Timeline For "___ Went To Town" Or "I Went Downtown To See ___" Verses In American Folk Songs & Children's Recreational Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides a timeline and some examples of American (United States) folk songs and children's recreational rhymes with a "__ Went To Town" or an "I Went Downtown To See ___") verse. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of these songs and rhymes. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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LINKS TO THREE CLOSELY RELATED PANCOCOJAMS POSTS 

Old Dan Tucker - Minstrel Song & Play Party Song

 https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/old-dan-tucker-minstrel-song-play-party.html

December 16, 2013

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Multiple Examples Of The Children's Rhyme "I Went Downtown" ("To See Charlie Brown" or "To See James Brown")

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/01/multiple-examples-of-childrens-rhyme-i.html?sc=1763026021466

 January 4, 2017

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Some Examples Of "Ride The Horsey" Babies' & Young Children's Knee Bouncing Rhymes That Are Derived From A Verse In The 19th Century Song "Old Dan Tucker"

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/some-examples-of-ride-horsey-knee.html
-snip-
Note: This post focuses on some examples of knee bouncing rhymes that are derived from a verse of the "Old Dan Tucker" folk song.

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TIMELINE, INFORMATION, AND EXAMPLES

around 1755- Yankee Doodle (also known as "Yankee Doodle Went To Town")
information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Doodle
"Yankee Doodle" is a traditional song and nursery rhyme, the early versions of which predate the Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War.[1] It is often sung patriotically in the United States today. It is the state song of the U.S. state of Connecticut.[2] Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 4501...

In British conversation, the term "Yankee doodle dandy" implied unsophisticated misappropriation of upper-class fashion, as though simply sticking a feather in one's cap would transform the wearer into a noble.

[...]

The song was a pre-Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the disheveled, disorganized colonial "Yankees" with whom they served in the French and Indian War. It was written at Fort Crailo around 1755 by British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh while campaigning in Rensselaer, New York.[15] The British troops sang it to mock American soldiers as simpletons who thought that they were stylish simply by sticking a feather in their hats.[1] It was also embraced by American troops, who added verses to it that mocked the British and hailed George Washington. By 1781, "Yankee Doodle" had become a song of national pride among Americans.[1][16][17]"...

An example of "went to town" verse in this song:
"Yankee Doodle went to town
A' ridin on a pony
He stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni"

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1843- "Old Dan Tucker"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dan_Tucker
"Old Dan Tucker", also known as "Ole Dan Tucker", "Dan Tucker", and other variants, is a popular American song. Its origins remain obscure; the tune may have come from oral tradition, and the words may have been written by songwriter and performer Dan Emmett. The blackface troupe the Virginia Minstrels popularized "Old Dan Tucker" in 1843, and it quickly became a minstrel hit, behind only "Miss Lucy Long" and "Mary Blane" in popularity during the antebellum period...

The first sheet music edition of "Old Dan Tucker", published in 1843, is a song of boasts and nonsense in the vein of previous minstrel hits such as "Jump Jim Crow" and "Gumbo Chaff". In exaggerated Black Vernacular English, the lyrics tell of Dan Tucker's exploits in a strange town, where he fights, gets drunk, overeats, and breaks other social taboos. Minstrel troupes freely added and removed verses, and folk singers have since added hundreds more. Parodies and political versions are also known"... 
-snip-
Early versions of "Old Dan Tucker" include verses with what is now commonly referred to as "the n word".  

Examples of "went to town" verses in the "Old Dan Tucker" song:

Old Dan Tucker down in town,
A-ridin' a goat and leadin' a hound,
The hound gives a howl an' the goat gives a jump,
An' throwed Old Dan a-straddle of a stump.

**

Old Dan Tucker down in town,
Swingin' the ladies all a-round,
First to the right and then to the left,
An' then to the one that you love best.

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-early 20th century to date-"Riding A Horsey To Town" (and similar titles of babies & young children) knee bouncing rhymes

Here's a description of the performance activity for these rhymes from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kniereitvers:

Kniereitvers (German for "a verse for riding on knees") is a nusery rhyme that is recited while two people play. Usually an older person plays with a younger one (mostly a child), with the child sitting on the older person's knee.

[...]

Accompanying actions

While playing and singing[6] the verses, the child sits on a parent's knees or lap facing the parent. The parent moves the knees up and down, imitating riding a horse. The parent holds on to the child's hands imitating holding reins. When it comes to the part where the parent says "the rider will go plop" the parent opens the legs or knees so that the child slips down towards the floor while holding hands the entire time. The parent will then pull the child back onto the lap.

This little acting game is a lot of fun for the child,[2] anticipating the 'fall' from the 'horse' and being saved by the parent, staying safe and sound.[7]...
-end of quote-

Examples:
From https://www.facebook.com/groups/AppalachianAmericans/posts/10160042147493648/ Ride Horsey Knee Bouncing Examples from Appalachian Americans Facebook page
[These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.]
1. Jackie Meadows, 2022
"The version I remember is

"Dr. Jones going downtown
Riding a billy goat, leading a hound.
The hound gave a bark, the goat gave a jump
And spilled Dr. Jones right straddle of a stump."

The adult would ride the child on their foot and "spill" them when the goat gave a jump. Every child in the family has loved this."

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2. Julia Nichols, 2022
"I remember crossing your legs at knees and a small child would sit on top of foot and you would ride them up and down sing Trot little Horsey go to town watch out Horsey don’t fall down. I heard the song as this. Ida Red,Ida Blue she can put a saddle on a hump back mule,Ida Red going to town riding a Goat and leading a Hound the Hound barked and the Billy Goat jumped throwed Ida Red a straddle of a stump."

**
3. Kathy Carroll, 2022
"Old aunt Sally going downtown. Riding a billy goat leading a hound. Hound barked, billy goat jumped, throwed aunt Sally straddled a stump. (People in NC usually just put the name of the child on their knee in the song tho)"

-end of quotes-
Click __ for upcoming pancocojams post on this subject 

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-early to mid 20th century?- "Buster Brown Went To Town" And "I Went To Town To See Mrs. Brown (or "i Went Downtown Miss Brown" and similar titles)

Information about  the name "Buster Brown"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Brown

Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American public in the early 20th century. The Buster Brown suit reflected his outfit and became very popular for young boys.[1][2][3]

 Origin

The character of Buster Brown may have been loosely based on Granville Hamilton Fisher, a son of Charles and Anna Fisher of Flushing, New York. Outcault copied Fisher's physical appearance for his comic strip. The name "Buster" came from the popularity of Buster Keaton, then a child actor in vaudeville.[4] Roger Cushman Clark (1899–1995) of Deadwood, South Dakota was also described as the "original model" for the Buster Brown character.[5][6]"...

Examples: 
From http://www.seedharvestmusicacademy.org/baby--me.htm
1." Buster Brown went to town,
Riding a billy goat leading a hound.
Hound barked,
Billy Goat jumped,
And threw Buster Brown right over the stump!"

2. From https://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1016?articleID=176751 "Playtime with Buster Brown"
"Buster Brown
Went to town
With his pants
On upside down
He lost a nickel
He bought a pickle
The pickle was sour
He picked a flower
The flower was yellow
He bought him a fellow
The fellow was mean
He bought a bean
The bean was hard
He bought a card
And on the card
It said, "Red hot pepper!"

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3. darwineann , 2007, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080323122038AA6gzqe [This link is no longer active.]
"I went down town, to see Miss Brown. She gave me a nickel, to buy a pickle. The pickle was sour so she gave me a flower. The flower was black so she gave me a smack. The smack was hard so she gave me a card. And on the card it said: Little Spanish dancer turn around(turn around) . Little Spanish dancer touch the ground( and then you touch the ground) . Little Spanish dancer tie your shoe (jump on one leg, pretend to tie shoe). Little Spanish dancer sixty four ski doo" .

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4.Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher, https://elitejumps.co/blogs/guides/jump-rope-rhymes-songs?page=2

I went downtown
To see Ms. Brown,
She gave me a nickel
To buy a pickle,
The pickle was sour,
So I bought a flower.
The flower was dead, she gave me a tack.
The tack was sharp, she gave me a harp.
The harp was broke, she gave me a cloak.
The cloak was tight, she gave me a kite.
The kite away flew, and I did too.
(Player runs out at too)

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-late 20th century? to this date- "I Went Downtown To See Charlie Brown" (or "I Went Downtown To See James Brown") 

information about the name "Charlie Brown" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown
"Charles "Charlie" Brown is the principal character of the American comic strip Peanuts, syndicated in daily and Sunday newspapers in numerous countries all over the world.

[...]

The character's name was first used on May 30, 1948, in an early Schulz comic strip titled Li'l Folks. The character made his official debut in the first Peanuts comic strip on October 2, 1950."...

Information about James Brown from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
"James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music,

[...]

Brown was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 23, 1986. His music has been heavily sampled by hip-hop musicians and other artists.[3]"...

These examples are performed as partner handclap rhymes.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.
1. From https://ezebreezy.com/silly-school-yard-songs1/
"I went downtown
To see Charlie Brown,
He gave me a nickel
To buy a pickle,
The pickle was sour,
So I bought a flower.
The flower was dead, so this is what I said.
Down Down baby, do the roller coaster.
Sweet sweet baby. Never wash the dishes.
Naughty naughty baby, jumping out the window.
Itchy itchy soda pop, you are out.
Itchy itchy soda pop, you are out."

**
2. From Sarah, Octoblog, Schoolyard games; 7/17/2005 [blog no longer active]
"i Went down town to meet charlie brown
he gave me a nickle that bought me a pickle
the pickle was sour so he bought me a flower
the flower was dead so this is what he said:
down down baby down by the rollercoaster
sweet sweet baby never wana let you go
just because i kissed you doesnt mean i love you
shimmy shimmy coco puffs
shimmy shimmy pow
shimmy shimmy coco puffs
shimmy shimmy pow
My momy your momy live across the street
18,19 Alligator street
Boom Bang Choo Choo Train
wind me up i do my thang
( hit the person beside you)
Oops i'm Sorry!"

** 
3,  Avengethe 90s, 2014,
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/2n9rio/miss_mary_mack_and_other_hand_clapping_games/
...."(gonna rock to the treetops all day long, huffin and a puffin and singin that song. all the little birdies on danbird street love to hear the robins go "tweet tweet tweet", rockin robin, tweet tweet, tweetle-eet, rockin robin, tweet tweet, tweetle-eet, mama's in the kitchen burning that rice, daddy's on the corner shooting them dice, brother's in jail, drinking ginger-ale, sister's on the corner selling fruit cocktail. went downtown to see james brown, he gave me a nickel, i bought me a pickle, the pickle was sour, so i bought me a flower, the flower was dead so this is what he said, black power, black power, your daddy needs a shower, don't laugh (haha) don't laugh (haha) your mama needs a bath!)"

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4. AnonymousNovember 13, 2025 
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/01/multiple-examples-of-childrens-rhyme-i.html
"I’m from New Orleans btw but ours was:

I went downtown to see James Brown, he gave me a nickel to buy me a pickle, the pickle too sweet, I want a piece of meat, the meat too rough, I wanna ride the bus, the bus too full, I wanna ride the bull, the bull too black, I want my money back, the money too green, I want some red beans, the beans too hot, I think I gotta fot (“fot” is how we say “fart”)"

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