Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a list of hyperlinks for pancocojams posts about "Miss Sue From Alabama" children's recreational rhymes.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all the contributors of rhyme examples and comments in these posts.
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ARCHIVED LIST OF PANCOCOJAMS POSTS ABOUT "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA"
Showing posts with label Miss Sue From Alabama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miss Sue From Alabama. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Archived Links For Pancocojams Posts About "Miss Sue From Alabama" Children's Recreational Rhymes
"Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhymes From The Southern Region Of The USA from 1942-2000s (words & changes in performance activities)
Comments That I Saved In 2019 From A Now Deleted Discussion Thread For A Children's YouTube Video Of "Miss Sue From Alabama"
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Examples Of "Miss Sue From Alabama" (from the 1940s to the early 2020s) with decades remembered or date collected)
Children's Recreational Rhymes That Mention Contagious Diseases
Information About "Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhyme & Examples Of That Rhyme That Include "Scooby-Do-Wah" Or "Scooby Doo"
November 15, 2020
Examples Of "Wipe Those Cooties Off Of Me" And/Or "Take A Smooth Shot" Lines That Are Found In "Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhymes
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A Small List Of Verses From Stand Alone Rhymes That Are Found In "Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhymes
January 19, 2019
Selected Examples Of The Hand Clap Rhyme "Miss Sue From Alabama" (with various titles) (after 1999 or no dates established)
September 1, 2017
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Some Folk Processed Versions Of The Children's Rhyme "Miss Sue From Alabama"
November 8, 2013
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Monday, April 6, 2026
"Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhymes (examples from the United States South from 1942-2000s)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision-April 28, 2026
This pancocojams post documents some changes in the words in "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes that I have found online from people living in some Southern states of the United States (1942 to the 2000s).
All of the examples in this pancocojams compilation include information about where the rhyme was collected or where the contributor first chanted or first heard that rhyme (i.e. in a particular southern state).
Most of these examples also include when the contributor first chanted or first heard that version of "Miss Sue From Alabama".
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
The earliest example of "Miss Sue" children's recreational rhymes is documented from 1934. However, I haven't come across the words for that example and I'm not sure if any words were collected.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/archived-links-for-pancocojams-posts.html for the pancocojams post "Archived Links To Pancocojams Posts About "Miss Sue From Alabama" Children's Rhymes".
****
EXAMPLES OF SOUTHERN UNITED STATES VERSIONS OF "MISS SUE" ("MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA") WITH INFORMATIONABOUT WHEN THEY WERE COLLECTED OR WERE CHANTED OR HEARD BY THEIR CONTRIBUTOR
1942-Mississippi
"Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Somebody’s in your parlor
Miss Sue from Alabama
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue Miss Sue
Did you ever see a monkey make a motion
Miss Sue from Alabama"
-https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-delta-survey-1941-1942/moon-lake-842/miss-sue-alabama-who-de-cat-sail-sail
"Miss Sue from Alabama / Who De Cat (Sail, Sail)"
-snip-
This is my transcription of this rhyme from its audio recording.
****
circa 1965- Mississippi
"Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Someone is in your garden
Miss Sue from Alabama
Show me what you can do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Show me what you can do
Miss sue from Alabama
Is this the way you do
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Is this the way you do
Miss Sue from Alabama
Hey Hey
A doobie-do-wah
Your mama's broke
And your papa's broke
Turn to the east
Turn to the west
Turn to the very one you love the best
Milk in the pitcher
The butter's in the bowl
Can't catch a sweetheart
To save your soul
I think this is the way we sang this game in Northern
Mississippi cira 1965."
--GUESTnanasallthat,https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097, Do kids still do clapping
rhymes?, 11 Dec 07
****
1973- New Orleans, Louisiana
"I grew up in and around New Orleans. The first time I remember this was second grade, 1973. It was a hand game song. Each person's right hand hits down while left hand hits up. Then each person's right hand hits up while left hand hits down. Then each person's hands hit in front of them. (Additional hand moves in parentheses.)
All of this while singing:
Miss Sue, Miss Sue, Miss Sue from Alabama.
Hey little girl with the dippity doo,
Your momma's got the measles and your poppa does too.
They've got the A B C D E F G (make a circle around your right temple like signalling that they are crazy)
They've got the H I J K LMN OP (make a circle around your left temple like signalling that they are crazy)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft Karate chop for each syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft Karate chop for each syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
They've got a booster shot... (Soft Karate chop for each syllable on bent arm alternating above and below elbow)
And FREEZE. Both kids freeze first one to move loses. The winning kid might karate chop or might punch the bicept the losing kids arm. My friends and I usually just had bragging rights, ah, you moved, I won.
So that's our version. I spent all of second grade in Terrytown Elementary School."
-Jodi Ann, December 21, 2019, [comment] https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss.html
****
late 1980s-early 1990s: Mississippi
"Hi there. I'm from Mississippi and was in elementary
school in the late 80's through early 90's. the version of "Miss Sue"
I remember was not listed here. I thought I'd help you out. Last time I heard
it, I think it had varied ever so slightly from when I was in school, but this
is how I remember it: Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss
Sue from Alabama Sittin' in a rocker eatin' betty crocker watchin' that clock
go tick-tock, tick-tock-banana-nana tick-tock, tick-tock banana-nana ABCDEFG-wash
those stains right out'a my knees MUSHKA, MUSHKA, MUSHKA FREEZE (as fast as you
can) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!
-
-snip-
If I'm correctly reading this comment
"I was on the other side of the mountains in TN.* Ours went:
Miss Sue! [Clap×3]
Miss Sue! [Clap×3]
Miss Sue from Alabama
Sittin' in rocker [rocking]
Eatin' Betty Crocker [playing spoon to mouth]
Watchin' the clock go
[Ticking fingers] Tic toc, tic-toc
[Roll fists] Da-lally-lally
[Ticking fingers] Tic toc, tic-toc
[Roll fists] Da-lally-lally
[Counting on fingers]
One... two... three
[Wiping shirt]
Wipe those germs right off of me
[Finger guns]
Moonshine, moonshine, moonshine FREEZE!
First person to move loses. Winner goes:
[Blows smoke off right then left in rhythm, holsters] You
lose!
Learned that one roundabouts 1991."
-IndomitableAnyBeth, 2026, 1983 [birth year], https://www.reddit.com/r/Xennials/comments/1rnrt6f/miss_sue_schooby_doo/
-snip-
*This comment was written in response to the comment given as Example #5 in the next section of this pancocojams post.
****
around 2005: central Georgia
Miss Sue,
Miss Sue,
Miss Sue from Alabama,
Her real name's Suzianna.
Chicka-boom, chicka-boom,
Chicka boom-boom-boom.
Momma's got the measles,
Daddy's got the flu
I ain't lying, neither are you.
(You) 'Hey (friend's name)!'
(Friend) 'who's calling my name?'
(You) 'hey (friend)!'
(Friend) 'who's playing my game?'
(You) 'your boyfriend's on the telephone's
(Friend) 'if ain't my baby tell him I ain't home, if it is
my baby tell him hooooold on'
(Both again)
Sittin in a rocker,
Eatin Betty crocker,
Watchin that clock goin
Boom chicka-wa wa,
Boom tick-tock.
Boom chicka-wa wa,
The clock says stop.
I like coffee,
I like tea,
I like the little boy who likes me
Tick tock!"
There were hand motions for each line, similar to the usual
ones. At the last part (boom chicka wa wa) we crossed our hands on our laps and
back over and over, when the song ended if they were parallel, you were the
little boy, if they were crossed you were the girl. It was really weird now
that I think about it but we never did it any of the ways I've seen on YouTube
or here!"
-Anonymous; January 12, 2020 [comment],http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/folk-processing-childrens-rhyme-miss.html [comment] "Folk Processing Children's Rhymes
-snip-
Here's a reply to this comment that was published in that same pancocojams discussion thread:
"Thank God! I thought my childhood was a lie. This is how we sang it in middle ga as well. I am teaching my daughter the hand games me played but three ones on you tube are so different from when I was a kid. "
-Unknown, October 29, 2020
****
2005-2007: North Carolina
Miss sue
Miss sue
Miss sue from alabama
they call her Susie-anna
Sittin in a rocker
Eating betty crocker
Watching that clock go
Tick tock
tick all around
Go tick tock
Tick all around
Go a b c d e f g
Gotta wash that stuff right outta me
Gotta moosha, gotta moosha (this part could be something
other than moosha but its how i remember it)
Got a crack in my side
Got a crack in my side
Moosha moosha
I know karate
Moosha moosha
Oops im sorry
Salt and pepper freeze
Achoo, i just had too
I also want to note that there were hand gestures throughout
the entire song to accompany the song. My friends and i would do this at
after-school when we were roughly 8-10. Im in a folklore class at the moment
and its really interesting discussing variations of stories and the like and it
got me thinking about songs from my childhood."
-snip-
In response to my follow up questions, this contributor shared in two comments in that same discussion that she learned this version of "Miss Sue From Alabama" in North Carolina between 2005-2007.
****
EXAMPLES OF SOUTHERN UNITED STATES VERSIONS OF "MISS SUE" ("MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA") WITH NO DATES WHEN THEY WERE COLLECTED OR WHEN THEY WERE CHANTED OR HEARD BY THEIR CONTRIBUTOR
These examples are given in chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest date given first.
1."Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her name was Suzianna
Sitting in a rocker
eating Betty Crocker
Watching the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick all around go
Tick Tock
Tick all around
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Gotta wash that stain right out of me
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta crick in my side
Gotta crick in my side
Salt and pepper said "DO NOT MOVE"
(alternate ending)
Salt and pepper said" DO NOT MOVE,
FIRST ONE TO MOVE IS A BLACK-EYED-PEA
SECOND ONE TO MOVE IS A BEAUTY QUEEN
-Dani (White American, Southern USA), http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 "Folklore: Do kid still do clapping rhymes?", September 22, 2003
****
2.Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her name was Suzianna
Sitting in a rocker
eating Betty Crocker
Watching the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick all around go
Tick Tock
Tick all around
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Gotta wash that stain right out of me
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta crick in my side
Gotta crick in my side
Salt and pepper said "DO NOT MOVE"
(alternate ending)
Salt and pepper said" DO NOT MOVE,
FIRST ONE TO MOVE IS A BLACK-EYED-PEA
SECOND ONE TO MOVE IS A BEAUTY QUEEN
-Dani (White American, Southern USA), http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 "Folklore: Do kid still do clapping rhymes?", September 22, 2003
****
3"Mis Sue from Alabama
Let's make a movie
Sitting in a rocking chair
Eating Betty Crocker
Watching the clock say
Tick Tock Boom Boom Banana
Tick Tock Boom Boom Banana
Hey white girl whatcha going to do
Momma got the measles Daddy got the flu
Give me a ABCDEFG HIJKLMNOP
Take a flue shot take a flu shot
and FREEZE
-Guest, Mom From Bama, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=102055&messages=48, "Folklore: Play Ground Hand Jives", May 2, 2008
-snip-
The word "Bama" in that contributor's screen name is an abbreviation for the Southern USA state name "Alabama".
The words "Hey, white girl" presupposes that the person chanting this rhyme wasn't White. My guess is that that person was Black.
****
4."Miss Sue (Macon Georgia Version)
Miss Sue (Clap Clap)
Miss Sue (Clap Clap)
Miss Sue from Louisiana,
Her real name Suzy Anna
Shaka-boom Shaka-boom Shaka boom boom boom.
Mamma in the kitchen,
Cookin' fried chicken.
Daddy in bed,
Halfway dead.
Sister at school,
Acting like a fool.
Brother in jail,
Drinking Ginger Ale.
(place hands on legs and cross them)
Boom chika wow wow,
Boom tik tok.
Boom chika wow wow,
Momma says stop!!"
— Preceding unsigned comment added by 104.220.83.236 (talk)
06:11, 14 December 2020; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Clapping_game/Examples
5. "
Trying to find the rest of the lyrics for this version of
Miss Sue and if anyone else knows it (from North Carolina)
Miss Sue Scooby Doo Miss sue from Alabama We call her Suisiana Sitting on a rocking chair eating (something) Watching the clock go Tick tock
Some some"
-Livid_Temporary_9969, 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/Xennials/comments/1rnrt6f/miss_sue_schooby_doo/
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, April 4, 2026
"Wash Those Cooties Off Of Me" And Other "Wash Those ___" Examples In Versions Of "Miss Sue From Alabama" Rhymes
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojmas post documents some examples of the "wash those cooties off of me" and other "wash those __ off of me" in versions of "Miss Sue From Alabama" children's recreational rhymes. These rhymes are also known as "Miss Sue" and similar titles.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
DISCLAIMER
This post doesn't mean to suggest that every "Miss Sue From Alabama" ("Miss Sue") children's recreational rhyme includes a "wash those __"off of me" line as some examples of these rhymes don't include that line.
This post also doesn't mean to suggest that the examples that are documented here are all of the possible versions of the "wash those __ off of me" that are found in these rhymes.
****
EXAMPLES OF "WASH THOSE ___ OFF OF ME".LINE IN "MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA" CHILDREN'S RECREATION RHYMES from the video and its (now deleted) discussion thread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/comments-that-i-retrieved-in-2019-from.html for my pancocojams post about this video and its no longer available discussion thread.
These versions are presented based on which version was used the most in that particular YouTube video and discussion thread. That order may have been (or may still be the same now (in 2026) in the United States.
The Addendum of this post documents some other versions of "wash those __ off of me" from other online sources.
Ineach example the "wash those __off of me" phrase is given in italics for highlighting purposes only.
Numbers are added to examples in each subset for referencing purposes only.
"WASH THOSE COOTIES OFF OF ME" (or "wash those boy cooties off of me")
1. Caitlyn and Morissa, 2011
"Miss Sue Miss Sue from Alabama, Alaska. Nebraska
She was sitting in a rocking chair eating Betty Crocker
Waiting for the clock to go
Boom Tick Tock Tick Tock Banana rock
Boom Tick Tick Tock Banana rock
A B C D E F G
Wash those cooties off of me.
Inky dinky ponkey
Daddy had a donkey
Donkey died Daddy cried
Inky dinky ponkey
Boom Tick Tock Tick Tock Banana rock
Boom Tick Tick Tock Banana rock
A B C D E F G
Wash those cooties off of me
Wisha Wisha Wisha FREEZE
Who won? Me!"
2. booya duh, 2013
**
3. Sadie Fletcher, 2013
"mine is: miss sue,miss sue,miss sue from albama they call her suzieanna sitt'in in a rocker eati'n bettie-crockertick- watchin that clock go tick-tock tick-tock shawawa tick-tock tick-tock shawawa abcdefg wash them boy cooties off of me moosha moosha i know karate moosha moosha i want my momy moosha moosha im so sorry moosha moosha FREEZE! have a staring contest
****
1 "WASH THOSE SPIDERS OFF OF ME"
RespectMyThickness, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM
"back in my day it went a little something like this:
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her real name's Suzianna
she's sittin in a rocker, eatin Betty Crocker
watch the clock go tick tock tock tock, banana rock
tick tock tick tock banana rock
ABCD123
wash those spiders off of me
mooshka, mooshka, i see mommy
mooshka, mooshka, i know karate
mooshka, mooshka, oops i'm sorry
mooshka, mooshka, FREEZE."
**
2. ChezFeroce, 2018
"I recall mine being similar to this... except it was
ABCDEFG
wash the spiders off of me
mooshka, mooshka, i want my mommy
mooshka, mooshka, i know karate
mooshka, mooshka, FREEZE.
Do this. Do that. Do this. Do that.
and for each do and each this you spread your legs wider apart with each word and the first one to lose their balance loses."
**
3. Caroline Howard, 2019
"I do it really different
We do:
Miss Sue(clap clap clap)
Miss Sue(clue clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name is Suzanna
Sitting in a rockin chair
Eatin cotton candy watching
The clock go tick tock tick tock banana rock
Tick tock tick tock banana rock
Abcdefg wash the spiders off of me booshka booshka I know karate booshka booshka oops I’m sorry
P.S. just bc you do it differently than someone else doesn’t mean they’re way of doing it is wrong.
Just thought I should mention that"
***
"WASH THOSE BOY GERMS OFF OF ME"
"I do
Miss Sue (Clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (Clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her name is Suzianna
Sitting in a rocking chair, eating butter crackers
Watching the clock go
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
ABCDEFG
Wipe those boy germs off of me
I bet 'cha, I bet 'cha
I bet 'cha can't freeze, first one to move is the black eyed pea,
second one to move is the beauty queen,
between, between, between you and me,
starting... NOW"
**
2.Jenalyn Barton, 2016
"This is the way I sang it in Elementary School (I love seeing all the different versions!):
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name's Suzianna
Sittin' in a rocker
Eatin' Betty Crocker
Watchin' the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick-tock Banana-wana
Tick Tock
Tick-tock Banana-wana
ABCDEFG
Wipe that Blue Stuff (or "Those Boy Germs") off of me
HIJKLMNOP
I have plastic surgery
Oocha Boocha
Turn around and FREEZE!"
**
-snip-
Although only two examples of "wash those boy germs off of me" were found in this discussion thread, I've come across it a considerable number of times in other examples of "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes.
****
"WASH THOSE CRUMBS OFF OF ME"
Isaiah Guiden, 2015
..."Miss sue
Miss sue
Miss sue from Alabama
her real name's Suzianna
Mama's having a baby
Daddy's going crazy
If it's a boy I'll give it a toy
If it's a girl I'll give it a curl
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Shoot it down the elevator
First floor stop
Second floor stop
Third floor you better watch out
For the S-T-O-P spells stop.
I said an A B C D E F G
Wipe those crumbs right off of me
You better freeze like a peice of cheese
Don't show no teeth😶"
-snip-
-snip-
Although only one example of "wash those crumbs off of me" was found in this discussion thread, I've come across it a considerable number of times in other examples of "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes.
****
"WASH THAT CHOCOLATE OFF OF ME"
Felicia Villermaux, 2016
"My Miss Sue was
Miss Sue (clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama her name was Suzzianna sitting in her rocker eatin Betty Crocker watchin that clock go tick tock tick tock sha wa wa tick tock tick tock sha wa wa abcdefg ya betta wash that chocolate off of me I said a mooooshka I said a mooooshka I said a mooshka mooshka mooshka freeze."'
****
"WASH THOSE DIRTY BOYS OFF OF ME"
Ciera Marie
"Scrolling through the comments here and have yet to see the version my friends and I used 😂
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her real name's Aunt Suzannah
She's sittin in a rockin chair, eating baby crocodiles
Watchin the clock go tick tock, tick tock twaddle bottle
Tick tock, tick tock twaddle bottle
ABCDEFG
Wash those dirty boys off me
Moosha moosha I want my mommy
Moosha moosha I know karate
Moosha Moosha oops Im sorry (hit's partner's forehead with hand)
Moosha Moosha FREEZE"
****
ADDENDUM: OTHER EXAMPLES FROM SOME OTHER ONLINE SOURCES
1."Hi there. I'm from Mississippi and was in elementary school in the late 80's through early 90's. the version of "Miss Sue" I remember was not listed here. I thought I'd help you out. Last time I heard it, I think it had varied ever so slightly from when I was in school, but this is how I remember it: Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss Sue (clap clap clap) Miss Sue from Alabama Sittin' in a rocker eatin' betty crocker watchin' that clock go tick-tock, tick-tock-banana-nana tick-tock, tick-tock banana-nana ABCDEFG-wash those stains right out'a my knees MUSHKA, MUSHKA, MUSHKA FREEZE (as fast as you can) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!
I never got the last part...sometimes the rule was you had to stay still while you counted, and sometimes it was to count the fastest. The most distinct difference I remember is that there were always three claps after "Miss Sue." I hope that was helpful."
-Allison [Mississippi; from the late 1980s, early 1990s], posted on cocojams.com in 2007
-snip-
cocojams.com was my cultural website that was online from 2000 to 2014 when.I voluntarily deactivated it.
**
2. Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her name was Suzianna
Sitting in a rocker
eating Betty Crocker
Watching the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick all around go
Tick Tock
Tick all around
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Gotta wash that stain right out of me
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta Boom-shot
Gotta crick in my side
Gotta crick in my side
Salt and pepper said "DO NOT MOVE"
(alternate ending)
Salt and pepper said" DO NOT MOVE,
FIRST ONE TO MOVE IS A BLACK-EYED-PEA
SECOND ONE TO MOVE IS A BEAUTY QUEEN"
**
3. "Miss Sue. Miss Sue. Miss Sue from my Ala-bama, Ari-zona, Ala-ska. Sittin' on the r'a'cker eatin' that cracker, watchin' that clock go 'Tick-tock. Tick-tock-sha-wala-wala. Tick-tock. Tick-tock-sha-wala-wala.' A-B-C-D-E-F-G--Wash them haters off'a me. Kaboosha! Kaboosha! I see my mommy! Kaboosha! Kaboosha! I know Karate! Kaboosha, Kaboosha! Oops, I'm sorry! Kaboosha, Kaboosha! Bet'cha can't see me!" And then you freeze. Lol"
-FudgeSundae22, 01/16/12; cocojams.com
**
4. "I don't know where it came from, but this is one we used to
do:
ET (clap clap clap) ET (clap clap clap) ET from Hollywood,
you are looking good, sitting in a rocker, eating Betty crocker, watching the
clock go tick-tock, tick-tock sha-walla-walla, tick-tock, tick-tock
sha-walla-walla, ABCDEFG, wipe those boy germs off of me, betcha can't, betcha
can't, betcha can't FREEZE! (And then you freeze and first one to move loses
lol)"
-@moodycheese9621, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xv5AN8BiOU "Miss Sue - Super Fun & Rhythmic Hand Clap :) | Fun
Clapping Games for 2 players, published by 👏Podo Town English", Aug 1, 2023
-snip-
That video's summary includes the words to this version of "Miss Sue" which includes the line "wash those spiders off of me".
5. "Miss Sue, Miss Sue, (Snap fingers.)
Miss Sue from Alabama.
Sitting in her rocker,
Eating Betty Crocker, (Pretend to eat.)
Watching the clock go
Tick-tock, tick-tock banana rock. (Point index fingers up and then tick
Tick-tock, tick-tock banana rock. tock from left to right.)
A B C D E F G,
Wash those spots right off of me. (Brush hands off shoulders.)
Oosha mama, oosha mama, (Point fingers and dance.)
Oosha mama, FREEZE! (Freeze and don’t move!)
Activities: Use this chant to focus children’s attention or to calm them"
-https://songsforteaching.com/drjean/dj_friends_s/09misssue.pdf
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Comments That I Saved In 2019 From A Now Deleted Discussion Thread For A Children's YouTube Video Of "Miss Sue From Alabama"
Miss Sue Playground Song
Irene Kistler Apr 7, 2011
-snip-
The YouTube video can still be viewed as of April 4, 2026 but all comments
have been deleted and the comment feature has been turned off.
Total number of views (as of April 4, 2026 at 12:52 AM EDT = 421, 165
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a 2011 YouTube video of two girls performing a hand clap routine while chanting a version of the children's recreational rhyme "Miss Sue From Alabama" (also known as "Miss Sue". The transcript for that video is also included in this post.
This post also presents information about the 2019 YouTube policy that turned off the comment feature for YouTube videos that feature children and, at the same time, automatically deleted all of the comments that had been posted to those discussion threads.
This post presents the comments to this video's discussion thread that I had saved in a Microsoft Word file in 2019.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, socio-cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the producer of this showcase video and the two girls who are featured in this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
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TRANSCRIPT
This transcript is based on the auto-transcript that is available for that video. However, I changed some of that transcript's results because it has obvious mistakes. Additions and corrections are welcome for this transcript.
"Hi. I'm Caitlyn and this is Morissa. We're going to show you "Miss Sue".
Miss Sue Miss Sue from Alabama, Alaska. Nebraska
She was
sitting in a rocking chair eating Betty Crocker
Waiting for the clock to go
Boom Tick Tock Tick Tock Banana rock
Boom Tick Tick Tock Banana rock
A B C D E F G
Wash those cooties off of me.
Inky dinky ponkey
Daddy had a donkey
Donkey died Daddy cried
Inky dinky ponkey
Boom Tick Tock Tick Tock Banana rock
Boom Tick Tick Tock Banana rock
A B C D E F G
Wash those cooties off of me
Wisha Wisha Wisha FREEZE
Who won? Me!"
****
YOUTUBE TURNS OFF DISCUSSION THREADS FOR MOST CHILDREN'S VIDEOS AND DELETES THE COMMENTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY POSTED IN THOSE DISCUSSION THEADS
From https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47408969 "YouTube bans comments on all videos of children", 28 February 2019; Chris Fox
"
Several brands stopped advertising on YouTube after discovering that paedophiles were leaving predatory comments on videos of children.
YouTube had originally disabled comments on videos that were attracting predatory and obscene comments.
YouTube says it will switch off comments on almost all videos featuring under-18s, in an attempt to "better protect children and families".
But it will now disable comments on almost all videos of
minors by default."...
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note: Not only did YouTube turn off its comment feature for videos of children, but all of the comments that had been posted to those video's comment sections were automatically deleted.
The unintended effect was that a wonderful treasure trove for folklorists was no longer available then and in the future. YouTube discussion threads for children's recreational rhymes, singing games etc. were the key way that people interested in examples adults remembered from their childhood could find those examples online. Those YouTube videos were also a key way that people online could learn what new rhymes or versions of old rhymes were being created often along with other information about these examples from the children themselves.
Furthermore, as a result of reading examples of rhymes from other commenters, children learned that their version wasn't the only way that rhyme could be chanted and performed. They learned that there can be more than one way to say a rhyme, and-by extension- they could have learned that there can be more than one way of doing other things in life. But those opportunities for children to share and learn via YouTube discussion threads are gone. Fortunately, I saved these examples from this showcase YouTube discussion thread.
****
COMMENTS I SAVED FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I made a Microsoft Word file for this video and its comments in 2019.
These comments document some of the attitudes and opinions of the commenters and are not necessarily factual and not necessarily my opinions.
These examples document some of the multiple versions of "Miss Sue From Alabama" rhymes. This very wide diversity is partly because of folk processing and partly because of the different combinations of lines from one or more other stand alone rhyme/s that are found in these versions.
Can you identify the other rhyme/s that is/are combined with each version of "Miss Sue From Alabama" that is given below?
These comments are given in chronological order with the oldest comments given first except for replies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM
2013
ChloeeandErica Summers
"Ours was: " miss sue miss sue miss sue from Alabama Alaska Nebraska sitting in a rocker eating Betty Crocker tick tock tick banana rock x2 abcdefg Barney's my worst enemy"
**
Darlisa Perry
"Wrong song no offence but thAt is the white version"
**
Sadie Fletcher
"mine is: miss sue,miss sue,miss sue from albama they call her suzieanna sitt'in in a rocker eati'n bettie-crockertick- watchin that clock go tick-tock tick-tock shawawa tick-tock tick-tock shawawa abcdefg wash them boy cooties off of me moosha moosha i know karate moosha moosha i want my momy moosha moosha im so sorry moosha moosha FREEZE! have a staring contest
**
Jiytter
"have been waiting to see the clapping done the way I remember doing it... most of the videos don't show the up down opposite hands ..."
booya duh
"
****
2014
Holey Moley
"A lot of these hand clapping games are still played by african tribal girls today"
****
2015
RespectMyThickness
"back in my day it went a little something like this:
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her real name's Suzianna
she's sittin in a rocker, eatin Betty Crocker
watch the clock go tick tock tock tock, banana rock
tick tock tick tock banana rock
ABCD123
wash those spiders off of me
mooshka, mooshka, i see mommy
mooshka, mooshka, i know karate
mooshka, mooshka, oops i'm sorry
mooshka, mooshka, FREEZE."
**
Reply
Natalie Scurlock
"How do you remeber this"
**
Reply
RespectMyThickness
"me and my friends used to do that during recess all the time. it kinda just sticks with you lol"
**
Isaiah Guiden
"No it's
Miss sue
Miss sue
Miss sue from Alabama
her real name's Suzianna
Mama's having a baby
Daddy's going crazy
If it's a boy I'll give it a toy
If it's a girl I'll give it a curl
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Shoot it down the elevator
First floor stop
Second floor stop
Third floor you better watch out
For the S-T-O-P spells stop.
I said an A B C D E F G
Wipe those crumbs right off of me
You better freeze like a peice of cheese
Don't show no teeth😶"
**
Marisa Bruner
"This was my version of the song
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama, they called her Suzianna
Sittin in a rocking chair, eating Betty Crocker
watch the clock go tick tock tick tock banana rock
tick tock tick tock banna rock
ABCDEFG
wash those spiders off of me
booshka, booshka I see my mommy
booska , booshka I know karate
booskka booshka oops I'm sorry you better
be sorry cus I am not sorry"
**
Makeda
"All of these come from African children games that they still play today, brought to America where black american girls play. The original version is different from this."
2016
Jenalyn Barton
"This is the way I sang it in Elementary School (I love seeing all the different versions!):
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name's Suzianna
Sittin' in a rocker
Eatin' Betty Crocker
Watchin' the clock go
Tick Tock
Tick-tock Banana-wana
Tick Tock
Tick-tock Banana-wana
ABCDEFG
Wipe that Blue Stuff (or "Those Boy Germs") off of me
HIJKLMNOP
I have plastic surgery
Oocha Boocha
Turn around and FREEZE!"
**
Reply
Felicia Villermaux
"Every version is going to be a bit different depending where you grew up from North South East West different state or city even different schools and parts get added and taken out, there is really no way to know the original versions"
**
The Colour English
"At my school it is completely different it goes
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"
Allison L
"I do
Miss Sue (Clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (Clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her name is Suzianna
Sitting in a rocking chair, eating butter crackers
Watching the clock go
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
tick tock, tick tock
walawala
ABCDEFG
Wipe those boy germs off of me
I bet 'cha, I bet 'cha
I bet 'cha can't freeze, first one to move is the black eyed pea,
second one to move is the beauty queen,
between, between, between you and me,
starting... NOW"
**
"
**
Felicia Villermaux
"My Miss Sue was
Miss Sue (clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama her name was Suzzianna sitting in her rocker eatin Betty Crocker watchin that clock go tick tock tick tock sha wa wa tick tock tick tock sha wa wa abcdefg ya betta wash that chocolate off of me I said a mooooshka I said a mooooshka I said a mooshka mooshka mooshka freeze."'
**
Mikya Thomas
"here is how i sang it.
miss sue( clap clap) miss sue ( clap clap)
miss sue from Alabama her real name was Susana sitting in that rocking
chair mixing that porage like tick tock tick tock shoo walla walla abcdefg wash that moosha off of me moosha moosha
all on me and who
ever moves is the black eye pea"
****
2017
SLICED AVACADO
"Wow... The one I know is WAAAAAAAAAY different.... It goes
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama she came to Suzianna, Mama's having a baby! Daddy's going crazy if its a boy I'll give it a toy if it's a girl Ill give it a curl
Wrap it up in toilet paper, shoot it Down the elevator
First floor STOP
Second floor STOP
Third floor you better watch out cuz S-T-O-P speeeeellsss...
STOP!! (Freeze until other person moves) WHY WAS I THOUGHT THIS?!"
**
abigaelle nelson
"Mine is so different and I've been trying to see if people sing it the same. "Missing from Alabama her name is Susie Anna she's having a baby or papas going crazy if it's a boy I'll give a toy if it's a girl I'll give it a whirl wrap it up and toilet paper send it down the escalator first step step in your dada second step step in your mama third step you better watch out because this is how you spell stop STO Penut stop"
****
2018
ChezFeroce
"I recall mine being similar to this... except it was
ABCDEFG
wash the spiders off of me
mooshka, mooshka, i want my mommy
mooshka, mooshka, i know karate
mooshka, mooshka, FREEZE.
Do this. Do that. Do this. Do that.
and for each do and each this you spread your legs wider
apart with each word and the first one to lose their balance loses."
**
Ciera Marie
"Scrolling through the comments here and have yet to see the version my friends and I used 😂
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue (clap clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama, her real name's Aunt Suzannah
She's sittin in a rockin chair, eating baby crocodiles
Watchin the clock go tick tock, tick tock twaddle bottle
Tick tock, tick tock twaddle bottle
ABCDEFG
Wash those dirty boys off me
Moosha moosha I want my mommy
Moosha moosha I know karate
Moosha Moosha oops Im sorry (hit's partner's forehead with hand)
Moosha Moosha FREEZE"
**
Andey McFarlin
"My sister and her friends used to say:
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Miss Sue from Alabama
Let's make a movie
You got the ABCDEFG
You got the HIJKLMNOP
You got the smooth legs
You got the smooth legs
You got the bald head
You got the bald head
Hey (friend's name), somebody called your name
Hey (another friend's name), somebody wants you on the telephone
It ain't my momma, sittin at the table
Peeling the potatoes
Tick tock boom boom
Tick tock boom boom
BOOM!"
**
kk Williams
"that's not how you play.🙄🙄🙄🤦"
**
Reply
texting story fun
"kk Williams it could be a difernt game"
****
2019
ʟ ᴇ ᴍ ᴏ ɴ ᴄ ʜ ɪ ʟ ᴅ
"My school does
Miss Sue
Miss Sue
Ms Sue from Alabama
Her name is Suzianna
Mommy's having a baby
Daddy's going crazy
If its a boy I'll give it a toy
If its a girl I'll give it a twirl
Wrap it up in toilet paper
Shoot it down the elevator
First floor stop
Second floor stop
Third floor stop
Gimme that s.t.o.p
Spells stop
Got that a b c d e f g
And that h i j k l m n o p
Now smooth it
Now smooth it
Now keep yo dirty hands off me and do not show yo black eyed teeth
The you couldn't show your teeth"
**
Ratha
"Does anyone remember
Miss Sue
Scooby doo
Miss sue from Alabama-(.ect) ?"
**
Reply
Ophelia Bc
"Ratha yes! Is it the one where it says “magic measles magic flu give me an abcdefg”"
**
Lyli O
"This is my way
Miss sue (clap clap clap)
Miss sue (clap clap clap)
Miss sue from Alabama
Hey you (clap clap clap)
Scooby doo (clap clap clap)
Miss sue from Alabama
Your mama's got the measles
Your papa's got the flew
Magic measles
Magic flew
Magic measles
Magic flew
Got an abcdefg
Take a hijklmnop
Take a qrs
Take a tuv
Take a wxyz :)"
Tamika Oliver
"
**
Caroline Howard
"I do it really different
We do:
Miss Sue(clap clap clap)
Miss Sue(clue clap clap)
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real name is Suzanna
Sitting in a rockin chair
Eatin cotton candy watching
The clock go tick tock tick tock banana rock
Tick tock tick tock banana rock
Abcdefg wash the spiders off of me booshka booshka I know karate booshka booshka oops I’m sorry
P.S. just bc you do it differently than someone else doesn’t mean they’re way of doing it is wrong.
Just thought I should mention that"
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