What Does "Make My Heart Beat 246" Mean In "Apple On A Stick" Hand Clap Rhymes? (with the meanings of other phrases in some examples of those rhymes)

Little Ariel Bell, Aug 13, 2020
-snip-
[Portuguese [Brazil]“Apple on a Stick” é um jogo divertido de bater as mãos. Existem várias maneiras de cantar e bater. Eu aprendi assim. Enquanto minha irmãzinha e eu esperamos o bolo assar, fazemos este jogo divertido. ...

Apple on a stick

Makes me sick

Makes my heart beat two forty six

Not because your dirty

Not because your clean,

Not because you kissed the boy behind the magazine!

Girls, boys having fun

Here comes the lady with the big fat bum,

She can do the splits

she can do a cartwheel

but I betcha

she can’t do this

close your eyes and count to 10

if you mess it up

you’re not my friend

1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10

you did it

you did it

your still my friend

that’s the end of chapter 10
-snip-
Correction: The English word "your" that is given in this transcription should be spelled "you're" [meaning "you are".] 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision - October 1, 2025

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of "Apple On A Stick" hand clap rhyme. 

This post presents the meaning of the words "makes my heart beat (or go) 246" in the verses of "Apple On A Stick" hand clap rhymes.

This post also presents the meaning of these other words in some "Apple On A Stick: rhymes:
-"pickle up her (or "his") bum"

-"muck it up"
-
big fat bum"

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, cultural, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those whose rhyme examples are featured in this post. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.  
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-not-because-youre-dirty-line-in_12.html for the 2014 pancocojams post entitled "The Precursor Of & Early Examples Of "Apple On A Stick" (Not Because You're Dirty/Not Because You're Clean") Rhymes"

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WHAT DOES "MAKES MY HEART BEAT 246" MEAN?
Source #1
From https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/ 
Shambazzle,2015
"Apple on a stick makes me sick...

... makes my heart beat 2-4-6

This catchy (read:annoying) verse can be heard after unlocking the Pediatric Care unit for the Medical Wing in the Base of Operations.

This is a popular clapping game played by children (mostly?). The 2-4-6 references a heartbeat/heart rate of 246, which can be indicative of a pending heart attack.

The full verse is below (and varies greatly depending on who you ask):

Apple on a stick makes me sick,

Makes my heart beat two-forty-six,

Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,

Just because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.

Girls, boys, have a lot of fun,

Here comes Johnny with a pickle up his bum,

He can wibble he can wobble he can even do the splits,

But I bet ya ten bucks that he can't do this.

Close your eyes and count to ten,

If you muck it up you're not my friend. (eyes closed)

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

You didn't muck it up so you're my best friend.

The more you know!

****
Source #2 
Information about "heart rate of 246" from AI Overview
"A heart rate of 246 bpm is dangerously fast and requires immediate medical attention. This rapid rate, known as tachycardia, indicates a serious arrhythmia, such as atrial flutter or a very rapid form of supraventricular tachycardia, where the heart chambers are not filling properly. Seek emergency care by calling 911 or going to the emergency department, especially if you experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.

Why a heart rate of 246 is dangerous

Tachycardia: A normal resting heart rate is typically between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). A heart rate of 246 bpm is well above this and is considered tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heart rhythm”….

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WHAT DOES "HERE COMES ___ WITH A PICKLE UP HER (OR "HIS") BUM" MEAN?
Here's the result of AI Overview for this phrase "pickle up her bum":
" "Pickle up her bum" is not a common phrase; it is likely a misremembered or distorted version of the vulgar idiom "have a stick up one's ass," which describes someone who is very stiff, serious, uptight, or humorless. The original idiom uses "stick" to represent a rigid or unyielding personality."...
-end of quote-
AI Overview would be more correct that "pickle up her (or "his") bum" isn't a common phrase. However , it is common in a number of versions of the British (and Australian) English's recreational rhyme "Apple On A Stick" (but not in United States' versions of those rhymes.

While the phrase "have a pickle up her bum" comes from the phrase "have a stick up one's ass), I believe that those words in children's recreational rhymes should be taken literally- i.e. They mean that the person actually has a pickle up their bum (butt). My guess is that children use/d those words because of the scene it describes is comical, not vulgar or referring to someone who is stiff or serious. 

Here's an example of a rhyme with that phrase:

Apple on a stick, makes me sick,

Makes my heart beat two forty-six,

Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,

Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.

Girls, boys, have a lot of fun,

Here comes Madonna with a pickle up her bum,

She can wibble, she can wobble, she can even do the splits,

I bet you can't even do this:

Count to ten, you're a big fat hen.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. (Clap with eyes closed while counting)

You didn't muck it up so you're my best friend. (Hug each other)
-© Childhood, Tradition & Change 2011
https://ctac.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/biogs/E000060b.htm [Australia]

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ALTERNATE WORDS: "WITH AN APPLE UP HER BUM" 
Instead of "here comes __ with a pickle up her bum", some versions of "Apple On A Stick" have the phrase "here comes ___ with an apple up her bum". Those examples are probably also from the United Kingdom or Australia and not the United States.

Here's an example of that version:
"We had a slightly different one;

Apple on a stick makes me sick Makes my heart beat 246 Not because you’re dirty not because you’re clean Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine

Boys girls having fun here comes the lady with the apple up her bum She can wibble she can wobble she can even do the splits I betcha I betcha you can’t do this Close your eyes and count to 10 if you muck it up you’re not my friend 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 You didn’t muck it up so you’re my best friend (You mucked it up so you’re not my friend)"
-Dapper_Ad_602, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/

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WHAT "HERE COMES __WITH A "BIG FAT BUM" MEANS
Some versions of "Apple On A Stick" have the words "with a big fat bum" instead of "with a pickle up her (or "his") bum".

The words "big fat bum" in some versions of this rhyme mean "big fat butt [ass; behind] 

Here's a comment exchange about those versions of that rhyme" from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_XBWIQvnNI&t=1s

Maxine, 2022
"It’s amazing to see the evolution of these games across the world. Like we used to say “here comes the lady with the pickle up her bum” in apple on a stick!

**
Reply
Fidget Town, 2022
"It's Apple on a stick is different these days it is: Apple on a stick it makes me sick it makes my heart beat 246 not because you’re dirty not because you are clean, just because you kissed the boy behind the magazine, boys girls having fun and here come the lady with the big fat bum she can do karate she can do the splits but I bet ya I bet ya she can’t do this, close you eyes and count to 10 if you muck it up your not my friend, 123456789 10 you didn’t muck it up so your my friend and that the end of chapter 10 AMEN"

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WHAT "MUCK IT UP" MEANS
"muck it up" = mess it up
The words "with a pickle up his bum" and the words "muck it up" almost guaranties that the example is from an English speaking country other than the United States because people in the United States didn't use those phrases in the past and don't use those phrases now (September 23, 2025).  

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SHARE THE VERSIONS OF THESE RHYMES THAT YOU KNOW!
It's impossible to compile all of the possible examples of "Apple On A Stick" or any other children's recreational rhyme because new versions are constantly being created accidentally (as a result of folk processing) or on purpose.

However, you're invited to share the examples of this rhyme that you know in the comment section below. Don't forget to add demographic information such as the year or decade you first learned that example and where (city, state, and/or nation) you first learned it. 

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

The "It's Not Because You're Dirty / It's Not Because You're Clean " Verse In The Irish Children's Chant "Me Mother Has Gone To Church"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision September 16, 2025

This is Part I of a two part series that focuses on the children's rhyme verse "It's not because you're dirty, it's not because you're clean/ it's not because you kissed a boy/ behind a magazine".

Part I examines the Irish children's chant "Ahem Ahem Me Mother Has Gone To Church". That chant includes a precursor for the verse "It's not because you're dirty, it's not because you're clean/ it's not because I kissed a boy/ behind a magazine" verse that is found in the large family of "Apple On A Stick" children rhymes.

The Addendum to Part I also provides some information and comments about old attitudes about margarine and whooping cough, both of which are mentioned in that Irish children's composition.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-not-because-youre-dirty-line-in_12.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases some text (word only) examples and videos of the American originated rhyme "Apples On A Stick" as a means of documenting how those rhymes have changed over time and in different geographical locations.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in the video that is embedded in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of that video on YouTube.
-snip-
*This post is a revised version of the pancocojams post "It's Not Because You're Dirty" Line In Apple On A Stick Rhymes" that was published in November 13, 2014.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE IRISH CHANT "ME MOTHER HAS GONE TO CHURCH" AND THE AMERICAN CHILDREN'S RHYMES "THE APPLE ON A STICK"
It's my position that the Irish children's song "Me Mother Has Gone To Church" served as the prototype for these lines in the large family of American children's rhyme "Apple On A Stick" (or similar titles):
"it's not because you're* dirty
It's not because you're* clean
It's not because you* kissed a boy
behind a magazine
-snip-
*Some later versions of this rhyme have the line "It's not because I'm dirty" instead of "It's not because you're dirty" etc.

Here are some text examples of "Ahem Ahem Me Mother Has Gone To Church"

1.
ME MOTHER HAS GONE TO CHURCH
(Irish Kids' Chant)

Ahem! Ahem!
Me mother is gone to church.
She told me not to play with you
Because you're in the dirt.
It isn't because you're dirty,
It isn't because you're clean,
It's because you have the whoopin' cough
And eat margarine!
- http://www.mamalisa.com/?p=422&t=es&c=68
-snip-
A commenter on that website wrote that the Irish folk music recording artists The Clancy Brothers included this rhyme in their 1963 Carnegie Hall concert along with other Irish children's rhymes.

The Clancy Bros and Tommy Makem do the Big Ship Sailing on the Illy AllyO on their Carnegie Hall concert, where they do the children's medley that also has Ahem, Ahem, Me mother has gone to church, She told me not to play with you because you're in the dirt, And tisn't because you're dirty, and tisn't because you're clean, It's because you have the whooping cough and eat margarine!"-
Mrrzy, 27 Nov 01; https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41448 Lyr Req [Lyric Request]: Illy Ally-0

**
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fDh7Ck1aF4 for a video entitled "Children's Medley (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - March 17, 1963)" which included the song/chant "Ahem Ahem Me Mother Has Gone To Church".

It's likely that that Clancy Brothers concert and album is how the "it's not because you're dirty etc." lines became known in the United States.

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2.
"When I was wee we used to recite the following nursery rhyme (Christ knows how these things wash up on the shores of memory, but it just did!).
Ah-choo, ah-choo, me mother has gone to church
She told me not to play with you because you're in the dirt
It's not because you're dirty
It's not because you're clean
It's because you've got the whooping cough and eat margarine"
-snip-
Aidan Crossey, 06 Dec 01; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41824 "Nasty Nursery Rhymes" posted by

**
3.
I believe the album is the Clancy children or the Clancy Brothers and children sing'

the poem is:

Ahem, Ahem, me mother's gone to church
She told me not to play with you, because your in the dirt.
'Tisn't because your dirty, 'Tisn't because your clean
Because you have the whoooping cough from eating margarine.
-srich, 29 Nov 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 Children's rhymes and playground songs

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: "AHEM AHEM ME MOTHER HAS GONE TO CHURCH"

"Ahem, Ahem, Me Mother Has Gone to Church"



Opie Brussels Griffon, Uploaded on Mar 7, 2011

Opie Brussels Griffon wishes you a Happy St. Patrick's Day with an old Irish children's rhyme.
-snip-
In response to the question "Who sings this song?" a commenter wrote that this was sung by The Clancy Brothers in the early 1970's

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ADDENDUM #1 - COMMENTS ABOUT OLD ATTITUDES ABOUT MARGARINE VERSUS BUTTER
This Irish rhyme/song reflects the erroneous belief that only poor, dirty people got whooping cough. That song rhyme/song also reflects the once strong societal preference throughout the Western world for butter over margarine.

Here are some comments about past attitudes in the United States about butter versus margarine:
From: http://pinkbunnyears.com/?p=2901 http://pinkbunnyears.com/?p=2901 "“It’s because she’s got the whooping cough and eats margarine"
lidarose, March 31, 2010
“I’m originally from Wisconsin. Back in the 1950′s and ’60s a person could not purchase “fake” dairy products, such as margarine, or ice milk, rather than ice cream within the state. You had to order out from Chicago for margarine. Some people did this...it was the most foul substance you could imagine. I never understood why anyone would spread their bread with margarine.”

**
From http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/24102-butter-vs-margarine/ "Butter vs. Margarine"
Renegade, 08 February 2013
"The margarine vs. butter debate has changed so mucn [sic] in the last 20 years. When I was a kid we ate margarine because we thought it was healthier (and I was amused when I read the book "Matilda," at how Matilda thought margarine was a sign of dire poverty. That may have been true in Roald Dahl's day, but it wasn't true by the 1990s!)"...
-snip-
As a matter of information Roald Dahl's children's book "Matilda" was written in 1988.

Click http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_167017_en.pdf to read a scholarly paper that explores old views about attitudes margarine as a substitute for butter.

Suffice it to say, due in large part to successful advertising*, in the United States since at least the late 1980s -if not earlier- the debate over whether to use butter or margarine is now mostly about which product cost more (butter) and which product is healthier for you (I'm not sure about the answer to that.) In spite of the fact that butter cost more than margarine, I don't think that Americans think that only poor people eat margarine, as is reflected in that old Irish children's rhyme which is the focus of this post.

*Here are two examples of how margarine ads greatly reduced the disparaging attitude people had about margarine itself and about those who ate margarine:
From http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/742845
"Old Food or Product Commericals that You Miss?"
natewrites Oct 25, 2010 04:49 PM
"The other day, out of completely nowhere I remembered a few old margarine ads (BTW, you NEVER see margarine ads any more).

The two that I can think of was:

"If you think it's butter, but it's not, 'It's Chiffon."

Then the "Duh, duh, duh, da!!!!!" And it was an Imperial Margarine commerical. The idea was you'd take a bite of something with Imperial Margarine on it and a king's crown would mysteriously appear on your head!"...

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ADDENDUM #2 - INFORMATION ABOUT WHOOPING COUGH
Here's a comment about whooping cough in the United States
From http://answers.webmd.com/answers/1174603/what-is-whooping-cough-what-is
"The [whooping cough] disease is named for the characteristic sound produced when affected individuals attempt to inhale; the whoop originates from the inflammation and swelling of the laryngeal structures that vibrate when there is a rapid inflow of air during inspiration. The first outbreaks of whooping cough were described in the 16th century. The bacterium responsible for the infection, Bordetella pertussis, was not identified until 1906. In the prevaccination era (during the 1920s and 30s), there were over 250,000 cases of whooping cough per year in the U.S., with up to 9,000 deaths. In the 1940s, the pertussis vaccine, combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTP), was introduced. By 1976, the incidence of whooping cough in the U.S. had decreased by over 99%."...

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This concludes Part I of this two part series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

The Precursor Of & Early Examples Of "Apple On A Stick" (Not Because You're Dirty/Not Because You're Clean") Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision - September 23, 2025

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series that focuses on the verse "It's not because you're dirty, it's not because you're clean/ it's not because you kissed a boy/ behind a magazine". That verse is usually found in "Apple On A Stick" recreational rhymes.

Part II showcases some text (word only) examples and videos of the American originated rhyme "Apples On A Stick" as a means of documenting how those rhymes have changed over time and in different geographical locations.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-its-not-because-youre-dirtyits-not.html Part I of this series. Part I examines the Irish children's chant "Ahem Ahem Me Mother Has Gone To Church".* That chant includes a precursor for the verse "It's not because you're dirty, it's not because you're clean/ it's not because I kissed a boy/ behind a magazine" verse that is found in the large family of "Apple On A Stick" children rhymes.

The Addendum to Part I also provides some information and comments about old attitudes about margarine and whooping cough, both of which are mentioned in that Irish children's composition.

*This post was republished with some revisions because the link to the 2014 post was no longer working.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in the videos that are embedded in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of that video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-does-make-my-heart-beat-or-go-246.html for the September 2025 pancocojams post "What Does "Make My Heart Beat 246" Mean In "Apple On A Stick" Hand Clap Rhymes? And What Does "Pickle Up Her (or "His") Bum" Mean In "Apple On A Stick" Hand Clap Rhymes?"
 
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A PRECURSOR TO THESE RHYME AND CHANGES TO THESE RHYMES
The Irish children's chant "Me Mother Has Gone To Church" is a precursor of the American originated rhyme that is generally known as "Apple On A Stick"

ME MOTHER HAS GONE TO CHURCH
(Irish Kids' Chant)

Ahem! Ahem!
Me mother is gone to church.
She told me not to play with you
Because you're in the dirt.
It isn't because you're dirty,
It isn't because you're clean,
It's because you have the whoopin' cough
And eat margarine!
- http://www.mamalisa.com/?p=422&t=es&c=68
-snip-
A commenter on that website wrote that this is the Irish children's rhyme "Me Mother Has Gone To Church".

The Irish folk music recording artists The Clancy Brothers included this rhyme in their 1963 Carnegie Hall concert along with other Irish children's rhymes.

"Me Mother Has Gone To Church" reflects the negative attitudes that are now largely retired that butter was considered to be a better product than margarine and anyone used margarine instead of butter was poor. "Me Mother Has Gone To Church" also reflects the also retired belief that only poor people got whooping cough. In the United States negative attitudes about margarine have shifted to at least neutral attitudes about that product. And, as a result of immunizations, most people in the United States (rightly or wrongly) are no longer concerned with the possibility of a whooping cough epidemic.

Because of these developments, the "It's because you've got the whooping cough and eat margarine" line in children's songs is no longer understandable. Consequently, that line has been retired, and is scarcely remembered nowadays. However, the "It's not because you're dirty", not because you're clean" line is still found in "Apple On A Stick" rhymes with the ending line "it's not because you [and later "I"] kissed a boy behind a magazine". Of course, "kissing a boy" (even behind a magazine) was considered risque, as were other lines in those rhymes such as describing a person as having a "fat bum" (butt), and a boy walking around with his pants undone.

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EXPLANATION OF THE LINE "MAKES MY HEART GO 246" 
From https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/

Shambazzle, 2015
"Apple on a stick makes me sick...

PSA

... makes my heart beat 2-4-6

This catchy (read:annoying) verse can be heard after unlocking the Pediatric Care unit for the Medical Wing in the Base of Operations.

This is a popular clapping game played by children (mostly?). The 2-4-6 references a heartbeat/heart rate of 246, which can be indicative of a pending heart attack.

The full verse is below (and varies greatly depending on who you ask):

'Apple on a stick makes me sick,
Makes my heart beat two-forty-six,
Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,
Just because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.

Girls, boys, have a lot of fun,
Here comes Johnny with a pickle up his bum,
He can wibble he can wobble he can even do the splits,
But I bet ya ten bucks that he can't do this.

Close your eyes and count to ten,
If you muck it up you're not my friend. (eyes closed)

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
You didn't muck it up so you're my best friend.'

 

The more you know!"

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THE PROBABLE MEANING OF "KISS __ BEHIND A MAGAZINE"
The words "kiss a boy (or "kiss ___") behind a magazine" is a folk processed form of the words "eat margarine" (the butter substitute) in the Irish song "My Mother Has Gone To Church".

I believe that "kiss a boy behind a magazine" is a shorthand way of saying sneaking a kiss "behind a magazine stand" (a structure that displays magazines for sale.)   

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THREE PRE- 1990s EXAMPLES OF "APPLE ON A STICK" RHYMES

These examples are given in no particular order:

Example #1:
Green apples make me sick
not because they're dirty
not because they're clean
not because the girls kiss like this (kiss noise)
my mom told me to pick the very best one
and you are not it today
- http://www.playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/counting-out-rhymes.html
-snip-
The editor of that website indicated that this was a counting out rhyme that he remembered from his kindergarten days. No decade or geographical location was given.

Here's another version of "green apples make me sick" as well as a version of "sour apples make me sick". Both of these examples were written in response to the example given in the section about the meaning of the "make my heart go 246" words:

https://www.reddit.com/r/thedivision/comments/4cr94c/apple_on_a_stick_makes_me_sick/

bobbibrown123, 2021
"was it ever sour apple makes me sick!?"

**
Reply
sassysleeper, 2022
"Yes, in England they say sour apples, I have also heard green apples."

****
Given that example and those comments, I believe that the words "apple on a stick/makes me sick" are folk processed forms of the line "green apples or sour apples make me sick". By "folk processed" I mean that the "green apples make me sick" words were misheard or mis-remembered as "apple on a stick/makes me sick".

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Example #2:
Apple on a stick
Makes me sick
Makes my tummy go
Two forty six
Not because it’s dirty
Not because it’s clean
Not because I kissed my momma
Behind the magazines
Girls, girls
Do you wanna fight?
Here come Dickey
With her pants on tight.
She can wiggle
She can woggle
She can do all that
I bet you ten dollars
You can’t do this
Count to ten with your eyes closed
A-baby one
A-baby two
A-baby three, four, five
Baby, I don’t take no little jive
A-baby six
A-baby seven
A-baby eight, nine, ten
You better back it up and do it again
Source: Apples On A Stick Barbara Michels and Bettye White (New York: Coward / McCann, Inc)
collection of playground rhymes from Black American children in Houston Texas, 1983, page 11
-snip-
No category of children's rhyme was given.
“jive” here means something like nonsense, fakeness
“back it up" usually means dancing or moving backwards while facing forward

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Example #3:
"I used to spend recesses against the wall for jumping out of the swings in mid-air, and playing tag on the tornado slide, and the girls jumped the rope on the wide walkway there. Here [is one rhymes} that I recall hearing, but the words may be out of order, as this was a while ago.

Apples on a stick, make me sick (slick?).
make my arms (heart?) go two-four-six!
It's not because i'm dirty
It's not because i'm clean
It's not because I kiss the boys
behind a magazine (behind a _____ machine?)
Hey girls, let's have fun!
Here comes a cop with his (vest?) undone!
He can shammey he can shake
He can do the hoochie-koo
But I bet a dollar he can't catch you!
One, two, three, etc.....

Chanted to a double jumprope, I heard this on the schoolyard in Spirit Lake, Iowa around 1982-5. The count continued untill the jumproper missed a lick."
-Neighmond (Chaz J), http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=56361 "Folklore: Skipping Rhymes & Playground Games"

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PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY
I'm not sure when the "Apple On A Stick" rhymes were first composed, but I believe that these rhymes were probably first chanted in the United States as a counting out rhyme or as a jumping rope rhyme.

As is the case with most jump rope rhymes, by at least the early 1980s, Apple On A Stick rhymes converted to two person hand clap rhymes (hand games). And, judging from the considerably large number of examples of "Apple On A Stick" rhymes that are found online, that rhyme appears to be mostly used as a hand game in the United States, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These YouTube videos provide a very small sample of the wide range of contemporary examples of "Apple On A Stick" rhymes. These videos are given with very little editorial comment. Some of the comment threads for these videos contain additional examples of these rhymes.

Transcriptions by Azizi Powell unless given as a summary statement to the video. Additions and corrections are welcome.

WARNING: The comment sections for these YouTube videos may include profanity and other content that is inappropriate for children.

These videos are posted in chronological order with the oldest dated videos presented first.

November 13, 2018: Some of these videos are no longer available. However, I haven't replaced them because their transcriptions may still be of interest.

Example #1: Apple on a Stick

)

nattamon khrongsiriwat, Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010
Apple on a Stick:
Apple on a stick
Makes me sick
Makes my heart beat 2-4-6

Not because your dirty
Not because your clean
Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine

Babies, babies having fun
Along comes a baby with a big fat bum

He can do the Wibble Wobble he can do the Splits
But I betcha, I betcha he can't do this

Close your eyes and count to 10
If you muck it up your not my friend

(close eyes)1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
(open eyes) You didn't muck it up so your still my friend...

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Example #2: " Apple on a Stick " Hand clapping game

)

LivingHealthyAus, Published on Nov 2, 2012

Louise and Reese playing " Apple on a Stick " Hand clapping game. [Australia]
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Apple on a stick
Make me sick
Makes my heart beat 246
Not because you’re dirty
Not because you’re clean
Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine
Girls, boys having fun
Here comes a girl with the blueberry bum
She can wiggle she can wobble she can do the twist
But I betcha I betcha she cant do this
Count to ten with your eyyyes* shut
If you mess up, start again.
1,2, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10
You didn’t mess up, now she’s your girlfriend
That’s the end of chapter 10
Bam!

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Example #3: Apple on a stick hand clapping rhyme

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Bernardfam2006, Published on Jun 19, 2013
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Apple on a stick, it makes me sick.
It makes my heart beat 2 46.
Not because you’re dirty, not because you’re clean
Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine
Girls, boys have a lot of fun
Here comes a lady with a pickle up her butt
Close your eyes and count to ten
If you can’t, you start again
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
You didn’t muck it up so you’re my friend
But it’s not the end of the chapter 10
AMEN!

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Example #4: Apples on a Stick By Grace Vader and Lily



Stop watching my videos LEAH, April 19, 2017

-snip-

Update: Nov. 17, 2021: This video replaces one that is no longer available.

Here are the words to that version of "Apple On A Stick".
Apples on a stick
Apples on a stick
Makes my heart beat 246
Not because you're dirty
Not because you're clean
Not because you kissed a boy
behind the magazine.
Hey girls, wanna have some fun?
Here comes Johnny with his pants undone.
He can wiggle. He can wooble.
He can do the twist.
But I bet you five dollars
that he can't do this.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

eight, nine, ten. 
If you say "seven" then I'll kiss your boyfriend.
One, two, three, four, five, six, eight, nine, ten.
-snip-
These young girls performed partner hand claps for all of this rhyme except the line "Not beccause you kissed a boy behind the magazine". For that line the girls who were seated on the floor facing each other leaned toward each other, put a hand over their mouth, as if they were whispering. Apparentally, "kissing a boy" was something quite risque. Interestingly enougth, the girls didn't repeat that motion for the line "If you say "seven" the I'll kiss your boyfriend." 
 
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A number of examples that I found on YouTube comment threads of "Apple On A Stick" videos) have changed the line "not because you're dirty/not because you're clean" to "not "not because I'm dirty/not because I'm clean". Here's an example that includes those lines: 

"Apple on a stick you make me sick
you make my heart go 2/46
its because im dirty its not because im clean
its not because I kissed a boy behind a magizeen.
Heyy boy! You wanna have a fight?
meet me at the club on a saturday night.
If you say 0 your otta the game
so lets get ready for the chu chu train."

And you keep counting intill someone says 0.
- Caitlin Callahan,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sygUDQzShdM , "Apple On A Stick", 2013
-snip-
That example is also a part of the sub-category of "Apple On A Stick" in which the players are challenged to chant the rhyme without saying a prior agreed upon number.

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MORE EXAMPLES OF "APPLE ON A STICK" 
These examples are given in no particular order, and are numbered for referencing purposes only. The YouTube examples are from the discussion threads of these videos/ Those examples were deleted when YouTube prohibited discussion threads for most children's video channels.  

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRrRWg4pEWs
1. Kerry-ann Sharkey, 2018
"I live in Scotland and we do it like "apple on a stick, gonna make me sick, gonna make my heart beat 2,4,6 not because your ugly, not because your clean, not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine, boys, girls, having all the fun, here comes Charlie with his button undone, he can do the splits but I bet you ten bucks that he can't do this, close your eyes and count to ten if you mess up then start again,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 you didn't mess up so your my beat friend" "

**
2. Audrey Draws, 2018
"In england it goes like:

Apple on a stick, gonna make me sick, gonna make my heartbeat, 2,4,6. Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean. NOT because you kissed the boy behind the magazine. Boys, boys. They're no fun, but here comes the girl with the blue jeans on, they can wiggle, they can wobble, they can do the splits, but I bet you 10 bucks that you can't do this! 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, you didn't mess up, so you're my friend!"

**
3. Karly Fisher, 2018
"I know there are a lot of different ways he in Australia yeah Australia mate we say apple on a stick makes me sick makes my heart beat 246 not because your dirty not because you’re clean not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine girls boys having fun here comes the teacher with a big fat bum she can leave or Second World War she can do the splits but I bet you 10 bucks she can’t do this close your eyes and count to 10 if you muck up you’re not my friend 123456 78 910 you didn’t muck up so you’re my friend best friends"

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sygUDQzShdM
4. Softiie, 2015
"
I learned it like this : apples on a stick they make me sick makes my heart beat go 246 not because your dirty not beacuse your clean not beacuse you kissed a boy behind a magizen hey _ you wanna have a fight meet me on a corner on a saturday night i can do the zumba you can do the twist i bet you 5 bucks you cant do this close your eys and count to ten and if you mess up you have to kiss your boyfrien"

**
5. Olivia Mew, 2014
"Here's the version that I was taught:

Apple on a stick, makes me sick. Makes my heart beat 246. Not because you're dirty, not because you're clean. Not because you kissed a boy behind a magazine. Boys, boys, having fun, here comes the girl with the blue jeans on. She can wibble, she can wobble she can do the splits, but I bet you, i bet you, she can't do this. Count to ten with her eyes shut, if she mucks it up she's got to start again. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. She didn't muck it up so now she's our friend and that's the end of chapter 10!"

**
6. Queen Iyanna, 2017
"I was taught

Apple on a stick
You make my sick
You make my heart go 246(2x)
Not because I'm dirty
Not because I'm clean
Not because I kissed your boy behind a magazine
So hey shorty
You wanna start a fight?
Meet me in the club on Saturday night
And if you say two your out of the game
So let's get started on the chu chu train"

**
7. samantha gimenez, 2018
"Apple on a stick
You make me sick
You make my heart go 24-6
Not because i’m pretty
Not because i’m clean
Not because i kissed a boy in a magazine
Heeeyy Jonny
You wanna have a fight?
Meet me at the club on saturday night
If you say Zero
Your out of the game
So let’s get started on the Choo Choo train.

and basically after that you count up, but you can’t say any number with zero in it or your out."

**
8. Cordelia Whitehead, 2017
"The way I learnt was
Apple on a stick it makes me sick it makes my heart beat 246 not because youre dirty not because you're clean just because you kissed the boy behind the magazine, girls boys having fun here comes the lady with the big fat bum, she can do the pom pom she can do the splits but I bet you 5 bucks she can't do this close your eyes and count to ten if you muck it up you're not my friend, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10, you didn't muck it up so you're still my friend next one to move is a bumblebee bet you 5 bucks it won't be me"

**
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2W7hY3K1fA
9. Unixorn GirlYt, 2017
"that's wrong it's
Apple on the stick
make me sick
make my heart go
246 not because I'm dirty not
because I'm clean
not because I kiss the boy behind the magazine
boys ...... girls.......having fun
there comes a lady with a prickle on her bum
she can do the Nana
she can do the wip
I bet she can't count to ten if she muck it up she's not my Best friend 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
your my best friend "
-snip-
"Nana" is probably the R&B?Hip Hop dance "the Nene" [pronounced naynay] and "wip" is the R&B/Hip Hop dance "the whip"

**
10.
Okey x, 2018
"How I learned it is

Apples on a stick they make me sick they make my heart go 246-246 not because I’m dirty not because I’m clean not because I kissed a boy behind a magazine hey girls you wanna have some fun? Here comes a boy with his pants undone he can wiggle he can wobble he can do the splits but most of all he can’t do this close your eyes and count to 10 if u say 9 u have to marry him 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10"

**
From 
11. Softiie, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sygUDQzShdM 

I learned it like this : apples on a stick they make me sick makes my heart beat go 246 not because your dirty not beacuse your clean not beacuse you kissed a boy behind a magizen hey _ you wanna have a fight meet me on a corner on a saturday night i can do the zumba you can do the twist i bet you 5 bucks you cant do this close your eys and count to ten and if you mess up you have to kiss your boyfriend

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This concludes Part II of this two part series.

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