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Showing posts with label American children's rhymes and cheers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American children's rhymes and cheers. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Hand Clap Rhymes That Include The "Winston Taste Good" Cigarette Jingle Or Adaptations Of That Jingle



Winston Cigarettes Commercial (1955)

Throwback, Oct 15, 2009

 • SUMMARY •

"Winston tastes good like a *clap* *clap* cigarette should!"  This is the classic commercial from 1955 with the catchy slogan used from 1954 (when Winston was introduced) to 1972 in advertising campaigns.  The first appearance of the slogan was on a print ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in September 1954.

________________________________________________

 

THIS VIDEO DOES NOT ENDORSE TOBACCO USE!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post documents a few examples of  the LARGE family of children's rhymes that include the "Winston Taste Good" cigarette jingle or adapted versions of that jingle.

These rhymes are part of the even LARGER "Oo ah I wanna piece of pie" / "take a peach, take a plum" family of children's recreational rhymes.

This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on brand names in children's recreational rhymes.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/08/brand-names-jump-rope-hand-clap-rhymes.html for the 2017  pancocojams post entitled "Brand Names In Children's Jump Rope & Hand Clap Rhymes". 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This pancocojams post does not promote cigarette smoking. These examples are presented to document how American children often combine a line or lines from product jingles with verses from recreational rhymes to create another rhyme. 

Notice how some of the examples in this compilation suggests that the chanters didn't know that "Winston" is a brand name for cigarettes. Also, notice that in two of the examples in this compilation "Winston" is changed to "Snickers". "Snickers" is a brand name for a chocolate candy bar.     

The earliest example that I've come across for the "Winston Taste Good" cigarette jingle in children's rhymes or adaptations of that cigarette jingle is 1967. If you remember that rhyme from the 1960s (or earlier), please share the example you remember in the comment section below. Remember to add demographic information, especially the year (decade) you remember chanting this rhyme or hearing it chanted, and the city/state or country if outside of the United States) where you chanted this rhyme. Thanks in advance!

****
EARLY SOURCES FOR THE "OO AH I WANNA PIECE OF PIE" LINES IN THESE RHYMES
quoting https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5610
"The oldest known version of this rhyme goes back to the childhood of Richard Wright who grew up in the 1910's – 20's. It can be found in his short story called, "Big Boy Leaves Home" from Uncle Tom's Children (1938)…

Bye n bye
Ah wanna piece of pie
Pies too sweet
Ah wanna piece of meat
Meats too red
Ah wanna piece of bread
Breads too brown
Ah wanna go t town
Towns too far
Ah wanna ketch a car
Cars too fas
Ah fall n break mah a*s
Ah'll understan it better bye n bye ."

**
Another 
early example of the "oo ah I wanna piece of pie" line in these children's recreational rhymes is found in Fats Waller's 1941Jazz song "Eep, Ipe, Wanna Piece Of Pie". Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z61bvAdlM4o&ab_channel=OnlyJazzHQ for a sound file of that song. 

****
EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S RHYMES THAT INCLUDE THE WINSTON TASTE GOOD JINGLE OR ADAPTATIONS OF THAT JINGLE

These examples are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes. 

1. "
Hand clapping game 

Winston tastes good like a cigarette should like oh ah wanta piece of pie pie to sweet, want a piece of meat meat to tough, want ride a bus bus to full want to ride a bull bull to fast want my money back money to green want a jelly bean bean to red want to go to bed now close your eyes and count to ten, if you miss start over again 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10"
- 
http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml

**
2. "
I know this one…

Winston smells good
Just like a (pause) coconut
Just like a — ooh Ahh
I want a piece of pie
pie’s too sweet
I want a piece of meat
meat’s too tough
I want to ride a bus
bus’s too full
I want to buy a mule
mule’s too fast
I want my money back
money’s back to clean
I want a jumpin’ bean
jumpin’ bean to hot
I want to lick the pot
pot’s not there
I want to dye my hair
Hair’s too wet
I want to make a bet
game’s been fixed
I want to take some pics
pics all blurry
I want to eat some curry
curry too gray
I want to go and play
ground too muddy
I want to see my buddy
time’s too late
I think i have a date
date’s in a hole
I want to hug a vole
vole’s too vile
I guess I’ll wait awhile
Time’s clocked up
I want to spend a buck
store’s all closed
I want to strike a pose
pose too cute
I want to go on mute
mute too long
I want to sing a song
voice too bad
I want to start a fad
fads too red
I want to go to bed
beds not made
I want some lemonade
lemonade’s too sour
we have the power
to close out eyes
and count to ten
whoever messes up
starts all over again
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
we didn’t mess up
so thats the end!"
-
Emily Kassie ,  https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, June 25, 2008
-snip-
mamalisa.com's blog page has A LOT of examples of "Oo Ah I Wanna Piece Of Pie"/"Take A Peach Take A Plum"  rhymes. A number of those examples begin with the "Winston Taste Good" jingle or an adaptation of that jingle. A few more examples from that page are included in this pancocojams compilation.

**
3. "This is what I remember from when i was a child. (with hand movements)


Snickers is good,
just like a candy bar should be
with a
umm ahh,
Wanna piece of pie
pie to sweet
wanna piece of meat
meat to rough
gotta ride the bus
bus to full
gotta rid a bull
bull to fast
want my money back
money to green
want a jelly bean
bean to red,
gotta go to bed
bed to soft
throw the pillow off
now close your eyes and
count to ten
if you mess up, try again
1

2

3…."
-Pat, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, July 20th, 2008 

**
4. "Winstin smells good just like a coke-a-nut just like a ooh ahh

i wanna piece of pie, too sweet i wanna piece of meat, meat too tough i wanna ride a bus, bus too full i wanna ride a bull bull too black i want my money back money back too free i want a maple-tree maple tree too green i wanna a jellybean jellybean not cooked i wanna read a book book not read i wanna go to bed bed not made i wanna a lemonaid lemonaid too sour i wanna take a shower shower too cool i wanna go to school let’s get the power to count to ten and the loser has to start all over again 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10"
-Cucci. https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, December 7th, 2009

**
5. "This is the version I learned a few years ago.

Winston smells good just like a,
cigarette just like a,
ooh ah,
I wanna piece o’ pie,
pie too sweet I wanna piece o’ meat,
Meat too tough, I wanna ride a bus,
Bus too full, I wanna ride a bull,
Bull too black, I want my money back,
Money back not free, I wanna jellybean
Jellybean not cooked, I wanna read a book
Book too read, I wanna go to bed
Bed not made, I want some lemonade,
lemonade too sour, we’ve got the power,
close your eyes and count to ten,
whoever messes up starts it all over again
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.

The way I learned it was with hand movements too, after you go through it once, you start over but also jumping up and down. The third time, you do it jogging on the spot.
-emily, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, Jan. 24, 2010

**
6. "Winston so sweet just like a coconut, just like a ooh ahh I wanna peice of pie, pie too sweet! I wanna peice of meat, meat too tough I wanna ride a bus, bus too full I wanna buy a bull, bull not black I want my money back, money not green, I want some jelly beans, jelly beans not cooked I wanna read a book, book is read I wanna go to bed bed not made I went some lemonade, lemonade too sour now we got the power to count to ten, whomever messes up has to start again, so 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 no one messed up so I guess this is the end!"
-Kiara Marie, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, June 3rd, 2012 

**
7. "Winston smells good just like a chocolate chip just like a…
Oo ah i want a piece of pie
pie to sweet
i want a piece of meat
meat to tough
i want to ride a bus
bus to full a want to ride a bull
bull to black
i want my money back
money not back i want to take a nap
bed not made
i want some lemon aid
lemon aid to sour
i want to take a shower
shower not clean
i want a jelly bean
jelly bean not cooked
i want to read a book
book to boring
now i’m mad
close my eyes and count to ten
who ever stops is a buffle head!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10"
-Cameryn, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/,June 25th, 2012 

**
8. "Winston smells sweet just like a

Can of Coca-Cola

Ooh, ah, I want a piece of pie

Pie too sweet I want a piece of meat

Meat too tough, I want to ride a bus

Bus too full, I want to ride a bull

Bull too black, I want my money back

Money back too cheap, I want a jellybean

Jellybean not cooked, I want to read a book

Book not read, I want to go to bed

Bed not made, I want some lemonade

Lemonade too sour, but we’ve got the power

So let’s close our eyes and count to ten,

Whoever messes up starts all over again

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

We didn’t mess up, so that’s the end"
-Michelle,  https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, September 15th, 2012 

**
9. "
Winston smells good just like a coconut just like a ooh a i wanna piece of pie,pie to sweet i wanna piece of meat,meat not cooked i wanna read a book,book not read i wanna go to bed,bed not made i want some lemonade,lemonade to sour stay up for an hour,thats all i know."
-Yolo, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/ May 1, 2013

**
10. "My friends told me.


Winston smells good just like a

coconut just like a ooh ahh

I want a piece of pie

pie to sweet I want a piece of meat

meat to rough I want to ride a bus

bus too full I want to ride a bull

bull not black I want my money back

money back to green I want a jelly bean

jelly bean not cooked i want to read a book

book not read i want to go to bed

bed not made i want some lemonade

lemonade to sour i want to take a shower

shower to cool i want to go to school

school to dumb i want to suck my thumb

thumb to dirty i want to ride a birdie

birdie to slow and thats all i know so close your eyes and count to 10

who ever messes up starts all over again.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 

(If some one messes up)
Someone messed up so we need to start again

(If no one messes up)

No one messed up so thats the end

we do not need to sing this game again!
-Alex, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/ , May 30th, 2015 

**
11. "Winston smells good just like a. Coconut just like a

ohh ahh I wanna piece of pie pie too sweet I wanna piece of meat

meat too tough I wanna ride a bus

Bus too full I wanna ride a bull

bull to black I want my money back money back to green I wanna jellybean

Jellybean not cooked I wanna a read a book

book already read I wanna go to bed

bed not made I want some lemonade

lemonade too sour I wanna take a shower

shower too cool I wanna go to school

School not awesome I wanna ride a possum

Possum too slow but that’s all we now so we close our eyes and count to ten

Whoever messes up has to start again so

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

We didn’t mess up so that’s the end
-Angel, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, May 21, 2015

**
12. 
"The version I remember is sung to the old Winston cigarette jingle.

Winston taste good like. A cigarette should . Winston taste. Like ahh I want a. A piece of Pie. Pie too sweet. Want a piece of . meat. meat too tough. Want to ride the bus. . bus too full. Want to ride a bull. Bull too black Want to go back to my old Cadillac. Bonk Bonk.


We sang this along with clapping like patty cake. And I learned this version sometime between 1971 & 1973, when I was in the 5th and 6th grade."

-Sandra, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/July 25th, 2018 

**
13. "I learned:

Winston tastes good just like a piece of pie

just like a ohh ahh I wanna piece of pie

pie to sweet, I wanna piece of meat

meat to tough, I wanna ride a bus

bus too full, I wanna ride a bull

bull not black, want my money back

money not green, I wanna a jelly bean

jellybean not cooked, I wanna read a book

book not read, I wanna go to bed

bed not made, I want some lemonade

lemonade too sour, we’ve got the power to count to ten

who ever messes up starts over again

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

we didn’t mess up so thats the end
-Kat, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, March 19th, 2018

 **
14. 
"Learned this in 6th grade inner city NYC school. 1967. It was performed as a Black Rap. OO i wanna piece of pie, pie too sweet, wanna piece of meat, meat too tough wanna ride a bus, bus too full wanna ride a bull, bull too black want my money back, Winston tastes bad like the one i just had no filter no taste just a god da-n* .40 cent waste."

-MATTHEW MESHEKOFF, https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-%E2%80%9Cwant-to-read-a-book-book-done-read/, July 18th, 2019 

-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this example. 

**
15. "
I learned it at summer camp as a clapping game:

Winston tastes good just like a cigarette should

Just like an - ooh, ah, I want a piece of pie

Pie too sweet, I want a piece of meat

Meat too brown, I want to go to town

Town too far, I'll have to take a car

Car too black, I want my money back

Money too green, I want a limosine

..... I want some lemonade

Lemonade too sour, by now we have the power

To close our eyes and count to ten

Whoever messes up has to do it again.

And at this point, the clapping pattern got more complicated and the players closed their eyes and counted to ten.

-Guest, Chocolate Pi; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926 "Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie", October 10, 2000

**
16. "
Snickers they taste just like a, candy bar just like a.

Ohh Ahh I wan't some pie,

pie to sweet I want a piece of meat,

meat to tough I want to ride the bus,

bus too full I want to ride a bull,

bull to flat I want my money back,

Money back 2 3 I want a jelly bean,

Jelly bean to red I want to go to bed,

bed no made I want a cream egg,

This is how I count to ten,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Start again.
-GUEST,Lalala, http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926&desc=yes : RE: Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie, 06, Jul, [20]11

**
17. "
I learned it like this...

Winston tastes good just like a

Cigarette just like a

Ooo ah I wanna piece of pie

Pie to sweet I wanna piece of meat

Meat to tough I wanna ride a bus

Bus to full I wanna ride a bull

Bull not black I want my money back

Money back to green I wanna jelly bean

Jelly bean not cooked I wanna read a book

Book not read I wanna go to bed

Bed not made I want some lemonade

Lemonade to sour I wanna take a shower

Shower to cold I wanna piece of gold

Gold to shiny I wanna kiss a heinie

Heinie too dirty I wanna count to thirty

Thirty too high I wanna say goodbye

Goodbye too sad I wanna call my dad

Dad too tall I wanna go to the mall

Mall not cheap I wanna say beep beep

Close your eyes

Count to ten

Whoever messes up starts all over again so

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

We didn't mess up so that's the end"
-Guest, http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926&desc=yes : RE: Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie, 05 Aug  [20] 17 

**
18. "Winston tastes good just like a cigarette should

ou ah I want a piece of pie

pie too sweet

I want a piece of meat

meat too rough

I wanna ride a bus

bus too full

I wanna. Ride a bull

bull to black

I want my money back

money back too green

I want a jelly bean

jelly bean too red

I wanna go to bed

bed not made

I want some lemonade

lemonade too sour

I wanna take a shower

shower too cool

I wanna go to school

schools too dumb

I wanna sck my thumb

thumb too dirty I wanna ride a biddy

birdy too slow

and that's all I know

so close you're eyes

count to ten

if you mess up start all over again

(count to ten)"
 GUEST,Anonomyums. http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926&desc=yes : RE: Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie, 26 Sept,[20]10

**
19. "Winston stays good just like a, candy should, just like a

Oooh Ahh

Want a piece of pie

pie too sweet

want a piece of meat

meat too tough

want to ride the bus

bus too full

want to ride a bull

bull too fat

want my money back

money back

money too green

want a jelly bean

jelly bean too red

want to go to bed

bed not made

want some lemonade

lemonade too sour

want to take a shower

shower too cool

want to go to school

school to dumb

want to suck my thumb

suck my thumb

suck my thumb
-Guest, http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926&desc=yes : RE: Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie, 20 Oct. [20] 11

 **
20. "
You changed the words! It’s actually: Windson smells good just like a, coconut just like a. Ooh ahh! I want a piece of pie, pie too sweet I want a piece of meat. Meat to tuff I want to ride a bus. Bus too full I want to ride a bull. Bull to fat I want my money back. Money back too green I want a jellybean. Jellybean to sour I want to take a shower. Shower too cool I want to go to school. School too dumb I want to lick me thumb. Thumb too dirty I want to ride a birdy. Birdy to slow and that’s all I know so close your eyes and count to ten, whoever messes up has to start again! “ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10”. We didn’t mess up so that’s the end! You changed up a few words in their and made a new version."
-PB - 08CR 728122 Alloa PS,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP2WtPXTV7A&ab_channel=JanetAtkinson. Winston One Stand Hand Game, [comment, 2018]

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Sunday, October 25, 2020

Examples Of The Children's Rhyme "Two Lips" Or "Tulips Together" (also known as "The Spades Go")

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision- May 30, 2026

This pancocojams post provides a compilation of some examples of the children's rhymes that are known as "Two Lips" (also known as "Tulips together" or "The Spades Go" or other titles (first lines).   

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

 All copyrights remain with their owners.

 Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Some of these examples were previously included in this 2012 pancocojams post or its comment section:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html "The REAL Meaning Of "The Spades Go" & "The Space Go" In Playground Rhymes".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-saying-call-spade-spade-article.html for this closely related 2016 pancocojams post entitled "The Saying "Call A Spade A Spade" (article excerpts & comments)".

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/examples-of-spades-go-two-lips-together.html for the 2025 pancocojams post entitled "More Examples Of Children's Rhymes That Include The Phrase "The Spades Go" Or "The Space Goes" (except for "Two Lips"/Tulips Together" Rhymes).

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES (revised Oct. 26, 2020
My position is that the children's rhymes that are most widely known in the United States as "Two Lips", "Tulips Together" or "The Spades Go" are folk processed forms of the words "true love forever" or "true love together". Notice the example given as #1 below with its words " true love together/twilight forever".


It's not surprising that "tulips together" would be part of a rhyme about love given this quote: 
https://flowermeanings.org/tulip-flower-meaning/#:~:text=Tulip%20and%20the%20love%20symbolism,for%20Valentine's
"
Tulip is one of the most recognized and beloved flowers in the world. It is universally known as the symbol of love and romance, and people usually gift this flower to the person they love. Tulip flower has a very long history of existence and it was often used as a symbol in art and literature. Tulip flowers can often be found in poems and in paintings of many famous artists. Their presence represented something symbolical that needed to be transferred to the viewer or to the person reading a poem


[..]


Bright red Tulips symbolize love and passion. This is the perfect bouquet of flowers you can send to someone you love and adore. This is the right kind of message you want to pass on to this special person"...
-end of quote- 

Some versions of "two lips"/"tulips together" rhymes and certain other recreational begin with or contain the words  "the spades go" or "the space goes". I believe that "the space goes" is a folk processed form of "the spades go".  

I don't think that most children who chanted these "Two Lips" (Tulips Together" rhymes or other recreational rhymes with the words "the spades go" knew the history of the word "spade" and that it was used as a referent for Black people.

Furthermore, when I come across the word "spades" in children's rhymes, y used now and I don't consider it a slur. 
Saying "the spades go" was a way of attributing the words of those rhymes or the way the rhymes were performed to Black people (or more specifically, to Black girls). That attribution lent authenticity to those rhymes and/or to their performance activities. That was because Black girls were (and still are) considered to be the arbiters of "the real way" that those songs or those hand clap rhymes were/are supposed to be sung, or chanted and performed.

This was/is partly because Black girls were/are considered to be the sources of many of these rhymes, or were/are considered to be the "coolest" or "hippest" examples of how those rhymes should be performed. This same dynamic can be found in the use of introductory phrases as "the Black people say" or "the Black people sing" in vaudeville songs. And this same dynamic can be found in past and current attitudes that mainstream American (i.e. White America) had/has about Black people being the "go to" population when it comes to learning how to do popular R&B/Hip Hop dances."...
-snip-
I believe that "the spades go" is another way of saying "The Blacks go" (Note that "the Blacks" is a socially unacceptable way of saying "The Black people".) 
 
Here's an example of the children's rhyme "Shimmy Shimmy Co Co Pop" which begins with the words "The Blacks go". That rhyme is included in a 1973 book of children's rhymes Shimmy Shimmy Coke-Ca-Pop!, A Collection of City Children's Street Games & Rhymes, edited by John Langstaff, Carol Langstaff,   (Garden City, New York, Double Day & Co; p. 76; 1973)

"The Blacks go down down baby
Down by the roller coaster
Sweet sweet baby
I don't wanna let you go

Shimmy shimmy shimmy shimmy
shimmy shimmy-pop!
Shimmy shimmy shimmy shimmy
shimmy shimmy coke-ca-pop!
-snip-
The editors didn't give any demographics for these rhymes except that were performed by children in United States cities. 

Note that "the Blacks" is a socially unacceptable form of the referent "Black people".

No racial demographics are included for this rhyme from that book or for most of the rhymes that are included in this compilation. However, my guess is that the contributors of most of these rhymes are White or otherwise are non-Black. But I wouldn't be surprised if rhymes with the words "the spades say" or "the space say" have been (or still are) chanted by Black people. (Note the example given as #1 below was collected from African American children. That said, I've been collecting children's recreational rhymes directly (mostly in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area) and indirectly (mostly online), and I don't  recall ever hearing or coming across any examples of these rhymes from Black people (or from people who online self-identified as Black.). 

****
RHYME EXAMPLES
The examples that are presented in this post are given in relative chronological order (by date published off-line or online). These examples may include comments and notes about the rhyme, and/or comments about  the meaning of "spades" in that rhyme, and/or information about how the rhyme was performed.

These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Example #1
"
The space goes true love together
twilight forever
Bring back my love to me
What is the matter?
When we get married
And have some children
We’ll name them
Sandra and Jane
and Billy and Tom
And Betty and Jimmy now,
Source: Let's Slice The Ice (Eleanor Fulton and Pat Smith; St. Louis, Missouri; Magnamusic-Baton; 1978; p. 30 [This is a collection of African Americans' children rhymes from various states.]

**
Example #2
"One I remember is:

Tulips together twilight in heaven bring back my love to me. It was probably 2 lips - but I was an

innocent kid back then."
-Allison, April 12, 1999

**
Example #3

"Allison:

I remember that ... didn't it start ...

The spades go tulips together

twlight in heaven

bring back my love to me?


Or something like that?

Two girls would hold hands, arms outstretched in front, and sway back and forth while singing the verses... :) 


[...]

-Butirfli@aol...[email deleted], April 13, 1999
-snip-
Both Example #2 and Example #3 were found in the Archive through June 8, 2000 of the Girl's games; Clap and Rhyme section of that streetplay website. That streetplay website has changed to a members only forum. 

 **
Example #4
"
Does anyone know a hand clapping song called (I think?) "Ace of Spades"? It goes like this:

Ace of spades goes two lips together,

down and forever

bring back my love to me

what is the meaning meaning meaning

of all the flow-ow-ow-ow-flowers

they tell the sto-o-o-o-story

the story of love from me to you


Then I think it goes back to Ace of Spades, but I don't remember if there are any more verses, and I don't remember the specifics of the hand clapping.

Anyone out there know anything more?

Thanks!!!"

-ratgirl,http://hubpages.com/hub/Recess-is-BACK-Hand-Clapping-Games, May 10, 2010
-snip-
This link is still active but doesn't include the "Ace Of Spades" example.

**
Example #5
"I used to play a game with my friends when we were kids.  You used to

clap hands and sing a song called "The spades go tow lips together,

twilights forever, bring back my love to me."  Can you help me find

the rest of the lyrics/verses?  Thank you."
-hippo-ga, 27 Jul 2003,  http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=235768

**
Example #6
"Here's a longer version of this hand-clapping song:

"The spades go
 Two lips together
 Twilight forever
 Bring back my love to me
 I love you one and only
 I love you personally
 And that's the story
 Of L-O-V-E love
 My heart goes
 Bum-ba-de-ump-bump
 Bum-ba-de-ump-bump
 Over the likes of you
 I saw the ship sail away
 It sailed a year and a day
 My love is far far away
 And I love him too
 Oh yes I do
 Cha cha cha
 Cross cross cross
 Applesauce
 Pumpkin pie"
-pinkfreud-ga on 27 Jul 2003, http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=235768
-snip-
This commenter cited a google.com/group as the source for that example. Google.com/groups are no longer
active.

This commenter also shared several other variations of this rhyme on that page. I'm posting 
those rhymes as separate examples. The examples that have google.com/groups are cited that way 
without any longer address for those no longer active groups. 
**
Example #7
"The spades go two lips together, 
 Blood in the gutter, 
 Bring back my love to me.
 What is the meaning of all these flowers? 
 They tell the story, 
 The story of love from me to you, cha cha cha!"
-pinkfreud-ga on 27 Jul 2003, http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=235768,
google.com/group
**
Example #8
"A spade is
 Two hearts in heaven
 Working together
 To bring back my true love to me
 What is the meaning
 Of all the flowers
 That tell the story
 The story of L-O-V-E
 The story of love..."
-pinkfreud-ga on 27 Jul 2003, http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=235768,
from The Phrase Finder: Clapping Rhyme, 
http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/16/messages/614.html [link no longer active] 

**
Example #9
"The spades go tulips together,
 Twilight forever,
 Bring back my love to me.
 What is the meaning 
 Of all these flowers?
 It is the meaning
 The meaning of love from me to you."
-pinkfreud-ga on 27 Jul 2003, http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=235768,
google.com/group
-snip-
Here's what pinkfreud-ga wrote about how this rhyme was played:
"Here's a description of the hand motions associated with this song,
from the last newsgroup post linked above:

"In Brooklyn, the elementary school girls would play hand games at the
same time that they chanted a rhyme. Two girls would face each other,
then pat each other's hands in a particular pattern, which had to be
learned. There were several patterns, which were taught from girl to
girl.

For example, the right hand would face up and the left hand down for
the first pat. Then the girl would clap, and reverse the orientation
of the hands. Then both hands would face upwards, then outwards, etc.
The facing girl had to do the reverse motion so they could pat each
other's hands. Each pat was in time to the chanted rhyme.

The rhymes were nonsense verses, chanted in a singsong voice." 
-snip-
That commenter also shared another variant, but because that example doesn't 
include the words "two lips", "tulips", or "the spade goes", I'm not adding it to this
compilation.
**
Example #10
"The spades go two lips together
Tie them forever
Bring back my love to me.
What is the meaning of this?
For all the fellows I've kissed
They tell the story
the story of l-o-v-e.
-DebbieO_ (from memories of childhood in near Boston, Mass. in the 1970s); http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes; December 29, 2006

**
Example #11
"
I remember parts of this song:

The spades go two lips together
tie them together
bring back my love to me.

What is the me-ee-eening
of all these flow-er-er-ers
they tel the sto-or-or-y,
the story of love,
from me to you.

I saw the ship sail away,
it sailed three years and a day,
my love is far far away,
and I love him so, oh yes I do.

My heart goes bump ba de dump bump,
bump ba de dump bump,
over my love for you.

You are my one and only,
I love you passionately,
Source: Guest, susan; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes, 19 Jul 10 

**
Example #12
"My recollection of The Spades Go is from Harlem on West 144th between 7th and Lenox and Hoe Avenue, the South Bronx, ( the two places I played, home and at my grandparents') circa 1960. From the clapping games where your palms were placed on another's, and according to the rhyme chanted you either slapped your partners palms or clapped your own between in syncopation, switching whose palms were on top or bottom as another part of the performance:

The Spades go (hold hands and swing)
Two lips together (slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap)
Twilight forever (slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap)
Bring back my love to me ( slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap [switch]slap)
What is the Me-e-ea –ning ( hold hands, swing. slap clap slap [switch] slap,[switch] slap [switch] slap)
of all these Flo-ow-ow –wers ( hold hands, swing. slap clap slap [switch] slap,[switch] slap [switch] slap)
They tell the Sto-or-ory ( hold hands, swing. slap clap slap [switch] slap,[switch] slap [switch] slap)
The story of l-o and v-e (hold hands, swing. slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap)
l-o and v-e (slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap)
l-o and v-e (slap clap slap [switch] slap [switch] slap)
love cha, cha cha (slap , swing, swing, swing)
-Akua Lezli Hope, January 15, 2016, http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html [comments]

**
Example #13 
"
I was born in 1948 and grew up in Maplewood NJ. I am white and Jewish. Anyway, we played the hand clapping game The Spades. There was no racial means to it then. We had two verses, one beginning The spades go two lips together and the other My heart goes thumping thump thump. I remember very clearly walking by myself to schoo at the age of ten and making up a third verse:Oh tell me where is my lover, where is my lover,bring back my love to me. I saw a ship sail away.My love is far far away. I’ll wait ten years and a day. I love him true oh yes I do. I taught it to the other girls and three years later I heard it in summer camp in Massachusetts. I swear this is true. I still make up songs and parodies all the time. I guess things have to start somewhere. Thought you might be interested."
-
Nancy, July 28, 2019,  http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html [comments]

**
Example #14
"I grew up in western Canada and we said “they say that two lips together, tie them together, bring back my love to me, etc..."
-Unknown, April 12, 2020, http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html [comments]

**
[Examples Added at 12:00 AM, Oct 27, 2020...Thanks Google Search!]

Each of these examples are from https://groups.google.com/g/alt.culture.us.1970s/c/TCixj0KBboM [contributors Contributors names on that site are given with an email address which I deleted. The numbers continue from above.]


Example #15
"I CANT BELIEVE IT!!! I HAVE BEEN SCOURING THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR ONE PERSON THAT CAN REMEMBER THIS!!! YESSSSS! I CAN DO THE WHOLE HAND CLAPPING WITH MY SISTER TO THIS & I IS THE BEST ONE! OK...SOME OF THE WORDS MAYBE OFF....BUT HERE WE GO:

For spades go (start holding hands and swinging them 4 times)

Tulips together, twilight in heaven

bring back my love to me

what is the me- me - meaning

of all the flow ow ow flowers

it tells the store or or ry

the story of love from me to you

when we get mar ah ah arried

where shall we li i i i ive

in Sunny spai ai ai ain

or gay par ri ri ri ri ri ri?

our hearts go boom body boom boom (hands in fists bumping on top of each other)

boom body boom boom

over the love for you!

I love you eternally (now you slap pinkies softly)

our love is special indeed

and thats the store or or ry

the story of

L.....O......V......E.... (now you clap loudly palms up then down)

Love from me to you! CHA CHA CHA! (end with hi-fi'ing loudly)
-pcarb...-2/10/14

**
Example #5
"This the version of tulips together I was taught by my mother:

 The spades goes

Tulips together, tie them together

bring back my love to me

what is the me- me - me meaning

of all these flow ow ow owers

They tell the store or or ory

The story of love from me to you

 

The Ship sailed over the ocean

over the ocean

over the big blue sea

 

It sailed for many a day

it sailed for hours away

 

This is our store or or ory

Our story of love from me to you! CHA CHA CHA!"
-rach..., 3/15/15

**
Example #16
"Oh there are two lips together tied up forever so they will never part

What is the meaning, meaning

Of all these flowers, flowers

They tell a story, story

The story of my love to you from me

My heart goes thumpitty, thump thump, thumpitty, thump thump

Over my love for you

My lips go tinkitty, tink tink, tinkitty, tink tink

Over my love for you"
-alp.., 3/3/17

**
Example #17
"Spades was always my favorite. Online, I cannot find the version we did, which is similar to the others, but different.

The spades go

Two lips together

Tie them forever

Bring back my love to me

What is the Me he ha ning

Of all these flo ha ha wers

This is my sto ho hory

My story of love

From me to you.

 

My heart goes

thumpatity thump thump

thumpatity thump thump

Over the site of you

You are my one and only

I love you per son ally

This is my sto ho hory

My story of love

From me to you.

 

My eyes go

blinkety blink blink

blinkety blink blink

Over the sight of you

You are my one and only

I love you per son ally

This is my sto ho hory

My story of love

From me to you.

Cha cha cha
-lapi.., 3/14/18

 **
Example #18
"
On Wednesday, April 7, 1999 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, Sandyfour wrote:

... Anyone remember Tulips together (a hand

clapping song)?? I remember the begining starting "tulips together...tie them

 together (I think)...bring back my love to me". Thats as far as I get!

 Sandy

 

"What is the meaning,

Of all these flowers

They tell the story

The story of love

From me to you

 

When we get married

Where shall we live

In sunny Spain

Or Gay Pari(s)

Wee Wee Wee Wee (clap, clap, clap)
- d.mo..., 3/19/18

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Folk Processed Forms Of The Name "Billie Jean" In "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision - May 3, 2026

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-
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)"

****
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.

****
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" include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk etymology form of that female name. Others examples do not.

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

****
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".

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.) 

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" , the professional tennis star Billie Jean King was a famous American woman with that name. 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.

****
FOLK PROCESSING THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" IN "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" RHYMES 
Folk etymology is "a change in the spelling or pronunciation of a word or phrase or the replacement of an unfamiliar word or phrase with a more familiar word phrase or sound. Folk etymology occurs because of mishearing, misremembering, or a mistaken assumption about that 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 the name "Jean". 

Because the name "Billie Jean" is so rarely used in this country, children who hear that name may mistake it for the word "jean" (meaning a very commonly worn type of pants) or other words that they are more familiar with. "Jeans" (i.e. "blue jeans" and "levi jeans") are worn by females and males. 

The name "Jean" is spelled with an upper case "J" and the word "jean" meaning "a style of pants" is spelled with a lower case "j". however, prior to the internet, most examples of playground rhymes that children actually chant weren't written down. Since the name "Jean" and the type of clothing "jeans" are pronounced the same except for the "s" at the end of the word "jeans",  they can easily be misunderstood, particularly if those rhymes are heard and not read.

I believe that a major reason why the name "Billie Jean" is so often "folk processed" in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes is because that name is rarely if ever found in the United States.  

I also believe that another major reason why the name "Billie Jean" is misspelled and/or folk processed in children's rhymes is that a lot of children nowadays don't know that 1982 record. 

Also, it appears to me that a number of children nowadays aren't familiar with Pop star Michael Jackson (which results in lines such as "I pledge allegiance to the flag/Michael Jackson is my dad". 

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" 

****
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.

****
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 etymology form of "Billie Jean" is given in italics to highlight it and not because that line is emphasized during the chant.

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

****
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]

****
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

****
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".

****
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

****
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

****
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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