"There Was A Great Big Moose" Children's Camp Song (videos and lyrics)

GoNoodle Get Moving Jun 4, 2022 #moosetube #gonoodle #fabio

525,426 views • Jun 4, 2022 • #moosetube #gonoodle #fabio

It's storytime with the Moose Tube crew on GoNoodle! Come dance and sing along as the Moose Tube crew tells the story of Fabio, the great big moose, and how he likes to drink his juice and become a sticky moose! **** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos of the children's call & response* camp song . The lyrics to this song are also included in this post. *"A recently used term for "call & response" songs/chants is "repeat after me" or "repeat and answer " songs/chants. The content of this post is presented for recreational and entertainment, purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to the unknown composer/s of these songs and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. **** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE" "There Was A Great Big Moose" (also known as "Great Big Moose", "Thee Was A Moose" or similar titles) is a call & response children's camp song. I don't know when the "There Was A Great Big Moose" was first composed. The oldest YouTube video that I've come across of that song was published in 2013. That video is given as Showcase Video #2 below. If you remember this song/chant 2013, please share that information below. Thanks! "There was a Great Big Moose: is the most recent member of the "family" of songs or chants that have the "Hambone Hambone Where You Been" tune and lyrical structure. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/08/various-versions-of-hambone-songrhyme.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Various Versions Of The "Hambone" Song (information, lyrics, & YouTube examples). "Hambone" is the earliest member of that "family" of songs, chants, and rhymes. Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/mama-mama-cant-you-see-usmc-cadence.html ""Mama Mama Can't You See" - Military Cadence, Children's Hand clap Rhyme, & Historically Black Fraternities' Song" for a pancocojams post about the children's hand clap game "Mama Mama Can't You See". "Mama Mama Can't You See" is another member of the family of chants and rhymes to which the song "There Was A Great Big Moose" belongs.Notice how similar the "way-o way-o" lyrics in "The Great Big Moose" song are to "lo right, a lo righty a lay o" way that the Marine Cops says "left right left" in many Marine cadences.****LYRICS - GREAT BIG MOOSE [each line is repeated]There was a great big moose! He liked to drink a lot of juice. There was a great big moose! He liked to drink a lot of juice. Singin’ oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh Way oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh The moose’s name was Fred. He liked to drink his juice in bed. The moose’s name was Fred. He liked to drink his juice in bed. Singin’ oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh Way oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh He drank his juice with care, but he spilled some in his hair. He drank his juice with care, but he spilled some in his hair. Singin’ oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh Way oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh Now he’s a sticky moose Because he’s all covered in juice! Singin’ oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh Way oh way oh Way oh way oh way oh way oh

Song source- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJkWonRSYAs [This is the video that is given at the top of this post and is considered here as Video #1.]] Directions: Repeat each line of this song.**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - There Was a Great Big Moose: Girl Scout Song with Lyrics

GirlScoutSongs, Dec 29, 2013

What happens when you give a moose some juice? LYRICS: "This is a repeat and answer song! There was a great big moose He liked to drink a lot of juice There was a great big moose He liked to drink a lot of juice chorus: Singing ohh way-oh Way-oh way-oh way-oh way-oh Waaaay-oh waaaay-oh Way-oh way-oh way-oh way-oh Now his name was Fred He liked to drink his juice in bed I said his name was Fred He liked to drink his juice in bed Chorus *Apple, grape, or lime He liked to drink it all the time Apple, grape, or lime He liked to drink it all the time chorus He drank his juice with care But he spilt it on his hair He drank his juice with care But he spilt it on his hair chorus Now he's a sticky moose A moose full of juice On the loooooose chorus *We added this original verse to the song"****Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.

"Old Dollar Mamie" (African American Prison Work Song)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: November 9, 2025

This pancocojams post showcases two sound files of the prison work song "Old Dollar Mamie" (also known as "Dollar Mamie"). Information about "Old Dollar Mamie" and a transcription of this song's lyrics are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the identified and the unidentified men who sang this work song in the examples which are featured below. My heart goes out to all those who sung such an emotionally moving song under such terrible conditions. My thanks also to the John and Alan Lomax, the collectors & recorders of this song. Thanks to the publishers of this song on YouTube.

Hat tip to Julia Glanville whose comments about "Dollar Mamie" in July 1, 2016 on a pancocojams post about the song "Rock Island Line"a reminded me about this song.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/o-berta-prison-blues.html for another prison work song from Parchman Farm, Mississippi

****
SUMMARY STATEMENT ABOUT "DOLLAR MAMIE"
"Old Dollar Mamie" is an African American call & response work song that was recorded being sung by prison chain gang workers in South Carolina (1922).

"Dollar Mamie" was also recorded being sung as a work song by prisoners in the infamous Parchman Farm prison in Mississippi. (1959). The percussive sound of the singers' swinging their axes is the only accompaniment to the men's voices in this song.

****
LYRICS - OLD DOLLAR MAMIE

Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a
Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a
Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a,
Well the dress she wanted cost-a,
Dollar a yard, well-a,
Dollar a yard, baby,
Dollar a yard, well-a.
Well the dress she wanted cost-a,
Dollar a yard, well-a.

Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well you shall have it, if it's,
In this world, well-a,
In this world, baby,
In this world, well-a,
Well you shall have it, if it's,
In this world, well-a.

Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
You could hear her call, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
You could hear her call, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a.

Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Stand on the levee, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a.
Stand on the levee, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a.

The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
In Arkansas City, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a.
Didn't have but ten, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a,
In Arkansas City, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a.

Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
You won't know the difference, when the,
When the sun goes down, well-a.
When the sun goes down, well-a,
When the sun goes down, well-a.
You won't know the difference, when the,
When the sun goes down, well-a.


From Alan Lomax's Prison Songs, Historical Recordings from Parchman Farm, 1947-48, Volume One: Murderous Home.*

[posted by Roger in Baltimore; http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=14515
-snip-
Here's some information about the 1947-1948 recording from http://research.culturalequity.org/rc-b2/get-audio-detailed-recording.do?recordingId=4245
James Carter [axe, vocal]
Ed Lewis [axe, vocal]
Henry Mason, [axe]
Johnny Lee Moore [axe, vocal]

Setting: Parchman Farm, Camp B (Mississippi) 9/19-9/20, 1959

****
Lyrics #2:

Old Dollar Mamie / Benny Will "22" Richardson and Group (Hoe Song)

...Mamie told her old Dollar Bob, well
Old Dollar Mamie told her old Dollar Bob, well
Old Dollar Mamie told her old Dollar Bob, well
The dress she want cost a dollar a yard, well
Oh dollar a yard, baby, Oh a dollar a yard, well
The dress she want cost a dollar a yard, well

Well you hush hush, Mamie, don't you, don't say no word
Hush hush, Mamie, don't you, don't say no word, when you
Hush hush, Mamie, don't you, don't say a word baby
You shall have it, if it's in this world*
If it's in this world, if it's in this world
You shall have it if it's, well in the world, well

[can't make out next verse]

I'm going to Memphis when I get parole, well
Oh come to Memphis when I get parole, baby
I'm going to Memphis when I, well get parole, well
Stand on the levee hear those big boats blow, well
The big boats blowin', the big boats blowin'
Go to the levee and hear, those big boats blow, well

Well the Katy left Memphis with a, with a hundred men, well
Well the Katy left Memphis with a, with a hundred men, well
Well the Katy left Memphis with a, with a hundred men, well
In [?] City she didn't have but ten, well
Didn't have but ten, didn't have but ten, well
In [?] City she didn't have but ten, well

Raise up higher, let 'um, drop 'em down, well
Well Raise up up higher, let 'um, drop 'em down, well
Well you Raise up up higher, let 'um, drop 'em down, well
Well, you won't know the difference when the sun goes down, well
When the sun goes down, baby, when the sun goes down, well
Well, you won't know the difference when the sun goes down, well

*Lomax quotes this as Vicksburg

posted on https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6221.0 by TSF
Re: Negro Prison Blues and Songs, March 23, 2016 [along with transcriptions of a number of other prison songs]

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Both of these examples replace the two sound files which are no longer available on YouTube.
Example #1: 22 - Old Dollar Mamie



Grammercy Records, Oct 31, 2012

[...]

Old Dollar Mamie
Artist
22 With Group
Album
Blues From The Big House
-snip-
"22" is Benny Will "22" Richardson (and group)
from Lomax's Global Jukebox, here:
Parchman Farm 1947:cited in https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6221.0 WeenieCampbell.com

****
Example #2: Long John & Old Alabama & Old Dollar Mamie



South Carolina Chain Gang - Topic, Jan 7, 2019

Provided to YouTube by Daredo

Long John & Old Alabama & Old Dollar Mamie · South Carolina Chain Gang

Jumpin Judy

℗ Editione Jazz IT

Released on: 2018-07-21

Music Publisher: Edizione Jazz
Composer: South Carolina Chain Gang
-snip-
"Old Dollar Mamie" is sung from 3:02-6:27 in this sound file.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" Song (videos, lyrics, and information)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents five East African video examples of the children's call & response song "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" This song is also found as "Shake Shake Shake That Mango Tree", "Shake A Mango Tree" and similar titles.

Lyrics for "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" and some information about that song are also included in this post. The Addendum to this post provides some information about mango trees and fruit.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer of "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree". Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos, the producers and publishers of these videos, and all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
"Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" is a call & response childrens song or chant. "Echo songs" is a relatively recent term for "call and response chants or songs. However, "echo songs" describe only one type of call & response compositions - those in which a lead vocalist chants or sings one line and the group immediately repeats the same exact words. In other call & response songs or chants, the leader sings or chants a line and the group response with a different word or words.

I'm not sure who composed the song "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree". The earliest date that I found for this song online was Dec 11, 2010 publication date for the video given as Example #1 below.

By far the most popular video of this song to date is the video given as Example #2 below. That video was shown on a 2011 episode of the syndicated American children's television show Sesame Street. As of August 20, 2015 at 7:09 Pm EST] that video has 1,965,729 viewer hits. All the other videos of that song have much less than 1,000 viewer hits.

It may be no coincidence that each of the videos of "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" that are showcased in this post, and other videos of that song appear to be from East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda). Each of those videos feature young children who attend an American or United Kingdom NGOs' (non-profit organizations') school or community based program. It's therefore possible that the song could have come from the United States.

"Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" is included in a 2012 CD entitled “One for All” that was recorded by Lea (Lea Morris), a female African American singer/ songwriter from the Washington, D.C. area. http://www.sears.com/cd-baby-com-indys-lea-one-for-all-cd/p-SPM8462192402. Given the 2012 release date of that Cd, I'm not sure if Lea wrote that song or learned it from its inclusion on the 2011 "Sesame Street" episode.

Information about the composer of "Shake Shake Shake The Mango Tree" may be found on the Games Music Books Movies & More Anytime, Anywhere" website. That website is restricted to members who enroll by giving a credit card number. I chose not to do that.

Any information about the composition of this song would be greatly appreciated.

****
LYRICS: SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE THE MANGO TREE
(composer?)

GIRL: [SINGING] Shake, shake, the mango tree.
CHILDREN: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
GIRL: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
CHILDREN: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
GIRL: Mango yellow, mango green.
CHILDREN: Mango yellow, mango green.
GIRL: Mango yellow, mango green.
CHILDREN: Mango yellow, mango green.
GIRL: One for you, and one for me.
CHILDREN: One for you and one for me.
GIRL: One for you, and one for me.
CHILDREN: One for you, and one for me.
GIRL: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
CHILDREN: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
GIRL: Shake, shake, the mango tree.
CHILDREN: Shake, shake, the mango tree.

Source: http://www.cclocator.com/en/video/?v=h4war7sLnuQ&lang=en
-snip-
These lyrics are given without the time notations that refer to the "Sesame Street" video given as Example #2 below.

Additional lines for this song could be added to reflect the fact that there there are other colors of mangos besides yellow or green. For example, the line "Mango red, mango orange" could also be sung.

Read that information about the colors of mangos in the Addendum below.

****
EDITOR'S COMMENT
It's traditional in a number of African nations for males and females to wear their hair shaved or cut very closely as children and as adults.

Some commenters writing in the discussion thread for the Sesame Street video wondered why boys were wearing skirts or dresses. Those comments could have been made without malice because the commenters were unfamiliar with that hairstyle tradition.

Unfortunately, a number of comments in that video were racists and some commenters could have written their comments about the children's appearance because of their racism.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: Cecil Kindergarten 5th Anniversary - Shake the Mango Tree



Leo van Iersel, Uploaded on Dec 11, 2010

The children of Cecil Kindergarten in Mombasa (Kenya) sing a song about a mango tree [Kenya]

****
Example #2: Sesame Street: Song: Shake Shake The Mango Tree



Sesame Street Uploaded on Jan 13, 2012

Sing along and shake the mango tree!

For more fun games and videos for your preschooler in a safe, child-friendly environment, visit us at http://www.sesamestreet.org

Sesame Street is a production of Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit educational organization which also produces Pinky Dinky Doo, The Electric Company, and other programs for children around the world.
-snip-
Two commenters on that video's discussion thread identified in the lead singer as "Edith". One of those commenters noted that Edith moved to North Carolina and was her classmate and friend. "Edith" is probably Edith Nyanga who wrote a comment thanking people in 2014.

For the record (no pun intended), that discussion thread also includes misinformation that this video was filmed in Nigeria. The online description for the Sesame Street 2011 episode clearly indicates that this video (whose song was listed as "Shake Shake Shake That Mango Tree" was filmed in Uganda:
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_4277
"Episode 4277 Sesame Street
Plot: Falling Leaves
Air date: December 30, 2011
Season: Season 42 (2011-2012)
Kids in Uganda recite a chant - "Shake Shake That Mango Tree."
(Filmed and directed by non-profit organization Fount of Mercy in the village of Lawanda, Uganda.[1])

[1] https://www.facebook.com/fountofmercy/posts/257653134305386

****
Example #3: SPE Mini - Shake Shake the Mango Tree



Soft Power Education Published on May 6, 2014 [Uganda]
-snip-
Here's information about Soft Power Education:
http://www.softpowereducation.com/
"Soft Power Education is a British registered charity and Ugandan NGO working with communities in Uganda to improve quality of life through education."

****
Example #4: Thrive LIFE Kenya Humanitarian Trip. "Shake the Mango Tree!" My favorite song!



Rachel Chad Mano, Published on Jul 11, 2014 [Kenya]

Thrive LIFE Kenya Trip singing children

****
Example #5: AMAP Shake Shake a Mango Tree



MissInternational09 Published on Jul 29, 2014 [Tanzania]
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/amap/

AMAP (African Modern Arts Project) Nursery Students, singing at their Morning Assembly

****
ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT MANGOS
From http://www.wikihow.com/Pick-a-Good-Mango
"There are roughly 1,100 varieties of mango grown in the world, with the majority of the fruit coming from India. They're also grown in Mexico, throughout South America, and in a variety of tropical locations. Depending on the time of year and the region they come from, mangoes are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.[1] To pick a good mango, you can learn a little bit about the features of the most common varieties and learn what to look for to find the best one."...

**
From http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Mango-Is-Ripe
..."Do not fixate on the color [of mangos to determine if they are ripe]. A red hue is often and indication of how much sun exposure a mango has received, not an indication of freshness.[3] Moreover, the color of a ripe mango varies based on the mango variety. You should never rely only on color to determine if a mango is ripe, but if you want to use color as a backup indicator, you must first understand how certain varieties are supposed to look once ripe.
•The Ataulfo mango turns a deep, golden color when ripe.

•The Francis mango will be a blend of green and gold when ripe. The green tint of the yellow skin fades, gradually turning more gold. Note that some green will still remain, however.

•The Haden mango turns from green to yellow once ripe. This variety is more prone to reddening, as well, but it does not need to be red in order to be ripe.

•The Keitt mango will remain green even once it becomes ripe.

•The Kent mango will remain mostly dark green, but it often has yellow undertones or yellow dots over various portions of the mango once it ripens.

•The Tommy Atkins mango provides little to no visual clues. The skin can remain yellow-green, turn golden, or develop a dark red blush.

•The Alphonse mango has a purple to yellow skin once ripe.

•The Edward mango has skin that can be pink, yellow, or some blend of the two.

•The Kesar mango can remain green once ripe, but they often take on a yellow hue.

•The Manila mango usually has an orange-yellow hue when ripe, but occasionally, the skin can also turn pink.

•The Palmer mango can vary in color, often appearing purple, red, yellow, or some mix of the three."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.