This pancocojams post presents some information about the fictional character "Pebbles Flintstone" and presents the words and direction to a circle game version of "When Pebbles Was A Baby".
"When Pebbles Was A Baby" appears to most often be performed in the United States and in some other English speaking countries as a cumulative life stages children's rhyme. That cumulative life stages rhyme appears to usually have the title "When Susie Was A Baby".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the creators of the Flintstone cartoon franchise and thanks to the creators of these children's recreational rhymes and games. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
**** INFORMATION ABOUT PEBBLES FLINTSTONE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flintstones "The Flintstones is an American animated sitcom produced by
Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age
setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door
neighbors, the Rubbles. It was originally broadcast on ABC from September 30,
1960, to April 1, 1966, and was the first animated series with a prime-time
slot on television.[2]
The show follows the lives of Fred and Wilma Flintstone and
their pet dinosaur, Dino, and they later on have a baby girl named Pebbles.
Barney and Betty Rubble are their neighbors and best friends, and later on
adopt a super-strong baby boy named Bamm-Bamm and acquire a pet hopparoo
(kangaroo) called Hoppy."...
**** "WHEN PEBBLES WAS A BABY" (played as a circle game)
when pebbles was a baby a baby a baby when pebbles was a baby she used to go like this "wah wah"(rub eyes)
when pebbles was a kid a kid a kid when pebbles was a kid she used to go like this "tie my shoe"(lift shoe)
when pebbles was a teenager a teenager a teenager when pebbles was a teenager she used to go like this "ohhh ahh i left my bra in my boyfriends car he don't care i don't care at least i got his underwear"(cover chest with arms)
when pebbles was a mom a mom a mom she used to go like this"(smack hand)don't touch that"
when pebbles was a grandma a grandma a grandma she used to go like this "ooh my achin back"(hold back like old person)
when pebbles was an angel an angel an angel she used to go like this "o look at my pretty wings"(flap your hands like wings)
when pebbles was a devil a devil a devil she used to go like this(run around and chase group who ever is caught is pebbles next)
(instead of pebbles you could use the name of the girl in the middle)"
**** A CUMULATIVE LIFE STAGES RHYME VERSION OF "WHEN PEBBLES WAS A BABY" "When I went to elementary school in South Jersey, we used to
sing a different version of 'Miss Suzie was a baby', except we said 'Pebbles'
When Pebbles was a baby, a baby, a baby, when Pebbles was a
baby, she used to go like this: Wah, wah, suck my thumb, gimme a piece of
bubblegum.
When Pebbles was a kid, a kid, a kid, when Pebbles was a
kid, she used to go like this: Teacher, Teacher, tie my shoe.
When Pebbles was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager, when
Pebbles was a teenager, she used to go like this: Ooh, ah, lost my bra, left it
in the cafeteri-ah. Over there, on the chair, is where I put my underwear!
When Pebbles was a mom, a mom, a mom, when Pebbles was a
mom, she used to go like this: Brush your teeth, comb your hair, and don't
forget your underwear!
When Pebbles was a grandma, a grandma, a grandma, when
Pebbles was a grandma, she used to go like this: Ooh, ah, my achin back!
And then there was something about Pebble's death that I
remember being amusing to a second grader, maybe Pebbles dying, going to
heaven, then maybe being sent to hell..? If anyone remembers, I would really
love to know." -bettingonalice; 1/1/2007;
http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php [This discussion forum is no longer available]
"South Jersey" is a region of "New Jersey". "Atlantic City" is the most well known city in South Jersey. (I was born in that city and lived there until I moved to North Jersey-near New York City- for college.)
** bettingonalice posted another rhyme on that discussion forum then wrote this:
"Wait I remember now!
When Pebbles was dead, was dead, was dead, when Pebbles was
dead, she used to go like this: [say loudly and spin around and flap your arms]
WHEEE! I CAN FLY!" -bettingonalice; 1/1/2007; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php [This discussion forum is no longer available]
This pancocojams post presents a few examples of children's cumulative life stages rhymes that I've come across online that include the contributor's geographic location.
Most of the examples that are given in this collection have the titles "When Susie Was A Baby", and "When Pebbles Was A Baby".
This collection is only a small part of this sub-set of children's recreational rhymes that I have come across online. Most of the online examples don't includes the contributor's location or any other demographic information.
I haven't come across any cumulative life stages rhymes in my direct collection experiences in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or anywhere else.
This collection doesn't include examples (with or without the contributor's geographic location) of the closely related rhyme "When Billy Boy Was One".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and recreational purposes.
**** EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S CUMULATIVE LIFE STAGES RHYMES (with the contributor's geographic location and other demographic information)
These examples are given in no particular order within their geographical place category. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.
Italic font is used for each example's geographic information and other demographic information to highlight that information.
**** AUSTRALIA
1."Hey, The version i used to sing when i was in year 2 in 2001
is:
When Suzie was a baby, a baby, a baby, when suzie was a baby
she went like this: Waaaa Waaaaa
When Suzie was a toddler, a toddler, a toddler, when Suzie
was a toddler she went like this: Waaa Waaaa, Gimme my dummy
When Suzie was a school girl, a school girl, a school girl,
when Suzie was a school girl she went like this: Waaa Waaa, Gimme my dummy,
Miss Miss i cant do this!
When Suzie was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager, when
Suzie was a teenager she went like this: Waaaa Waaaa, Gimme my dummy, Miss Miss
i cant do this, Ooooo Ahhhh i lost my bra, left it in my boyfriends car
When Suzie was married, married, married, when Suzie was
married she went like this: Waaaa Waaa, Gimme my dummy, Miss Miss i cant do
this, Oooo Ahhh i lost my bra, left it in my boyfriends car, Ooooo i think i
love you, Oooo i think i do
When Suzie was a mummy, a mummy, a mummy, when Suzie was a
mummy she went like this: Waaaa Waaa, Gimme my dummy, Miss Miss i cant do this,
Oooo Ahhh i lost my bra, left it in my boyfriends car, Ooooo i think i love
you, Oooo i think i do, Go to your room
When Suzie was a grandma, a grandma, a grandma, when Suzie
was a grandma she went like this: Waaa Waaa, Gimme my dummy, Miss Miss i cant
do this, Ooooo Ahhh i lost my bra, left it in my boyfriends car, Ooooo i think
i love you, Oooo i think i do, Go to your room, What's that deary
When Suzie was dead, dead, dead, when Suzie was dead she
went like this: Waaa Waaa etc. (Silence)
When Suzie was a ghost, a ghost, a ghost, when Suzie was a
ghost she went like this: Waaa Waaa etc. BOOOOO (Then we would all start
laughing)
We used to play this as a clapping game... We used to forget
words and make them up again, I'm from Australia -GUEST,Catherine, 04
Jul 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
**
2. "The only part I remember is:
When Susie was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager, when
Susie was a teenager she went like this - Ooo Ahh, I've lost my bra, I don't
know where my knickers are, Ooo Ahh there they are sitting in my boyfriend's
car. Or another version is the same as above except the ending where it says:
Ooo Ahh there they are sitting in the policeman's car.
1. "When Miss Suzie was a baby, a baby, a baby... when Miss
Suzie was a baby she went like this: wah wah.
When Miss Suzie was a kid, a kid, a kid... when Miss Suzie
was a kid she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker!
When Miss Suzie was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager...
when Miss Suzie was a teenager she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh
lala lost my bra.
When Miss Suzie was a mother, a mother, a mother... when
Miss Suzie was a mother she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh lala
lost my bra, shh baby's sleeping.
When Miss Suzie was a grandma, a grandma, a grandma... when
Miss Suzie was a grandma she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh lala
lost my bra, shh baby's sleeping, ack my aching back.
When Miss Suzie was a ghost, a ghost, a ghost... when Miss
Suzie was a ghost she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh lala lost my
bra, shh baby's sleeping, ack my aching back, boo BOO!
When Miss Suzie was a devil, a devil, a devil... when miss
Suzie was a devil she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh lala lost my
bra, shh baby's sleeping, ack my aching back, boo boo, pointy horns to poke
your eye.
When Miss Suzie was a angel, a angel, a angel... when Miss
Suzie was a angel she went like this: wah wah, gimmie sucker, oooh lala lost my
bra, shh baby's sleeping, ack my aching back, boo boo, pointy horns to poke
your eye, on wings I fly! ... ... ... ... FINALLY!
(Clapping through the whole thing but actions to mimic what
she says.
Balled fists for wah wah. Hand out to get lollipop for
gimmie sucker. Crossed arms over chets for oooh lala lost my bra. Finger on
lips to shh for shh baby's sleeping. Grabbing a hand at your lower back and
bending forward for ack my aching back. Surprise hands for boo boo. Places hand
on top of head with pointy fingers out as horns for pointy horns to poke your
eye. And lastly hands on your shoulders and wave for wings for on wings I fly.) -GUEST,Leigh
- Edmonton, Alberta [Canada], 30
Jan 12, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
**** ENGLAND (GREAT BRITAIN, UK) 1. "Hi, I grew up in Hertfordshire, England in the 1980's and we
also used a suzy rhyme as a simple hand clap, but paused for the actions
When Suzy was a baby, a baby suzy was she went a wa wa wa wa
wa
When Suzy was a toddler, a toddler suzy was she went a
scribble, scribble, scribble, scribble scribble
When Suzy was a school girl, a school girl Suzy was she went
a skip, skip, skip skip skip
When Suzy was a teenager, a tennager suzy was, she went a
"ooh, aah, I've lost my bra, I've left my knickers in my boyfriend's
car"
When Suzy was a mummy, a mummy suzy was, she went a bake
bake bake bake bake
When suzy was a grandma, a grandma suzy was, she went a
knit, knit, knit, knit knit
When Suzy was a skeleton, a skeleton suzy was she went a
jingle, a jangle, a jingle jangle jangle
when suzy was an angel, an angel suzy was she went ah ha, ah
ha ah ha ha ha
As I remember, we used to forget some of the lyrics and make
up new ones. Each of the verses had actions
** 3. "All I remember was the teenager bit that was - oooh ahh,
iv'e lost my bra and I don't know where my knickers are! I remember us saying
this v. quietly (aged 10) so that the dinner ladies didn't hear! I really can't
remember the rest apart from Susie died?" -GUEST, Vicki - London in the 70s!, 29
Mar 11, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
** 4. "England early 80's (clapping rhyme)
When suzy was a baby a baby suzy was was was and all the she
could say to me was gaa gaa a gaa gaa gaa
When suzy was a schoolgirl a schoolgirl suzy was was was and
all that she could say to me was miss miss I cant do this I got my knickers in
a terrible twist
when suzy was a teenager a teenager suzy was was was and all
the she could say to me was ooh ahh I lost my bra I left it in my boyfriends
car
when suzy was a mother a mother suzy was was was and all
that she could say to me.......(cant remember this one which is why i found
this thread)
when suzy was a nanny a nanny suzy was was was and all that
she could say to me was a knit knnit a knit knit knit" -GUEST, 27 Aug 12, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
** 5. "I remember the same version as Rachel above does, in England
in the mid to late 1990s. We sang "When Susie was a baby, a baby Susie
was" rather than repeating "a baby, a baby, a baby." " -GUEST,Phoebe, 08 Nov 10, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
** 6. "All I remember was the teenager bit that was - oooh ahh,
iv'e lost my bra and I don't know where my knickers are! I remember us saying
this v. quietly (aged 10) so that the dinner ladies didn't hear! I really can't
remember the rest apart from Susie died?" -GUEST,Vicki - London in the 70s!, 29 Mar 11, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
**
7. "When Susie was a baby, a baby Susie was. She went waa, waa!, ah waa waa waa!
When Susie was a schoolgirl, a schoolgirl Susie was. She went, Miss! Miss! I can't do this! (or sometimes i need
a p*ss)
When I was a baby, a baby, a baby When I was a baby boom boom boom It was crying this-a-way Crying that-a-way Crying this-a-way Boom boom boom
(This goes through "child," "teenager
kissing," then I think "when I got married" and then "had a
baby" then "when my husband died" ending with
When I died, dies, died, When I dies boom boom boom It was six feet under, six feet under, six feet under boom
boom boom." -GUEST,27
Jul 07.https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=102055, Folklore:
Play Ground Hand Jives
** 2. "When I went to elementary school in South Jersey, we used to
sing a different version of 'Miss Suzie was a baby', except we said 'Pebbles'
When Pebbles was a baby, a baby, a baby, when Pebbles was a
baby, she used to go like this: Wah, wah, suck my thumb, gimme a piece of
bubblegum.
When Pebbles was a kid, a kid, a kid, when Pebbles was a
kid, she used to go like this: Teacher, Teacher, tie my shoe.
When Pebbles was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager, when
Pebbles was a teenager, she used to go like this: Ooh, ah, lost my bra, left it
in the cafeteri-ah. Over there, on the chair, is where I put my underwear!
When Pebbles was a mom, a mom, a mom, when Pebbles was a
mom, she used to go like this: Brush your teeth, comb your hair, and don't
forget your underwear!
When Pebbles was a grandma, a grandma, a grandma, when
Pebbles was a grandma, she used to go like this: Ooh, ah, my achin back!
And then there was something about Pebble's death that I
remember being amusing to a second grader, maybe Pebbles dying, going to
heaven, then maybe being sent to hell..? If anyone remembers, I would really
love to know. -bettingonalice; 1/1/2007;
http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php [This website is no longer available.]
"South Jersey" is a region of the state of New Jersey. -snip- bettingonalice posted another rhyme and then wrote this: "Wait I remember now!
When Pebbles was dead, was dead, was dead, when Pebbles was
dead, she used to go like this: [say loudly and spin around and flap your arms]
WHEEE! I CAN FLY!"
** 3. "WHEN PEBBLES WAS A BABY I am 25 now and was recently playing a hand game with my
6 year old cousin at a family gathering and was thinking about some of the
games I used to play as a little girl. I am a Black female from Easter North
Carolina. One I remember yet have no idea where it came from was called Pebbles
and it basically followed the life of this girl. Each section of life had some
type of hand gesture you had to do with it. and you had to remember the whole
thing as it added on new lines. It basically went like this
When pebbles was a baby, a baby a baby
When pebbles was a baby she went like this cry cry. (then
the group would act like they were wiping their tears)
When pebbles was a toddler, a toddler a toddler
When pebbles was a toddler she went like this cry cry,
tie my shoe. (then we would wipe our tears, and reach down and touch our shoes)
When pebbles was a 5 year old, a 5 year old, a 5 year old
When pebbles was a 5 year old she went like this cry cry,
tie my shoe, i want this i want that (you would do the previous motions plus
point at left then right) When pebbles was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager
When pebbles was a teenager she went like this cry cry,
tie my shoe,
i want this i want that,
Ohh Ah I lost my bra I must have left it in my boyfriends
car. ( on this part you would do the previous motions then also cross your
hands over your chest and sort of shake your hips)
This is a long song there is way more too it but it takes
her through motherhood and then being a grandma and finally the end of her
life. I think its basically to see who can and can't remember all the things
that happened before. Its been a really long time since I did this one.
-Erica ; 1/3/2008"; www.cocojams.com [cocojams.com was the
name of my cultural website that was active from 2001-11.2014.] -snip- This was written as a paragraph. I reformatted it into
poetry form to enhance its readability
** 4. "In central Ohio, late 80s early 90s I remember this:
When susy was a baby a baby a baby, when susy was a baby she
went like this wah wah.
Toddler, wah wah, tie my shoe.
Teenager, wah wah tie my shoe, oo ah lost my bra (in my
boyfriends car)
I think it was a clapping game with the motions mentioned
above like rubbing eyes, touching shoe, etc. Sorry I don't remember the rest." -GUEST, 26 Mar 12, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109480,109480 "Children's rhyme: When Susie Was A Baby"
This pancocojams post provides text examples of the hand games "When Billy Boy Was One" & "Poor Pinocchio".
Two video examples of "When Billy Boy Was One" are included in this post.
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 and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
Hat tip to the editor and contributors of Mama Lisa's World: International Music & Culture https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/can-anyone-help-with-the-tune-to-when-billy-boy-was-one/. I've added two examples of "When Billy Boy Was One" from that page, one of which indicates the 1960s as the decade that the contributor learned that version. I've also added a link for an audio file of the tune that a Mama Lisa blog contributed shared for this rhyme.
Although this blog focuses on music, dance, and language practices from African Americans and other Black people throughout the world, I sometimes also showcases examples of children's rhymes and singing games which may not be from those populations because that is another interest of mine. Although the textual structure, the percussive rhythm, and accompanying hand clap & body patting movements of these rhymes strongly suggest that these rhymes are of African American origin, I don't know if that population was the original source of these rhymes.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT "WHEN BILLY BOY WAS ONE" AND "POOR PINOCCHIO"
"When Billy Boy Was One" isn't the folk song "Billy Boy" ("Oh where have you been Billy Boy") and "Poor Pinocchio" isn't the nursery rhyme character "Pinocchio". However, it's highly probably that the characters' names in both of those playground rhymes were lifted from those widely known cultural sources.
I collected one example of "Poor Pinocchio" (from a Canadian school girl) and three other examples of that rhyme online. Each of these examples are found below. However, there are considerably more examples of "When Billy Boy Was One" online. Five of those examples are found below.
I think that "Poor Pinocchio" is a spin off of "When Billy Boy Was One", but I don't have any way of proving that.
"When Billy Boy Was One" (also known as "Billy Boy" and "Billy") and "Poor Pinocchio" are what I call a "life stages" playground rhyme. A "life stages" rhyme is one that chants a line about a person starting with age one and successively moving to an agreed upon age [usually age ten]. The first line of those two line rhyming verses usually begins with the word "when" and indicates the person's age. The second line indicates an activity that is supposedly characteristic of that age:
When Billy Boy was one
He learned to suck his thumb
Or the second line ends with a word that rhymes with the age that was given in the first line:
When Billy Boy was seven
He went to heaven
Similarly, here are examples from "Poor Pinocchio":
1*. Poor Pinocchio he learned to suck his thumb, thumb
after thumb after thumb, after thumb after thumb.
Cross over
4*. Poor Pinocchio he learned to shut the door, door after
door, after door, after door. Cross over
[The numbers at the beginning of this example are chanted.]
-snip-
Another form of "life stage" rhyme is one which instead of ages mentions periods pf a person's life -from babyhood to death and sometime beyond. The rhymes "When I Was A Baby" ("When Susie Was A Baby", "When Pebbles Was A Baby" etc.)* are examples of those kinds of life stages children's rhymes. However, in addition to being "life stages" rhymes, "When I Was A Baby" etc. is also a cumulative rhyme, in that each line that is chanted includes a portion from each preceding line.
As is the case with the "When I Was A Baby" rhymes, mimicking actions are performed while chanting the second line of "When Billy Boy Was One" and the second line of "Poor Pinocchio". For instance, while chanting "He learned to suck his thumb", the chanters mimic sucking their thumb. However, I'm not certain if any mimicking action is done for the "went to heaven" line that is usually chanted for the number "seven" verse, unless it is flapping your arms in imitation of angel's wings.
The term "cross-down", "cross over" or "crosstown"* is usually found in the "When Billy Boy Was One" rhymes. That word not only serves to separate the successive age verses, but also describes an action or series of actions that is/are always done when that word is said. Read my comments in the "Performance Activity" section about those motions.
"*Crosstown" is probably a folk etymology form of "cross down", a description of the direction of a hand movement.
I think that "When Billy Boy Was One", the similarly chanted rhyme "When Pebbles Was A Baby*" and the rhyme "Poor Pinocchio" all came from the same source and I believe that source was "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat".
The only example of "When Billy Boy Was One" and "Poor Pinocchio" that I've heard chanted "in real life"(Example #2 of "Poor Pinocchio") had the same or very similar tune as "Miss Susie Had A Baby". However, from examples that I've subsequently heard online and from comments that I've read, it appears that different tunes are used for "When Billy Boy Was One" (and presumably, also for versions of "Poor Pinocchio".
****
PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES
"When Billy Boy Was One" and "Poor Pinocchio" appear to usually be recited as two partner hand clap game with accompanying mimicking motions.
Each of these rhymes includes the word "cross down" or some variant form of that word. Saying "cross down" is a signal to begin a crossing movement that may also be combined with a body patting motion. Here's one description of the "cross down" performance action from one of the examples found below:
"Cross down - start by crossing both hands over your chest, with your finger tips touching your shoulders, then uncross them and smack your thigh's. Your left hand will smack your left thigh and right hand, right thigh."
Criss-cross jumping (crossing your feet when you jump) could be done instead of the actions given below.
Performance directions are found in some of the examples below.
****
FIVE TEXT EXAMPLES OF "WHEN BILLY BOY WAS ONE"
(These examples are given in chronological order based on the date in which the example was posted online, with the oldest dated example given first.)
Example #1: WHEN BILLY BOY WAS ONE
I'm an elementary teacher from Minnesota. I'd like to add a hand clapping, patting game I learned from some first grade girls back in the 1970's. They called it "Billy Boy." As they chanted the lyrics they clapped their own hands, then the opposite hand of their partner, then their own opposite shoulders, and finally their knees.
When Billy Boy was one (sung as two syllables) he learned to suck his thu-umb, (two syllables again.)
Thumb-dee-ah-dah, thumb-dee-ah-dah,
Half past one, cross down,
When Billy boy was two-o, he learned to tie his shoe-oo,
Two-dee-ah-dah, two-dee-ah dah,
Half past two cross down." etc.
three: climb a tree,
four: shut the door,
five: jump and dive,
six: pick up sticks,
seven: got to heaven,
eight: clean his plate,
nine: sing this rhyme,
ten: he learned to say, 'THE END!'"
-Skeezyks, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300 Children's Street Songs, January 31, 2005
****
Example #2: WHEN BILLY BOY WAS ONE
Two people sit facing each other. I'll do my best to describe the handclap motions...
Cross down - start by crossing both hands over your chest, with your finger tips touching your shoulders, then uncross them and smack your thigh's. Your left hand will smack your left thigh and right hand, right thigh.
The next step is to clap. When you clap, you begin singing the song.
(For example: (cross down) (Clap), When Billy Boy was one..... (now begin claping with your partner - your right hand claps with their right hand - then you clap your hands together, next your left hand claps with your partner's left hand, then you clap your hands together.
Repeat until the verse is over.
When you start the next verse, begin again with cross down, slap your thighs, When Billy Boy was two...etc.
Verses: When Billy Boy was one, he learned to suck his thumb. Thumb Billy, Thumb Billy, half past one.
When Billy Boy was two, he learned to tie his shoe. Shoe Billy, Shoe Billy, half past two.
When Billy Boy was three, he learned to climb a tree. Tree Billy, Tree Billy, half past three.
When Billy Boy was four, he learned to close the door. Door Billy, Door Billy, half past four.
When Billy Boy was five, he learned to swim and dive. Dive Billy, Dive Billy, half past five.
When Billy Boy was six, he learned to pick up sticks. Sticks Billy, Sticks Billy, half past six.
When Billy Boy was seven, he learned to pray to heaven. Heaven Billy, Heaven Billy, half past seven.
When Billy Boy was eight, he learned to roller skate. Skate Billy, Skate Billy, half past eight.
When Billy Boy was nine, he learned to tell the time. Time Billy, Time Billy, half past nine.
When Billy Boy was ten, he learned to catch the hens. Hens Billy, Hens Billy, half past ten. Cross down, then end!
-Jackie; cocojams.com, 2/28/2007 [Cocojams was the name of my cultural blog which I voluntarily deactivated in 2015.]
****
Example #3: WHEN BILLY BOY WAS ONE
then there was about billy boy
cross down when billy boy was 1
he learned to suck his thumb
thumb after thumb after half past one
2 was tie his shoe
3 was climb a tree
4 was shut the door
5 was swim and dive
6 was pick up sticks
7 was pray to Heaven
8 was shut the gate
9 was pay the fine
10 was say the end
and at the end it was
... end after end after half past ten
cross down the end.
-Guest, Julie, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300 Children's Street Songs, December 5, 2007
When Billy boy was cero, he learned to be a hero
so herioca, herioca, half past cero.
When Billy Boy was one, he learned to suck his thumb,
So thumbioca, thumbioca, half past one.
When Billy Boy was two, he learned to tie his shoes,
so shoe-ioca, shoe-ioca, half past two.
When Billy Boy was three, he learned to climb a tree,
So treeioca, treeioca, half past three.
When Billy Boy was four, he learned to shut the door,
so doorioca, doorioca, half past four.
When Billy Boy was five, he learned to swim and dive,
so diveioca, diveioca, half past five.
When Billy Boy was six, he learned to pick up sticks,
so stickioca, stickioca, half past six.
When Billy Boy was seven, he learned to climb to heaven,
so heavy-oca, heavy-oca, half past seven.
When Billy Boy was eight, he learned to shut the gate,
so gate-ioca, gate-ioca, half past eight.
When Billy Boy was nine, he learned to stand in line,
so lineioca, lineioca, half past nine.
When Billy Boy was ten, he learned to feed the hens,
so henioca, henioca, half past ten.
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Example #5
From https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/can-anyone-help-with-the-tune-to-when-billy-boy-was-one/
Jen Says:
December 10th, 2017 at 5:01 am
We used to play this game in grammar school in the 60’s in Southern California. The lyrics were similar on each line except we used to say “olioca” twice, then “half past (whatever number was next)” then “cross-down” and then start the next line. For instance:
When Billy Boy was one, he learned to suck his thumb,
Olioca, Olioca, half past one, cross-down,
When Billy Boy was two, he learned to tie his shoe,
Olioca, Olioca, half past two, cross-down,
and so on…
I don’t know, it’s just the way I learned it from other kids. I like everyone else’s version too. I love the internet enabling us to look up these old games and songs!
-snip-
Mama Lisa's blog includes additional examples of and comments about this rhyme, including this comment:
"Gary Says:
December 15th, 2016 at 9:26 pm
We played this game back in the 1960’s. But instead of saying “thumb de-li-da-la” or “thumbioca”, we said: “thumb billy-ona”. This was in the south central Pennsylvania area of the US"
In addition, Miriam McLatchey (September 4th, 2018 at 3:15) shared this link to an audio file for "When Billy Boy Was One" on Mama Lisa's blog: https://mysongfile.com/songs/when_billy_was_one
Another contributor indicated that the tune sounded like the theme song used for "Loony Tune" cartoons.
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF "WHEN BILLY BOY IS ONE"
Video #1: Heart sisters. School rhymes- Wjen Billy was one
Ania Heart, Apr 17, 2017
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Video #2: Farrell - When Billy Was One - OCES September 2018
Ms. Boyd, Oct 22, 2018
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FIVE EXAMPLES OF "POOR PINOCCHIO" (complete and partial examples)
(These examples are given in chronological order based on the date in which the example was posted online, with the oldest dated example given first.)
Example #1: POOR PINOCCHIO
1. Poor Pinocchio he learned to suck his thumb, thumb
after thumb after thumb, after thumb after thumb.
Cross over *
2. Poor Pinocchio he learned to tie his shoe, shoe after
shoe, after shoe, after shoe . Cross over *
3. Poor Pinocchio he learned to climb a tree, tree after tree,
after tree, after tree. Cross over *
4. Poor Pinocchio he learned to shut the door, door after
door, after door, after door. Cross over *
5. Poor Pinocchio he liked to kick bee hives, hives after
hives, after hives, after hives. Cross over *
6. Poor Pinocchio he learned to pick up sticks, sticks after
sticks, after sticks ,after sticks. Cross over *
7. Poor Pinocchio he learned all about heaven, heaven after
heaven, after heaven, after heaven. Cross over *
8. Poor Pinocchio he learned to shut the gate, gate after
gate, after gate after gate. Cross over *
[and so on up to 11-use any word that rhymes with those numbers]
* When you say "cross over" you fold your arms crisscross over your chest, and the other girl you are doing the handclap with does the same thing at the same time.
-Natashia, (White female, age 13; Hinton, Alberta, Canada; October 21, 2005; collected by Azizi Powell
-snip-
[The numbers at the beginning of this example are chanted.]
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Example #2: POOR PINOCCHIO
I vaguely remember a clapping song that went something like
Poor Pinocchio one
He used to suck his thumb
But poor P-I-N-O-C-C-H-I-O
cross down and
Poor Pinocchio two
He (something something) shoe (learned to tie?)
But poor P-I-N-O-C-C-H-I-O
****
Example #3
"Poor Pinocchio
Does anyone remember the jump rope song about "Poor Pinocchio"?" https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrshoffy/7331562194
published on May 13, 2012 with a photograph:
"Poor Pinocchio 1, he learned to suck his thumb..."
-snip-
The reference to "Poor Pinocchio" as a "jump rope song" is interesting as it suggests that this rhyme was probably chanted before the performance activity for many "jump rope songs" converted to hand clapping (some where around the 1970s and 1980s).
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Example #4:
I vaguely remember a clapping song that went something like
Poor Pinocchio one
He used to suck his thumb
But poor P-I-N-O-C-C-H-I-O
cross down and
Poor Pinocchio two
He (something something) shoe (learned to tie?)
But poor P-I-N-O-C-C-H-I-O
