"Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" And Some Other Children's Profanity Avoidance Rhymes That Include The Words "Ask Me No More Questions"

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!

 

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 9
and if you disconnect me
I'll chop off your...

Behind the refrigerator
There is a piece of glass
and if you dare to step on it
I'll kick you in the...

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 country
Bees are in the park
Miss Susie and her boyfriend
are kissing in the...

Dark is like a movie
A movie's like a show
A show is on the TV screen
and that is all...

I know I know my mama
I know I know my paw

I know I know my sister
and her 18 dollar...

broccoli is delicious
spinach makes me cry
miss Susie told me all of this
the day before she...

Dyed her hair all purple
she dyed her hair all pink
she dyed her hair all polka dot
and washed it down the sink

Hello operator,
Please give me number ten.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll sing this song again!

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some examples of English language children's profanity avoidance rhymes that include the words "ask me no more questions/I'll tell you no more lies".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who contributed examples or comments to this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/similarities-differences-between-bang.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Similarities & Differences Between "Bang Bang Lulu" & "Miss Lucy Had A Steamboat" ".

WARNING - The websites that are given in this post contain Some rhyme examples that include much more explicit examples of profanity and other "naughty" words and references (socially taboo words and references, including sexual references) than the examples that are documented in this pancocojams post.

****
COMMENTS ABOUT CHILDREN'S PROFANITY AVOIDANCE RHYMES 
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=21978
Subject: 'Teasing' songs
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 30 May 00 - 

"There are many songs* in which rhymning patterns etc are used to create anticipation of vulgarities, which are either averted at the last moment or at least resolve innocently
-snip-
*The word "songs" in this comment also refers to rhymes.

**
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=21978
Subject: RE: 'Teasing' songs
From: DADGBE
Date: 30 May 00 

... "Thare's a whole group of songs, usually in round form which appear innocuous when read but become ribald when sung in just the way you describe. They're called "catches" and were very popular with English singing clubs during eras of increased sexual repression (like the last 200 years!). Henry Purcel wrote many catches which are still widely sung."

****
Notice the comment in the summary to the video that is embedded in this post that states "[This is ] "A clapping song with IMPLIED cussing."

**
Also, notice this comment that is given below in Source #1 by Sheye:

..."welcome to my childhood naughtiness....These were the playground songs. The defiance we felt, and the giggling. Looking back, it was neat the way the teachers just rolled their eyes and ignored us, giving us the space to be inducted into that circle of childhood comraderie, much like the secret handshake, and knowing that we didn't mean it (really!)."

**
Also, commenter Frank McGrath wrote in 2000 in that same "teasing rhymes" Mudcat thread an example of  another rhyme that doesn't include the "Ask me no more question" or "ask my mother" words: "That was one delightful song in which we gloried during my early youth. Oh, the thrilling naughtyness of it all...without saying one bad word."

****
EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S PROFANITY AVOIDANCE RHYMES

These examples are given in no particular order. The online sources are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Source #1
https://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2794

Subject: RE: Naughty kids'greatest hits
From: Earl
Date: 12 Sep 97 

"Here's a naughty song to the tune of "Goodnight Ladies"

Mary had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell
The steamboat went to heaven and Mary went to
Hello operator give me number nine
If they do not answer please refund my dime
Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies
If you get hit with a bucket of sh-t* be sure to shut your eyes

 

There are more verses."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in that example.

**

Subject: RE: Naughty kids'greatest hits
From: Laoise
Date: 15 Sep 97

"We had a different version to Miss Lucy...

 Mary had a little lamb, she thought it rather silly,
She threw it up into the air and caught it by it's...
Willie was a sheep dog sitting on the ground
Along came a bee and stung him on his....
Ask no questions tell no lies,
Ever see a p'liceman doing up his....
Flies are a nuisance, bugs are worse
And this is the end of my silly little verse."

**

Subject: RE: Naughty kids'greatest hits
From: Sheye
Date: 15 Sep 97 

...welcome to my childhood naughtiness.

Three Irishmen

Three irishmen, three irishmen,
Sitting in a ditch
One called the other a dirty son of a

Peter Piper had a dog, a mighty fine dog was he,
He sold it to a lady to keep her company.
She fed it, she pet it, she taught it how to jump.
It jumped right up her petticoat and grabbed her by the

Country boy, country boy, sitting on a fence,
Along came a bumble bee and stung him on the
Cocktail, gingerale, ten cents a glass,
If you do not like it, just shove it up your

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no more lies,
If you happen to get hit with a bucket of sh-t,*
Be sure to close your eyes!

[Pancocojams Editor: This post continues with a few other examples.]

 Also did the Miss Lucy thing, but the glass was behind the

Iron Curtain instead of the fridge.

 

These were the playground songs. The defiance we felt, and the giggling. Looking back, it was neat the way the teachers just rolled their eyes and ignored us, giving us the space to be inducted into that circle of childhood comraderie, much like the secret handshake, and knowing that we didn't mean it (really!).
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this example.

****
Source #2
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84511

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bang Bang Rosie [Mudcat: Bang Bang Rosie]
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 10 Sep 05 

"Here's the version my I learned from my Mom (she says she used to shock her Aunties with it when she was a kid):

Bang bang Lulu, Lulu's gone away
Who's gonna bang bang Lulu
Now that she's away?
Lulu had two boyfriends, both were very rich
One was the son of a banker
The other was a son of a
Beech nuts, beech nuts, five cents a pack
If you don't like them, I'll shove them up your
Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no more lies
A man got hit with a bag of (pause)
Right between the eyes."

**
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bang Bang Rosie
From: GUEST,Leila xx
Date: 21 May 08 

"I don't know bang-bang lulu or whatever but I know Miss Susie had a steamboat!

Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven. The steamboat went to—
Hell-o operator, please get me number nine!
And if you disconnect me, I'll kick you from behind
The 'frigerator, there was a piece of glass.
Miss Lucy sat upon it, and broke her little ass-
K me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom, pulling down their flies
Are in the meadow, the bees are in the park.
Miss Rosie and her boyfriend, are kissing in the dark-
Er than the river, oh darker than the sea!
Darker than the underwear my grandma put on me.
I know my mother, and I know my pa.
I also know my sister with the forty-acre bra.
My mom's Godzilla. my father is King Kong.
My brother is the stupid one who made up this dumb song.
Oh operator, please get me number ten,
And if you disconnect me, I'll sing this song again!"

****
Source #3
cocojams.com [This website is no longer active.]*

Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell.
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 was a piece of glass.
Miss Suzie sat upon it, and cut her little ——.

Ass-k me any question, I tell no lies.
The boys are in the girl's bathroom, Zipping down their ——.

Flies are in the city. Bees are in the park.
(Friend's name) and her (his) boy (girl) friend, 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.

I know I know my ma. I know I know my pa.
I know I know my sister with the forty-acre bra.

My mother is Godzilla. My father is King Kong.
My brother is the stupid one who taught me this song.

My mother gave me a nickel. My father gave me a dime.
My sister gave me her old boyfriend. His name was Frankenstein.

He made me do the dishes. He made me wash the floors.
He made me clean his underwear, so I kicked him out the door.

I kicked him over London. I kicked him over France.
I kicked him over Hawaii where he learned the hula dance.

He swam across the ocean. He swam across the sea.
He swam across the tub just to get to me.

I flushed him down the tub. I drained the water good.
I kicked him out just like my mama said I should.

In Hawaii, he met the good girls. In Hawaii, he met the bad.
Halfway through Hawaii he ran into my dad.

The good girls go to heaven, So the bad girls go to ——.
Hello, operator. Give me number ten,
And if you disconnect me, I'll sing this song again!
-Elle F.; cocojams,  November 18, 2006
-snip-
*"cocojams" was the name of  my cultural website that was active from January 2001 to Nov. 2014. A lot of children and teenagers used that website's easy feature for posting examples of rhymes and cheers.

****
Source #4
From http://www.gameskidsplay.net/jump_rope_ryhmes/jump_miss_susie.htm

 Contributed by Joanna - Thank you!

"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 kick you from...

behind the refrigerator there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie fell upon it and cut her little...
ask me no more questions
tell me no more lies

Miss Susie told me everything the day before she...
Died her hair in purple,
died her hair pink,
died her hair in polka-dots
and washed it down the...

Sink me in the ocean,
Sink me in the sea,
Sink me in/down the toilet,
But please don't pee on me!"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

How The Christian Song "There Were Three Jolly Fishermen" Became A "Naughty" Children's Song (with lyrics to the related song "Three Jews Came From Jerusalem")

RobertBadenPowell, Jan. 31, 2012

[...]

Lyrics:

Verse #1: There were three jolly fishermen,

There were three jolly fishermen, Fisher, fisher, MEN, MEN, MEN. Fisher, fisher, MEN, MEN, MEN. There weere three jolly fishermen. Verse #2 -The first one's name was Abraham, The first one's name was Abraham, Abra, Abra; ham ham, ham Abra, Abra; ham ham, ham The first one's name was Abraham. Verse- 3- The second one's name was I-I-saac, The second one's name was I-I-saac, I-I, I-I- zik, zik, zik I-I, I-I- zik, zik, zik The second one's name was I-I-saac. Verse #4- The third on'e name was Ja-a-cob, The third on'e name was Ja-a-cob, Ja-a, Ja-a; cub, cub, cub Ja-a, Ja-a; cub, cub, cub The third on'e name was Ja-a-cob.

-snip-
I added the word "verse" and numbers to the lyrics that were found in the summary for this sound file.

This version was recorded by American folk singer/actor Burl Ives. My guess is that Burl Ives' recording of the children's song "Three Jolly Fishermen" in the 1950s was what popularized this children's song in the United States.  However, I don't know the title of the 1950s Burl Ives album that this song was first featured on.  Please share that information if you know it. Thanks!

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update- Oct. 31, 2022

This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube sound files of the children's song "Three Jolly Fishermen" and documents how the lyrics to that song became "naughty". 

The Addendum to this post presents a link to a sound file of the (probably related song) "Three Jews Came From Jerusalem" (or similar titles). My transcription of that sound file is also included in that Addendum along with lyrics for the same or related song "Three Wandering Jews".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these sound files and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE #2: Three Jolly Fishermen 



Wee Sing - Topic, Jun 7, 2018

℗ 2011 Early Bird Recordings. © 1997 by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. Wee Sing ® of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Released on: 2011-05-20 -snip- Here's my transcription of the lyrics that are sung in this sound file. Lyrics sung in this sound file:

Verses 1-4 [The same lyrics that are given in Lyrics #1 above]

Verse #5 They all sailed up to Jericho, They all sailed up to Jericho, Jer-i, Jer-i; cho, cho, cho, Jer-i Jer-i cho, cho, cho. They all sailed up to Jericho,

Verse #6 They should have gone to Amsterdam They should have gone to Amsterdam Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!, Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!

**** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE The children's song "Three Jolly Fishermen" and the song "Three Jews Came From Jerusalem are probably adaptations of the sea song with that same title. The tune for that sea song* (as sung in this YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU*5gYc1uo) appears to me to be basically the same as that children's song, However, except for the title and the repeated first line "We are three jolly fishermen", the rest of the shanty's lyrics are different from those children's songs. -snip- If I understand it correctly, a sea song is a song that is sung for pleasure by sailors while a shanty is a work song that is sung by sailors. Here's the lyrics for a version of that traditional shanty as performed by John Greaves, Recorded in Harrogate on 28/01/2007

http://www.yorkshirefolksong.net/song.cfm?songID=82

Lead) We are three jolly fishermen,
(All) We are three jolly fishermen,
We are three jolly fishermen, while the merry,merry bells do ring.

(Lead) Make haste, make haste, (Chorus) You be too late,

(Lead) One fish, my dear, (Chorus) I cannot wait,

(All) For me fine fry of herring, me bonny silver herring,

Mind how you sell them while the merry, merry bells do ring.

2. We cast our nets unto the rocks.

3. We’ve white an’ speckled bellied uns.

4. We sell them three for fourpence.
-snip-
Read the next section for comments about the history of this song.

****
INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ABOUT THERE WERE THREE JOLLY FISHERMEN"

These sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. SOURCE #1
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30614
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Three Jolly Fishermen
1. Michael in Swansea, 09 Feb 01 - 07:41 AM

THREE JOLLY FISHERMEN

We are three jolly fishermen
We are three jolly fishermen
We are three jolly fishermen
While the merry merry bells do ring

Chorus: Make haste make haste
You'll be too late
One fish my dear
I cannot wait
For me fine fry of herring
Me bonnie silver herring
Mind how you sell them
While the merry merry bells do ring

We cast our nets into the sea (deep) x3
While the merry ..... etc

We've fine and speckled bellied un's x3
While the merry ..... etc

We sell them three four fourpence x3
While the merry ..... etc

** 2. Dave (Bridge), Date: 09 Feb 01 - 05:11 PM
..."Song originating from Whitby in Yorkshire"...
** 3. Michael in Swansea, Date: 10 Feb 01 - 05:01 AM
"Didn't know that, thanks Dave.
Lovely place Whitby, go there every October for the shanty festival." ** 4. mandomad, 10 Feb 01 - 07:22 AM
"Hi Mike, Yes, we see you on the Sunday night when you turn up in the Tap & Spile for a after Festival sing/sup. We know the second verse as...We'll cast our nets unto the rocks(3).

"The merry,merry bells do ring," are ,of course the Bells of St Mary's church up on the cliff top. Do drop into the Tap again this year,and give us a song (with as many of your shanty lads as can manage. We might just persuade Derek Elliott to give his well known rendition of the above song Cheers.
Tony(Mandomad)

The noisy one in the corner."

** 5. Malcolm Douglas Date: 12 Feb 02- 10:03 AM "Roy Palmer prints a slightly different set in The Oxford Book of Sea Songs (1986), now revised and reprinted as Boxing the compass.  He comments:

"Steve Gardham recorded this from Thomas Calvert of Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, in 1971.  The song, which seems to have been a particular favourite in the Whitby area (though Cecil Sharp had a version from Middlesex, attached to a dance), was issued on a broadside printed in 1837-8 by W. and T. Fordyce, Newcastle, under the title of Caller Herring.  This in turn loosely derives from a song of the same name by Lady Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), published in 1824 to a tune by Nathaniel Gow (1777-1831), based on 'the original Cry of the Newhaven fish wives, Selling their fresh herrings in the streets of Edinburgh'.  Gow's tune was issued as a shilling music sheet for piano in c.1802."

**
6. Dave Bryant, Date: 12 Feb 02 - 12:50 PM
"Alan, You were around at Stony on Saturday night when Linda and I sang it - although we sing it as "Two" rather than "Three" fo obvious reasons. There is another verse after "We cast our nets into the sea"

We bring them fresh to market.

I first heard it sung many years ago by Derek & Dorothy Elliot, and we basically use their arrangement of Linda (& chorus ladies) singing the "Make Haste, Make Haste" and "One fish my dear" lines, and me (and chorus men) singing "You'll be too late" and "I cannot wait" lines.

I had heard that it referred to Staithes, further up the coast from Whitby, where the fisherfolk were very religious (Plymouth Brethren?). When the boats landed with the catch, fish were only on sale for a short time before the fisherfolk would have to attend prayers to give thanks. It's an interesting story anyway. I can remember women from Staithes selling fish at Stockton market when I was up in the NE during the 60s. They used to wear long black skirts and bonnets rather like the Sally Army ones."
-snip-
This comment is the first one that I've come across that connects the sea song "There Were Three Jolly Fishermen" with the contemporary song of the same title that is considered a Christian children's song.

"The Sally Army" referred to in the quoted comment is a colloquial referent for the Salvation Army

****
SOURCE #2
From https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/FSWB240A.html Once There Were Three Fishermen (The Three Jews) "DESCRIPTION: "Once there were three fishermen (x2),

Fisher fisher men men men (x3) Once there were three fishermen." The three fishermen are named, and their voyages described.

AUTHOR: unknown

EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Harbin-Parodology)

FOUND IN: US(MW,Ro) Canada(Mar,Newf)

[...]

Roud #3708 and 12776

NOTES : This is rather confusing, because the change of one word significantly changes the song. In several texts (Gardner and Chickering, Greenleaf and Mansfield), the three heroes are Jews. But in Pankake, as well as the version printed by Silber, they are fishermen. The latter version is very much a children's song, I've only encountered two versions of this, and they differ in most particulars: In the Silber version, the sailors are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they sail for Amsterdam (with resulting comments about naughty words); Ed McCurdy sings a version with different sailors, in which Halifax is the destination. It appears Averill-Camp Songs Folk Songs also had the Amsterdam version.

The fact that the three sailors are "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" in one of the "Fishermen" versions implies to me that the "Three Jews" version is older; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are, of course, the three patriarchs of the Jews, so if they show up in a "Fishermen" version, it's because the names were derived from a "Three Jews" version.

In this case, Roud splits the two versions. But the verse form, as well as the names of the characters, says they are the same."
****
SOURCE #3 From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=107415 Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Three Jolly Fishermen

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is basically a reprint of very small Mudcat discussion thread. All of the post [comments] are reprinted here except for a comment that I wrote encouraging the first commenter to add his comment to the Biblical Place Name discussion thread that I had started.]

1. From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 06:52 PM

"Astounded that this one is not in the DT or a Mudcat Thread.

Azizi's posting regarding Biblical Places prompted the memory.

Three Jolly Fishermen

There were three jolly fishermen,
There were three jolly fishermen,
Fisher, fisher, MEN, MEN, MEN.
Fisher, fisher, MEN, MEN, MEN.
There weere three jolly fishermen.

The first one's name was Abraham,
The first one's name was Abraham,
Abra, Abra; ham ham, ham,
Abra, Abra; ham ham, ham,
The first one's name was Abraham,

The second one's name was I-I-saac,
The second one's name was I-I-saac,
I-I, I-I- zik, zik, zik, etc.

The third one's name was Ja-a-cob,
The third one's name was Ja-a-cob,
Ja-a, Ja-a; cub, cub, cub, etc.

They all went down to Jericho,
They all went down to Jericho,
Jer-i, Jer-i; cho, cho, cho, etc.

They should have gone to Amsterdam,
They should have gone to Amsterdam,
Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!,
Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!

You shouldn't say that naughty word!

CAN BE SUNG AS A ROUND

Sincerely,

Gargoyle"

**
2. From: Azizi
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 07:36 PM

Well, I'm glad to know that that the Biblical Place Name Thread inspired this thread.

As to the song Three Jolly Fisherman, the version that I learned along the way {which means I don't remember when I learned it but it probably wasn't when I was a young child} is somewhat different than the version that you posted, Gargoyle. Here's that version:

Three Jolly Fishermen

There were three jolly fishermen, fishermen.
There were three jolly fishermen, fishermen
Fisher, fisher, men, men, men
Fisher, fisher, men, men, men.
There were three jolly fishermen.

The first one's name was Abraham, Abraham
The first one's name was Abraham, Abraham
Abra, Abra, ham, ham, ham.
Abra, Abra, ham, ham, ham.
The first one's name was Abraham.

The second one's name was I-I-saac, Isaac.
The second one's name was I-I-saac, Isaac.
I-I, I-I- zik, zik, zik,
I-I, I-I- zik, zik, zik,
The second one's name was I-I-saac.

The third one's name was Ja-a-cob, Jacob.
The third one's name was Ja-a-cob, Jacob.
Jay-a, Jay-a; cub, cub, cub.
Jay-a, Jay-a; cub, cub, cub.
The third one's name was Ja-a-cob.

They all went down to Amster-shh! Amerster-shh!
They all went down to Amerster-shh!
Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!
Amster, Amster, Shh! Shh! Shh!
They all went down to Amster-shh!

You must not say that naughty word! Naughty word.
You shouldn't say that naughty word! Naughty word.
Naughty naughty, word word word.
Naughty naughty, word word word.
You must not say that naughty word!

I'm gonna say it any how, any how.
I'm gonna say it any how, any how.
Any any how how how.
Any any how how how.
I'm gonna say it any how.

They all went down to AmsterDAM. AmsterDAM.
They all went down to AmersterDAM. AmsterDAM.
Amster, Amster, DAM! DAM! DAM!
Amster, Amster, DAM! DAM! DAM!
They all went down to AmsterDAM!

**
Actually, I don't recall singing the last two* verses. However, that's the way it was sung in the summer camp that my children attended in the mid 1990s."
-snip-
Oct. 27, 2022 - Correction- I don’t recall singing the last four verses [ i.e. I believe that the way I remember  singing that song is that it ended with the Jacob verse. Also, notice that my version (probably in the late 1950s when I was around age 10 years old and my children's version from the 1990s didn't include the "Jericho" verse.]

**
3. From: Susan of DT
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 07:48 PM

"Azizi - The whole point of singing the song, when you are ten years old in summer camp, is to sing those AmsterDAM lines."

**
4. From: Joe_F
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 08:27 PM

"A long time ago, I heard this song in Hebrew, something about shlosha dayagim. In place of Amsterdam, it had Arizona, zona being Hebrew for whore.

**
5. Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 09:16 PM

"I learned it as a DEFINATELY non PC song over forty years ago when it was sung as Three Jews from Jerusalem and would NOT have been sung by ten year olds at summer camp !!"

****
SOURCE #4 From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srb0fdH7yEE [This is the link to the first YouTube sound file that is given in this pancocojams post.] 

Here are some comments from this sound file's discussion thread. Numbers have been assigned for referencing purposes only. 

1. Shelley Noyes, 2015
"I recall ending the song with 'and now we're going to finish it. And now we're going to finish it. Finney Finney, ** ** **, Finney Finney ** ** **!!' shouting the last words at the top of our lungs in the back of the bus. So naughty. ;)"

**
Reply
2. Zippity Zoop, 2016
"We used say they all went down to Amsterdam: Amster, Amster, dam dam dam!"

**
3. E. Collins, 2018
"In the version from my childhood, after the Amsterdam verse, there was "I must not say that naughty word, etc."  Then, "I'm gonna say it anyway, etc."  And finally (!), "They all went down to Amster DAM!, etc."...

**
Reply
4. lyncap99, 2021
"Yeah this is the version I remember they all went down to amster-shhh... Must not say that naughty word... Think I'll say it anyway... All went down to amster dam"

**
5. TheHoffy59, 2019
"You should have seen that old peacock.   Pea Pea..............."

****
ADDENDUM - "THREE JEWS OF JERUSELAM" / "THREE JEWS CAME FROM JERUSALEM"

https://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Bob-and-Jacqueline-Patten-Collection/025M-C1033X0015XX-1200V0  Three Jews Of Jerusalem
-snip-

Here's my transcription of that sound file (Additions and corrections are welcome) 

There were was three Jews of Jerusalem
There were three Jews of Jerusalem
Jery ery ery usalem
Jer ery ery usalem
There were three Jews of Jerusalem

And the first one’s name was Isaac
The first one’s name was Isaac
I ey I ey I ey  zik zik zik
I ey I ey I ey zik zik zik
The first one’s name was Isaac

The second one’s name was Abraham
The second one’s name was Abraham
Abrey abrey abrey ham ham ham
Abrey abrey abrey ham ham ham
The second one’s name was Abraham

The third one’s name was Jacob
The third one’s name was Jacob
Jaey ey ey cub cub cub
Jaey ey ey cub cub cub
The third one’s name was Jacob

They all went up in a chari bang 
They all went up in a chari bang
chari ari ari bang bang bang
chari ari ari bang bang bang
They all went up in a chari bang

But they all had to go to hospital
They all had to go to hospital
Hos ey osey osey pit pit al
Hos ey osey osey pit pit al
They all had to go to hospital

But then they decided to finish it
Then they decided to finish it
Finney eney eney it it it
Finney eney eney it it it
Then they decided to finish it

-snip-
The structure for this song is the same as the structure of "Three Jolly Fishermen".

The tune for both songs are very similar. However, the tune for the last line of "Three Jews Of Jerusalem" is different from the last line for "Three Jolly Fishermen". The last line of this song sound to me like the last line of the verses for the Christian hymn "Take My Life And Let It Be" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ93HVuYd5Y . 

**
Here's a link to a YouTube video that shows some children from India singing "Three Jews Came From Jerusalem" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrdI9J6a2pA published by Akash Mondal, Feb. 28, 2020 

This song is described in the video's summary as an "action song". This  is one of several YouTube videos of Christian groups of Indian children singing that song. Unfortunately, I don't feel confident about transcribing the words that are sung.

Here's the lyrics for a YouTube video of the same song with basically the same tune* as "Three Jolly Fishermen" and "Three Jews Of Jerusalem", but with a different title: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivvvnBwEGZ8 Song: Three Wandering Jews, published by Mission Bible Class, July 22, 2013

"Lyrics:
Once there were three wandering Jews
Once there were three wandering Jews
Wandering, wandering
Jews, jews, jews

Wandering, wandering
Jews, jews, jews
Once there were three wandering Jews

The first one's name was Abraham
The first one's name was Abraham
Abra-abra
Ham-ham-ham
Abra-abra
Ham-ham-ham
The first one's name was Abraham

The second one's name was Isaac
The second one's name was Isaac
I-I
Saac-saac-saac
I-I
Saac-saac-saac
The second one's name was Isaac

The third one's name was Jacob
The third one's name was Jacob
Ja-ja
Cob-cob-cob
Ja-ja
Cob-cob-cob
The third one's name was Jacob

They all went down to Canaan's land
They all went down to Canaan's land
Canaan-canaan
Land-land-land
Canaan-canaan
Land-land-land
They all went down to Canaan's land"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.