Some Songs And Rhymes That May Have Been Sources For The "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" Song

S. Espinosa, August 16, 2013
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I believe this version of "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" is sung by The Countdown Kids. 

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides some examples of and comments about the song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin". 

I'm particularly interested in documenting old songs that may be sources for the "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" song or old songs may have influenced verses for that song reaa song.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/documenting-dates-for-some-lyric.html "Documenting Dates For Some Lyric Versions Of The "I'm A Nut" Song, Part II" for Part II of a three part series about the closely related song "I'm A Nut".

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Almost all of the content of this pancocojams blog focuses on African American culture, African cultures, or cultures from other people of the African Diaspora.

However, with regard to the song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin", I've found no information that directly or indirectly link the composition of early or later versions of that song to African Americans or to other Black people. 

Also, I've found no online comments by African Americans about the song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" and I have no offline experience with this song being sung by African American children, teens, or adults. (I'm referrring here to my personal experiences, including the community programming that I did in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area from the late 1980s - 2007 in predominately Arican American schools and neighborhoods.) That said, I think it's probable that some African Americans know the song, "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" particularly from adult led school music classes and/or summer camps, Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts. 

Some pancocojams posts- such as this one- focus on children's recreational material (rhymes, cheers, chants, and singing games), without regard to the race or ethnicity of those who originally composed that material or without regard to who performed or performed that material.

That said, pancocojams' posts on children's recreational material often focus on versions of rhymes, cheers, and singing game that Black children compose/d, modifiy/ied, and/or perform'ed. The words and performance activities of those examples are sometimes different than the words and performance styles for the same titles of rhymes or other rhymes that are chanted by non-Black people.chanted by non-Black people. 

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GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "I'M A LITTLE HUNK OF TIN"
The song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" is given online as having an unknown composer and no copyright. That song has the same tune as "I'm A Nut" (also known as "I'm An Acorn Brown" and other titles). Some verses for "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" are found in  "I'm A Nut" and vice versa. Also, both songs are often performed with imitative movements.

Unlike a few comments where people recall singing the song "I'm A Nut" in the 1940s and 1950s, I haven't found any comments or articles that refer to the song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" with any dates. However, I've found some comments about old songs that may have influenced the composition of "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin".  

Versions of the closely related song "I'm A Nut" appear to have inspired the hand clap rhyme "I'm A Nut In The Hut", However, I haven't come across any hand game versions of "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin". 

Most of the versions for "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" song include references to the Ford brand of cars. While this song disparages Fords, it should be noted that there was a time when Ford cars were very highly valued and not considered "hunks of tin" that easily fell apart and that made rattling sounds and other strange sounds when they were driven.       

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SONG
These online sources are given in no particular order.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.  These comments aren't numbered on the pages that I retrieved them, or the numbering sequences are different. Italics are used for comments with dates.

Source #1
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=25514

1.  [Explanation: This commenter shared some lyrics for the song "I'm A Nut" that she knew and asked for information about that song and more lyrics for that song. In this comment, she is responding to some lyrics for "I'm A Nut" that were shared in that discussion thread.]

Subject: RE: info on 'I'm a Nut'
From: Charcloth
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 05:56 PM

"thanks folks the "I can sing & I can dance" verse was new to me. The version I know is real close to what has been said but, here are some other verses I know. "Grandpa's beard is long & gray, growing grayer day by day, Grandma eats it in her sleep says it tastes like shreadded wheat, (Chorus) I'm an old antique car I travel near I don't go far, every time you're in my way this is what you'll hear me say, rattle, honk honk, ooggah, beep beep, whae,(Chorus)"
-snip-
Here's the "I can sing & I can dance" verse that was quoted by another commenter: 
"I can sing and I can dance
I wear ruffles on my...
sorry, boys, guess again
I wear ruffles on my dress"
-snip-
"I can sing & I can dance" is a type of "profanity avoidance" rhyme in which the taboo word is strongly alluded to, but a socially acceptable word is given instead. "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" is probably the most widely known profanity avoidance children's rhyme in the United States. The woman in those rhyme used to be known by the name "Lulu". There's a lot of explicit and near explicit "Lulu" songs and rhymes that were well known in the United States in the 1940s and later. The "Two Irishmen digging a ditch" rhymes are also examples of profanity avoidance (or non-avoidance). 

I think this type of profanity avoidance rhyme suggests that it was composed in the 1940s when that formulaic lyrical wittiness was in vogue.  

The "I can sing and I can dance " verse and the "Grandpa's beard" verse are also sometimes found in the "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" songs/rhymes. Those verses (without the chorus) come from the old song "Grandpa's Whiskers" (composer unknown and copyright unknown). Click https://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/g111.html  for some lyrics for that song.

Commenter Guest, ClaireBear (26 June 06) includes this verse for that song in this discussion thread https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=92441 Lyr Req: They're long and they're gray...":

"I have a dear old uncle
He owns a Ford machine
He uses Grandpa's whiskers
To strain the gasoline !"

Another commenter in that discussion thread speculates that "Grandpa's Whiskers" may date from World War II.

"open mike" shared another version of that verse on May 5, 2006 in the Mudcat discussion thread "Lyr Req: Songs about Fords":

"Grandpa has a car, it is a Ford machine

His whiskers come in handy for straining gasoline"

this line comes from the song Grandpa's Whiskers.."

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJHpWIg1fP0&ab_channel=Kids-Songs.TV for one of several YouTube videos for the song "Grandpa's Whiskers". The tune for that song is very similar or the same as the tunes that are used for "I'm A Nut" and "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin".

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2. Subject: Lyr Add: I'M A NUT
From: Tinker
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 12:18 PM

"Thirty Years ago we sang the I'm a nut verse followed by.

I'm a little hunk of tin
Nobody knows what shape I'm in
Got four wheels and a running board
Just a little Model Ford

Honk, Honk, Rattle, Rattle, Rattle, Crash, Beep, Beep, 3x Honk Honk! 3x"...
-snip-
The second line "Nobody knows what shape I'm in" is sometimes given as "Nobody knows where I have been".

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3. Subject: RE: Origin: I'm a Nut
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 12:35 AM

When I was at Girl Scout camp, there was a song that began,

I'm wild about horns on automobiles that go wha a ah ah Beep beep!
I'm a nut, I'm a pest, but the things I like the best,
I'm wild about horns on automobiles that go etc.

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4 . Subject: RE: Origin: I'm a Nut - Girl Scout Camp Song
From: GUEST,Another guest
Date: 30 May 13 - 01:03 AM

"In response to the "10 Nov 10 - 12:35 AM" post - I learned that song in Girl Scout Camp, too. It is a modified version of an ooooold, OLD song from 1928 (?) called: "I'm Wild About Horns".

As I remember the song from Girl Scout Camp (in 1982), it went like this:

I'm Wild about horns on automobiles that go wah ah ah ah ah ah ah ooga ooga! (Repeat again)
I used to own a funny little car that I got from a guy named Greg
And every-time I honked that horn, this is what it said
I'm a pest, I'm a pest, I'm a pest, I'm a pest
But the things I like the best.....

(Repeat first line)"

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5. Subject: RE: Origin: I'm a Nut
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Jul 14 - 09:17 PM

"There was a song that I learned at a leader training that went like this:

I once had a friend who owned a model A
and every time he beeped the horn this is what he'd say
"I'm a nut I'm a pest but the thing that I like the best
are old fashioned horns on Automobiles that go
an an an an, an an an an, an an an an Beep Beep.
Can't find this anywhere it was at Camp Kirkwold in Maine"
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These "car" songs (comments #3, #4, & #5) probably influenced the "I'm a little hunk of tin" verse in "I'm A Nut" songs and may also have also been an early source for the "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin" song.

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Source #2

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=80670,80670

1. Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Fords
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 01:26 AM

"I don't want to trivialize this excellent thread, but when we were singing with migrant farm-working families in the New York State orchards, some of the kids sang:

    I'm a little piece of tin,

    Nobody knows the shape I'm in.

    Got four wheels and a runnin' board.

    I'm a Ford, Lord, I'm a Ford!

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

 

 Then one of the mothers sang (same tune, slightly blues-ified):

  I'm a little nut so brown

  Lyin' on the cold, cold ground.

  Everybody steps on me;

  That is why I'm cracked, you see.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep.

         Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep."

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2. Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Fords
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 28 Aug 15 - 05:45 AM

A ditty from my childhood days:

If you want to buy a wreck, buy a Ford

Four buckled wheels and a board

A biscuit tin

With the top bashed in

If you want to buy a wreck, buy a Ford

 

I don't know if there is any more."
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A "ditty" is a short, simple song. This "ditty" may have influenced the creation of the song "I'm A Little Hunk Of Tin". Unfortunately, no decades are given for that commenter's "childhood days". 

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Source #3
https://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/h022.html

Hunk of Tin

Written By: Unknown

Copyright Unknown

I'm a little hunk of tin
Nobody knows what shape I'm in
I've got four wheels and a running board
I'm not a Chevy, I'm a Ford

Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep

Grandpa's beard is long and grey
It gets longer every day
Grandma eats it in her sleep
Says it tastes like shredded wheat

Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep

I'm a little acorn round
Lying on the cold, cold ground
Everybody steps on me
That is why I'm cracked you see

Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep

I'm a little TNT
I'm as cute as I can be
I can sing and I can dance
I wear ruffles on my (oops, boys, take another guess)
I wear ruffles on my dress

Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep

Actions:
Honk: Pull your earlobe
Rattle: Shake your head back and forth quickly
Crash: Hit your chin with the heal of your hand
Beep: Hit your nose with your fingers"

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Source #4

https://sites.google.com/site/susiessongsa/real-lyrics-for-i-have-a-car

"I have a car it’s made of tin. Nobody knows what shape
it’s in. It has four wheels and a rumble seat. Hear us
chugging down the street. Honk honk rattle rattle
rattle crash beep beep. Honk honk rattle rattle rattle 
crash beep beep. Honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash
beep beep. Honk honk."

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Source #5

https://sites.google.com/site/campfavoritesongbook/home/dining-hall-songs/hunk-of-tin Hunk of Tin

I’m a little hunk of tin
Nobody knows what shape I’m in
I’ve got four wheels and a running board
I’m a four door, I’m a Ford

CHORUS:
Honk honk rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk honk rattle rattle crash beep beep
Honk Honk

Romeo and Juliet
On a balcony they set
Juliet has got a date
Shakespeare’s coming at half past eight

CHORUS

Coca-Cola came to town
Pepsi Cola shot him down
Doctor Pepper fixed him up
Now we all drink 7-UP

CHORUS

I’m a little Mercury
Sailing from the Long Pond Beach
Now the wind is picking up
Hope I don’t go bottoms up

CHORUS"
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The "Coca-Cola came to town" verse can be dated to the 1980s Pepsi-Cola vs Coca-Cola "soda wars" (also called "cola wars"). Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola_wars for information about those soda wars. 

"Coca- Cola (or "Pepsi-Cola) came to town" and variants such as "Michael Jackson came to town" are found in some examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" and "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag"  rhymes.
  
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/information-about-examples-of-hand-clap.html for a pancocojams post that provides information and examples of these rhymes. 

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Michael Jackson Mentioned In The Children's Rhyme "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood No More More More"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Title change - November 19, 2024

This pancocojams post presents some information and six examples of the children's hand clap rhyme "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood No More More More" (also given as "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood") that mention pop star Michael Jackson.

These are the only examples of this rhyme that I have found as of this date.*

Information about the source rhyme "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" is also given in this post and in the comment section below.

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.
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Click the "Michael Jackson in children's rhymes" tag for more pancocojams posts on that subject. This is the last post that I plan to publish in that pancocojams series.

Also, click the "children's rhyme" tag and other tags below for more pancocojams posts about hand clap rhymes and other children's recreational rhymes.

*It's possible that other versions of "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood No More More More" (with or without mentioning Michael Jackson) were posted to comment threads of YouTube videos that featured children under 13 years of age. However, all of the comments to these videos were deleted in accordance with the February 28, 2019 policy that disallowed comments on those YouTube videos. As a community folklorist, I deeply regret that all of those comments were deleted as those comment threads were rich sources of contemporary examples of children's hand clap rhymes that are seldom found elsewhere online or offline.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-comments-about-youtubes-policy.html for a pancocojams post entitled "YouTube Information & My Comments About YouTube's Policy Enacted February 2019 Which Disallows Comments For Most YouTube Children's Videos"

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
By "children's rhymes" I mean recreational rhymes that are may or may not have been composed by children, but are documented as being chanted by children while playing hand clap games, jumping rope, or recited as taunting rhymes or parodies, or used as counting out strategies.

Most of the examples that are included in this post contain no information about how the rhyme is performed. However, my guess is that all of these examples are hand clap rhymes.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE RHYMES "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO" & "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD NO MORE MORE MORE"
Here's a portion of my notes from http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-real-origin-of-i-dont-to-go-to.htmlThe REAL Origin Of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" Rhymes (also known as "Shame")
..."Judging from the number of online examples of this rhyme, including the number of YouTube videos, "I Don’t Want To Go To Mexico” appears to be a widely known hand clap rhyme in the United States.

[...]

"I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood" is a (probably purposely) folk processed form of the widely known (in the United States) hand clap rhyme "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico". The source for "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" is the jump rope rhyme “I Don’t Want To Go To Macy’s.” Roger Abraham notes in his collection Jump-Rope Dictionary that "I Don't Want To Go To Macy's" is documented as being performed by American children in 1938. “Macy’s” is the name of a chain of department stores. The most famous Macy's store is located in New York City.

My theory is that the word "Mexico" was substituted "Mexico" for "Macys" since children weren't familiar with the "Macy's" store or the word “Macy’s”. This is an example of “folk etymology”. Folk etymology occurs when people change foreign words or unfamiliar words into familiar words or sounds that are similar to the word they don’t know.

[...]

Since at least the 2000s, it appears that in the United States the rhyme "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico No More" is usually known as "Shame". That title comes from the introductory words "Shame Shame Shame" that are said before the rhyme's hand clapping pattern and the words for that rhyme actually began. The word "Shame!" is also usually said at the end of many examples of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico". In the context of these rhymes, "Shame" means "Aren't you ashamed?" or "You should be ashamed". The title "Shame" for "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" rhymes (including other versions in this rhyme family such as "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood") originated with African Americans.

It should be noted that there are other children's hand clap rhymes that also begin with the words "Shame Shame Shame".* However, usually when African American girls say that they are going to do [the rhyme] "Shame", they mean "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico".
*In this video, the rhyme "Brick Wall Waterfall" that is performed by two African American girls begins with the introductory phrase "Shame, Shame, Shame": in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br9fAi7HdDk.

**
Since at least the 1990, in many versions of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico", the word "Mexico" is replaced with some other place that the chanters don't want to go- i.e. "I don't want to go to Hollywood", "I Don't Want To Go To College", or "I don't want to go to school". However, one example that I found replaced "Mexico" with "Disney World", which is usually a place where children want to go. (As a reminder, the word "Mexico" in this rhyme is a folk processed form of the store name "Macys").

If the word "Hollywood" in those rhymes represents a place that people don't want to go to, it may reflect many Americans' dislike of trashy films, and egotistic rich people who flaunt their wealth and lord it over other people.
**

In some contemporary rhymes, the "policeman" is replaced by "Michael Jackson" (i.e. there's a big fat Michael Jackson at the door", or "there's a skinny Michael Jackson at the door" or "there's a fake Michael Jackson at the door"). Some examples replace "policeman" with "a cute boy" or "two cute boys", or "a tall man" etc. Usually in those rhymes, the person or persons at the door takes the girl by the hips and kisses her on her lips. In other versions, the person takes the girl by the pants and makes her do a dance.

As of the date of this post's publication, I have only found one folk processed version of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" that mentions another celebrity except Michael Jackson. That celebrity is Elvis Presley, although his name is misspelled in that example:
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 [www. streetplay.com- This website is no longer available.

A risque (1990s or later?) version of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" that appears to be quite widely chanted has the person or persons at the door (policeman, Michael Jackson, cute boy etc) peeing on the floor. (Notice that "door" and "floor" rhyme), suggesting that "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" or, at least, this version of that rhyme is chanted by children as a way to challenge society's rules and experience being a little bit bad (i.e. not good) in a safe, relatively consequences free way.

For the record, when I was collecting examples of children's rhymes and cheers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (beginning in 1985, but most actively from 1997-2008), the only examples of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" that I collected had the words that referenced "Mexico" and "policeman" and the words of those examples didn't include any peeing on the floor.

**
Although it wasn't an element in early examples of this rhyme, by at least the 1980s, a competitive and aggressive, if not violent, ending was added to "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" rhymes (whatever their titles/words). For instance, both partners doing the hand clap routine shout "Shame!" (or shout "Shut the door!") and try to be the first person to tap, poke, or hit their partner on the forehead. The person who is the first one to complete that action "wins" that hand clapping "contest".
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*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/information-about-examples-of-hand-clap.html for this pancocojams post entitled Information About & Examples Of The Hand Clap Rhyme "Michael Jackson Went To Town".

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EXAMPLES OF THE HAND CLAP RHYME "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO" THAT MENTION MICHAEL JACKSON
These examples are given in chronological order with the oldest dated example given first. Note that that date doesn't mean that that is the earliest example of "I Don't Want To Go To Hollywood" that mentions Michael Jackson. It just means that it is the earliest example of that rhyme that I've collected as of this date.

Note that I haven't found any examples of this rhyme that is combined with other verses, such as verses of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky", "I Pledge Allegiance To Flag", or "Coca Cola Went To Town" (or its variant form "Michael Jackson Went To Town".

1. 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, http://www.streetplay.com/discus/
Streetplay.com Discussion: Girl Games: Singing: Silly songs, theme songs, etc.: Archive through November 27, 2000 [This website is no longer be available.]

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2. Shame Shame Shame
I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more
There's a Michael Jackson at the door, door door
He grabbed me by my hips
Made me kiss his lips
I don't want to go to Mexico
No more, more, more.
-from The Man who Adores the Negro: Race and American Folklore by Patrick B. Mullen [University of Illinois Press, 2008, page 161, 162]

The analysis that Patrick B. Mullen wrote of this rhyme in quoted in the comment section for this pancocojams post.

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3. shame shame shame,
i don’t wanna go to hollywood no more more more,
theres a fat michale jackson
at the door door door,
he grabbed me by the hips,
kissed me on the lips,
i don’t wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-Shasta, http://losemyway.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/hand-clapping-games/ No More 3x5's Hand Clapping Games; August 12, 2010

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4. i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more theres a skiny micheal jackson ant the door door door so he grabbed me by my hips kissed me on the lips i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-Ja’ Kayla Jasmine, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=e0KMFSj-FrQ [comment]

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5. 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! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.194.118.238 (talk) 04:39, 27 July 2014 (UTC)"
-snip-
This example was given as an "alternative lyrics" for a version of "I Don't Want To Go To Mexico"

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6. i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more theres a skiny micheal jackson ant the door door door so he grabbed me by my hips kissed me on the lips i dont wanna go to hollywood no more more more
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0KMFSj-FrQ [comment in Fun hand games, fatcat123455Dec 24, 2011; no commenter's name or date retrieved

(As of November 19, 2024, that video's discussion thread is still open probably because it features two young women and therefore isn't affected by the February 28, 2019 YouTube ban on comments for videos that feature children ages 13 years.

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"Coca Cola Went To Town" (Information About & Some Examples Of The Hand Clap Rhymes)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision: Nov. 28, 2023

This pancocojams post presents some precursors of the "Coco-Cola Came To Town" rhymes.

This post also presents information about and some examples of the children's hand clap rhyme "Coca Cola Went To Town" aswell as some information some information about pop star Michael Jackson who is featured in later versions of these children's recreational rhymes. 

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 and thanks for the publisher of the YouTube videos that are embedded in this post.
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WARNING: This pancocojams post's comment section includes the pejorative word "fag".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/information-about-examples-of-hand-clap.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Information About & Examples Of The Hand Clap Rhyme "Michael Jackson Went To Town".

Click the "children's rhyme" tag and other tags below for more pancocojams posts about hand clap rhymes and other children's recreational rhymes.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
By "children's rhymes" I mean recreational rhymes that are may or may not have been composed by children, but are documented as being chanted by children while playing hand clap games, jumping rope, or recited as taunting rhymes or parodies, or used as counting out strategies.

Most of the examples that are included in this post contain no information about how the rhyme is performed. However, my guess is that all of these examples are hand clap rhymes.

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SOME PRECURSORS OF THE RHYME "COCO-COLA CAME TO TOWN"

"YANKEE DOODLE WENT TO TOWN"
Here's information about the song "Yankee Doodle Went To Town"
From https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/story-behind-the-song/the-story-behind-the-song/yankee-doodle/ Yankee Doodle: The story behind the song - …A Colonial Insult?
..."The “Yankee Doodle” tune was already well known by the 1750s. But tradition says that in 1755 a British doctor named Richard Schuckburg penned new words to mock his American allies. He portrayed the colonists as rude, crude, and cowardly. In the song, Schuckberg referred to the American fighter as both a “doodle”—a country hick, and a “dandy”—a conceited jerk. No one has ever figured out exactly where the term “Yankee” comes from.

One guess is that “Yankee” started as the nickname “Little Jan” used by Dutch settlers at the time. But the Brits used it to mock all American colonists. Later, of course, it became the name of a very famous New York baseball team.

"Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy."
George Gaskin, 1897 - "Yankee Doodle"

[…]

Over time, new verses of “Yankee Doodle” were added, changed, moved, and removed. A verse about George Washington, for example, was tacked on after he took command of the Continental Army in June 1775. Interestingly, one of the most familiar verses did not appear until 1842. Today, it is the first verse of the song that every American knows:

"Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni"*.

[…]

As you can see, the history of a song can be long, crooked, and crazy. And in the case of “Yankee Doodle,” a song now sung as a happy ditty was at one time a song of mockery, and then a song of war.

* This “macaroni” does not refer to a pasta noodle. It was a term for dressing so fancy that a person looked silly.
-snip-
The asterisk and the note after it is part of that original article.

** 
Here's a version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that includes lines from "Yankee Doodle Went To Town: 

"Down by the banks with the hanky pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
say E-I-O
You Yo Momma stank and so r u
ping pong donky kong
Yo Momma smell like king kong
Micheal Jackson went to town riding on the pony
stuck a feather in is hat n called him macaroni
resse pieces butter cup
u mess wit me ill bust you u up
i woke up in the morning i looked up on the wall
i saw a bunch of cocka roches playin basketball
and they score was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 and on 10 they have to try to slap the other person hands if the person misses n slaps their own hand they are eliminated"

-GUEST,Me![Her's The Miami Version], 20 Jun 08 
-snip-
The song "Yankee Doodle Went To Town" eventually changed to the rhyme "Coca Cola Went To Town". I believe that change occurred in the 1980s before its inclusion in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes. This change from "Yankee Doodle" to "Coca Cola
 reflects the real life marketing event that is referred to as the "Cola wars"

Here's a version of "Coca Cola Went To Town" that reflects the Cola wars and isn't a part of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhyme family.  

coca-cola came to town
diet pepsi knocked him down
dr pepper fixed him up
now were drinkink 7up
7up caught the flu
now were drinking mountain s\dwe
muntain dew fell off the montain
now were drinking from afountain
fountain water makes me choke
nw were back to drinking coke!!!!!!!XD
-GUEST, 11 Nov 07,  https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 : Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

**
In 1984 and afterwards, some versions of verses for what used to be "Coca Cola Went To Town" change that line to  "Michael Jackson Went To Town" to reflect the real life event of Michael Jackson's scalp being burnt while he was performing his song "Billie Jean" during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.

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OTHER PRECURSORS OF THE "COCA COLA WENT TO TOWN" RHYME

AINT JANE BROWN
Aint Jane Brown, went to town, riding a billy goat and leading a hound, hound barked, billy goat jumped and threw aint Jane right astride a stump
-Mary Jane, 2014, https://www.buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
-snip-
"Aint' = "Aunt"

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BUSTER BROWN 
Buster Brown 
Went to town 
With his pants 
On upside down 
He lost a nickel 
He bought a pickle 
The pickle was sour 
He picked a flower 
The flower was yellow 
He bought him a fellow 
The fellow was mean 
He bought a bean 
The bean was hard 

He bought a card 
And on the card 
It said, "Red hot pepper!.
-https://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1016?articleID=176751  Playtime with Buster Brown.

This source doesn't give any information about this rhyme besides that it features the fictional Buster Brown boy character who is the mascot along with his dog Tige for a brand of children's shoes.  The article also mentions that the rhyme is chanted "while "skipping rope as fast as you can".

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I WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE MRS BROWN

I went downtown,
To see Mrs. Brown*.
She gave me a nickel,
To buy me a pickle.
The pickle was sour,
So she gave me a flower
The flower was dead
So this is what she said…

Icky icky soda pop
Icky icky you
Icky icky soda pop
He likes you!

* or "Charlie Brown"
-https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5546
  

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HAND CLAP RHYMES "COCA COLA WENT TO TOWN" & "MICHAEL JACKSON WENT TO TOWN"
"Coca Cola Went To Town" and its variant form "Michael Jackson Went To Town" are composed using a similar format to what I call "trading rhymes". (Probably the most well known example of a "trading rhyme" is "Hush Little Baby")*. In trading rhymes one item is found to be somehow defective and is traded for another item which itself is found to be defective, and this pattern continues again and again.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush,_Little_Baby

In the two rhymes that are the focus of this post, one beverage comes into town only to be beaten up by another beverage. A third beverage either beats up that second beverage or other circumstances cause it to be replaced by yet a fourth beverage. This pattern continues again and again (usually) until the first beverage again becomes the beverage of choice.

"Coca Cola Went To Town" and "Michael Jackson Went To Town" obliquely refer to people's experiences with or perceptions about what has been called "the cola wars" in the United States. Here's information about "the cola wars" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola_wars
"The long-time rival soft drink producers The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo have engaged mutually-targeted marketing campaigns for the direct competition between each company's product lines, especially their flagship colas, Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Beginning in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the intensity of these campaigns have led to them, and the competition in general, being known as the cola wars.[1]

[...]

During the peak of the cola wars, as Coca-Cola saw its flagship product losing market share to Pepsi, as well as to Diet Coke and competitors' products, the company considered a change to the beverage's formula and flavor. In April 1985, The Coca-Cola Company introduced its new formula for Coca-Cola, which became popularly known as "New Coke". Consumer backlash to the change led to the company making a strategic retreat on July 11, 1985, announcing its plans to bring back the previous formula under the name "Coca-Cola Classic".[2]"...
-snip-
Some examples of "Coca Cola Went To Town" feature other cola products such as "Diet Pepsi" as the lead cola in that rhyme. Read #5 given below as an example of this.

****
My guess is that examples of "Coca Cola Went To Town" rhymes may have been first chanted in the early 1980s. It's likely that a number of versions of "Coca Cola Went To Town" were composed shortly after 1984 as they obliquely refer to Michael Jackson and his song "Billy Jean". In 1984 pop star Micheal Jackson's hair caught on fire when a fire works exploded while he filmed a Pepsi commercial singing a re-worked version of his hit song "Billy Jean".

Michael Jackson’s superstar status and the fact that he was filming a Pepsi commercial explains why many children started chanting versions of "Coca Cola Went To Town" that used his name instead of that original title. The details about that incident also explain why the girl's name "Billie Jean" (or some folk processed version of that name such as "jelly beans") is a part of many versions of that "Michael Jackson Went To Town" rhyme.

However, the fact that most examples of that rhyme end with a line such as "now we're back to Coke" suggests that those versions of that rhyme weren't composed until 1985 when Coca Cola brought back the original formula for Coke (as per the Wikipedia article quoted above). Read the comment given in this pancocojams' comment section that mentions 1985 as the date that that commenter chanted a "Coca Cola Went To Town" rhyme that includes the name "Michael Jackson."

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The "Coca Cola Went To Town" (and the "Michael Jackson Went To Town") rhyme can be chanted alone or in combination with other hand clap rhymes, for instance, as part of long versions of the hand clap rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". Versions of "Coca Cola Went To Town" that mention Michael Jackson were very likely composed after that pop star's hair caught on fire accident.

It's doubtful that many children who recite/d "Coca Cola Went To Town" or Michael Jackson Went To Town" are/were aware of the background for the words for those rhymes. And it's probably doubtful that a child composed the original "Coca Cola Went To Town" rhyme.

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EXAMPLES OF THE HAND CLAP RHYME "COCA COLA WENT TO TOWN"
These examples are given in no particular order with their source given after the rhyme. When the "Coca Cola Went To Town" verse is combined with other verses, I'v written it in italics to highlight it. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. coca cola went to town



MrRigby666, Jul 30, 2011

coca cola went to town
Pepsi cola shot him down
Dr pepper fixed him up
now were drinking 7 up
7 up got the flu
now were drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell of the mountain
now were drinking cherry fountain
cherry fountain had a stroke
now were back to drinking coke


Comments are turned off
-snip-
*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-comments-about-youtubes-policy.html for a pancocojams post on this subject that is entitled "Information & My Comments About YouTube's Policy Enacted February 2019 Which Disallows Comments For Most YouTube Children's Videos".

****
2. HOW2 SING Coca Cola | SCOUTADELIC #CampfireSong



Scoutadelic, May 27, 2019

In our #HOW2 Campfire Song series, Tayler & T show us how to sing the repeat after me song, Coca Cola. #CampfireSongs

Lyrics
Coca Cola came to town [repeat]
Diet Pepsi shot him down [repeat]
Dr. Pepper picked him up [repeat]
Now we all drink 7-Up [repeat]

7-Up got knocked down too [repeat]
Now we’re drinking Irn Bru [repeat]
Irn Bru fell down the mountain [repeat]
Now we’re drinking from the fountain [repeat]

Oh no, the fountain broke [repeat]
Now we’ve all gone back to Coke [repeat]
Coca Cola's lost it's fizz [repeat]
Now we all drink Fanta Whizz [repeat]
-snip-
"Coca Cola Came To Town" (as sung in the video example given as #2 below) is sung in call & response pattern and sounds like the military cadence "Sound Off". This version of "Coca Cola Came To Town" has a different tune than the version which is chanted by the two girls in version #1 above. The way the girls chanted this song is the way that I've usually heard it performed online (Note: I've never heard this rhyme during the years that I engaged in face to face collecting of children's rhymes, mostly in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area from 1985 to 2008.) Nevertheless, it's possible that the call & response pattern and military cadence tune was the earliest way this rhyme was chanted.

Also, note that the example of "Coca Cola Came To Town" which is given in this pancocojams comment thread includes the information that the rhyme uses the same tune as "Yankee Doodle Came To Town". That old American song is undoubtedly the inspiration for the first line of "Coca Cola Went [or "Came"] To Town" and "Michael Jackson Came To Town" rhymes.
-snip-
Because this video features two women chanting this rhyme, the video's comment section wasn't affected by the February 28, 2019 YouTube ban on comments for videos featuring children under 13 years of age.

****
3. "We sang it but me and my friend made another part of the song
Coca Cola came to town
Diet Pepsi shot it down
Doctor pepper picked him up
Now we all drink 7up
7up caught the flu
Now we all drink iron bru
Iron bru fell down the mountain
Now we’re drinking from the fountain
Oh no the fountain broke
Now we all drink cherry coke
Cherry coke got in a muddle
Now we’re drinking from a puddle
Oh no the puddle dried up
Now we’re drinking from a cup
Oh no the cup broke
Again we’re back to plain old coke
Plain old coke is so last year
Now we’re drinking ginger beer
Ginger beer needed first aid
Now we’re drinking lemonade
Lemonade had war on sprite
Things are getting really tight
The sink is what we’re drinking from
The sink is running out of water
Our drinking supply is getting shorter
Oh no the sink broke
I guess we’re back to plain old coke"
-Crazy Chix, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTs7DJwcqw HOW2 SING Coca Cola | SCOUTADELIC #CampfireSong [video given as #2 above]

****
4. This is how I learnt it:

Coca cola went to town
Pepsi cola shot him down
Dr.pepper fixed him up now we're drinking 7up
7up got the flu
Now we're drinking mountain dew
Mountain dew fell off a mountain
Now we're drinking from a fountain
Fountain broke
People choked
Now we're back to drinking coke!
Lol bye
-Angela Smith, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTs7DJwcqw HOW2 SING Coca Cola | SCOUTADELIC #CampfireSong [video given as #2 above]

****
5. 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, July 15, 2007 http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky"

****
6. "Coca Cola went to town
Diet Pepsi shot him down
Dr. Pepper fixed him up
Now we all drink 7up
7up got the flu
Now we all drink Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew fell down a mountain
Now we drink from a fountain
Fountain broke, people choke,
now we're back to drinking coke"
-Nadia Smalling, Mar 31, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Cw-Awwm_M Coca Cola went to town rhyme (lyrics)
-snip-
This video focuses on the sax instrumental music and provides the words but no audio of the rhyme itself. The comment thread for this video remains open (as of November 10, 2019). There are 254 comments to that discussion as of that date at 5:12 PM.

****
7. "Mine is cherry soda went to town orange soda knocked him down doctor peper fixed him up now im drinking 7 up. 7 up had no cafeen now im drinking gas a leen. Gas a leen gave me the flew now im drinking moutain dew. Moutain dew fell off the moutain. Now im drinking from the fountain FINALLY the foutain broke now im drinking plane oh coak!😇✌"
-China Gamer, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Cw-Awwm_M Coca Cola went to town rhyme (lyrics)

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8. "thats not how it goes

Coca Cola came to town
Diet Pepsi shot him down

Dr Pepper picked him up
Now we all drink seven up

Seven up caught the flu
now we all drink iron brew

iron brew got split in two
now we all drink Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew fell down a mountain
Now we all drink from a fountain

Oh no, the fountain broke
now we all drink cherry coke

cherry coke was so last year
now we all drink ginger beer

ginger beer got in a muddle
now we all drink from a puddle

Oh no, the puddle dried up
now we all drink from a cup

oh no, the cup broke
now were back to plain old coke"
The Ravagers Of The Lost, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Cw-Awwm_M Coca Cola went to town rhyme (lyrics)

****
9. "THIS IS MA VERSION!

Coca cola came to town

diet pepsi shot him down

dr pepper fixed him up

now were drinkin 7-Up

7-Up got the flu

now were drinkin mountain dew

mountain dew fell off the mountain

now were drinkin from the fountain

fountain broke had a stroke

now were drinkin cherry coke

cherry coke lost it's cherry

now were drinkin logan berry

logan berry, lost in sea

now were drinkin iced tea

ice tea died and chocked

now were back to drinkin COKE!

TAADAAA!!!
"
THATS MA VERSION!
-Ro M, 2009, https://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091002185754AAMGvg7

****
10. "coca cola came to town
pepsi cola shot him down
dr. pepper stiched him up
now we all drink 7-up"
-bendergoonie1985, 09/01/05, bendergoonie1985">http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/inthe80s/smf/1109960765.shtml">bendergoonie1985

****
[added November 11, 2019]
11. "I used to sing it:

Down by the river by the hanky panky
where the bull frogs jumped from bank to banky
sayin east side west side east side west side
dilly dang dong!


and i have been trying to figure out the soda song... i know it is like this but i cant remember the end!

pepsi-cola went to town
big red shot 'em down
dr. pepper fix 'em up
now we're drinking 7-up
7-up fell down the mountain
now we're drinking from a fountain
fountain broke, no more coke...

and i know there is more i just don't know what comes after that..?"
-GUEST,Kristen, 18 Feb 10; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky"

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Michael Jackson Mentioned In Examples Of Hand Clap Rhymes That Include An "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" Verse

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: June 13, 2026

WARNING: This pancocojams post includes the pejorative word "fag".

This pancocojams post showcases examples of children's rhymes which mention Michael Jackson and which include an "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse.

This post is divided into two sections:

A. Examples from "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" hand clap rhymes.

 and

B. Examples rhat aren't from "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.

Information and my comments about these rhymes are included in this post.

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-
This is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name of pop star Michael Jackson.

This post is also part of an ongoing pancocojams series that presents examples of rhymes from the large family of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.

Click the tags below for more posts in these series.

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson for information about Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009).

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Since 2010, I have collected a number of children's recreational rhymes from online sources and particularly from the comment sections of YouTube children's rhyme videos and from my now inactive cocojams cultural website.

I decided to re-visit my files on children's rhymes after learning that on February 28, 2019 YouTube had disallowed comments from most videos that feature children under 13 years. That policy resulted in the deletion of all comments from those affected videos.

This post presents only a portion of the online children's rhymes that include a "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse which mention Michael Jackson. Some of the examples that are featured in this post have been included in previously published pancocojams posts.

By "children's rhymes" I mean recreational rhymes that are may or may not have been composed by children, but are documented as being chanted by children while playing hand clap games, jumping rope, or recited as taunting rhymes or parodies, or used as counting out strategies.

Most of the examples that are included in this post contain no information about how the rhyme is performed. However, my guess is that most of these examples are either partner hand clap rhymes or as group circle hand slapping rhymes.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-comments-about-youtubes-policy.html for this closely related pancocojams post entitled "Information & My Comments About YouTube's Policy Enacted February 2019 Which Disallows Comments For Most YouTube Children's Videos".

Also, click the tags given below for more examples of YouTube comments from children's rhyme videos.

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WHAT IS THE "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG" VERSE?
"I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" is a two line rhyming verse that begins with the words "I pledge allegiance to the flag". The second line is composed of seven syllables. That line almost always begins with the words "Michael Jackson [or some other celebrity] is a [insert a word that rhymes or near rhymes with the word "flag"].

As of June 13, 2026, here are the words that I have come across that have been used as the last word in that second line of "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verse: 

gag: "Michael Jackson makes me gag". [This is the word that I've come across most often in these rhymes.] 

fag: "Michael Jackson is a fag. 

bad: "Michael Jackson sings so bad," ; "Michael Jackson stinks so bad."

dad: "Michael Jackson is my dad" [I first came across this usage in 2009, but based on my internet searches of this rhyme, it appears to be quite common since at least 2019, almost overtaking the first place word "gag" and definitely overtaking the word "fag". Read additional comments below about the use of the word "dad" in these rhymes.]

drag: "Michael Jackson is a drag."

mad: "Michael Jackson makes me mad."

fad: "Michael Jackson is a fad." 

sad: "Michael Jackson is so sad"

I've also come across one example that uses the word "rad" and one example of the word "glad" as in "Michael Jackson makes me glad". Note, the "Michael Jackson is my "dad" and the "Michael Jackson makes me glad" examples revert from the insult purposes of these other rhyming or near rhyming words. 

I've also come across the line "Michael Jackson is so fat". The word "fat" is even further away from being a rhyme with the word "flag" than the word "dad". Since Michael Jackson wasn't ever fat, my guess is that the word "fat" in that "I pledge allegiance to the flag" line is a folk processed form of the word "fag" or "fad" (due to mishearing or misremembering). 

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG" VERSE?
I believe that the "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse was initially a put down ("rip", "diss") of Pop icon/superstar Michael Jackson whose once stellar reputation suffered for a number of reasons, including allegations of pedophilia.

The "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse usually introduces the beginning of "trading rhymes" that replace one beverage after another. The pattern for these "trading rhymes" often begins with an indirect reference to Michael Jackson's hair on fire accident which occurred while he was singing his song "Billie Jean" during the filming of a Pepsi Cola television commercial.

Here's a basic example of that rhyme: 

Example:
"Pepsi Cola burned him up
Now he's drinking 7-Up
7-Up has no caffeine
Now he's drinking Listerine"... 

****
Some examples of tne "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse aren't put downs. I believe that these are later versions of that "I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag" verse.    

Examples:
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson sings so rad

and

I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson is my dad.
-snip-
The use of the word "dad" as the not really a near rhyme for the word "flag" could be interpreted to mean that the chanters don't know who Michael Jackson was. However, even if its true that children, teens, and young adults born after King of Pop music Michael Jackson's death don't know who he was, they certainly know that he's not their dad.

I wonder if the use of the word "dad" as the end word in that verse could begun as a camp counselor or some other adult prompted way of getting children to avoid chanting the socially unacceptable word "fag" and the insulting word "gag". We may never know why that end word "dad" started being used for these rhymes, but judging from examples I have come across online, it sure seems as though it has really grown in use since at least 2000. 

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COMMENTS ABOUT THE USE OF THE PEJORATIVE WORD "FAG" IN THESE RHYMES 
As mentioned above, the word "fag" is used in these rhymes as a near rhyme with the word "flag". As is the case with most of the other words that are used in these examples to rhyme or near rhyme with the word "flag", "fag" is considered to be an insult. That said, I've come across some comments that are included in examples of this rhyme where the contributors share that they didn't know what "fag" meant when they first chanted that rhyme. (Read Part I, example #5 and Part 1, #11 below.) 

I've included examples of these rhymes that include the word "fag" for the folkloric record. However, the word "fag" is an offensive referent for people who are homosexual, and shouldn't be used.

Click https://home.bt.com/news/on-this-day/january-27-1984-michael-jacksons-hair-catches-fire-during-pepsi-commercial-11363957678904 for an article about Michael Jackson's hair burning accident.

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REFERENCES TO THE "COLA WARS" IN THESE RHYMES
Many of the children's rhymes that mention Michael Jackson obliquely refer to what has been called "the cola wars" in the United States. Here's some information about the "cola wars" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola_wars :
"The long-time rival soft drink producers The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo have engaged mutually-targeted marketing campaigns for the direct competition between each company's product lines, especially their flagship colas, Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Beginning in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the intensity of these campaigns have led to them, and the competition in general, being known as the cola wars.[1]

[...]

During the peak of the cola wars, as Coca-Cola saw its flagship product losing market share to Pepsi, as well as to Diet Coke and competitors' products, the company considered a change to the beverage's formula and flavor. In April 1985, The Coca-Cola Company introduced its new formula for Coca-Cola, which became popularly known as "New Coke". Consumer backlash to the change led to the company making a strategic retreat on July 11, 1985, announcing its plans to bring back the previous formula under the name "Coca-Cola Classic".[2]"...

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ESTABLISHING THE EARLIEST DATES FOR RECREATIONAL RHYMES THAT INCLUDE "MICHAEL JACKSON" VERSES
Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire on January 27, 1984. The accident occurred during the filming of a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles when a pyrotechnic device exploded prematurely, igniting the singer's hair while he performed "Billie Jean". [various online sources]
 

That accident is alluded to in certain versions of "Michael Jackson Came To Town". Those rhymes are folk processed forms of "Coca Cola Came To Town" and "Coco Cola Came To Town" is itself a folk processed form of "Yankee Doodle Came To Town".

I think that few of the children who recite/d "Coca Cola Came To Town" rhymes (including "Michael Jackson Came To Town" don't know anything about the mid 1980s "Cola wars" except that Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola are rival brands of soda ("pop"; "soft drinks") and some people prefer Coca Cola while other people prefer Pepsi Cola.

Based on my informal research it appears that the the "Michael Jackson Came To Town" rhymes were composed before the "I pledge allegiance to the flag" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". It also appears to me that the "Michael Jackson is a fag" line is the earliest version of the second line in the "I pledge allegiance to the flag" version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes" (although "Michael Jackson makes me gag" seems to be the most often used second line of that verse.).

It would not surprise meat all  if the word "flag" in the line "I pledge allegiance to the flag" was cleverly created as a way of coming up with a rhyme for the word "fag" -as in "Michael Jackson is a fag". That conclusion fits the fact that most "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes that mention Michael Jackson are insult rhymes and calling someone a "fag" used to be (and unfortunately may still be) an insult. That conclusion that the line "I pledge allegiance to the flag" was composed after the "Michael Jackson is a fag" line also fits the fact that no other references to pledging allegiance, or to a country, or to flags are found in any of these recreational rhymes.    

I think that it's likely that few children who recite/d "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes that mention Michael Jackson realize the references to that Pop superstar in those rhymes, including the reference to his head being burned, the reference to his hit song "Billie Jean" , and the fact that he was singing that song while he was filming a Pepsi Cola commercial when his head was burned.

Also, given the "Michael Jackson is my dad" line in some "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verses in some "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the children who recite/d those rhymes don't even know who Michael Jackson was.

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CHANGES IN THESE RHYMES AFTER MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH 
After Michael Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, the names of a small subset of certain kinds of celebrities have sometimes replaced his name in these "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verses. That same celebrity's name may also replace Michael Jackson's name or the name of a brand name of soda (such as "Coca Cola" in the "Coca Cola came to town" verses that usually are chanted immediately after the "I pledge allegiance verse" in some long forms of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.

After Michael Jackson's death it appears that only a very small subset of celebrities had their names replace Michael Jackson's name in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes. Those celebrities were/are those who -for one reason or another -were/are disliked by a sizable or at least vocal portion of the public.

As of June 2026, in the order of frequency with the most frequently name given first, the celebrities whose names have been used in "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verse are Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga. The commenter whose example is given as #11 below wrote this about the changes to this rhyme after Michael Jackson's death:

"Sadly we really did and still do sing the line about Michael Jackson being a fag. In elementary and middle school we also had a similar rhyme ("I pledge allegiance to the flag and Michael Jackson is a fag. He used to play with little toys but now he plays with little boys.") and I can remember saying it at a very young age, before I had any idea what a 'fag' was. It was meant to be innocent and not offensive to anybody. Also, since Michael Jackson's death (may he R.I.P.) many people have substituted Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus for Michael Jackson or changed that line to "Michael Jackson makes me gag". My particular group of friends has done both ("Lady Gaga makes me gag") and I think it's kind of a nice modern version of the song."-GUEST, guest Mandy age 14, 24 Dec 10, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=6 Origins Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky  

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As of June 2026, the word "gag" appears to be the most often used word that I've found for these "replacement celebrities" whose names are given in the second line of "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verses: i.e. "Miley Cyrus makes me gag". 

I haven't come across any examples of this rhyme featuring celebrities other than Michael Jackson that includes the pejorative word "fag".

I have also found Michael Jordan's name used instead of Michael Jackson. However, I believe that basketball star's name is used in those rhymes because it has been confused with the name of the Pop/R&B singer.

 

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VERSES THAT FOLLOW THE "I PLEAGE ALLEGIANCE" VERSE IN "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY"  RHYMES
As mentioned above, the "I pledge allegiance to the flag" verse is usually followed by re-worked forms of the older "Coca Cola Came To Town" (also given as "Coca Cola Went To Town") or "Michael Jackson Came (or "Went" To Town".

Here's an example of "Coca Cola Came To Town"

coca cola went to town
diet pepsi knocked him down
dr pepper picked him up
now we’re drinking 7up
7up got the flu
now we’re drinking mountain dew
mountain dew fell of the mountain
now we’re drinking from a fountain
fountain broke artichoke
now we’re drinking cherry coke
cherry coke lost its cherry
now we’re drinking loganberry
loganberry had to pee
now we’re drinking iced tea
iced tea couldn’t hear
now we’re drinking root beer
root beer had a stroke
now we’re back to drinking coke
anonymous, https://www.amirite.com/260398
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PART I : SOME EXAMPLES OF "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" RHYMES THAT MENTION MICHAEL JACKSON & INCLUDE "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG" LINES

These examples are divided into two sections and are numbered in no particular order within those categories. The line with Michael Jackson's name is given in italics in these examples to highlight that line.

The online source for each example is given after the rhyme.

1.
"Michael Jackson (alternate version):
I pledge allegience to the flag; Michael Jackson is a fag.
Pepsi Cola burnt him up- now he's drinking 7UP!
7UP has no caffiene; Now he's singing Billie Jean.
Billie Jean was not his lover and his nose is made of rubber!
Rubberface, but don't repeat it- now his dance steps are to Beat It.
Beat It now & don't you tell her this fine tale about the Thriller."
-http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml

**
2. My friends play it like this:

Down by the bank by the hanky panky
where the bullfrogs jumps from bank to bank
We're sayin ep op ep op op
skiddle diddle kernal pop!
I pledge alligence to the flag
Micheal Jackson makes me gag
Coca Cola messed him up
now we're drinking 7up
7up has no caffine
now we're drinking gassoline
Gassoline not good for you
now we're drinking Mt. Dew
Mt. Dew fell off the Mt.
now we're drinking from a fountain
The fountain broke
and now we're back to drinking coke
-Guest, 17 Mar 08, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

**
3. "Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank. Say As Es Is Os ees I did it.
Bing Bong your daddy smells like King Kong.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Michael Jackson makes me gag.
Coca-cola burnt him up
Now we're talkin 7 up
7 up has no caffeine
Now we're talking Billy Jean
Billy jean went out of style.
Now we're talking Bobby Brown.
B-o-b-b-y B-r-o-w-n went out of town
GUEST,amy in Kentucky, 01 May 14; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034, Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

**
4. "I learned it like this:

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank
saying e, i, o, u, chilly willy ding dong
lets play a game of ping pong,
i pledge alligence to the flag
Michael Jackson dances rad,
coca cola bust it up,
now were talking 7 up,
7 up has no caffiene,
now were talking billie jean,
billie jean ran out of sight,
now were talking bobby brown
had a big frown
-marymuch, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, November 2011

**
5. "I learned it as "Down by the banks of the hanky pank, where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank, saying ees, ise, opps, oops. East side dally ding-dong. Pledge allegiance to the the flag, Michael Jackson is a fag [I didn't know what this word was when I was 5...]. Coca-cola burned his butt, now he's drinking 7-up. 7-up has no caffeine, now he's drinking gasoline. Gasoline has no flavor, no he's eating Life Savors."
-xeCh0x, 2010, comment in "Down on the Banks of the Hanky PankyM", published by Erin Schmidt, Sep 14, 2006, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8INeM0w5A

**
6. "I learned it "down by the banks of the hanky banky where the bull frog jumps from bank to bankie sayin eeps ipse ooope oops i pledge allegence to the flag michael Jackson makes me gag cococola burns me up now were talking 7-up. 7-up has no caffene now were talking billy jean. billy jean is out of sight now were talking dynamite.10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"
- hyperpyper10, 2010, comment in "Down on the Banks of the Hanky PankyM", published by Erin Schmidt, Sep 14, 2006, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8INeM0w5A

**
7. "Down by the river with the hanky panky
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
Singing E, I, O, U, your mama stinks and so do you
King Kong, Donkey Kong, went to school with nothing on
Asked the teacher what to wear, polka dotted underwear!
Not too big and not too small, just the size of Broward Mall
I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag
Pepsi cola burnt him up, now we’re drinking 7-up
7-up has no caffeine, now we’re singing Billy Jean
Billy Jean is out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite
Dynamite blew up the school, now we’re talking really cool
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Whoever was clapped on one was I guess out. Actually I remember that my first ever exposure to Michael Jackson was through these rhymes, I remember quite a few featured him. We also had a lot of songs about killing our teachers and burning down the school, you know, innocent schoolyard games!...
-Elle, October 3, 2009, https://kateharding.net/2009/10/02/miss-lucy-had-friday-fluff/

**
8. "i learned: down by the bay with the hanky panky where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank sayin eap op skiitle dittle kernal pop i pledge alligence to the flag micheal jackson makes me gag coke coala has caffine now we are talkin jelly beans"
-Chianne Wallace, 2010, [comment] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk

**
9. "I learned it as "Down by the river of hanky pank, a bulldog jumped from bank to bank. Said eese peese, inky bunny Bing bong. Momma smells like King Kong. Pledge Allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson is my dad. Coca-Cola burn it up, now I'm talking 7-Up. 7-Up has no caffeine, now I'm talking Billy Jean. Billy Jean went out of style, Now I'm talking dynamite. Dynamite blew up the school, Now I'm talking really cool. 10, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1!
-Meghan Satterfield, 2014; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zoMAvwKGfk&feature=emb_logo
"Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky" Game at the Roslin Orphanage; published by Karina Vancsura, Aug 2, 2012

**
10.
"I thought it was down by the bay by the hanky play where the bullfrog jumped from bay to bay I say east i`s o's Isabella ding dong yo mama smell like king Kong all the way from long Wong pledge allegiance to the flag Michael Jackson makes me mad coca colla burn in up now I'm drinking 7up 7up has more cafeen now I'm drinking gasoline.gasoline is bad for you now I'm drinking mountain dew 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 outt"
Joa Vega, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zoMAvwKGfk&feature=emb_logo
"Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky" Game at the Roslin Orphanage; published by Karina Vancsura, Aug 2, 2012

**
11. 

We used to do this all the time at school and at camp, sometimes we freshmen still do it before gym class starts when we're all sitting around. You sit in a circle with your left hand on top of someone else's right and your right hand under someone else's left, and you go in a circle smacking each other's hands as you sing the song:

Down by the banks of the hanky panky

where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky

Singing eep, op, eep-op-op

bubblegum and soda pop

I pledge allegiance to the flag

Michael Jackson is a fag

Coca-cola brought him up

Now we're drinking 7-up

7-up has no caffeine

Now we're wearing Levi jeans

Levi jeans are out of style

Now we're talking for a while

skiddle diddle piddle bop

bubblegum and soda POP!

 

and whoever's hand is hit on the last 'pop' is out. Then you repeat the song getting faster and faster until somebody finally wins.

Sadly we really did and still do sing the line about Michael Jackson being a fag. In elementary and middle school we also had a similar rhyme ("I pledge allegiance to the flag and Michael Jackson is a fag. He used to play with little toys but now he plays with little boys.") and I can remember saying it at a very young age, before I had any idea what a 'fag' was. It was meant to be innocent and not offensive to anybody. Also, since Michael Jackson's death (may he R.I.P.) many people have substituted Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus for Michael Jackson or changed that line to "Michael Jackson makes me gag". My particular group of friends has done both ("Lady Gaga makes me gag") and I think it's kind of a nice modern version of the song."
-GUEST, guest Mandy age 14, 24 Dec 10, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034&page=6 Origins Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky  

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PART II: EXAMPLES OF "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG" RHYMES THAT MENTION MICHAEL JACKSON BUT DON'T INCLUDE "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" VERSES

Although this isn't noted in these excerpts, these examples may be excerpts of longer rhymes, including "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes  

1. "Here’s a reader submission that the contributor first heard in 1984 in Placentia, CA. It would probably get kids in a lot more trouble now than it did back then.

I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Michael Jackson is a fag.
Pepsi Cola burnt him up,
now he’s drinking 7-UP.

The rhyme circulated a lot, and appeared in at least three scholarly works on children’s folklore in the mid-late 80s, and there’s a 1994 book about black identity in popular culture which identifies it as a jump rope rhyme. When I heard it (circa the spring of 1992 in Des Moines), there were two more lines:
7-UP made him pee,
now he’s drinking Pepsi Free.
-http://playgroundjungle.com/2011/01/michael-jackson-and-the-pledge-of-allegiance.html
-snip-
The book that is mentioned in the comments for this example is Ceramic Uncles & Celluloid Mammies: Black Images and Their Influence on Culture by Patricia A. Turner (Anchor Books, 1994, Page 94)

**
2. "I was reading along with my kids and laughing at ones I remember from when I was little... I particularly liked the one with Michael Jackson in it - it also asked if there were different versions we could share... I lived in Hawaii in 1984 when the "commercial accident" occurred and this was the version I learned: I pledge allegiance to the flag Michael Jackson makes me gag Pepsi-Cola burned him up And now he's drinking 7-Up!"
-Rhonda; Cocojams, 6/28/2007

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