKE
-GUEST, 20 Mar 11, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miley_Cyrus
"Miley Ray Cyrus ... born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. An influential figure in popular music, Cyrus is known for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. A daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus, she was an established child star before developing a successful entertainment career as an adult. Cyrus emerged as a teen idol as Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana (2006–2011), growing a profitable franchise and achieving two number-one soundtracks on the Billboard charts."...
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DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #9)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank. Say As Es Is Os ees I did it.
Bing Bong your daddy smells like King Kong.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag.
Coca-cola burnt him up
Now we're talkin 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Billy jean went out of style.
Now we're talking Bobby Brown.
B-o-b-b-y B-r-o-w-n went out of town
GUEST,amy in Kentucky, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, 01 May 14
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Brown
"Robert Barisford Brown Sr. (born February 5, 1969)[4] is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. Alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, he is recognized as a pioneer of new jack swing: a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.[5] Brown rose to fame as a founding member of the R&B/pop vocal group New Edition,[2] contributing to hits like "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". He left the group in 1985 to pursue a solo career but later reunited with them for their Billboard 200 number-one album Home Again (1996)."...
DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANTS (Example #10)
I learned this version in Elementary school in North Carolina.
Down in the banks with the hanky pants
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
Singing epes ipes opes oops chilly willy ding dong
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Beiber makes me gag
Coca-Cola brought him up now we’re talking 7 up
7 up has no caffeine now we’re talking Billy Jean
Billy Jean ran out of sight now we’re talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking really cool
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The last person clapped obviously being out. When two people were left they would lock hands so that one person’s arms were crossed and the others wasn’t. They would then sing the song and try to make sure their arms weren’t crossed at the end.
-GUEST, 22 Nov 18, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
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DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #11)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
were the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
going epps ieps ops oops
Listen to the ker-plop
i pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson sings so bad (which he doesn't)
Pepsi Cola burned him up
now he's drinking 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
now he's drinking gasoline
Gasoline has no good taste now he's drinking toxic waste(then the melody changes)
there's a place on mars, where the babys smoke cigars and the boys wear bikinis and the ladies drink martinis
(then it ends something like this)mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all!
At the end who ever got landed on would be out and then it would start over with the remaining players.
-GUEST,Marissa, 19 Dec 18, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
I learned it like this:
where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
saying e, i, o, u, chilly willy ding dong
lets play a game of ping pong,
i pledge alligence to the flag
Michael Jackson dances rad,
coca cola bust it up,
now were talking 7 up,
7 up has no caffiene,
now were talking billie jean,
billie jean ran out of sight,
now were talking bobby brown
had a big frown
-marymuch, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, November 2011
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #13)
down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky singing a e i o u micheal jordon went to town pepsi cola shut him down mountain dew shut him up now we are talking seven up sevenup with no calffeine now we are talking bille jean bille jean went down the street singing didee didde didde dum didee doo
-timothy & kimberly b, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121211173034AAyQw1S , "lyrics to down by the banks in the hanky panky where the bull frogs jump", 2015
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DOWN BY THE BANKS Of The HANKY PANKY (Example #14)
"i learned: down by the bay with the hanky panky where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank sayin eap op skiitle dittle kernal pop i pledge alligence to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag coke coala has caffine now we are talkin jelly beans"
-Chianne Wallace, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk
DOWN BY THE RIVER WITH THE HANKY PANKY (Example #15)
Down by the river with the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Singing E, I, O, U, your mama stinks and so do you
King Kong, Donkey Kong, went to school with nothing on
Asked the teacher what to wear, polka dotted underwear!
Not too big and not too small, just the size of Broward Mall
I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag
Pepsi cola burnt him up, now we’re drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine, now we’re singing Billy Jean
Billy Jean is out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school, now we’re talking really cool
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Whoever was clapped on one was I guess out. Actually I remember that my first ever exposure to Michael Jackson was through these rhymes, I remember quite a few featured him. We also had a lot of songs about killing our teachers and burning down the school, you know, innocent schoolyard games!...
-Elle, October 3, 2009, https://kateharding.net/2009/10/02/miss-lucy-had-friday-fluff/
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DOWN BY THE RIVER WITH THE HANKY PANKY (Example #16)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky, where the eaps ops soda pops, hey mr lillypad went ding dong, I pledge allegiance to the flag, Justin Bieber makes me gag, Coca Cola soda pop, soda pop has no caffeine now we’re talking billy jean, billy jean went out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite, dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking really cool, really cool, really cool 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” wow I still remember that (also at the end of the counting you would have to be the first person to touch the other’s forehead and whoever did it first won)
-kayla ames, 2021; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&t=3s&ab_channel=Geneas
This is the version I learned at a Girl Scout camp in Virginia in about 2010!
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Said-a eas, ice, ohss, oos
Listen to the big bull frog (drawn out)
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Bieber makes me gag
Pepsi-cola's burning up,
now we're drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine,
now we're drinking gasoline
gasoline is bad for you,
now we're drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell off a mountain,
now we're drinking from a fountain
the fountain broke and now we're drinking
plain, old, coke
-Anonymous, Feb. 26, 2013, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-ii-of-some-down-by-banks-of-hanky.html?sc=1677
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #18)
As kids we obviously didn’t know the words well- we just sang what we thought we heard other people singing and it kind of became telephone…so it makes zero sense. I’m pretty sure we even said “bay” instead of “bank.” But we sang something like…
Down by the bank with a hanky pank
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Singing E-I-O
Oooh yo momma stinks and so do you so
Ping pong diddly ding your father smells like old king king
Tell your teacher what to wear, polka dotted underwear
Not too big
Not too small
Just the size of the palm beach mall
Dan Marino’s number is
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
I guess that was a south Florida version- the palm beach mall doesn’t even exist anymore lol.
-GUEST, 23 June 23, Guest,Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky-
snip-
"Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. ... born September 15, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning first-team All-American honors in 1981. Marino was the last quarterback taken in the first round of the famed quarterback class of 1983. He held or currently holds dozens of NFL records associated with the quarterback position, and despite never being on a Super Bowl-winning team, he is recognized among the greatest quarterbacks in American football history."...
**
I've never heard this version before! The one I know goes like:
Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
With a hips, hops, over the tops
Lands on a lilypad with a ker-plop
Plus an optional long version that very few people I played with knew:
[above]
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Bieber makes me gag*
Coca Cola has caffeine
Now we're talking Billie Jean
Billie Jean went out of style
Let's go sit and talk a while
There's a party at the corner
Will you please please come
Bring your own Frappuccino
And your own chewing gum
What is your boyfriend's name?**
BF will be there
Blowing kisses in the air
Saying "I love GF, yadda yadda yadda"
"I love GF, yadda yadda yadda"
O - U - T spells you are out!
* Alternate line is "Michael Jackson is my dad" which I guess makes a bit more sense with the Billie Jean line
** The game stops for a moment, the player it landed on will say what their boyfriend's name is and then the song continues. My friends and I (elementary schoolers) would change this to "What is your best friend's name?" and just say someone from the circle, it was never very serious. "I love [name]" would be changed to "I like [name]"
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #20)
we did ours like this
"down by the river by the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying AEOIU BAMBOO
pledge allegiance to the flag Miley Cyrus sings so bad
coca cola bust it up now we're talking 7 up
7up had no caffeine now we're talking Billie jean
Billie jean went out of sight now we're talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking pretty cool
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
cxramelty242, 2023, [discussion thread comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91BT6X7iSs "Down by the Banks (Girl Scout Game)", published by Girl Scout Troop 7579, Nov 7, 2022
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #21)
i learned a version of this called "dynamite" from my peers in the 2nd grade. we sang it like
"down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky and
hip, hop, over the top
one jumps in and goes kerflop.
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jordan was my dad
seven up has no caffeine
now we're talking billy jean
billy jean ran away
now we're talking dynamite!
five, four, three, two, one."
the 2nd half of the song was almost chanted and was no longer set to the song. you could also move your hand away at "one" and have the other person get out.
very weird version it seems i learned😂
-extremelycreativeusername3190, 2022; discussion thread comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91BT6X7iSs "Down by the Banks (Girl Scout Game)", published by Girl Scout Troop 7579, Nov 7, 2022
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #22)
The version I learned we sang it like
"Down by the banky wanky
where the bullfrogs jump bank to banky
With the Eep Ipes soda pops
Froggie with the lily pad went kerplop!"
Extra if you want to
Justin beiber makes me gag
Mountin dew fell off the mountain
Now im drinking from a fountain
Fountain broke
Now im drinking
Plain
OLD
COKE"
hope you enjoyed
-
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example # 23)
I did mine like this “ Down by the river with the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump bank to bank saying eeps ipps oops eeps pledge allegiance to the flag Michael Jordan makes me gag, Michael blew up this time now we’re talking all the crime, all the crime had no time now we’re talking jelly beans, jelly beans are out of sight now we’re talking dynamite dynamite is so much fun not we’re going down to the river by the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying eels ipps oops eeps popcorn kernels gonna POP! (Aka pop means out)
-@lexiwait-fb4tg, 2023, [discussion thread comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91BT6X7iSs "Down by the Banks (Girl Scout Game)", published by Girl Scout Troop 7579, Nov 7, 2022
all of you are wrong.the right version is
down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bull frog jumps from bank to bank
with n eeps ops soda pop hey
smackadoodle and he went kerplop
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Justin Beiber makes me mad
pepsi cola burnt his butt
now he's drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffine
now he's drinking gasoline
gasoline is made for cars
now he's shooting up to mars
there's a place on mars where babies smoke cigars
mean wear bakinies and women drink martinis
every step you take is enough to kill a snake
when the snake is dead you put mustard on his head
)when the mustard dries you put diamonds in his eyes
when diamonds break it is 1968
mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all
mickey mouse build a house
donald duck broke it down
who will face the consequences?
Y-O-U
-GUEST, October 23, 2023; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #25)
I'm reading everyone else version and the one I grow up with was super different. (well kinda close to OP's) It went like
Down by the banks of the Hanky pank, where the bull frogs jumped from bank to bank, saying A E I O U
Micheal Jordan went to town, Coca Cola shot him down, Mountain Dew shot him up, now we're talking 7Up, 7Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billie Jean,
Billie Jean went walking down the street singing, do a didi didi dum didi do
The colors of the american flag are red, white, and, BLUE.
I don't know, could be off, but super fun to play at camp. This is northern South Carolina
-
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #26)
This the version I grew up with
Down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banks with a heeps hops over the top and lands on a Lilly pad with a kerplop
If you want to add on
I pledge allegiance to the flag that justin Bieber makes me gag,coca cola has caffeine,now we are talking Billy jeans,Billy jeans went out of style,now let's sit and talk for a while,there is a party in the corner,will you please please come,bring your own Frappuccino and your own chewing gum,what is your best friend's name...*your best friends name* over there blowing kisses in the air saying I love*your name*4x,I love*your name*4x,your not out,your not out,you are out
-
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #27)
Grew up in south Florida
Down by the lake with the hanky pank
Said the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
say E-I-O-U
Yo Momma smell and so do you
Micheal Jackson went to town riding on a pony
stuck a feather in is eye and called him macaroni
resse pieces butter cup
u mess wit me ill bust you u up
bang bang choo-choo train
Let me see you do that thang.
I can't! Why not? I can't! Why not?
Cause my head hurt my bra too tight
and my booty shake from the left to the right
Go left, Go right, go left right left right (last smack)
-GUEST, 20 Jun 20; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
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DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #28)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank. Say As Es Is Os ees I did it.
Bing Bong your daddy smells like King Kong.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag.
Coca-cola burnt him up
Now we're talkin 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Billy jean went out of style.
Now we're talking Bobby Brown.
B-o-b-b-y B-r-o-w-n went out of town
GUEST,amy in Kentucky, http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=263, Origins: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 14, 2001
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #29 - #32)
I’ve been interested in the different versions of this rhyme since forever and can’t believe it took so long to find this site! All versions I know are from the mid 2000s.
Heard in a Christian camp in Mississippi:
Down by the valley of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Sayin’ ooh, ah, skittle, skattle, big, fat, bull, frog
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson is so bad
Pepsi-Cola, burnin’ up
Now we’re drinkin’ 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine
Now we’re wachin’ Billy Jean
Billy Jean went out of style
Now we’re wachin’ X-Files
X-Files, way too scary
Now we’re wachin’ Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry’s way too funny
Now we’re wachin’ Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny’s way too lame
Now we’re playin’ video games
Video games are way too boring
Then one morning I woke up snoring
Heard in an elementary school near Memphis, Tennessee:
Down by the valley of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Sayin’ ooh, ah, skittle, skattle, big, fat, bull, frog
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson is so bad
Pepsi-Cola, burnin’ up
Now we’re drinkin’ 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine
Now we’re wachin’ Billy Jean
Billy Jean went out of style
Now we’re wachin’ X-Files
X-Files, way too scary
Now we’re wachin’ Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry’s way too stupid
Now we’re wachin’ Cupid (This line shifts from a chant to a song)
Once on Sunday morning
I looked up at the wall
I saw a team of cockroaches
Playing basketball
The score was none to six
Roaches in the lead
I think I need some bug spray
1, 2, 3
Heard near Wichita, Kansas:
Down by the valley of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Sayin’ eeps, ipes, opes, ops
And a little flicker-doodle and a big ker-plop
(This version uses the same tune I saw mentioned by someone else earlier)
Heard in Texas:
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
E I O U east side, west side
Ping, pang, pong
Half remembered near Memphis, Tennessee:
Down by the valley of the Hanky Panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
Sayin’ ooh, ah, skittle, skattle, big, fat, dirty, rat
I pledge allegiance to the flag (to the flag said faster than normal rhythm)
Michael Jackson was so bad (was so bad said faster than normal)
Pepsi-Cola, burp it up
Now we’re drinkin’ 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine
Now we’re drinkin’ gasoline
Gasoline made me puke (or possibly throw up)
(Don’t remember a few lines)
Now we all drink Coke
-
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #34)
the one i knew (around 2010-12?) went:
down by the bay with the hanky panky
when the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
with an A, E, I O U,
i pledge allegiance to the flag
that cody simpson makes me gag!
up, up, 7-up,
now we're drinking 7-up
7-up got the flu, now we're drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell off the mountain, now we're drinking from the fountain
fountain broke, now we're drinking plain old coke
-GUEST,ag, 16 May 21, Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cody_Simpson
"Cody Robert Simpson (born 11 January 1997) is an Australian singer, actor, and a former competitive swimmer.[3] Since his debut as a recording artist, he has released four solo studio albums: Paradise (2012), Surfers Paradise (2013), Free (2015), and Cody Simpson (2022). He portrayed the lead role of Dmitry in the Broadway musical Anastasia from November 2018 through April 2019.[4] The same year, he won the first season of The Masked Singer Australia as "Robot".[5]"...
*****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #35)
we did ours like this
"down by the river by the hanky pank where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying AEOIU BAMBOO
pledge allegiance to the flag Miley Cyrus sings so bad
coca cola bust it up now we're talking 7 up
7up had no caffeine now we're talking Billie jean
Billie jean went out of sight now we're talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school now we’re talking pretty cool
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
@cxramelty242,2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91BT6X7iSs
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #36)
I did mine like this “ Down by the river with the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump bank to bank saying eeps ipps oops eeps pledge allegiance to the flag Michael Jordan makes me gag, Michael blew up this time now we’re talking all the crime, all the crime had no time now we’re talking jelly beans, jelly beans are out of sight now we’re talking dynamite dynamite is so much fun not we’re going down to the river by the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying eels ipps oops eeps popcorn kernels gonna POP! (Aka pop means out)
-@lexiwait-fb4tg, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91BT6X7iSs
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #37)
Ok so I never found the version my friends and I did which was:
Down by the banks with the hanky panks
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banks
And eeps, eips, ohps, ops,
One falls in and goes ker-plops
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me mad
Pepsi Cola busted up
Now I’m drinking 7-Up
7-Up caught the flu
Now I’m drinking Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell off the Mountain
Now I’m drinking from the fountain
Fountain broke, now I’m drinking
Plain old Coke
(When there are only two players left, the second part is replaced with “Mickey Mouse, build a house, Donald Duck, mess it up, who will pay for the consequence? I choose you!”)"
-
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #38)
wRoNg
its:
down by the banks in a hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky saying
eeps
eyepps
oepps
ohpps
one fell in and went KERPLOP
i pledge allegiance to the flag
justin bieber makes me gag
mtn dew fell off the mtn
now im drinking from the fountain
fountain broke so now im drinking
plain
old
coke!
-GUEST, anonymous?, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=481 Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky, 30 March 24
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #39)This is how I sung it in CO: Down by the bank of the hanky panky, where the bullfrog jumps from bank to Banky with the apes ops over the tops and lands on the pad with a kerplop, I pledge allegiance to the flag that Justin Bieber makes me gag coca-Cola burns me up and now we’re talking 7-Up. 7-Up has no caffeine now we’re talking Billie Jean Billie Jean went out of stite now we’re talking dynamite dynamite, blew up the school now we’re talking really cool really cool is really neat, now we’re talking stinky feet stinky feet are way to smelly. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 your out
-
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
****
DOWN BY THE RIVER SILVER ROCK (Example #40 of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky")
Down by the river, silver rock. Michael Jackson don't wear no socks, say e pie pie pie, o pie pie pie, 1,2,3,4... -
****
DYNAMITE (Example #41 of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky")
i learned a version of this called "dynamite" from my peers in the 2nd grade. we sang it like
"down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky and
hip, hop, over the top
one jumps in and goes kerflop.
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jordan was my dad
seven up has no caffeine
now we're talking billy jean
billy jean ran away
now we're talking dynamite!
five, four, three, two, one."
the 2nd half of the song was almost chanted and was no longer set to the song. you could also move your hand away at "one" and have the other person get out.
very weird version it seems i learned"
-
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #42)
Hey my name is Denise and the version I knew was from 2015. (For context I was only 11 in 2015 so Im a youngster..)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky where bullfrogs jump from
bank to bank singing A I O I U bamboo!
Pledge allegiance to the flag, Miley Cyrus sings so bad.
Coca cola bust it up now we're talking 7 up!
7 up had no caffeine now we're talking bilile jean
billie jean ran out of sight now we're talking dynamite,
dynamite went out of school now we're talking pretty cool.
10, 9 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 !!!
-Anonymous, June 1, 2025, https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/forms-of-name-billie-jean-in-down-by.html
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #43)
Down by the banks of the hanky panky, where the bullfrogs
jump from bank to banky, saying hip hop, hippity hoppity, east side west side
perplop, i pledge allegiance to the flag, Justin Bieber makes me gag, a
mountain men fell off the mountain now we're drinking good old coke! (On coke
whoever's hand gets hit is out)
-
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #44)
I'm reading everyone else version and the one I grow up with
was super different. (well kinda close to OP's) It went like
Down by the banks of the Hanky pank, where the bull frogs
jumped from bank to bank, saying A E I O U
Micheal Jordan went to town, Coca Cola shot him down,
Mountain Dew shot him up, now we're talking 7Up, 7Up has no caffeine now we're
talking Billie Jean,
Billie Jean went walking down the street singing, do a didi
didi dum didi do
The colors of the american flag are red, white, and, BLUE.
I don't know, could be off, but super fun to play at camp.
This is northern South Carolina"
-
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #45)
i’m from kentucky and mine was close to that: down by the banks of the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank singing eeps, eyeps, ohps, oops, listen to the rhythm of the ding-dang song Michael Jackson went to town Pepsi-Cola shot him down Dr. Pepper fixed him up Now we’re talking 7-Up 7-Up has no caffeine Now we’re talking Billie Jean Billie Jean walks down the street singing, doo-i-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-doo
-ImAPrettyPrincess2, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
-snip-
"Close to that" refers to the example given as #44 in this pancocojams post.
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #46)
"Down by the bank of the hanky-panky, where the bullfrogs
jumped from bank to bank, saying eep opp eep opp opp, skittle dittle kernel
pop, i pledge allegiance to the flag, Justin Bieber makes me gag, coca-cola
pump it up, now we're drinking seven up, seven up caught the flu, now we're
drinking mountain dew, mountain dew fell of the mountain, now we're drinking
from a fountain, fountain broke, now we're drinking plain old di-et coke.
-Time-Market1355, 2023,
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #47)
I was a Girl Scout in NWPA and i just had to go over what
ours was with a friend and two of my leaders because none of us remembered the
end bit eventually figured it out
Ours was:
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky Where the bullfrogs
jump from bank to banky With an eeps, ipes, opes, ops, opes, down by the lily
pad kerplop. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag,
Coka Cola drink it up, Now were talking Seven Up, Seven Up has no caffeine, Now
were talking Billie Jean, Billie Jean is black and white, Mickey Mouse built a
house Donald duck messed it up Who will pay the con-se-quen-ces Y-O-U spells
you. are. out!
-Crow0523, 2023,
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
**
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #48)
Ok. So I just found this feed...mine was drastically
different lol. I moved around a lot, so I can't quite remember where I picked
up this version:
"Down by the valley of the hanky panky, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank and say oh I skit scat big fat dirty rat. I pledge allegiance to the flag that Michael Jackson is a f**. Coca cola burn his butt, now it's time for 7up. 7up has no caffeine, now its time for Jelly bean. Jelly bean went out of town now it's time for 🎶Yankee doodle went to town riding on a pony. Stuck a feather in his butt and called it macaroni.."🎶
And I can't remember how we ended it. 😭
-Time-Market1355, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
-snip-
This is how this comment was written in that discussion thread.
**
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #49)
OK so I have one, but I don’t remember all the lyrics to it
and I really need help so let me know if you remember this one. Down by the
river with the hanky-panky where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank saying
eeps ips ops oops. So ding dong ping pong, your daddy smells like king kong.
Michael Jackson went to town. Pepsi-Cola shot him down Dr. pepper fixed him up
now we’re drinking 7-Up. 7-Up has no caffeine now we’re drinking Billie Jean
Billie Jean went out of style now you’re drinking Bobby Brown. Bobby Brown (idk
something something) now we’re drinking salt and pepper and then some more
lyrics that i forgot. lmk if u know this one 🙏🏼
-Mindless_Shirt_6275, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
**
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #50)
i’m from ashland kentucky and we do (it’s a long song): down
by the banks of the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
singing eeps, eyeps, ohps, oops, listen to the rhythm of the ding-dang song
Michael Jackson went to town Pepsi-Cola shot him down Dr. Pepper fixed him up
Now we’re talking 7-Up 7-Up has no caffeine Now we’re talking Billie Jean
Billie Jean walks down the street singing, doo-i-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-doo
-ImAPrettyPrincess, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #51)
Central Florida, learned my version at school in the early
2000s
"Down by the banks of the hanky pank, where the
bullfrogs jumped from bank to bank, singing E I O U your Mama stinks and so do
you so ping pong diddly bong your Daddy smells like Kong. Ask your teacher what
to wear, polka dotted underwear, not too big, not too small, just the size of
city hall. Coca Cola shake it up, now we're talking 7-Up, 7-Up has no caffeine,
now we're talking Billie Jean. Billie Jean went out of style for a while. I
pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson is a f*g, I like coffee, I like
tea, I like the boys and the boys like me so 1 2 3 4, now we're talking Demi
Moore, 5 6 7 8 now we're talking Bill Gates, 9 - smack
-cinderpaw1, 2025
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/
-snip-
The word "smack" is written in italics in that discussion thread.
snip-
I planned to end at #50, but couldn't resist adding this example that is #51.
Please share the versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that you know in the comment section below. Remember to add demographic information (when you first learned that version and where: city, state, region, or nation if outside of the USA). I'm also interested in knowing whether girls are the only ones who chant/ed these rhymes as hand clap routines, and anyone chanted these rhymes as group hand slap games. I'm also interested in knowing whether "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" is still chanted and performed in 2025.
****
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY (Example #52)
Mine is
Down by the banks of they hanky panky where the bull frogs
jump from bank to banky singing Eeps ipes opes oops boom slap diddle and a
kerplop, pepsi-cola gingerale x5 Michael jackson elvis Presley who is in your
town? Michael Jackson came to life and elvis killed his dear old wife, what
will you do next
-
"Down by the Banks (Girl Scout Game)" by Girl Scout Troop 7579, published Nov 7, 2021
****
I also couldn't resist adding this example as it is the first one that I've come across that includes the name of Elvis Presley.
****
This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
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