How Frankenstein Is Portrayed In "Yo Bald Headed Granny", "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" Rhymes, And In Some Other Children's Recreational Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some information and three examples each of how Frankenstein is portrayed in three "families" of 20th century and 21st century children's recreational rhymes.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/how-monster-who-is-now-referred-to-as.html for a related pancocojams post "How The Monster Who Is Now Referred To As "Frankenstein" Is Portrayed In That 19th Century Novel With That Title."

Also, click the tags below for more information about and examples of "Frankenstein/granny" children's recreational rhymes.

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THE RACIAL ORIGIN OF THESE RHYMES
Based on this common factor in their text (words), I refer to these recreational; rhymes rhymes as "Yo Baldheaded Granny"/"Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes. Some of these rhymes have different, but very similar references such as "Yo Greasy Greasy Granny" or "Your Bald Headed Mammy".

I believe these rhymes originated among African Americans. This belief is based on these factors:
1. these rhymes textual characteristics (such as their use of African American Vernacular English such as the word "Yo")

2. these rhymes textual structure

3. these rhymes connection to or association with "the dozens", an insult (dissin) game that has been and still is mostly associated with African Americans

4. the comments from some online contributors of examples of these rhymes who self-identify as African American, or indicate that they learned the example of these rhyme from African Americans or in an African American neighborhood.

As is the case with a lot of African American originated children's recreational rhymes, examples of these rhymes were/are chanted by Americans throughout the United States. . 

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HOW FRANKENSTEIN IS PORTRAYED IN THREE "FAMILIES" OF 20TH CENTURY AND 21ST CENTURY CHILDREN'S RECREATIONAL RHYMES

Some "families" (groups) of children's recreational rhymes mention the monster that is known as "Frankenstein" while other examples of those rhymes don't mention him at all.

Here's some information about and examples of "Yo Bald Headed Granny", "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" and some other children's recreational rhymes that mention "Frankenstein".(given in no particular order).:

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Rhyme Family #1-"Yo Bald Headed Granny" rhymes that mention Frankenstein

"Yo Bald Headed Granny" rhymes (that mention Frankenstein or that don't mention Frankenstein) are categorized as children's taunting rhymes ("dissin/insult") rhymes.

The title and the bald headed descriptor of that grandmother reflects the put down, demeaning characteristics of the grandmother that comprise these rhymes. e grandmother is referred to as "Yo [your] bald headed granny". This descriptor reflect the high value that American culture in general and African American culture in particular places on females having a full, healthy, head of hair,and usually long hair.

The description in many of the examples of these rhymes (and many examples of the closely related "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" family of rhymes) that the grandmother is "99" [years old" reflects the fact that really old age isn't respected in American culture.

The sentence "she thinks she fine" is a standard part of the sub-set of these "Frankenstein"/"granny" rhymes. I believe that this line is vocalized as "She THINKS she's fine" meaning she's deluding herself into believing she's still "fine" ("physically attractive"). 

Furthermore, the fact that this old granny "goes out with (dates) Frankenstein" is another put down as it implies that no one but a monster would go out their bald headed granny. The name "Frankenstein" rhymes with the word "fine", but the selection of that name adds other layers of insults to these rhymes than the fact that it rhymes with the word "fine" because Americans (and other people throughout the world) consider the name "Frankenstein" to be a monster's name. However, while the name "Frankenstein" is considered that monster's name,  in the "Yo Bald Headed Granny" rhymes and in the "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes (which I've categorized as family #2 of these recreational rhymes), Frankenstein isn't portrayed as a monster, scary or otherwise. Instead, "Frankenstein" is portrayed as a man. Indeed, in some of these "Yo Bald Headed Granny" rhymes, and particularly in some "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes, Frankenstein is informally referred to as "Franky". 

In many examples of these two families of children's recreational rhymes Frankenstein is portrayed in these rhymes as someone who goes out with (goes on a date with) another person's old grandmother. In some other examples of these rhymes, Frankenstein is portrayed as "breaking [it] down" (showing off by dancing really well) with granny or by himself.

Even the titles of these "Yo Bald Headed Granny" and "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes indicate that they are taunting (dissin' (insulting) rhymes. These rhymes are similar to the "playing the dozens" game and sometimes may be provoked by someone hurling the "Yo mama" taunt to another person or other people. However, it appears to me that "Yo Bald Headed Granny" and "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes may have been/may still be chanted without any provocation just as part of children's recreational rhymes experiences.. 

Here's information about "the dozens from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dozens_(game)
"The Dozens is a game played between two contestants in which the participants insult each other until one of them gives up. Common in African American communities, the Dozens is almost exclusively played in front of an audience, who encourage the participants to reply with increasingly severe insults in order to heighten the tension and consequently make the contest more interesting to watch.

Comments in the game may focus on the opposite player's intelligence, appearance, competency, social status, and financial situation. Disparaging remarks about the other player's family members are common, especially regarding their mother.[1] Commentary is often related to sexual issues, and this version of the game is referred to as the "Dirty Dozens".[2]

According to sociologist Harry Lefever and journalist John Leland, the game is played almost entirely by African-Americans; other ethnic groups often fail to understand how to play the game and can take remarks in the Dozens seriously.[note 1] Its popularity is higher among low-income and urban communities, but it is also found in middle-class and rural settings. Both men and women participate, but the game is more commonly played among men:".

Here are three examples of this family of rhymes that mention "Frankenstein":

Example #1 
"Who remembers Brick Wall Waterfall?

I randomly remembered this little chant from elementary school. I feel like everyone had a different version but i remember:

“That’s the way uh huh uh huh I like it uh huh uh huh You got yours, i got mine so peace punch captain crunch Brick wall waterfall. Boys think they know it all But they don’t, girls do. So poof with the attitude No wait, come back. I think you need a tictac Not one, not two, but the whole six pack Your mama your daddy your bald headed granny She 99 she think she fine. Shes goin out with Frankenstein Go granny go granny Go go Go granny"
-Oldpplication2936,2022
 https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/160nmk0/who_remembers_brick_wall_waterfall

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Example #2 
"ur momma
ur daddy
ur bald headed granny
shes 99
she thinks shes fine
she breaks it down like frankenstein
u wish
u wish
u just got dissed
wait come back
i think u need a tic tic
i dont need mean
not a sip not a swallow but the whole dang bottle!"
-kno 1, 4/30/3007 cocojams.com [This website is no longer active *]
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"breaks it down" = does his (or her) best dance moves; This is an alternative to what appears to be the more often used line "she goes out with Frankenstein". 
"dissed" = insulted (disrespected)
Note that the lines after "u just got dissed" are from the once very widely chanted "Brick wall Waterfall" insult rhyme.
-snip-
* "Cocojams.com was my multi-page cultural website that was online from 2001-2014. Most of the examples of children's rhymes and cheers that were featured on that website came from children and teenagers who used that website's easy online feature to post their examples. Some of those examples have been reposted on pancocojams and/or on my other blog
 https://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/childrens-taunting-rhymes-m-z.html

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Example #3 
"Yo momma yo dadda yo bald headed grandma she’s 99 she thinks she’s fine she’s going out with Frankenstein. She wish, she wish, she just get a kiss mah mah

My cousin taught me this when I was as young between 4 and 7 probably. That was uh well 20 years go. She made me sing this to my grandma, so she might have tuned it her own way. I think we made up a dance even?"

-FigureJumpy6924, January 2026, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/p5fp6c/yo_mama_yo_daddy_yo_bald_granny/

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Rhyme Family #2- "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" (or similar rhyme titles)that mention Frankenstein

Like the closely related "Yo Bald Headed Granny" rhymes, the "Yo (Your) Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes are categorized as children's taunting (dissin/insult) rhymes. 
 
In this "family" (group) of children's recreational rhymes the grandmother is referred to as a "greasy, grimy granny". In addition to those put down descriptors, the grandmother has a big butt like Frankenstein (or alternatively that Frankenstein has a big butt like that grandmother).

Most of these rhymes include the line that the butt "goes beep beep beep down Sesame Street". That line reinforces the description of a butt being so round and big that it bounces up and down when the person walks.

Although in these rhymes the reference to a person having a big behind (butt) is considered an insult, in African American culture females having a big butt is usually considered to be a compliment (unless the butt is thought to be too big). Also, the African American children's recreational rhyme "Policeman Policeman" gives a compliment by describing a girl as having an "African booty" (i.e. a big butt allegedly like African women)

These "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny" rhymes also include standard lines about the grandmother having holes in her panties. 

Here are three examples of this family of rhymes that mention "Frankenstein":

Example #1

"Yo mama

yo daddy

yo greasy stank granny

she got holes in her panties

she got a big behind

like Frankenstein

your mama got a big oh butt"
-CinciDiva on Feb 13, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtZXXIHLwY "Yo Mama -- Yo Daddy -- Yo greasy stank granny! LOL!"
-snip-
"Stank" is African American Vernacular English (AAVE) for "really stinks". In AAVE "stank" is a present tense of "sinks" and not a past tense of that word.

**
Example #2 

"I am 25 now and learned this when I was in KG, i'm from North Carolina.

yo mamma

yo, mamma,

yo greasy greasy grand mammy,

she got a big behind like frankinstine,

it goes beat beat beat like sesame street."
-Erica, January 3, 2008, cocojams.com
-snip-
"KG" almost certainly is an abbreviation for "kindergarten".
"Sesame Street" is the award winning American children's television series.  

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Example #3

KISS MY ACRABACK

kiss my acraback

you soda pack

you b-u-t-t butty wack

your moma, your papa, your greasy, greasy grandmomma

got holes in your pants like frankenstein

goin' join the beat on sesame street

goin' join the gang on soul train

goin' to the bunny hop

to you just can't stop, just can't stop no more

stop, blank, aaaaa.

 

aaaahhh the country south. :lol:
-jenoy,7/24/2007, https://www.nappturality.com/forums/threads/81695-Clapping-Rhymes-hand-Games/page4 Rhymes/hand Games [This website is no longer active.]
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"Soul Train" refers to the long running television series that featured mostly African Americans performing the latest R&B/Hip Hop dances with some guest performers. 

This example doesn't refer to granny and Frankenstein having big butts. However, I consider it to be a creative adaptation of sub-set #3 of these rhymes.  

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"Rhyme Family" #3-Other examples of rhymes that mention Frankenstein
This extended family (group) of children's recreational rhymes that mention Frankenstein include the rhyme "I Wish I Had A Nickel" or long form examples of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhymes combined with verses from that "I Wish I Had A Nickel" rhyme..

The "I Wish I Had A Boyfriend" verses that are found in those children's recreational rhymes are adaptations of the "I Wish I Had A Nickel" song that was written in 1949 by W.S. Barnhart and Tommy Sutton and performed in that year by country music singer Hank Williams. Those song lyrics refer to an unnamed boyfriend and not Frankenstein. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wish_I_Had_a_Nickel

Unlike "Yo Bald Headed Granny" and "Yo Greasy Grimy Granny", the examples in this "family" of children's recreational rhymes aren't taunting (dissin/insult) rhymes.

In the "my mother gave me a nickel" rhymes, "Frankenstein" is mentioned as the boyfriend that the sister gives to the chanter. Without using that word, a verse in those rhymes describes Frankenstein as an autocrat i, e, someone who is romantically associated with a person who he expects to completely obey him, particularly (in those rhymes) to do all the household chores. That rhyme concludes with the chanter kicking "Frankenstein" down the stairs, or out of the door, and then kicking him over various nations throughout the world.

Although children may not consciously recognize this, part of the socialization* that occurs while chanting that particular rhyme is that females and males may learn that it's socially acceptable to leave a difficult romantic relationship at some point when it become untenable. This is an important lesson that reflects a major change in the realities that women lived through for centuries. 

*Socialization is "the process whereby the young of society learn the values, ideas and practices and roles of that society
https://www.simplypsychology.org/socialization.html 

Here are three examples of this family of rhymes that mention "Frankenstein":.

[The verse that includes the name "Frankenstein" is given in italics for highlighting purposes only.]

Example #1:

MY MOTHER GAVE ME A NICKEL
My mother gave me a nickel

My father gave me a dime

My sister gave me a lover boy

Who loved me all the time

My mother took back her nickel

My father took back her dime

My sister took back her lover boy

And gave me Frankenstein

He made me do the dishes

He made me mop the floor

I got so sick and tired of him

I kicked him out the door."
-Simon J. Bronner (editor), American Children's Folklore, 1988, page 62

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Example #2
Miss Susie Had a Steamboat (Hello Operator) – Nursery Rhyme Miss Susie Had a Steamboat (Hello Operator) with Lyrics and Clapping Instructions [title]

"Warning: this rhyme is for the oldest kids! They love it… 

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven,
The steamboat went to $&#/$&

Hello operator,
Please give me number nine.
And if you disconnect me
I’ll chop of your /&$#%$

Behind the frigerator
There was a piece of glass.
Miss Mary sat upon it.
It went right up her “%”$(=

Ask me no more questions,
Please tell me no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom,
Zipping down their “$%$&/&

Flies are in the city,
The bees are in the park.
Boys and girls are kissing
In the D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark

Dark is like a movie,
A movie’s like a show.
A show is like a TV screen,
And that is all I know

I know I know my mother,
I know I know my pa.
I know I know my sister
With the forty acre bra.

Brother’s like a sister,
A sister’s like an aunt.
An aunt is like a relative
Who likes to rave and rant.

I wish I had a nickel
I wish I had a dime
I wish I had a boyfriend
Who kissed me all the time!

My Ma gave me a nickel
My Pa gave me a dime.
My Sister gave me a boyfriend,
Who’d kiss me all the time

My Ma took back the nickel,
My Pa took back the dime.
My Sister took back her boyfriend,
and gave me Frankenstein!

He made me wash the dishes,
He made me wash the floors,
He made me wash his underwear,
So I kicked him out the door

I kicked him over London,
I kicked him over France.
I kicked him to Hawaii,
where he learned to Hula dance!

My mothers like Godzilla,
My fathers like King Kong.
My sister is the stupid one
That taught me this dumb song.

Hello operator,
Please give me number ten.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll sing this song again!"
-https://rhymesonline.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/miss-susie-had-a-steamboat-hello-operator/

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Example #3

MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
"Miss Susie had a steamboat,

the steamboat had a bell ding ding,

the steamboat went to heaven,

Miss susie went to

hello operator,

give me number nine,

and if you disconnect me,

I'll chop off your

behind the refrigerator

there lay a piece of glass

Miss susie sat upong it

and broke her little

ask me no more questions

tell me no more lies

the boys are in the bathroom

zipping up their

flies are in the city

bees are in the park

Miss susie and her boyfriend

are kissing in the

d-a-r-k

d-a-r-k

d-a-r-k

dark dark dark

the dark is like the movies,

the movies like the show

the show is like the tv set

and that is all i know know know

i know i know my ma

i know i know my pa

i know i know my sister

with the sixty dollar, sixty dollar sixty dollar bra bra bra

my mother is godzilla

my father is king kong

my brother is the stupid one

who made up this song

my mother gave me a nickel

my father gave me a dime

my sister gave me a boyfriend

his name was frankenstein

he made me do the dishes

he made me wash the floors

he made me clean his underweard

then i kicked him out the door

i kicked him over london

i kicked him over france

i kicked him over hollywood and he lost his underpants"
-Erin; Octoblog [This website is no longer active.], 4/19/2004

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"Darker Than The Black Boy" Line In Some "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - October 19, 2025

This pancocojams post presents some examples of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" (or recreational rhymes with similar titles) that include a reference to a Black boy or Black boys. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those whose examples are included in this post.
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These versions are what I refer to as "racialized rhymes". "Racialized rhymes" is my term for rhymes that include one or more racial terms when they usually don't include any of those terms. These racial terms can be derogatory or non-derogatory.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html for the 2021 pancoocjams post entitled "Racialized Versions Of "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" Rhymes That Include The Words "I Like A White Boy & He Likes Me / So Step Back Black Boy..."

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
There are multiple versions of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" (or similarly titled recreation rhymes.

The "darker than the Black boy" versions are a very small sub-set of these rhymes. 

This pancocojams compilation showcases all of the examples of this sub-set of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhymes that I have come across as of September 24, 2025. 

For the folkloric record, please share any additional examples (with demographics and/or internet links) in the comment section for this pancocojams post. Thanks! 

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TWO EXTENSIONS OF THE "DARKER THAN" LINES IN THESE RHYMES INSTEAD OF REFERRING TO A BLACK BOY OR BLACK BOYS

The "darker than" lines in "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhymes always follow this verse:

"Flies are in the meadow

The bees are in the park

Miss Susie and her boyfriend

are kissing in the

 

D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K

Dark, dark, dark,"

**
The entire rhyme can end with the last "dark dark dark" words. However, here are two commonly found non-racial extensions of that verse:

"The dark is like the movies. The movies like the show.
The show is like the TV set, and that is all I know."

or

"Darker than the underwear my mommy puts on me". 

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EXAMPLES OF THIS RHYME THAT INCLUDE THE LINE THAT MENTION BLACK BOY/S
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Example #1:
"Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell..."

Miss Susie had a steamboat,

the steamboat had a bell.

Miss Susie went to heaven

and the steamboat went to

 

Hello, operator,

Please give me number nine

And if you disconnect me

I’ll kick your

 

Behind the ’frigerator,

there was a piece of glass

Miss Susie sat upon it

and broke her little

 

Ask me no more questions,

Tell me no more lies

The boys are in the bathroom

zipping up their

 

Flies are in the meadow

The bees are in the park

Miss Susie and her boyfriend

are kissing in the

 

D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K

Dark, dark, dark,

 

Darker than the ocean,

darker than the sea,

Darker than the black boy

who’s chasing after me!
-frugalera, 2015, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/3zcqt1/miss_susie_had_a_steamboat_the_steamboat_had_a/

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Example #2

So.. our was a payty cake type thing...hand slapping..

 

"Miss Mary Mack mack mack. All dressed in black black black. With silver buttons x3. All down her back x3. She asked her father x3. For 50 cents x3 to see the elephant x3. Jump the fence x3. It jumped so high x3. Up in the sky x3. And never came back x3. Till the 4th of July lie lie. change of rhythm Lying in the bathroom I called the Operator, said 'please give me #9'... The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their FLIES are in the meadows, bees are in their hive. Ms.Mary & her boyfriend are kissing in the d.a.r.k . d.a.r.k DARK DARK DARK! Darker than the blue birds, darker than the streets, darker than the black boy that's chasing after MEat is on the table, but there is just one seat. The last of us will win this, and that is who will eat. "

 

Then the person who slaps the others hand, wins.."
-PagEnrose111123, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/pme8mi/down_by_the_banks_of_the_hanky_panky/

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Example #3
'I learned

Miss Marry had a steamboat

The steamboat had a bell (ding ding)

Miss marry went to heaven

The steamboat went to

Hello operator, please give me number 9, if you disconnect me ill kick you from

Behind the frigerator

There lay a piece of glass

Miss marry sat upon it

And broke her big fat

Ask me no more questions

I’ll you no more lies

The boys are in the bathroom

Pulling down their

Flies are in the backyard

The bees are in the park

Miss Mary and her boyfriend were

Kissing in the dark dark dark

Darker than the ocean

Darken than the sea

Darker than the black boy next to me

-@Asher_slays666, 2025, [comment in the discussion thread for] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6lZVqlM-s   Miss Susie Had A Steamboat (A Clapping Song), published by Molly Whuppie, May 18, 2023

A clapping song with IMPLIED cussing.  Often sung by rascals.  Miss Susie is sometimes replaced by Miss Lucy or other names.  There are many versions of this song!

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Example #4
"Kids Dont jump rope to this song im in the fourth grade and we just sing it we dont do any movements to the song

Miss Suzie had a steam boat
The Steamboat had a bell
Mrs.Suzie went to heaven
The steamboat went to

Hello Operator
Give me number 9
if you disconnect me
I'll kick you from

Behind the refrigerator
there was a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it
And broke her little

Ask me no more questions
ill tell you no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom
Zipping down their

Flies are in the meadow
Bees are in the grass
The boys and girls
Are kissing in the
D-A-R-K D-A-R-K

Darker than the ocean
Darker than the sea
Darker than the black boy
That's chasing after me

Dark is like a movie
A movie is like a show
A show is like a T.V. set
And that is all I...

Know my dad is a robber
I know my mom is a spy
I know that I'm the little brat that
Told the F.B.I.

My mom gave me a nickel
My dad gave me a dime
My sis' gave me a girlfriend
And I know she's is witch

she made me wash the dishes
she made me wash the floor
she made me wash her underwear
So I kicked her out the door

I kicked her over London
I kicked her over France
I kicked her to Hawaii"
-Guest, 27 Feb 11, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=90418, RE: Folklore: Lady's alligator purse? Her own thread,  

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Example #5
…."Miss Susie (or Miss Lucy) is a classic “profanity avoidance” number, in which every other line ends with an implied taboo word that elides into the next, more innocent line. These have a venerable tradition, with many similarities to the “Bang, bang, Lulu” (or “Lulu gal”) songs popular in America during the World Wars (which derive from the even earlier British “Bang, bang, Rosie”).

[…]

Here’s how I remember her:

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell. (Toot-toot!)
Miss Susie went to heaven.
The steamboat went to…

 …HELLO, operator.
Please give me number 9.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll kick you from…

…BEHIND the ‘frigerator,
There was a piece of glass.
Miss Susie sat upon it,
And broke her little…

…ASK me no more questions.
I’ll tell you no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom
Zipping up their…

…FLIES are in the city,
The bees are in the park.
Miss Susie and her boyfriend,
Are kissing in the…

D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K,

Dark! Dark!

Darker than the ocean,
Darker than the sea.
Darker than the big, black bird,
That’s chasing after me-me-me!

Perhaps more often, the “black bird” is instead a “black boy,” which I only heard sung once as a child (by a white girl, to my shock). I’m guessing the “black boy” version precedes the race-neutral one I remember.
-Posted on April 18, 2016 by SAHMURAI, https://sahmurai.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/miss-susie-a-hand-clapping-history/ Miss Susie: A hand-clapping history
-snip-
The words in italics were given that way on that page. 
-snip-
I've also come across one example of the words "darker than the big black bug chasing after me" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaEQydZKg80&ab_channel=zabeth71  [comment posted by Ф Esturioa Ф, 2019

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Example #6
Miss Suzy had a steamboat

The steamboat had a bell

Miss Suzy went to heaven

The steamboat went to-

Hello operator

Give me number nine

If you disconnect me

I'll kick your big be-

'Hind the 'frigerator

There was a piece of glass

Miss Suzy fell upon it

And cut her big old-

Ask me no more questions

Give me no more lies

Ask me no more questions

Give me no more lies

The boys are in the restroom

zipping up their-

 

Flies are in the meadow

The bees are in the park

Miss Suzy and her boyfriend

Are kissing in the D. A. R. K.

D-A-R-K. D-A-R-K.

Dark Dark Dark Dark

Darker than the ocean

Darker than the sea

Darker than the black boy

That peed all over me!
-Jim Rugh (Houston, TX), 
http://inky.50megs.com/idlechild/songs/hellooperator.htm "Hello Operator"
Sung to: The Merry Melodies theme song, from the old Warner Brothers cartoons.

Also known as: Miss Suzy

Also see: Miss Lucy Had A Baby

****
Example #7 [Partial rhyme]
...Ask me no more questions
Give me no more lies
The boys are in the restroom
zipping up their-

Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Suzy and her boyfriend
Are kissing in the D. A. R. K.
D-A-R-K. D-A-R-K.
Dark Dark Dark Dark

Darker than the ocean
Darker than the sea
Darker than the black boy
That peed all over me!
- http://inky.50megs.com/idlechild/songs/hellooperator.htm Miss Susie Had A Steamboat

****
Example #8 - [Partial rhyme]
"So I'm just now realizing that my childhood version was racist, since it went

 ....Darker than the ocean Darker than the sea Darker than the naked boys chasing after me!"
-“[deleted],2012, https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoXChromosomes/comments/10ll3w/ladies_of_2x_what_were_your  Ladies of 2x, what were your lyrics to "Miss Suzie had a steamboat"?

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Versions Of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" Whose "Kissing In The Dark" Lines Include A Reference To "A Black Boy"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- July 14, 2025

This pancocojams post documents versions of the children's recreational rhymes known as "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" (or similar titles) that have "kissing in the dark" lines which include a reference to a Black boy, a reference to a dark boy, or any other referent for Black boys. 

I'm also interested in documenting any comments that contributors make about their reactions or other people's reactions to these examples. 

This content is presented for folkloric and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/selected-examples-of-referents-for.html for the closely related pancocojams post "Selected Examples Of Referents For Black People In Children's Recreational Rhymes".

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" (and similar titles) is a large, widely known family of children's recreational rhymes that includes countless versions. Based on my informal online study of this rhyme, it appears that "kissing in the dark" is a standard line in examples of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" (and similar titles)  i.e. "Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing in the dark" or "the girls and boys were kissing in the dark"..

Also, based on my informal study of this rhyme, it appears that only a very small number of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" rhymes include a reference to "a Black boy" or "a dark boy." 

****
EXAMPLES OF MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (OR SIMILAR TITLES) THAT INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO A BLACK BOY OR A DARK BOY

These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. The reference to a Black boy or a dark boy is given in italics for highlighting purposes only.  

1. Miss Susie had a steamboat,
the steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven
and the steamboat went to

Hello, operator,
Please give me number nine
And if you disconnect me
I’ll kick your

Behind the ’frigerator,
there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie sat upon it
and broke her little

Ask me no more questions,
Tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom
zipping up their

Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Susie and her boyfriend
are kissing in the

D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K
Dark, dark, dark,

Darker than the ocean,
darker than the sea,
Darker than the black boy
who’s chasing after me!
-frugalera, 2014; https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/3zcqt1/miss_susie_had_a_steamboat_the_steamboat_had_a/ nostalgia

**

2. "Kids Dont jump rope to this song im in the fourth grade and we just sing it we dont do any movements to the song

Miss Suzie had a steam boat
The Steamboat had a bell
Mrs.Suzie went to heaven
The steamboat went to

Hello Operator
Give me number 9
if you disconnect me
I'll kick you from

Behind the refrigerator
there was a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it
And broke her little

Ask me no more questions
ill tell you no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom
Zipping down their

Flies are in the meadow
Bees are in the grass
The boys and girls
Are kissing in the
D-A-R-K D-A-R-K

Darker than the ocean
Darker than the sea
Darker than the black boy
That's chasing after me

Dark is like a movie
A movie is like a show
A show is like a T.V. set
And that is all I...

Know my dad is a robber
I know my mom is a spy
I know that I'm the little brat that
Told the F.B.I.

My mom gave me a nickel
My dad gave me a dime
My sis' gave me a girlfriend
And I know she's is witch

she made me wash the dishes
she made me wash the floor
she made me wash her underwear
So I kicked her out the door

I kicked her over London
I kicked her over France
I kicked her to Hawaii
-GUEST, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=90418, "Folklore: Lady's alligator purse? Her own thread, 27 Feb 11 
-snip-
I reformatted this example that was given in paragraph form.  

**
3. "Sung to: The Merry Melodies theme song, from the old Warner Brothers cartoons.

Miss Suzy had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Miss Suzy went to heaven
The steamboat went to-

Hello operator
Give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I'll kick your big be-

'Hind the 'frigerator
There was a piece of glass
Miss Suzy fell upon it
And cut her big old-

Ask me no more questions
Give me no more lies
The boys are in the restroom
zipping up their-

Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Suzy and her boyfriend
Are kissing in the D. A. R. K.
D-A-R-K. D-A-R-K.
Dark Dark Dark Dark

Darker than the ocean
Darker than the sea
Darker than the black boy
That peed all over me!
-Jim, Houston, Texas,  http://inky.50megs.com/idlechild/songs/hellooperator.htm [Thislink is no longer active.]

**
4. "Wow, I guess I'm the only one who grew up with the racist version of "Miss Suzie"? Southern Indiana, late 80s and early 90s:

Miss Suzie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell,
Miss Suzie went to heaven, the steamboat went to-

Hello operator, give my number nine,
and if you disconnect me, I'll chop off your behind-

the 'fridgerator, their lay a piece of glass,
Miss Suzie sat upon it, and broke her little-

Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies,
the boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their-

Flies are in the meadow, the bees are in the park,
Miss Suzie and her boyfriend are kissing in the

D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K, dark dark dark!

Darker than the ocean, darker than the sea,
darker than the black boy, kissing Miss Suzie!

 

I remember having a sense that the last line was wrong in a way that the rest of it wasn't, that it went a little bit past the deliciously naughty tingle you got from almost saying dirty words. A lot of the time the last little bit got left off completely, and we just stopped with "dark, dark, dark!" I did know one girl who used to say "nig--r *boy" instead of "black boy," but that was frowned upon by the other kids."
-bookish, May 19, 2009, https://ask.metafilter.com/122487/Teddy-Bear-Teddy-Bear-turn-aroundand-then-what
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out on that page.   

**
5. "I learned

Miss Marry had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell (ding ding)
Miss marry went to heaven
The steamboat went to

Hello operator, please give me number 9, if you disconnect me ill kick you from
Behind the frigerator
There lay a piece of glass
Miss marry sat upon it
And broke her big fat

Ask me no more questions
I’ll you no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom
Pulling down their

Flies are in the backyard
The bees are in the park
Miss Mary and her boyfriend were
Kissing in the dark dark dark

Darker than the ocean
Darken than the sea
Darker than the black boy next to me"
-@deadnunkiwi4official, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6lZVqlM-s

**
6. [Pancocojams Editor's Note: Here's a comment from a woman who shared an example "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" that included the line  "darker than the black bird" that chasing after me" That page on that website is no longer available]

"Perhaps more often, the “black bird” is instead a “black boy,” which I only heard sung once as a child (by a white girl, to my shock). I’m guessing the “black boy” version precedes the race-neutral one I remember."
-SAHMURAI, April 18, 2016, https://sahmurai.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/miss-susie-a-hand-clapping-history/  Miss Susie: A hand-clapping history

**
7. [Pancocojams Editor's Note: This fragment was given as a reply to a version of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" that ended with the lines "Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing
In the dark, dark dark".]
Reply
"Darker then the ocean
Darker then the sea
Darker then the boy chasing after me!"
-@AlloVettaIzKool, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6lZVqlM-s

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"Bang Bang Lulu" Songs: Examples Of Verses Of Lulu Throwing Sonny Jim/Tiny Tim In The Water To See If He Could Swim

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - April 25, 2025

This pancocojams post present several examples of a specific verse from bawdy ("dirty"; 'vulgar") song entitled "Lulu" ("Bang Bang Lulu"; "My Gal Lula" etc).  The verses that are showcased in this post are about Lula's baby named "Sunny Jim" ("Sonny Jim",  "Tiny Tim" (or similar name) being thrown in water "to see if he could swim".

Although the woman in the the bawdy songs is usually named "Lulu" or "Lula", in some of those songs, the woman is named "Rosie". 

Information about "Lulu" songs is included in this post along with information about "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" (also known as "The Lady With The Alligator Purse" or other titles.

"Miss Lucy Had A Baby" and "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" are two children's recreational rhymes that were heavily influenced by the bawdy "Lulu" songs. In those two recreational rhymes, the woman may be named "Susie" or "Mary" or have some other common two syllable English language female name. 

The content of this post is presented for folkloric purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 

****

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF "LULU" SONGS
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bang_Bang_Lulu
"Bang Bang Lulu" is a traditional American song with many variations. It derives from older songs most commonly known as "Bang Bang Rosie" in Ireland, "Bang Away Lulu" in Appalachia,[1] and "My Lula Gal" in the West.[2][6] The form "Bang Bang Lulu" became widespread in the United States from its use as a cadence during the World Wars. The song uses the tune of "Goodnight, Ladies". The modern version was produced by Marty Munsch in late 1995 and was penned by The Traumaschool Dropouts a punk rock outfit from Albany NY who gained international acclaim for its release.

Traditional song

All versions concern a woman and her various lovers. The early forms were sometimes very directly crude, violent, or infanticidal.[7] Published versions probably drastically understate the song's popularity,[1] particularly since the first mentions allude to 78[8] or 900[9] additional verses unfit for printing. Robert Gordon, the first head of the Library of Congress's Archive of American Folk Song, included his variants of Lulu among the "Inferno" section which was excluded from the library's general collection for its "bawdy and scatological subject matter".[10]

One verse appeared in Owen Wister's 1902 novel on p. 96 The Virginian:[8]

If you go to monkey with my Looloo girl,
I'll tell you what I'll do:
I'll carve out your heart with my razor, AND
I'll shoot you with my pistol, too—

Nine appeared in Carl Sandburg's 1927 American Songbag among its "Railroad and Work Gangs" songs, including Wister's and:[9]

[...]

Roy Acuff and his Crazy Tennesseans recorded "When Lulu's Gone" under the pseudonym of the Bang Boys in 1936.[13] Another version—"Lulu"—was recorded by Oscar Brand on his 1958 Old Time Bawdy Sea Shanties. Verses from this song also developed into "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms", recorded by Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs and many others after them.[2]."

Military cadences

Most military cadences suggested explicit rhymes but skipped back to the chorus rather than complete them"...
-snip-
The portion of "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" rhymes that refers to a mother throwing her baby in a body of water "to see if he could swim" could be interpreted as infanticide (Lulu being described as being a  whore who was trying to get rid of an unwanted baby. AND / OR The word and the end of one line and at the beginning of the next line provide opportunities for children to say something risque and taboo with "plausible deniability" and therefore with little or no consequences..

However, it's also probable that most younger children chanting "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" or "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" recreational rhymes that developed from the Lulu songs, understood/understand the real implication of these rhymes or understand what those ending or beginning words really mean. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/11/chronological-documentation-of-lulu.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Chronological Documentation Of "Lulu" ("Bang Bang Lulu") Bawdy Songs In Books & Records (1902 to 2002)".

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/similarities-differences-between-bang.html for the 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Similarities & Differences Between "Bang Bang Lulu" & "Miss Lucy Had A Steamboat".

****
Excerpt #2
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84511
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bang Bang Rosie
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:07 PM

..."Guy Logsden records about a dozen verses, in The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing: and other songs cowboys sing, for "My Lulu Gal." Alternate titles noted include "Lula," "My Lulu," "Bang Away, My Lulu," Bang, Bang Lulu," "She Is a Lulu," "and many more."

Collection notes indicate the first printed reference to "Lulu" in cowboy song is from 1902, when Owen Wister has the hero in The Virginian sing one verse. The verse used is commonly known, but Wister stated "that the other 78 verses were unprintable."

Logsdon also relates that "Lulu/Lula" was immensely popular with the military personnel of many nations during the WWI era, and that Anthony Hopkins in Songs From the Front and Rear (1979) and C.W. "Bill" Getz in The Wild Blue Yonder (1986) include "the uncensored Lula known and loved by servicemen."...

****
Excerpt #3
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84511
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bang Bang Rosie
From: Lighter
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:23 PM

"Edward A. Dolph reported that unprintable "Lulu" was the favorite American marching song in WW I after "Hinky Dinky Parley Voo."

Gordon's Inferno collection tends to support this."
-snip-
Read information about Gordon's Inferno collection in  Example #1 of the "Partial Examples Of Lulu Songs" section this pancocojams post.

****
Excerpt #4
From http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080410082538AA8QrHv "What is your favorite Cadence?

-Doc Hudson answered in 2007
..."Then there were the many dozens of verses of Bang Bang Lulu, some of which are even repeatable in mixed company, but not many of them. We once got in trouble marching along to some of the racier verses"...
-snip-
"Racy" [racier"] means mildly sexually suggestive. That adjective has nothing to do with the noun "race".

****
"LULU" SONGS CONNECTION TO THE CHILDREN'S RECREATIONAL RHYME "MISS LUCY HAD A BABY"
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3ABang_Bang_Lulu
"Schoolyard version]
"It seems very, very likely that some version of this ["Lulu"] song morphed into "Miss Lucy had a baby" and (/from there) "Miss Susie had a steamboat" "
-snip-
"morphed into" = "developed into"

Update April 4, 25, 2025
Here are two examples of "Miss Lucy" ("Miss Lucy Had A Baby") recreational rhyme that the contributors categorized as a hand clapping rhyme

Example #1
from https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~sprite/jmp.html#lbaby Clapping Rhymes and Jumprope Jingles (April 1997)

"Miss Lucy had a baby,
His name was Tiny Tim,
She put him in the water,
To see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
He tried to eat the bathtub
but it wouldn't go down his throat.

Miss Lucy called the doctor,
The doctor called the nurse,
The nurse called the lady
with the alligator purse.

In walked the doctor,
In walked the nurse,
In walked the lady
with the alligator purse.

Measles said the doctor,
Mumps said the nurse,
Nothing said the lady
with the alligator purse.

Out walked the doctor,
Out walked the nurse,
Out walked the lady
with the alligator purse.   /   with Tiny Tim in her purse."
-snip-
"CMU"= Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here's the introduction to this page:
"What's this, and what is it doing on the Web?

I was talking to my sister Casey, who is eleven this October (1994), about what girls in elementary school do during recess. (We asked my brother what boys do, because they never played the girls' games. He declined to comment.) One popular pastime has always been jumping rope, often while the two kids turning the rope chant a rhyme. I could never jump rope without tripping almost immediately, which revelation was a source of vast amusement to my little sister. Another pastime, open even to the comparatively clumsy, involved chanting or singing a rhyme while clapping hands with another kid (or three). I discovered that kids at the school I went to (in St. Louis, Missouri, USA) use the same songs as ten years ago, with one or two additions probably attributable to children who originally lived elsewhere. I got to wondering how widespread this particular phenomenon is, and figured the most interesting way to find out would be to put it on the web"...
-snip-
An example of the cumulative life events rhyme "When Miss Lucy Was A Baby" (She went like this) is also given on that page as chanted by the contributor's sister Casey.   

****
Example #2
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmL8uTlWSgY "Miss Lucy" published by Sarah Luther,

Apr 9, 2020

"This is the video for the clapping game Miss Lucy! Try this out with a partner!

Lyrics:

Miss Lucy had a baby, she named him Tiny Tim.
She put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap.
He tried to eat the bathtub but it wouldn't go down his throat.

He floated down the river, he floated down the lake.
And now Miss Lucy's baby has got a tummy ache

Miss Lucy called the doctor, Miss Lucy called the nurse.
Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse.

Measles said the doctor, measles said the nurse.
Chicken pox said the lady with the alligator purse.

Penicillin said the doctor, penicillin said the nurse.
Pizza said the lady with the alligator purse.

Out went the doctor, Out went the nurse.
Out went the lady with the alligator purse.

-snip-
*Sarah Luther appears to be a White woman. Her manner of speaking suggests she is from the United States.

This version of "Miss Lucy" is much closer to the beginning verse about Sonny Jim/Tiny Tim in the "Bang Bang Lulu" songs than example #1 given above or other versions of "Miss Lucy" recreational rhymes that I can recall coming across. I don't recall finding the verse about the baby being thrown in the lake and a stomach ache in other examples of the "Miss Lucy" recreational rhyme that I've come across.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITORS NOTES ABOUT THE "MISS LUCY HAD A BABY"  RHYMES 
Based on my direct collection of "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" rhymes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (in the 1990s and early 2000s) and based on my indirect collection of examples of this rhyme on YouTube (from around 2007 to date), it appears to me that the tune for these rhymes is very consistent. It also appears to me that the words for the beginning portion of "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" are usually quite fixed (meaning the words are the same in all of the versions). Almost all of the "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" rhymes that I've come across begin with a verse about Miss Lucy throwing her baby (or her brother, a turtle, of her boyfriend) in the bathtub or some other body of water to see if he could swim. (Notice that the baby is always referred to as "he" and not "she"). 

However, many examples of "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" rhymes show considerable divergence (are often quite different) after the line about three people [the doctor, the nurse, and the lady with the alligator purse) coming "in" [coming to provide health care to the baby who is sick.] These rhymes continue with lots of different ways and reasons why those three people go "out" [leave Miss Lucy and her baby (or her brother, boyfriend, turtle)]. 

The coming in and going out words were "originally" direction commands for a person who was jumping in the middle of a rope that was being turned by two "enders" (two people holding either end of the rope and rhythmically turning it.)
 
Since around the late 1960s in the United States, the usual performance activity that accompanies chanting children's recreational rhymes (playground rhymes) changed from jump rope to performing hand clapping routines (usually with a partner)  As a result of this change, it's likely that a lot of people don't recognize the in and out commands in "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" and in some other recreational rhymes as commands for players to jump in and later jump out of the twirling rope/s.

In the example of "Miss Lucy Had A Baby" that is given directly below, the commenter notes that she isn't including those jump rope commands in her example because the chanters did a hand clap routine rather than jumped rope: 

From  https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=90418
Subject: RE: Folklore: Lady's alligator purse? Her own thread
From: GUEST,girl
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 04:57 PM

"I sang this growing up and I was looking for the words, but none of these fit exactly what I remember singing.

I think the closest went this way...

Miss lucy had a baby
his name was tiny tim
she put him in the bath tub
to see if he could swim
he drank up all the water
he ate up all the soap
he tried to eat the bathtub but it wouldn't go down his throat

Miss lucy called the doctor
the doctor called the nurse
the nurse called the lady with the alligator purse

Mumps! said the doctor
Measles! said the nurse
Nothing! said the lady with the alligator purse

Shots! said the doctor
Medicine! said the nurse
Pizza! said the lady with the alligator purse

Miss lucy punched the doctor
Miss lucy kicked the nurse
Miss lucy payed the lady with the alligator purse.

(we didn't sing the in and "out" verses, but that was probably because we used it as a clapping game and not a jump rope game."...

****
PARTIAL EXAMPLES OF LULU SONGS

1.
from https://www.horntip.com/html/books_&_MSS/1910s/1917-1933_gordon_inferno_collection_(MSS)/index.htm#3144-lulu 

 "My Lulu had a baby
She called him Sunny Jim
She put him in the sh&t*-pot
To see if he could swim."...
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this rhyme.

Additional verses are found on that page.

Here's information from that page about the Robert W. Gordon Inferno collection:

" 'Gordon 'Inferno' (1917-33)
The Robert W. Gordon "Inferno" Collection

in the Archive of Folk Song, Library of Congress

The 'Inferno' collection consists of original correspondence and typescript copies of letters (~200 pages) that either Gordon or someone else separated out -- because of their bawdy and scatological subject matter -- from the materials he received and compiled as first head of the folklife department at the Library of Congress. Prefaced to the 'Inferno' collection is a 14 page index which lists informant, date, location and title of the texts."

****
2.

From http://kristinhall.org/songbook/SeaAndPub/BangBangLulu.html Bang Bang Lulu: Words & Music: Traditional Drinking Song
"What do people do with children's songs when they grow up and tie one on with like-minded pals?  They morph them into drinking songs.  The basic tune is the same as "Miss Lucy".  Since this is a traditional song, there are as many verses as there are drunken voices to sing them.  My favorite versions are the ones that allude to the "naughty words", but never have to actually say them. That's the one I learned at camp and I like the clever wordplay.  Here is the chorus and a slew of verses.  Have fun with them or make up your own.

Bang, bang, Lulu; Lulu, bang, bang.
[alt: "Bang, bang, Lulu; Lulu's gone away"]  (“alt”=an alternative version)
Bang, bang, Lulu; Lulu, bang, bang.
[alt: "Bang, bang, Lulu; Lulu's gone away"]
Who's gonna bang bang Lulu, now that Lulu's gone away?

[…]

Lulu had a baby, named him Jungle Jim.
Put him in the basin, to see if he could swim.
He swam down to the bottom, came back to the top.
Lulu got excited, pulled him out by his..

CHORUS:

Cocktail, ginger ale, five cents a glass.

If you don't like it, you can throw it up your...
Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.
Ask me that again, and I'll spit right into your"...

****
3.

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84511
Subject: Lyr Add: Bang Bang
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 01:30 PM

"------(chorus)--------

bang, bang rosie,
rosie bangs all day,
who will bang for rosie,
if rosie goes away

[…]

rosie had a brother,
his name was tiny tim,
she threw him in the river,
to see if he could swim.
he swam down the river,
he swam down the falls,
rosie got excited,
and she grabbed him by the bang, bang rosie....

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=15316 "

**
4.

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84511
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bang Bang Rosie 
From: Peace
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 06:28 PM

"Lulu (Rosie) had a baby
His name was Sonny Jim
She put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim;
Sank to the bottom
Swam to the top
Rosie got excited and
Grabbed him by the
Cocktail, ginger ale,
Five cents a glass
If you don't like it
Shove it up your
Ask me no questions
Tell me no lies
If you ever get hit
With a bucket of sh&t*
Be sure to close your eyes."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this example. 

**
5.

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=90418
Subject: RE: Folklore: Lady's aligator purse? Her own thread
From: Joybell
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 07:04 PM

..".My husband (American born and raised) points out that this is very much like the bawdy song often called "Gang-bang Lulu" (sorry to lower the tone of this thread)

Gang-bang Lulu has a verse that goes:

Lulu had a baby his name was Tiny Tim
She flushed him down the toilet
To see if he could swim.

Oh! Gang-bang Lulu! bangin' around all day
Who we gonna bang on
When Lulu goes away?

The tune is the one used for many Hobo/bawdy songs and it fits "Miss Lucy had a Baby" very well too.

This takes us away from the aligater purse a bit. Cheers, Joy"
-snip-
Joybell is from Australia.

****
6.

https://michellegalway.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/bang-bang-rosie-lyrics-very-funny/
...."Rosie Had a Boyfriend His Name Was Tiny Tim,
She Threw Him In The River To see If He Could Swim,
Well he Swam O’er The Rapids And he Swam O’er The Falls,
Rosie Got Excited And She Grabbed Him By The ……
Bang, Bang Rosie, Rosie Bangs All Day,
Whose Gonna Bang For Rosie When Rosie Goes Away,"...

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