Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents comments about and text examples of versions of the rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that mention Pop star Michael Jackson and mention the name "Billie Jean" or folk etymology forms of the name "Billie Jean".The content of this post is presented for folkloric, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Michael Jackson for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those whose examples of this rhyme are included in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
This is a complete reprint with only minor changes of the 2014 pancocojams post with the same title.https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/forms-of-name-billie-jean-in-down-by.html. That post has 25 comments as of May 4, 2026 and is still open for comments.
Most of those comments are examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that don't include any folk process forms of the name "Billie Jean".
Most of those comments are examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that don't include any folk process forms of the name "Billie Jean".
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/hey-mr-willy-and-other-folk-processed.html for the related pancocojams post "Hey Mr. Willy" And Other Folk Processed Forms Of "Frog Missed The Lily Pad" In "Down ByThe Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes (with geographical locations)"
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GENERAL OVERVIEW
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" (or similar names) is a very large family of playground (recreational) rhymes) that are very widely known in the United States. These rhymes are either played as a (usually two person) hand clap game or as a mildly competitive, group hand slapping game. The hand clapping game is usually played by children while the hand slapping version of this rhyme is often played by adults as well as children.
I refer to as "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" as those examples that include a reference to pop singer Michael Jackson or a reference to another celebrity (such as "Michael Jordan") whose name probably inadvertently substitutes for Michael Jackson in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes. Read an example of one of those rhymes in the comment section below.
Since the death of Michael Jackson in June 2009 some examples of these long forms of "Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky" no longer refer to Michael Jackson but instead refer to another singer who some fans aren't fond of such as Lady Gaga & Miley Cyrus. Read two examples of those rhymes in the comment section below. Also, some examples of this rhyme that refer to Michael Jackson include "RIP" meaning "Rest In Peace" in parenthesis after that deceased Pop singer's name.
A number of "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" allude to the incident in 1984 when Michael Jackson's hair accidently caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi Cola commercial. However, my sense is that few children who recite those rhymes are aware that those rhymes are based on an actual historical event. Furthermore, most of these "long versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" document the 1980s cola wars between Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola products. Click http://www.businessinsider.com/soda-wars-coca-cola-pepsi-history-infographic-2011-11?op=1 to read about what is known as "the cola wars".
Here's an example of a Michael Jackson version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" which doesn't include any reference to "Billie Jean":
Down by the river with the hanky bankys
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
say an
epp
opp
epp
bop
bop
Skittle dittle curly pop
I pledge allegence to the flag
That Micheal jackson makes me gag
Diet Pepsi came to town
Coca-Cola pushed him down
Orange soda picked him up
Now I'm drinking 7 up
7up caught the flu
Now I'm drinking Moutain Dew
Moutain Dew fell off the moutain
Now I'm drinking from a fountian
Foutain Broke
Now I'm drinking plain old Coke
-Guest; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=940347/15/2007 "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky", July 15, 2007
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THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN"
In Michael Jackson's record "Billie Jean", the name "Billie Jean" is a female's first name. That first name is made up of two personal names- "Billie" and "Jean". A personal name that is made up of two independent names is called a "double name".
The name "Billie" is rarely used for females. A famous woman with the name "Billie" was the African American jazz singer "Billie Holliday". However, probably very few children in 1982 when Michael Jackson wrote and recorded his record were familiar with Billie Holliday and unfortunately, even fewer children in the 2020s are familiar with Billie Holliday.
One of the most common example of folk processing the name "Billie Jean" in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes is writing "jeans" or "gene" instead of writing the name "Jean".
Another common folk processed version of the name "Billie Jean" is "jelly bean". Since jelly bean candies are so familiar in the United States and the female name "Billie Jean" is so unfamiliar, it's not surprising that some children unknowingly substituted that name for "jelly beans".
I've expanded the category of "folk processing forms of the name "Billie Jean" in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes to not only include words such as "levi jeans" or a word such as "jelly bean" but to also include the use of the words "Billie Jean" in ways that suggest that the person doesn't know that "Billie Jean" is a name (let alone a female's name). Two examples from this pancocojams compilation are "bilajean has no caffeine" and "jellybean is outa sight"
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SHOWCASE VIDEO OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S SONG "BILLIE JEAN"
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
michaeljacksonVEVO, Uploaded on Oct 2, 2009
Music video by Michael Jackson performing Billie Jean. © 1982 MJJ Productions Inc.
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SELECTED RHYME EXAMPLES
These ten examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first. The line that includes the name "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of "Billie Jean" is given in italics to highlight it and not because that line is emphasized when that rhyme is chanted.
Example #1
Down by the river near the hankey pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank,
and they say E I O U,
your momma stinks and so do you
so ping pong ding dong
your daddy smells like king kong.
Ask your teacher what she wears,
polka dotted underwear.
Not too big and not too small,
just the size of city hall.
Michael Jackson went to town,
coca-cola brought him down.
Coca-cola brought him up,
now he's drinking 7up.
7up with no cafiene, now he's seein' belgain (pronounced beligene).
Belgain is outta sight,
now we're talking dynamite.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BAM!
-Veggie; cocojams.com [website no longer active] August 21, 2006
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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?, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 [hereafter given as Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 21, 2008]
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Example #3
down by the river side hanky panky
were the bullfrogs jump from bank
saying a-e-i-o-u bamboo
a-e-i-o-u bamboo
michel jakson came to town
coca cola shot hem down
dr.pepper fixed him
up now were talking 7-up
7-up has no cafene
now were talking bilajean
bilajean has no caffeine
no caffene no caffeine
1234 shut the door enless u ant to here more
-Guest, maeson A., Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, June 27, 2008
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Example #4
Down by the river with the hank to pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jackson sings so bad
coca cola roots me up
now we're talkin 7Up
7Up has no caffine
now we're talkin billy gene
billy gene whent outta sight
now we're talkin bobby white
bobby white went out of town
riding on a rocket
stuck a feather in his hat
and called it hershey's chocolate"
-Guest, Deana Ashley :); http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 "I’m Rubber; You’re Glue", August 24, 2008
-snip-
"out of sight" = a 1960s African American originated vernacular phrase that meant "exceptional". However, in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes "out of sight" is almost always given its literal meaning of "someone or something that people are unable to see".
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Example #5
Down by the bank by the hanky pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
singing eeeps ops ohps ooops
listen to the rythym of the ding dang dong
michael jackson went to town
pepsi cola shot him down
dr. pepper fixed him up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffiene
now we're billie jean
billie jean went down the street singing
dooo waaah diddy didy dum diddy dooo
-Guest; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; November 6, 2009
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Example #6
Down by the bank of the hanky panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
To the Hip Hop Shirley Pop,
I pledge allegience to the flag,
of Michael Jackson makes me gag,
Coca-Cola burnt his butt,
Now he's drinking Seven-Up
Seven-Up has no caffeine,
So Now he's drinking Jelly Bean
Jelly Bean is out of sight,
So Now he's drinking Sprite
Spell it!
S-P-R-I-T-E!
-Guest, Madison from Metro Detroit, Michigan; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; March 31, 2010
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Example #7
mine goes like:down by the banks of hanky tank
were the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes ums
skiddle diddle dong
my brother smells like king kong
pledge allegiance to the flag
micheal jackson is a rat
coca cola blew up
now im drinking 7up
7up has got caffeine
no im drinking billy jean
billy jean is out of sigh
now im drinking sunny light
say 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
your out
-MegaGirlzation, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=O2CSWmfiNKM; 2010
-snip-
"no" is probably a typo for the word "now".
"out of sigh" is a folk etymology form of the phrase "out of sight".
"your" = "you are"
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Example #8
down by the banks of the hanky panks
fe fi fo fom me say ding dang dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
Michel Jackson makes me gag
cocola fizes up
now i am talking 7up
7up has no caffeine now
i am talking jelly bean
jellybean is outa sight
now i im talking dynamite
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 boom
and who ever boom land on is out
-Kissyxblythe; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk, 2011
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Example #9
Down by the banks of the hanky pank,
where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank,
sayin eeps, ipes, opes, oops,
listen to the rhythm of the ding dang dong.
Micheal Jackson went to town,
pepsi cola shot im down
Dr Pepper fixed im up,
now were talkin 7up
7up has no caffine,
now were talkin billy jean.
billy jean was walking down the street singin,
Ooh, I diddy diddy dum diddy doo.
Lincoln, Lincoln I been thinkin.
what on earth have you been drinkin
is it whiskey is it wine
OMG its turpentine 123...9
-MufinCat123, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, 2011
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Example #10
Its this:
Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Oops i said yo booty stanky.
Oooh Ahh Skit Skat,
big fat dirty rat.
I pledge alegence to the flag.
Michael jackson is my dad.
Coca cola burning up,
now its time for 7-up.
7-up had no cafine,
now its time for Billy jean.
Billy jean went out of town riding on a pony,
stuck a feather in his head
and called it macaroni.
-uallnomecuz; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, January 2012
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GENERAL OVERVIEW
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" (or similar names) is a very large family of playground (recreational) rhymes) that are very widely known in the United States. These rhymes are either played as a (usually two person) hand clap game or as a mildly competitive, group hand slapping game. The hand clapping game is usually played by children while the hand slapping version of this rhyme is often played by adults as well as children.
I refer to as "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" as those examples that include a reference to pop singer Michael Jackson or a reference to another celebrity (such as "Michael Jordan") whose name probably inadvertently substitutes for Michael Jackson in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes. Read an example of one of those rhymes in the comment section below.
Since the death of Michael Jackson in June 2009 some examples of these long forms of "Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky" no longer refer to Michael Jackson but instead refer to another singer who some fans aren't fond of such as Lady Gaga & Miley Cyrus. Read two examples of those rhymes in the comment section below. Also, some examples of this rhyme that refer to Michael Jackson include "RIP" meaning "Rest In Peace" in parenthesis after that deceased Pop singer's name.
A number of "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" allude to the incident in 1984 when Michael Jackson's hair accidently caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi Cola commercial. However, my sense is that few children who recite those rhymes are aware that those rhymes are based on an actual historical event. Furthermore, most of these "long versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" document the 1980s cola wars between Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola products. Click http://www.businessinsider.com/soda-wars-coca-cola-pepsi-history-infographic-2011-11?op=1 to read about what is known as "the cola wars".
WARNING: Some examples of "Michael Jackson versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" include homophobic language or homophobic references. However, the examples featured in this post don't contain such language.
To date (December 2023) , I've not found any examples of Michael Jackson versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" in any books of children's playground rhymes.
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OVERVIEW ABOUT THESE RHYMES WITH THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" OR WITH A FOLK PROCESSED FORM OF THAT NAME
Some "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" are long form versions of that hand clapping or hand slapping rhyme* that include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name. However, "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" don't always include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name.
* "Hand slapping games" is my term for recreational elimination games that are performed in a circle. The people forming the circle slap the hands with each word and the last person whose hand is slapped in an iteration of a chant is out. This process continues until there are only two people left from that circle. Those people hand slap each other or play rock, paper, scissor until one person misses or is out which means the other person is the winner.
To date (December 2023) , I've not found any examples of Michael Jackson versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" in any books of children's playground rhymes.
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OVERVIEW ABOUT THESE RHYMES WITH THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" OR WITH A FOLK PROCESSED FORM OF THAT NAME
Some "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" are long form versions of that hand clapping or hand slapping rhyme* that include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name. However, "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" don't always include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name.
* "Hand slapping games" is my term for recreational elimination games that are performed in a circle. The people forming the circle slap the hands with each word and the last person whose hand is slapped in an iteration of a chant is out. This process continues until there are only two people left from that circle. Those people hand slap each other or play rock, paper, scissor until one person misses or is out which means the other person is the winner.
Here's an example of a Michael Jackson version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" which doesn't include any reference to "Billie Jean":
Down by the river with the hanky bankys
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
say an
epp
opp
epp
bop
bop
Skittle dittle curly pop
I pledge allegence to the flag
That Micheal jackson makes me gag
Diet Pepsi came to town
Coca-Cola pushed him down
Orange soda picked him up
Now I'm drinking 7 up
7up caught the flu
Now I'm drinking Moutain Dew
Moutain Dew fell off the moutain
Now I'm drinking from a fountian
Foutain Broke
Now I'm drinking plain old Coke
-Guest; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=940347/15/2007 "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky", July 15, 2007
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THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN"
In Michael Jackson's record "Billie Jean", the name "Billie Jean" is a female's first name. That first name is made up of two personal names- "Billie" and "Jean". A personal name that is made up of two independent names is called a "double name".
In the United States, most people have one first name. However, it's not completely out of the ordinary for females or for males to have a first name that is a double name.
The names "Billy Ray" and "Billy Bob" are examples of male double names. These male names are type casted (negatively perceived) as Southern (country i.e. poor or working class) male names.
In contrast, the custom of giving double names to females is largely associated with the Catholic religion, particularly when the first name in that double name is "Mary". Some common examples in the United States (particularly pre 1980s) are "Mary Ann", "Mary Jane" and "Mary Beth".
The names "Billy Ray" and "Billy Bob" are examples of male double names. These male names are type casted (negatively perceived) as Southern (country i.e. poor or working class) male names.
In contrast, the custom of giving double names to females is largely associated with the Catholic religion, particularly when the first name in that double name is "Mary". Some common examples in the United States (particularly pre 1980s) are "Mary Ann", "Mary Jane" and "Mary Beth".
Similar to the male "Billie" double names, the female double name "Billie Jean" is mostly associated with the American South with probably the same negative connotations of the male "Billie" double names.
The name "Billie" is rarely used for females. A famous woman with the name "Billie" was the African American jazz singer "Billie Holliday". However, probably very few children in 1982 when Michael Jackson wrote and recorded his record were familiar with Billie Holliday and unfortunately, even fewer children in the 2020s are familiar with Billie Holliday.
It's possible that a female who has the birth name (i.e. "government name"- the name on a person's official birth certificate) "Billie Jean" was named after their father whose name was "William" and whose nickname was "Billie", and also was named after their mother whose name was "Jean".
A female named "Wilhelmina" may have the nickname "Willie" which is almost always perceived as a male name. I suppose it's possible that a female named "Wilhelmina" could have the nickname "Billie".
(A Black woman who was a friend of my mothers when I was growing up in New Jersey was sometimes called "Willie". However, her name was "Willa Mae" (which is another female double name.)
A female named "Wilhelmina" may have the nickname "Willie" which is almost always perceived as a male name. I suppose it's possible that a female named "Wilhelmina" could have the nickname "Billie".
(A Black woman who was a friend of my mothers when I was growing up in New Jersey was sometimes called "Willie". However, her name was "Willa Mae" (which is another female double name.)
In the United States, the name "Jean" is almost always considered to be a female name, but the name "Eugene" and its shortened form "Gene" are always masculine names.
When Michael Jackson wrote the song "Billie Jean" some Americans were familiar with the professional tennis star named Billie Jean King.In spite of that example, the name "Billie Jean" wasn't a common first name for females then and isn't a common name for females now. And that's the main reason why the name "Billie Jean" has been transformed into so many different words in examples of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.
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FOLK PROCESSING THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" IN "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" RHYMES
When Michael Jackson wrote the song "Billie Jean" some Americans were familiar with the professional tennis star named Billie Jean King.In spite of that example, the name "Billie Jean" wasn't a common first name for females then and isn't a common name for females now. And that's the main reason why the name "Billie Jean" has been transformed into so many different words in examples of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.
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FOLK PROCESSING THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" IN "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" RHYMES
Folk processing (also known as "folk etymology") is a process in which the spelling or pronunciation of a word or phrase is changed or an unfamiliar word or phrase is replaced with a more familiar word phrase or sound. Folk processing occurs because of mishearing, misremembering, or a mistaken assumption about that unfamiliar word or phrase.
One of the most common example of folk processing the name "Billie Jean" in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes is writing "jeans" or "gene" instead of writing the name "Jean".
Because the name "Billie Jean" is so rarely used in the United States, children who hear that name may mistake it for the word "jean" (meaning a very commonly worn type of pants ("blue jeans") .
Another common folk processed version of the name "Billie Jean" is "jelly bean". Since jelly bean candies are so familiar in the United States and the female name "Billie Jean" is so unfamiliar, it's not surprising that some children unknowingly substituted that name for "jelly beans".
I've expanded the category of "folk processing forms of the name "Billie Jean" in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes to not only include words such as "levi jeans" or a word such as "jelly bean" but to also include the use of the words "Billie Jean" in ways that suggest that the person doesn't know that "Billie Jean" is a name (let alone a female's name). Two examples from this pancocojams compilation are "bilajean has no caffeine" and "jellybean is outa sight"
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SHOWCASE VIDEO OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S SONG "BILLIE JEAN"
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
michaeljacksonVEVO, Uploaded on Oct 2, 2009
Music video by Michael Jackson performing Billie Jean. © 1982 MJJ Productions Inc.
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SELECTED RHYME EXAMPLES
These ten examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first. The line that includes the name "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of "Billie Jean" is given in italics to highlight it and not because that line is emphasized when that rhyme is chanted.
Example #1
Down by the river near the hankey pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank,
and they say E I O U,
your momma stinks and so do you
so ping pong ding dong
your daddy smells like king kong.
Ask your teacher what she wears,
polka dotted underwear.
Not too big and not too small,
just the size of city hall.
Michael Jackson went to town,
coca-cola brought him down.
Coca-cola brought him up,
now he's drinking 7up.
7up with no cafiene, now he's seein' belgain (pronounced beligene).
Belgain is outta sight,
now we're talking dynamite.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BAM!
-Veggie; cocojams.com [website no longer active] August 21, 2006
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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?, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 [hereafter given as Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 21, 2008]
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Example #3
down by the river side hanky panky
were the bullfrogs jump from bank
saying a-e-i-o-u bamboo
a-e-i-o-u bamboo
michel jakson came to town
coca cola shot hem down
dr.pepper fixed him
up now were talking 7-up
7-up has no cafene
now were talking bilajean
bilajean has no caffeine
no caffene no caffeine
1234 shut the door enless u ant to here more
-Guest, maeson A., Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, June 27, 2008
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Example #4
Down by the river with the hank to pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jackson sings so bad
coca cola roots me up
now we're talkin 7Up
7Up has no caffine
now we're talkin billy gene
billy gene whent outta sight
now we're talkin bobby white
bobby white went out of town
riding on a rocket
stuck a feather in his hat
and called it hershey's chocolate"
-Guest, Deana Ashley :); http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 "I’m Rubber; You’re Glue", August 24, 2008
-snip-
"out of sight" = a 1960s African American originated vernacular phrase that meant "exceptional". However, in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes "out of sight" is almost always given its literal meaning of "someone or something that people are unable to see".
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Example #5
Down by the bank by the hanky pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
singing eeeps ops ohps ooops
listen to the rythym of the ding dang dong
michael jackson went to town
pepsi cola shot him down
dr. pepper fixed him up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffiene
now we're billie jean
billie jean went down the street singing
dooo waaah diddy didy dum diddy dooo
-Guest; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; November 6, 2009
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Example #6
Down by the bank of the hanky panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
To the Hip Hop Shirley Pop,
I pledge allegience to the flag,
of Michael Jackson makes me gag,
Coca-Cola burnt his butt,
Now he's drinking Seven-Up
Seven-Up has no caffeine,
So Now he's drinking Jelly Bean
Jelly Bean is out of sight,
So Now he's drinking Sprite
Spell it!
S-P-R-I-T-E!
-Guest, Madison from Metro Detroit, Michigan; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; March 31, 2010
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Example #7
mine goes like:down by the banks of hanky tank
were the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes ums
skiddle diddle dong
my brother smells like king kong
pledge allegiance to the flag
micheal jackson is a rat
coca cola blew up
now im drinking 7up
7up has got caffeine
no im drinking billy jean
billy jean is out of sigh
now im drinking sunny light
say 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
your out
-MegaGirlzation, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=O2CSWmfiNKM; 2010
-snip-
"no" is probably a typo for the word "now".
"out of sigh" is a folk etymology form of the phrase "out of sight".
"your" = "you are"
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Example #8
down by the banks of the hanky panks
fe fi fo fom me say ding dang dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
Michel Jackson makes me gag
cocola fizes up
now i am talking 7up
7up has no caffeine now
i am talking jelly bean
jellybean is outa sight
now i im talking dynamite
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 boom
and who ever boom land on is out
-Kissyxblythe; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk, 2011
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Example #9
Down by the banks of the hanky pank,
where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank,
sayin eeps, ipes, opes, oops,
listen to the rhythm of the ding dang dong.
Micheal Jackson went to town,
pepsi cola shot im down
Dr Pepper fixed im up,
now were talkin 7up
7up has no caffine,
now were talkin billy jean.
billy jean was walking down the street singin,
Ooh, I diddy diddy dum diddy doo.
Lincoln, Lincoln I been thinkin.
what on earth have you been drinkin
is it whiskey is it wine
OMG its turpentine 123...9
-MufinCat123, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, 2011
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Example #10
Its this:
Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Oops i said yo booty stanky.
Oooh Ahh Skit Skat,
big fat dirty rat.
I pledge alegence to the flag.
Michael jackson is my dad.
Coca cola burning up,
now its time for 7-up.
7-up had no cafine,
now its time for Billy jean.
Billy jean went out of town riding on a pony,
stuck a feather in his head
and called it macaroni.
-uallnomecuz; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, January 2012
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