Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update- April 24, 2026
This is a complete reprint with a very minor changes of a 2023 pancocojams post that presents a small sample of children's recreational rhymes that include the names of cities, states, nations, and/or other geographical places.
A few more examples of some of these English language children's rhymes have been added to this 2026 post. Some other examples of English language children's recreational rhymes that don't include place names are found in other pancocojams posts.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
*That 2023 pancocojams post is still available on this blog, As of the date and time of this publication (April 11, 2026 at 11:13 AM EDT) that 2023 post has no comments.
****
RHYME EXAMPLES
By "recreational rhymes" I mean jump rope, hand clap, rhymes, and other playground rhymes. I don't mean "Mother Goose" nursery rhymes such as "London Bridge Is Falling Down" or singing games such as "We're Going To Kentucky".
This collection also doesn't include any rhymes that mention nationalities such as "Spanish dancer" or "Dutch girl".
Rhymes in this collection are given under the first letter for their title or the first letter of the first word in the line that begins that rhyme.
Italics are used for the first time that the name of a particular city, state, or nation is mentioned in each rhyme.
A , B
ALL THE GIRLS IN FRANCE (Fragment)
All the girls in France
Do the hoochie koochie dance
And they don't wear pants
When they do the hoochie dance...
- Azizi Powell's memories of childhood in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1950s
-snip-
Read the "There's A Place In France" examples below.
****
A MY NAME IS
A my name is Alice
And my husband's name is Arthur,
We come from Alabama,
Where we sell artichokes.
B my name is Barney
And my wife's name is Bridget,
We come from Brooklyn,
Where we sell bicycles.
C my name is _________
And my husband's name is ___________
We come from __________
Where we sell ___________.
(Continue throughout the alphabet)
-Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher,https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA (Example #1)
A sailor went to sea sea sea To see what he could see see see But all that he could see see see Was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea
A sailor went to China** To see what he could China But all that he could China Was the bottom of the deep blue China **every time you say China, put your hands together and bow.
A sailor went to Texas*** to see what he could Texas but all that he could Texas was the bottom of the deep blue Texas! *** Every time you say Texas, move your right arm around in the air, like twirling a lasso
A sailor went to doo-wop, doo-wop,**** to see what he could doo-wop, doo-wop, but all that he could doo-wop, doo-wop, was the bottom of the deep blue doo-wop, doo-wop!!! **** Every time you say doo-wop, doo-wop, shake your butt like you're dancing."
-Aug 12 2003, https://archive.homeschool.co.uk/jumprope-songs/sailor.html
-snip-
This example is reformatted to enhance it's readability.
The suggested action for China may be considered stereotypical, but it's a big improvement over the offensive slant eye gestures that are said to accompany the word "China" in some versions of this children's rhyme.
****
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA (Example #2)
(Australian Version)
Action Song
1. A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see,
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea.
2. A sailor went to chop, chop, chop
To see what he could chop, chop, chop,
But all that he could chop, chop, chop
Was the bottom of the deep blue chop, chop, chop
3. A sailor went to knee, knee, knee
To see what he could knee, knee, knee,
But all that he could knee, knee, knee
Was the bottom of the deep blue knee, knee, knee.
4. A sailor went to toe, toe, toe
To see what he could toe, toe, toe,
But all that he could toe, toe, toe
Was the bottom of the deep blue toe, toe, toe.
5. A sailor went to Timbuktu
To see what he could Timbuktu,
But all that he could Timbuktu
Was the bottom of the deep blue Timbuktu.
- https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=58
-snip-
Timbuktu is a city in Mali, West Africa.
****
AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO
At the battle of Waterloo
This is what the soldiers do:
Left, right, left, right (* Jumps on correct foot *)
All the way to Timbuktu.
-Abrahams (1969);https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
AUNT JENNY DIED
Soloist:
Aunt Jenny died. .
Group:
How did she die?
Soloist:
She died like this. [The soloist makes a funny pose such as raising one of her legs and raising her arm at the same time & freezing in place.]
Group:
She died like this. [The group tries to exactly imitate the soloist's pose]
Soloist:
She died like that. [The soloist strikes a new pose]
Group:
She died like that.
[The group tries to exactly imitate the soloist's pose. The soloist and the group repeat the same sequence with the mention of other relatives until "momma" is mentioned]
Soloist:
My momma livin'.
Group:
Where she livin'.
Soloist & group in unison:
Well she lives in a place called Tennessee.
Jump up Tenna Tennessee [The entire group performs the movements as indicated by the words]
Jump back Tena Tennesse
Jump in Tena Tennesse
Jump out Tena Tennessee
Well I've never been to college
I never been to school.
But when it comes to boogie [On the word "boogie", while still standing in place, the entire group does a hip shaking dance movement] The girls don't have to do the exact same movement]
I can boogie like a fool.
You go in, out, side to side.
You go in, out, side to side.
-African American children's rhyme, collected from African American female Barbara Ray (memories of her childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1950s); collected by Azizi Powell, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
****
AWAY DOWN EAST
Away down east.
Away down west.
Away down Alabama.
The only girl
That I love best
Her name is Suzianna.
I took her to the ball
Late one night.
And sat her down to supper.
The table fell
And she fell too
And stuck her nose in butter.
The butter, the butter
The holy margarine.
Two black eyes
And a jelly nose.
All the rest painted green
-Abrahams (1969);https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WENT TO FRANCE
Benjamin Franklin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First the heel, and then the toe,
Spin around and out you go.
-Adele Greil, https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
BETTY BETTY STUMPED HER TOE
Betty, Betty stumped her toe
On the way to Mexico.
On the way back
She broke her back
Sliding on a railroad track.
Source: Abrahams (1969)
- Abrahams 1969, https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
C, D
CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Charlie Chaplin came to Duluth
To have a dentist pull his tooth.
First he hollered then he yelled
Then he pulled the emergency bell.
Charlie Chaplin has big feet.
Thinks he owns the whole darn street.
If that street were made of glass
Charlie would fall and break his ---
Don't get excited. Don't get alarmed.
Charlie would fall and break his ARM!
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
Charlie Chaplin washing up
Broke a saucer and a cup.
Charlie Chaplin went to war.
When he came back
His pants were tore.
Source: Abrahams (1969), https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
-snip-
Duluth is a city in Minnesota, USA.
****
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE
Charlie Chaplin went to France,
To teach the ladies the hula dance.
First on the heels,
Then on the toes,
Around and around and around you go.
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
Touch the bottom of the submarine.
-Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher, https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
CHICKEN IN THE CAR
Chicken in the car
And the car can't (or won't) go
That's how you spell
Chicago.
****
E, F
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE (Example #1)
Engine, engine number nine,
Going down Chicago line,
If the train goes off the track,
Do you want your money back?
Yes, no, maybe so!
-https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4143 [Jump Rhyme Rhyme]
****
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE (Example #2)
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
-lloyd64, 30, 00; https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 Children's rhymes and playground songs [Singing game]
-snip-
Here's the comment that was written with this example:
"As kid on the Chicago streets our favorite games were Buck, Buck and Engine, Engine Number Nine.
Engine, Engine Number Nine……
Everyone sits in a circle with hands folded into a fist. The leader (Engine) would say a rime as he tapped each fist….
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
Some one would call out a number, the leader would count out the number by tapping the fists. If the leader landed on one of your fists, you had to take it out of the game by putting it behind your back. The leader would then start over again.
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
This would continue until only one fist was left this became the new Engine."
-snip-
Here's a correction that that same commenter wrote in that discussion thread on that same day:
| "The person who would call out the number is the person the leader stopped at during the rime. Sorry about that. It has been a lone time." |
****
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE (Example #3)
"Berkeley, mid '70's: Jefferson School playgroundEngine, Engine, Number 9 Goin' down the Chicago Line IF the
train runs off the track Do I get my money back? Itsy bitsy eaeenie meanie ooo
bop bop alini It cha caught ya Liberacha I love you! Take a peach, take a plum
take a piece a bubble gum
Nor peach, nor plum, nor a stick of bubble gum My mother
said that you are not IT!"
-Seth (Seth from China / Robard Williams),04 Nov 00,
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 Children's rhymes and playground
songs [Singing game]
-snip-
"Berkeley - a city in California (USA)
****
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE (Example #4)
Engine, engine number 9
Going down to Caroline
If the train should jump the track,
Do you want your money back?
-Catherine Perry, 2020,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DoYouRememberThe70sFanClub/posts/3121370798131548/ "1970s Memories"
-snip-
The word "Caroline" in this rhyme is a shorten form of "North Carolina". Read the following comment exchange from that discussion thread:
Madeline Page, 2020
"Catherine Perry Engine, engine #9, going down the Chicago
line. If the train goes off the track, do you want your money back? NJ"
**
Reply
Catherine Perry, 2020
"Madeline Page I am from Md. but my family is from NC so
maybe that's why mine is different"
****
ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, WALES (French Skipping; Elastics)
Nesta Robbins wrote:
...Does anyone remember French skipping? Two people stood at either end, with feet apart, with a giant loop of elastic around their ankles, made by joining lots of rubber bands together.
Then someone in the middle performed different jumps, crossing the elastic over, or jumping in and around, or treading on the elastic. Then if you completed the jumps, you went up to the next level! The elastic was raised to knee height, then waist I think?!
[...]
Ooh I remember that. Ours went:
England (You'd jump so one foot was outside & one foot was inside the bands)
Ireland (Jump across, so the foot that was outside is now inside & vice versa)
Scotland (Jump back to where you started)
Wales (Jump across again)
Inside (self explanatory)
Outside ;)
Inside ;)
On :eek:
-L__Silverwolf, 17/03/10https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1230193/skipping-rhymes-from-the-50s-and-60s/p2
****
G, H
GIRLS GO TO COLLEGE [Fragment of "My Mother And Your Mother Live Across The Street"]
4 little girls bouncing on a trampoline next door:
'Girls go to college to get more knowledge
Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider
Mum goes to Mars, to get a bigger vase
Dad goes to Spain, to get a bigger brain'.
- https://twitter.com/lissakevans/status/1101807713170919424?lang=en ; Lissa Evans,Mar 2, 2019
****
HAVE A CIGARETTE SIR
Have a cigarette, sir.
No, sir.
Why, sir?
Because I have a cold, sir.
How'd you get your cold, sir?
At the North Pole, sir.
What were you doing there, sir?
Catching polar bears, sir.
-Wood (1996), https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
HERE WE COME
"Some charade sort of game: "Here we come. Where from? New Orleans. What's your trade? Lemonade. Show us somethin if you're not afraid!" alternating lines between groups of friends. :...
-Jane Whittington, 2017,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/waywordradio/posts/10155799596048584/ "Rhymes from 50's/60's Pennsylvania childhood"
****
HERE WE GO ZUDIO (Example #1)
Here we go zoo-de-o, zoo-de-o, zoo-de-o,
Here we go zoo-de-o all night long.
(Repeat 1 time)
Step back Sally, Sally, Sally,
Step back Sally all night long.
I walked down through the alley
and what did I see,
I saw a big fat man from Tennessee.
I bet ya’ five dollars I can beat that man.
I bet ya’ five dollars I can beat that man.
To the front, to the back, to the see-saw-side.
(Repeat 1 time)
(Sung)
My mother called the doctor, the doctor said,
(Spoken) Oooh, ouch I got’ a pain in my side.
Oooh, ouch I got’ a pain in my head.
Oooh, ouch I got’ a pain in my stomach.
To the front, to the back, to the see-saw-side.
(Repeat 1 time)
To the see-saw-side.
(Repeat 1 time)
-https://www.schools.utah.gov/file/68115223-f618-4508-bb5e-7d1329606964
****
HERE WE GO ZOODIO (Example #2)
Here we go Zoodio, Zoodio, Zoodio
Here we go Zoodio,
All night long.
Step back, Sally, Sally, Sally
Step back, Sally
All night long.
To the front to the back to the s-s-side, to the s-s-side
To the front to the back to the s-s-side
I looked out my window and what did I see
I saw a big fat man from Tennessee
I bet you five dollars I can beat that man
I bet you five dollars I can beat that man
To the front to the back to the s-s-side, to the s-s-side
To the front to the back to the s-s-side
Walkin' through the alley, alley, alley
Walkin' through the alley
All night long.
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoodio
****
HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING (Example #1 of "Hollywood Swinging")
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swingingMy name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside
'Cause mighty Natasha don't take no jive
-Barbara Michels, Bettye White, editors, Apples On A Stick, The Folklore of Black Children; (Coward-McCann, Inc, 1983, p.14)
-snip-
No rhyme categories or performance descriptions is given for this example. However, I've collected foot stomping cheer examples and hand clap examples of "Hollywood Swinging".
-snip-
Hollywood is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California.
****
HOLLYWOOD GOES SWINGIN (Example #2 of "Hollywood Swinging")
Hollywood
Hollywood
Hollywood goes swingin
Hollywood goes __ swingin
Swingin for Northside.
Swingin for the Eastside.
My name is Rita.
I'm Number 9
Going down Chicago line.
If you see me on the street
You better speak [I couldn't decipher the next words]
Hey hey, you think you cool.
Hey hey, cool enough to rule your school.
Hey hey, you think you bad.
Bad enough to ____ [The girls and boys self-censored what was supposed to be chanted. This was confirmed by a teenage volunteer who still wouldn't tell me what was supposed to be said]
-African American girls and boys; Northview Heights Buddy Program, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1999; collected by Azizi Powell
****
HORSEY HORSEY DON'T YOU STOP
horsey horsey dont you stop
just let your feet go clippity clop
let your feet got swish and your tail go round
gailey up to london town.
- GUEST, 29 Nov 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 [Ball bouncing rhyme]
****
I, J
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #1)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl,
As pretty as pretty can be,
And all the boys around the block
Go crazy over me.
My boyfriend's name is Billy,
He comes from good ole Philly,
With a cherry on his nose
And ten fat toes,
And that's the way my story goes.
My boyfriend gave me peaches,
My boyfriend gave me pears,
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
And kissed me on the stairs.
I gave him back his peaches,
I gave him back his pears,
I gave him back his fifty cents
And kicked....him....down.....the.....stairs!
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; version 2, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
"Philly" is a nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #2)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl,
As pretty as pretty can be, be, be,
And all the boys on the baseball team
are chasing after me, me, me.
My father came from England,
My mother came from France, France, France.
My boyfriend came from the USA
to teach me how to dance, dance, dance.
My boyfriend gave me apples,
My boyfriend gave me pears, pears, pears.
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
and kissed me up the stairs, stairs, stairs.
I gave him back his apples,
I gave him back his pears, pears, pears.
I gave him back his fifty cents
and kicked him down the stairs, stairs, stairs.
...with a pickle on his nose and 3 sore toes,
that's the way it goes, goes, goes.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #5, Western Canada, 1960s, retrieved August 11, 2022
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #3)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl
As pretty as pretty can be
and all the boys in my hometown
are crazy over me
My boyfriend's name is Chico
he came from Puerto Rico
with a rubber nose
and 28 toes
and this is how my story goes
One day as I was walking
I heard my Chico talking
to a pretty little girl
with strawberry curls
and this is what he said to her
I L-O-V-E love you
I K-I-S-S kiss you
I K-I-S-S kiss you
in the D-A-R-K dark dark dark
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #7,retrieved August 11, 2022
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #4)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl
As pretty as pretty can be
And all the boys around the block
Are crazy over me.
My boyfriend's name is Harry.
He comes from Paris, France
With turned up toes and a pimple on his nose
And this is the way my story goes.
My boyfriend gave me apples,
My boyfriend gave me pears.
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
And took me to the fair.
One day as I was walking
I heard my boyfriend talking
To a pretty little girl with a strawberry curl
and this is what he said to her:
I L-O-V-E, love you.
I K-I-S-S, kiss you.
I K-I-S-S, kiss you
On your F-A-C-E, face, face, face.
I gave him back his apples
I gave him back his pears
I gave him back his fifty cents
And threw him down the stairs.
I threw him over London.
I threw him over France.
I threw him over [substitute wherever here]
And he lost his underpants.
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #8, retrieved August 11, 2022
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #5)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl, As pretty as can be, And all the boys around the block are crazy over me, me, me. My boyfriend's name is Chaim, He comes from yerushalayim, With a pickle up his nose and three black toes, And this is how my story goes. One day when I was walking, I saw my boyfriend talking To a pretty little girl with a strawberry curl And this is what he said to her: I L-O-V-E love you, I K-I-S-S kiss you. And he fell in the lake, And he swallowed a snake, And he came out with a bellyache.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #9, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
yerushalayim is a form of the name "Jerusalem". Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #6)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl, as pretty as pretty can be be be. And all the boys in the baseball team, go crazy over me me me. My boyfriends name is Steven, He comes from New Zealand. With five fat toes and a pimple on his nose, And this is how my story goes. One day when I was walking, I heard my boyfriend talking. To a pretty little girl with strawberry curls, and this is what he said to her: "I LOVE love you and I KISS kiss you" So jump in the lake and swallow a snake, and come out with a belly ache.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #12, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
This version of this rhyme is from Australia.
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (FRAGMENT; Example #7)
my boyfriend's name is patty
he lives in cincinatti
with forty-eight toes and a pickle on his nose
this is how my story goes:
one day i saw him walking when he was also talking
to a pretty little girl with strawberry curls and this is what he said to
her:
i L-O-V-E love you
i K-I-S-S kiss you
and if you ever move away i'll M-I-S-S miss you
i kicked him over london,
i kicked him over france
i kicked him over U-S-A and saw his purple underpants!
Miss Farrar, quoting maggie, email address,
Apr 3, 1997, https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.books.childrens/c/KqUfjV4xxzc?pli=1
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD (Example #1)
Shame Shame Shame.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
There’s a big fat policeman
at door, door, door.
He’ll grab you by the collar
and make you pay a dollar.
I don’t want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
-collected from African American girls and boys, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2000s by Azizi Powell
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD (Example #2)
Shame, shame, shame, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more. There's a fake Michael Jackson at the door, door, door. Grabbed me by the hips, kissed me on the lips, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more SHAME!
- unsigned comment added by 74.194.118.238 (talk) , 27 July 2014; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AClapping_game/Examples
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD (Example #3)
Sham,sham,sham
I don't want to go hollywood
No more,more,more
there is a big fat Michel jackson
At my door,door,door
he'll grab me by the hips
Make me kiss his lips
I don't want to go hollywood
No more,more,more
-Anonymous on Sunday, November 19, 2000; Streetplay.com Discussion: Girl Games: Singing: Silly songs, theme songs, etc.: Archive through November 27, 2000 [This website is no longer active.]
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO [Pancocojams Editor's Note: This rhyme is often known as "Shame"],(Example #1)
shame [title not chanted?]
shame shame shame
i don’t wanna go to mexico no more more more
there’s a big fat potato at the door door door
he grabbed me by the hips
kissed me on the lips
that’s why i don’t want to go to mexico no more more more
-lilly on November 20, 2011 [comment]https://hobbylark.com/party-games/Recess-is-BACK-Hand-Clapping-Games "Hand Games and Clapping Games With Lyrics and Rhymes", Jul 25, 2024 By Mary K Weinhagen :
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO (Example #2)
Shame Shame Shame
I don't want to go to Mexico no more more more
There's a big fat policeman at the door, door, door.
He will pull you by the collar
Make you scream and holler
I don't want to go to Mexico no more.
-Geneas, Nov 4, 2018 "90s Hand games!; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&feature=emb_logo [This video is no longer available.]
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO (Example #3)
Shame,shame,shame,
I dont wanna go to mexico,
no more more more,theres
a big fat policeman,
at the door door door,if you
grab him by the collar boy you better
hollar if you grab him by the pants,
boy you betta dance,i dont wanna go to mexico
no more more more shut the door
Im 13 and i still play that"
--Guest Brittany, June 4, 2011, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 "Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?"
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO (Example #4)
"We had one that was like
I wanna go to mexico some more, more , more
There's a big fat police man at the door,door,door
If you open the door he'll pee on the floor
I don't wanna go to mexico no more, more, more
Mexico alternated with Hollywood and the fat police man sometimes were 2 cute boys who'd grab you by the hips and kiss you on the lips. Both honestly sounded really gross to us and more funny then anything."
-Andrea Mercier, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55TnrD5re5g [link no longer active]
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO (Example #5)
Shame, shame, shame (Both people put their hand together and go back and forth)
I don't want to go to mexico no (middle, top, middle, right hand grab, left hand grab)
more, more, more. (slap thigh, snap, clap right hands)
There's a big fat policeman(clap back of right hands, clap, back and forth)
at the door, door, door (middle, top, middle, right hand grab)
grabbed me by the collar, (left hand grab, slap thigh, snap, clap right hands)
made me pay a dollar. (clap back of right hands, clap, back and forth)
I don't want to go to mexico no (middle, up, middle, right hand grab, left hand grab)
more, more, more. (slap thigh, snap clap right hands)
SHAME! (both people point at the other's face)
alternate lyrics:
Shame, shame, shame, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more. There's a fake Michael Jackson at the door, door, door. Grabbed me by the hips, kissed me on the lips, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more SHAME!
-Just Queenin, Jan 21, 2018,
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/childhood-hand-games-you-played.1403360/page-2
****
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO TENNISEE
Sham,sham,sham
I don't want to go Tennisee
No more,more,more
there is a big fat Elves
at my door,door,door
He'll grab me by the wrist
Make me do the twist
I don't want to go Tennisee
No more,more,more
-Anonymous on Sunday, November 19, 2000; Streetplay.com Discussion: Girl Games: Singing: Silly songs, theme songs, etc.: Archive through November 27, 2000 [This website is no longer active.]
-snip-
"Tennisee" is a misspelling of "Tennessee". "Elves" is probably a misspelling of "Elvis".
****
IN THE LAND OF FRANCE (Read examples for "There's A Place In France" below.)
****
IN THE LAND OF OZ
In the land of Oz
Where the ladies where no bras
But the men don’t care
'cuz they wear no underwear
-Trigonal_Planar Guest, Feb 03, https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-of-that-theres-a-place-in-france-song/155487/13
-snip-
"Oz" is a colloquial name for the nation (and continent) of Australia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Australia
This example is a version of "There's A Place In France". A few examples of that rhyme are found below.
****
INSIDE OUTSIDE [elastics jumping] Example #1
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Inside
Outside
Puppy dogs tails
-geekgroupie42, 2021 [comment], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag9Ou0YpD0o "Elastics... The Next Level - Suzy & Friends, published by TreehutTV, Oct. 13, 2017
****
INSIDE OUTSIDE [elastics jumping] Example #2
My friends and I say
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, outside, inside, on
-Caitlyn Allira, 2019 [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEmfq_NDlU "LaunchPad Elastics: Game 1", published by ausgymnastics, June 29, 2017
-snip-
I reformatted this example to separate the contributor's comment from the words that are actually chanted.
****
INSIDE OUTSIDE [elastics jumping] Example #3
I remember we use to say
“England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, Outside, Monkey’s Tails”
-Nicole Trifunovic, 2021 [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEmfq_NDlU "LaunchPad Elastics: Game 1", published by ausgymnastics, June 29, 2017
-snip-
I reformatted this example to separate the contributor's comment from the words that are actually chanted.
****
INSIDE OUTSIDE [elastics jumping] Example #4
We say
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, inside, outside, scales
-Abbi O'Conner, 2019 [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEmfq_NDlU "LaunchPad Elastics: Game 1", published by ausgymnastics, June 29, 2017
-snip-
I reformatted this example to separate the contributor's comment from the words that are actually chanted.
****
INSIDE OUTSIDE [elastics jumping] Example #5
In Northern Ireland we tend to say
“England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, Outside, on the British Rails
-Doyle The Chocolate Lab [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEmfq_NDlU "LaunchPad Elastics: Game 1", published by ausgymnastics, June 29, 2017
-snip-
I reformatted this example to separate the contributor's comment from the words that are actually chanted.
That discussion thread also has examples that end with "jump on the rails", "on the British scales" "on the Briitsh Isles", "twist and out" and other endings.
****
I SEE
I see Germany, I see France
I see somebody's underpants
-Bev and Jerry, 21 May 2005, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 I'm Rubber . You're Glue: Children's Rhymes
-snip-
Bev and Jerry wrote "We were both brought up in Cleveland, Ohio (but we got over it). We remember saying and hearing this in elementary school in the late 1940s and early 1950s."
-snip-
I remember chanting (with no accompanying movements) "I see London / I see France / I see [insert a name] underpants" in the 1950s in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
****
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE (Example #1)
I see London, I see France
I see {name} underpants. (* Name a girl *)
Not too big. Not too small.
Just the size for cannonballs.
-Hastings (1990), https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE (Example #2)
I see London,
I see France,
I see someone's underpants.
Are they blue?
Are they pink?
I don't know but they sure do stink!
-Jessica, February 07, 2007, http://hunsford.blogspot.com/2007/02/childhood-sayings.html
****
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE (Example #3)
I see London, I see France,
I see (xxx)s underpants,
Not too big, not too small,
Just the size of Montreal (or just the size of cannonball, Berlin Wall, etc.)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping-rope_rhyme
****
K, L
KAISER BILL
Kaiser Bill (* William II of Germany, circa 1915 *)
Went up the hill
To take a shot at France.
Kaiser Bill
Came down the hill
With bullets in his pants.
-Milnes (1996); https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
M, N
MEXICO TEXICO [title]
From Texaco, Texaco
Over the hills and away we go
Over the hills to Mexico
Where they do the splits, splits, splits,
And the high kicks, kicks, kicks.
We'll turn around, round, round,
And touch the ground, ground, ground.
Quick, get out of town, town, town.
Get back in, in, in,
Find a friend, friend, friend,
How many tacos can you make?
1 - 2 - 3 ..
-EmilyGrace, https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4098
-snip-
Here's a note on that website about this rhyme: "This is a jump rope game. I only ever played it on the playground in Missouri. When I moved to Georgia, the girls didn't know it. We called it 'Mexico Texaco'." -Emily Grace
The rhyme "Texico Mexico" is given in the "T" section below.
**
M I CROOKED LETTER
M-I crooked letter
Crooked letter I
Crooked Letter
Crooked letter I
Humpback humpback I
Mississippi!”
- https://www.care.com/c/11-catchy-jump-rope-rhymes/
****
MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (Example #1)
Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell,
Miss Susie went to heaven, The steamboat went to...
Hello operator, please give me number nine,
And if you disconnect me, I'll chop of your...
Behind the fridgerator, there was a piece of glass,
Miss Susie sat on it, and broke her little...
Ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies,
The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their...
Flies are in the meadow, bees are in the park,
Miss Susie and her boyfriend, are kissing in the...
D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K, dark, dark,
Dark is like a movie, A movie's like a show,
A show is like a TV set, and that is all...
I know I know my ma, I know I know my pa,
I know I know my sister, with the 80 meter bra!
My mom was born in England, My dad was born in France,
I was born in diapers, I couldn't fit in pants.
My mom is Godzilla, My dad is King Kong,
My brother is the stupid one, who made up this dumb song!
- http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml Children's Rhymes From the Eighties
****
MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #1)
Miss Sue! *clap clap*
Miss Sue! *clap clap*
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real names Suzyanna
Sittin in a rockin chair
Eatin Betty Crocker bread
Watchin the clock go
Tick tock tick tock Banana rock!
Tick tock tick tock Banana rock!
A-b-c-d-e-f-g Wash them spots right offa me!
Moocha Moocha Moocha Freeze!
*literally freeze on the last clap,
try to stay still longer than your friend
-darlenevil; cocojams.com, 2/1/2005
-snip-
Cocojams was the name of my cultural website. Some content from that website is found on my pancocojams blog and/or on my cocojams2 blog.
****
MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #2)
Miss Sue, Miss Sue, Miss Sue from Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska
Sitting in a rocker, eating Betty Crocker,
Watching the clock go
Tick, tock, tick, tock, banana rock(sometimes we said "around the clock" instead of "banana rock")
Tick, tock, tick, tock, banana rock
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, wash those boy germs off of me
Mooshka, mooshka, mooshka
FREEZE!
- Bijlee » 2012-11-20, 5:00, Re: Childhood Rhymes, https://forum.unilang.org/viewtopic.php?t=39100
****
MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #3)
ms sue clap clap clap ms sue from Alabama Alaska Nebraska she was sitting in her rocking chair chewing on her under ware watching the time go tick toc tick toc banana rock tic toc tick toc banana rock abcdefg wash these kittens off of my mushka mushka mushka freeze icky icky donkey daddy had a donkey donkey died daddy cried icky icky donkey
-Jennifer Lofgren, 2018; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkxEU3OFbU, [comment]
-snip-
This comment started with the words "Me and my friends go"
****
MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven,
The steamboat went to $&#/$&
Hello operator,
Please give me number nine.
And if you disconnect me
I’ll chop of your /&$#%$
Behind the frigerator
There was a piece of glass.
Miss Mary sat upon it.
It went right up her "%"$(=
Ask me no more questions,
Please tell me no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom,
Zipping down their "$%$&/&
Flies are in the city,
The bees are in the park.
Boys and girls are kissing
In the D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark
Dark is like a movie,
A movie’s like a show.
A show is like a TV screen,
And that is all I know
I know I know my mother,
I know I know my pa.
I know I know my sister
With the forty acre bra.
Brother’s like a sister,
A sister’s like an aunt.
An aunt is like a relative
Who likes to rave and rant.
I wish I had a nickel
I wish I had a dime
I wish I had a boyfriend
Who kissed me all the time!
My Ma gave me a nickel
My Pa gave me a dime.
My Sister gave me a boyfriend,
Who'd kiss me all the time
My Ma took back the nickel,
My Pa took back the dime.
My Sister took back her boyfriend,
and gave me Frankenstein!
He made me wash the dishes,
He made me wash the floors,
He made me wash his underwear,
So I kicked him out the door
I kicked him over London,
I kicked him over France.
I kicked him to Hawaii,
where he learned to Hula dance!
My mothers like Godzilla,
My fathers like King Kong.
My sister is the stupid one
That taught me this dumb song.
Hello operator,
Please give me number ten.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll sing this song again!
- https://www.nurseryrhymes.org/miss-susie-had-a-steamboat-hello-operator.html
****
MISS SUE FROM PARRAMATTA
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Parramata
Hey you
Scooby-Doo
Your mother's got the measles
Your fathers got the flu
Magic measles magic flu
Take a abcdefg
Take a hijklmnop
Take a smooth shot
Take a smooth shot
And freeze.
-buttercup7956, Mar 19, 2011
-snip-
Parramata is a suburb of Sydney,Australia.
****
MY MOTHER GAVE ME A NICKEL
My mother gave me a nickel
My father gave me a dime
My sister gave me a boyfriend
His name is Frankenstein/to kiss him all the time.
He made me wash the dishes
He made me wash the floor
He made me wash his underwear
So I kicked him out the door.
I kicked him to Los Angeles
I kicked him to Japan
I also kicked him everywhere
without his underwear.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470773567.app2 Hanley School Jump Rope Rhymes; Appendix B, Jump Rope Rhymes [jump Rope Rhymes in Downtown Los Angeles]
****
MY SOUP, MY SOUP
My soup, my soup
My soup from California
Sitting in a rocket
Eating chocolate waiting for the Time to go
Tic tic cicawawa tic tic cicawawa
A b c d e f g
Gummy bears are chasing me
One is red
One is blue
One is peeing on my shoe
I'm running running for my life
Cause the red one has a knife
CACHING"
- The Colour English, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM [comment]
-snip-
"My Soup From California" is a folk processed form of "Miss Sue From Alabama".
****
MY YOUNG MAN
My young man has gone to France,
To teach the ladies how to dance.
When he comes back,
He'll marry me,
And we'll dance the polka 1 2 3
1 2 3, 1 2 3,
We'll dance the polka 1 2 3.
- https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
O, P
OPEN THE BARNYARD (Example #1)
Open the barnyard,
kick out the hay,
We're the girls from the USA.
Turn up the radio,
who do you hear?
Elvis Presley singing his cheer.
We gotta F-I-G-H-T,
We gotta F-I-G-H-T,
We gotta F-I-G-H-T, (throw out punches into the air as the word is being spelled out each time) We gotta fight, fight, fight, on a Saturday night".
-Alex, cocojams.com cheerleader cheers (Website no longer active), 9/19/2007
****
OPEN UP THE BARNDOOR (Example #2)
Open up the barndoor
Kick out the hay
We’re the girls from the USA
Turn on the radio
Who do you hear
Justin Beiber doin a cheer
We gotta F
an I
Ah GHT
We gotta F
an I
Ah GHT
We gotta F
an I
Ah GHT
We gotta fight fight fight for victory!
-Supermaxkato, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGGfS-ZmzSk, March 23, 2013
****
Q, R
****
S, T
SHAME SHAME SHAME (Read examples above for "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico")
****
SO SO SUCK YOUR TOE
So so suck your toe
All the way to Mexico.
While you're there
Cut your hair
And don't forget your underwear.
-Jessica, February 07, 2007 http://hunsford.blogspot.com/2007/02/childhood-sayings.html
-snip-
This example was prefaced by this comment: "Someone just mentioned one I haven't heard in twenty-five" years:
****
TELL IT TELL IT
Tell, tell, go to jail
Hang ya draws on a rusty nail
Hang 'em high, hang 'em low
all the way to Mexico
-mighty hornet, Jul 26, 2006, https://www.hbcusports.com/forums/threads/childhood-expressions.48612/
****
TEXACO MEXICO
Texaco Mexico [Turners turn rope]
Went over the hill [Jumper jumps into the moving rope]
Where far away [Jumper jumps]
And they do some splits, splits, splits [Jumper executes splits]
And they turn around round round [Jumper turns around]
And they touch the ground, ground, [Jumper touches the ground]
And they do some kicks, kicks, kicks [Jumper does kicks]
And they pay their taxes, taxes, taxes [Jumper slaps hand of turner]
And they get outa town, town, town [Jumper moves out of the rope]
And they jump back in, in, in [Jumper jumps back into the rope]
And that’s the end, end, end [Jumper jumps out of the rope]
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470773567.app2 Hanley School Jump Rope Rhymes; Appendix B, Jump Rope Rhymes [jump Rope Rhymes in Downtown Los Angeles]
****
THE CAT SAT ON THE TRAM LINES
The Cat sat on the tram Lines
the driver rang his Bell,
The Tram went on to Heeley
but the Cat went tro Hell.
-shanes teeth, April 8, 2019, https://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/topic/131030-remember-any-old-silly-verses-etc-you-were-told-as-a-child/page/88/#comments
-snip-
According to Wikipedia, Heeley is a former cluster of villages which all now form a suburb of the city of Sheffield, England.
****
THE JACKSON FIVE
The Jackson Five (* musical group, circa 1963 *)
Went to France
To teach the children
How to dance.
A heel and a toe (* Jumper lands on heel and toe *)
And round you go. (* Jumper turns full around *)
A heel and a toe (* Jumper lands on heel and toe *)
And around I go. (* Jumper turns full around *)
Salute to the captain. (* Jumper salutes *)
Bow to the king. (* Jumper bows *)
Turn your back (* Jumper turns other direction *)
On the ugly old queen.
-Knapp (1976); https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
THERE'S A PLACE CALLED MARS
There's a place called Mars
where the ladies smoke cigars
and they often state
it's enough to kill a snake.
If the snake is dead
they put roses on its head.
If the roses die
they put diamonds in its eyes.
If the diamonds break
they sing 1968.
-culhane (1995), https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
THERE'S A PLACE IN FRANCE (Example #1)
There’s a place in France,
Where the naked ladies dance.
There’s a hole in the wall,
Where the men watch it all.
But the men don't care,
'Cuz they chew their underwear,
And the underwear they chew
Costs a dollar ninety two.
- https://everything2.com/title/There+is+a+place+in+France
****
THERE'S A PLACE IN FRANCE (Example #2)
There’s a place in France
Where the naked ladies dance
But the men don’t care
Cause they don’t wear underwear
Circa 1975, central Minnesota.
-chique, Feb. 2003, https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-of-that-theres-a-place-in-france-song/155487/9
****
THERE'S A PLACE IN FRANCE (Example #3)
There’s a place in France
Where the alligators dance
The one couldn’t dance
So they kicked him in the pants
The pants next door
Cost a dollar forty four
Plus tax.
-racer72, Feb 2003 https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-of-that-theres-a-place-in-france-song/155487/9
****
U, V
UP AND DOWN JAMAICA TOWN
Up and down Jamaica Town
A house made out of glass.
I stepped into a lady's house
And there she made me laugh.
-Abrahams (1969), https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
W, X
WAY DOWN IN TENNESSEE
does anyone know this one?
Way down south in Tennessee where the girls wear skirts
down to their knees hey silly Lizzie Tennessee touch the ground silly Lizzie
Tennessee turn around silly Lizzie Tennessee She never went to collage and she
never went to school but when she came back she was an educated fool Daina gone
where did she go? she went like this (do a dance move) she went like this (do
the same dance move as the player before you did :other player) i think some of
it is wrong i forget how it goes
-lizzie and regan on August 04, 2013, [comment] https://hobbylark.com/party-games/Recess-is-BACK-Hand-Clapping-Games "Hand Games and Clapping Games With Lyrics and Rhymes" Jul 25, 2024 By Mary K Weinhagen
****
WEE SAM
wee sam a pice in jam
went to london in a pram
the pram broke
what a joke
wee sam a pice in jam
- GUEST, 29 Nov 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 [Ball bouncing rhyme]
****
Y, Z
****
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