childrens magical rhymes

The earliest recorded reference to the rhyme is from John Lant, the organist of Winchester
Cathedral in 1580, who recorded the following rhyme:
Jacke boy, ho boy newes,
the cat is in the well,
let us ring now for her Knell,
ding dong ding dong Bell
Ding, dong, bell,
Pussys in the well.
Who put her in?
Little Johnny Flynn.
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To try to drown poor pussy cat,
Who never did him any harm,
But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn
There is also a version composed as a four part round by William Stonard (1585-1630) to the
following text:
Ding, ding, ding dong bell, ding, ding, ding, ding dong bell.
Oh cruel death that stopped the breath of him I loved so well.
Alack and well away 'tis a heavy day that ever us befell.
Then for his sake some order let us take that we may ring his knell.
DAFFODIL, ASPHODEL, ASPHODILLY, DASPHODELLY
HER BELLY

The Marriage of the Frogge and the Mouse

Complete text from Melismata - Musicall Phansies Fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey
Humours, To 3, 4, and 5 Voyces. (London, 1611)
"To all delightfull, except to the Spitefull. To none offensive, except to the Pensive."

'Twas the Frogge in the well, humble dum, humble, dum. And the merrie Mouse in the Mill,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
The Frogge he would a woing ride, humble dum, humble, dum. Sword and a buckler by his side,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
When he was upon his high horse set, humble dum, humble, dum, His boots they shone as blacke
as jet, tweedle, tweedle, twino.
When he came to a merry mill pin, humble dum, humble dum, Lady Mouse beene you within?
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.
Then came out the dusty Mouse, humble dum, humble dum. "I am Lady of this house," tweedle,
tweedle, twino.
"Hast thou any minde of me?" humble dum, humble dum. "I have e'ne greate minde of thee,"
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
Who shall this marriage make? humble dum, humble dum. Our Lord which is the rat, tweedle,
tweedle, twino.
What shall we have to our supper? humble dum, humble dum. Three beanes in a pound of butter,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
When supper they were at, humble dum, humble dum. The Frog, the Mouse, and even the Rat,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
Then came in gib our cat, humble dum, humble dum, And catcht the mouse even by the backe,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
Then did they separate, humble dum, humble dum, And the frog leapt on the floore so flat,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
Then came in Dicke our Drake, humble dum, humble dum, And drew the frogge even to the lake,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.

The Rat run up the wall, humble dum, humble dum. A goodly company, the divell goe with all,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.

MELISMATA OR MELODIOUS MATTERS

There lived a Puddy in a well, Cuddy alone, cuddy alone; There lived a Puddy in a well, Cuddy
alone and I. There was a Puddy in a well, And a mousie in a mill; Kickmaleerie, cowden down,
Cuddy alone and I. (Puddy=frog)
Frog went a courtin' and he did ride hmm, hmm. Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride. A sword
and a pistol by his side hmm, hmm.
A frog he would a-wooing go, Hmm, hmm. A frog he would a-wooing go. He dressed himself
from top to toe, hmm, hmm.
He rode away to get him a bride. Sing song Polly won't you ky-me-o. With a sword and a pistol
by his side. Sing song Polly won't you ky-me-o.
SING

POLLY WONT YOU KISS-ME-O

He went up to Miss Mouse's hall, Um-hm! Um-hm! There he loudly rapped and called, Um-hm!
Um-hm!
HE RODE INTO THE HALL, UM-HUM, HUM HUM UM, AND HE DID CALL UM HUM, UM HUM!
Oh, Mister Frog, I sit and spin, Just lift the latch and please come in."
Took Miss Mousy on his knee. Pray Miss Mousy will you marry me?

He asked Miss Mousie to be his bride. She opened her eyes so big and wide.
17"I'd like to have you for my bride, uh-hmm, uh-hmm, To sit and spin for me all my life, uhhmm, uh-hmm.
25For I am rich and I am brave. Ding! Dang! Dong! go the wedding bells. What better husband
could you have. Ding! Dang! Dong! go the wedding bells.
The old rat laughed as he give away the bride. He laughed and he laughed 'til he shook his fat
sides.
(UNCLE RAT HE LAUGHED TO THINK MISS MOUSIED BE A BRIDE)
So Uncle Rat gave his consent, And made a handsome settlement
THEN DID THE OLD BEAST SET FORTH THE WEDDING FEAST
15AFour partridge pies, with season made, Two potted larks and marmalade, Four woodcocks
and a venison pie, Aye, would that at that feast were I. [end of version 15A]
Uncle Rat gave his consent, um-hum! So they were married and away they went. um-hum!
Where do you reckon the supper will be? Away down yonder in the holler tree.
What shall we have to our supper? humble dum, humble dum. Three beanes in a pound of butter,
tweedle, tweedle, twino.
First came in was a bumblebee. To play the fiddle upon his knee.
28 In came the bumble bee...in came the bumble bee, Clapped a bagpipe on his knee
First to come in were two little ants, Fixing around to have a dance.
5 First came in was the old tomcat, And he danced a jig with Mistress Rat.
6 The first to come in was a little white moth. She spread out the table cloth.
7 The first come in was a big June bug, A dancin' round with a half-pint jug.
23 The first come in was a big Brown Bug, He drowned in the molasses jug.
9 The first to come was a great big bear, And he filled up the old armchair
11The first guest in was a bumblebee. He danced a jig with a crook-backed flea. 20[two-legged
flea.]
20First to come was a little lady bug. She had a great big whisky jug.

6 In slowly walked the Parson Rook. Under his arm he carried a book.
25 So the knot was tied secure and fast. Ding! Dang! etc... She's off her uncle's hands at last.
Ding! Dang! etc.

6 They all gathered round the lucky pair, Singing, dancing everywhere.
25 Open the oysters, spill the champaigne. Never will there be such a feast again.
26 All the folks they all sat down, Passed that catnip [or cider] round and round.
11The owl did hoot, the birds they sang, And through the woods the music rang.
25Tune up the fiddle and let's have a square. Top couple must be the happy pair.
Crambone probably a folk variant or transformation of hambone
*
To Market to market (song and lap game)
to buy a fat pig then home again, home again, jiggety jig
to buy a fat hog joggety jog
*
from http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/07/old-time-childhood-songs-their-possible.html
Comb, combo hirum barum
Rumshackle, Cumshackle
Gitchie gitchie gimie oh
Up steps a pennywinkle
Back steps a nickel cat
She indicated once that we kids were mixing up several songs. I think she learned these on her
grandparents plantation in Alabama.
Sincerely, Brenda Paschke"
Sep 12, 2014 from Brenda Paschke to Azizi Powell:
Forgot to add these
Cattle all ding ding ding

Cattle all ding dong ding dong day

A bowl of souse
For the farmers spouse
And a long tail mouse
Gitchie gitchie gimie oh
from a variation of the frog in the well song
One is called King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O, while another is called Sing Song Kitty
(Wont You Ki-Me-O)."...
The song "Keemo Kimo" is another member of the "Frog In The Well" family.
"Frog Went A Courtin" and other "Frog In The Well" songs combine words that have a given
meaning with jibberish that is fun to sing. Here are my thoughts about some of those jibberish
words in that "Comb, Combo Hirum Barum" verse that Brenda shared with me:
A. Comb, Combo
The word "combo" is very similar to the word "cambo", "crambo", and "crambone". Those
words are found in several versions of "Frog Went A Courtin", but, without a doubt, since the
mid 1950s the most well known of those "Crambone"/"Cambo" versions of "Frog Went ACourtin" songs is featured in the 1955 Tom & Jerry cartoon "Pecos Pest".

Initially, I thought that "crambone" was a folk processed form of the word "hambone". While
that might be the case, the words "crambo" or "cambo" are found in 19th century examples of
"Frog Went A-Courtin". However, the word "cambo" definitely predates the 1955 Tom & Jerry
cartoon version of "Frog Went A-Courtin". For example, the award winning 1941 American
movie "Sergeant York" includes a version of "Frog Went A-Courtin" in which each line of the
refrain ends in "cambo". Here's a comment about that song and an excerpt of that song that I
found on Mama Lisa: Frog Went A-Courtin (link given above):
"March 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
This version or very close to it appears in the old Sergeant York movie about WWIs most
decorated U.S. soldier. In the movie, the mail carrier is riding a mule and singing this song. I
distinctly remember the sound of the rinktum body meachy cambell between every line. Heres
the link where I found the lyrics.
http://www.canacad.ac.jp:3445/25/174?view=print [link no longer active when I tried to access it
7/15/2015]
Frog Went A-Courtin
Kentucky Folk Song
1. Frog went a courtin and he did ride.
Rinktum body minchy cambo.
Sword and buckler by his side.
Rinktum body minchy cambo.

REFRAIN: Kimaneero down to Cairo, Kimaneero Cairo.

Shaddle-addle-adababa, ladababa linktum.
Rinktum body minchee cambo....
-snipB. gitchie gitchie gimie oh"; up steps a pennywinkle, back steps a nickel cat
The line "Gitchie gitchie gimie oh" reads very much like the refrain in the "Frog In The Well"
song "Keemo Kimo" (also known as "Kemo Kimo" an "Sing Song Kitty"). The word
"pennywinkle" is found in versions of that song as is the term "nip cat" (a play on the word
"catnip?). "Nickel cat" is probably a folk processed form of the term "nip cat".
Here's a long excerpt about the song "Keemo Kimo" that includes an excerpt of that song. That
excerpt includes the words "can't you ki'me, oh!" and the term "nip cat" which appears in the
song that Brenda Paschke sent to me in 2014. It should be noted that "Keemo Kimo" is a
blackfaced minstrel song* that includes the referent "darkies" which is quite offensive nowadays.
From http://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Kemo_Kimo
"KEMO, KIMO. AKA and see "Polly Kimo." American, Dance and Song tune; English, Air and
Morris Dance Tune (2/4 time). D Major (Ford, Raven): B Flat Major (Scott). Standard tuning
(fiddle). AB (Raven, Scott): AABB (Ford). A black-face minstrel song, popularized in England in
the nineteenth century by the vocalist Sam Cowell.
In South Car'lina the darkies go
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki'me, oh!
That's whar the white folks plant the tow,
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki'me, oh!
Chorus:
Kemo, Kimo! Dar! Oh, whar?
Wid my hi, my ho, and in come Sally, singing,
Sometimes penny-winkle-lingtum, nip-cat.
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki'me, O! ... [Ford]
Ford also prints the words to a blackface minstrel song to the same tune called "Polly Kimo"
(Ford, 1940; p. 540).
The song appears to have origins in England, brought to the United States by settlers and later
reworked into the minstrel song. The title 'Keemo Kimo' was an old English nonsense rhyme
incorporated into the "kimo" burden of songs like the "Froggie Went a-Courtin'" family. One
early Herefordshire version begins "Kemo kimo down to Cairo", for example. It received
extensive development in American texts, especially African American minstrelsy, and later was
"cut loose" to form a different song
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 106 (additional verses on page
418). Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 154. Scott (English Song Book), 1926; p.
82.
-snip*"Keemo Kimo" was first published in 1854. The word "tow" in that first verse is pronounced to

rhyme with "cow". "Tow" is material used to make fiber, such as hemp or flax (nowadays
synthetics). [information from this Mudcat discussion thread: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?
threadid=53292 "Kemo Kimo info".
Here's a comment from the discussion about that song that I find quite interesting:
Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Irish sergeant, Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:20 PM
"According to the sources i've found (Mostly other musicians) The tune comes from an old
marching song called "Frog in The Well" In most if not all of our wars up to and including the
Civil War, Some slaves accompanied their master to war. Though there is no proof for it I would
like to think the tune was adapted by one such slave. Whoever he or she was, they would have
made a hell of a song plugger. ANd just for your information, it works very well as a march and
would likely have been adapted as a work song. Kindest regards, Neil "
-snipHere's an excerpt of a version of "Sing Song Kitty" from another Mudcat discussion thread:
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=98271
Richie, Date: 23 Jan 07 - 09:16 PM
[Editor, this blogger quotes a version of "Sing Song Kitty" as it is sung by Doc Watson* from an
on-line source- citation not given]
Sing Song Kitty
Way down yonder and not far off
Sing song kitty kitchee cry me oh
Jaybird died with a whoopin' cough
sing song kitty kitchee cry me oh
He mo heimo beetlebug jingo
Mehe my ho pretty petimingo
Ram tom a doodlesnake rang tang a rattlebug
sing song kitty kitchee cry me oh....
NOTE THAT THOSE ARE LOOKING LIKE SOURCES FOR THE GARBLE IN
BEETLEBUG DOODLE ETC.

UNCLE PECOS VERSION,

*"Doc." Watson (March 3, 1923 May 29, 2012) was an [Anglo] American Grammy awards
winning guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music.
-snip"King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O" is another version of "Keemo Kimo", The AngloAmerican singer "Chubby" Parker recorded a version of that song in 1928. Click
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7NBD40v5sE "Chubby Parker & His Old Time Banjo King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O" for a YouTube sound file of that song. Information about
that song and lyrics for that song can be found at http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden-wp/?
p=7089 "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O". Here's an excerpt with chord notations:

"Froggie went a courting and he did [D] ride

[G] King kong kitchie kitchie [D] ki-me-o
[G] With a sword and a pistol by his [D] side
[G] King kong kitchie kitchie [D] ki-me-o [G]
[G] Ki-mo-ke-mo ki-mo-ke
[C] Way down yonder in a hollow [D] tree
[G] An owl and a bat and a bumble [D] bee
[G] King kong kitchie kitchie [D] ki-me-o [G]..."
****
In conclusion, I believe that the first song that Brenda shared with me which she learned from
her grandmother, Evelyn Mc Elrath contains elements from several 19th century "Frog In Well"
songs: "Frog Went A-Courtin", "Keemo Kimo" ("Sing Song "Kitty") and "King Kong Kitchie
Kitchie Ki Me O".
I wasn't able to find any song sources for the other two song fragments that Brenda Paschke
shared with me.
Thanks Brenda!
*
& this from http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=98271
Subject: Lyr Req: Keemo Kimo/Possum in a Simmon Tree
From: GUEST,Cherene
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:45 AM
My Grandfather sang a great song that none of us can remember all of the lyrics to. I have part of
the song, can you help me find the lyrics to the rest of it?
Oh Possum in a 'simmon tree,
a lookin down, way down on me
Fast by de tail that critter hung,
and to himself, did sing this song
Oh Masta sent me to da spring
To get some water mid a sling,
My foot slipped out and I slid in
And I crawled out and begin to sing..
Oh I jus come from da white folks house
sing song Polly want a kimee O
a something in a bucket of souce
sing song Polly want a kimee O

Oh, Keemo Kimo Va you da,

sing song Polly want a Kimee O
I Put some pepper in my Dad's snuff box,
Sing song Polly want a Kimee O
a rump a thump arupma thumpa sing song Polly want a Kimee O
*
DING DANG DONG GO THE WEDDING BELLS
Cheshire the cat lived over the hill.
Ding dang dong go the wedding bells.
The pretty little mouse lived under the mill.
Ding dang dong go the wedding bells.
cho: Here's to Cheshire, here's to cheese,
Here's to the pears and the apple trees,
And here's to the lovely strawberries.
Ding dang dong go the wedding bells.
Froggy went a courting and he did ride....
He said Miss Mouse won't you be my bride....
I'll have to ask my old aunt rat....
Just what she does think of that...?
Now aunt rat laughed till her face got red....
Just to think that a frog and a mouse should wed....
Now who's gonna weave the wedding gown....
Old miss spider from pumpkin town....
So break open the oysters and spill the champagne....
We're never gonna see such a party again...
O while they were going it hot and strong....
The good gray cat come prowling along...
She sprang to the kitchen right out of the yard....
She didn't even have no invitation card...
Now this is the end of him and her....
Guess there won't be no tadpoles covered with fur....

Another from Mudcat http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=52342

We found the chords to be quite straightforward: C, F, G7.
C
F
C
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride
G7
King kong kitchie kitchie ki me o
C
F
C
With a sword and a pistol by his side
G7
C
King kong kitchie kitchie ki me o
chorus:
C
Ki mo ke mo ki mo ke
F
G7
C
G7
Way down yonder in a hollow tree
C
F
C
An owl and a bat and a bumble bee
G7
C
King kong kitchie kitchie ki me o

same thread:
Kemo kimo, re do art,
Me hee, me hi, me hum drum pussy willow,
Tit-tat pitty pat,
A blue eyed kitty kat,
Sing-song, kitty, can't you ki-mee-oh!
*
from http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46177
De wedder's warm, and so am I
I'm sure you'd lub me if you'd try
Your jet-black face I lub to see
Then put on your tucker and be off wid me
(Keemo! Kimo! &c.)

from same thread

First verse and chorus as it appears in THE UNITED IRISHMAN (6 August 1904):
In South Carolina de darkies go,
Sing song, Kitty, can't ye ki me, oh!
Dere's where de white folks plant de tow,
Sing song, Kitty, can't ye ki me, oh!
Cover de ground all hover wid smoke,
Sing song, Kitty, can't ye ki me, oh!
And up de darkies 'eads dey poke,
Sing song, Kitty, can't ye ki me, oh!
CHORUS:
Keemo, kimo, dar oh! whar
Wid me hee mo, hi mo,
An' hin comes Sally singin',
Sometimes penny winkle,
Ling tom, nip cat,
Sing song, Kitty, can't ye ki me, oh!
&
It's been a while since I last visited Mudcat, but Uncle Jaque pointed this thread out to me, and I
thought I'd add my two cents... (The story may sound a little weird, but I think I'll tell it anyway.)
A while ago I was listening to his recording of "The Frog In The Well" (played on the fife), and
all of a sudden I kept hearing words to it. It was as if I were singing them along in my head, kind
of, and the words I "heard" were these:
Oh, I went east and I went west,
Sing song kitty won't you kye me-o
A-looking for the turkey's nest,
Sing song kitty won't you kye me-o
Opossum up a 'simmon tree,
And very shy he looked at me.
A thousand miles beyond the sun
I met the devil with his red coat on.
His coat was red, his pants were blue,
They had a little hole for the tail to stick through.
&
Nope, none of those are Ed's. Here is that one:

There was a frog lived in the spring

Sing song kitty kitcha kime-e-o
He was so hoarse he could not sing
Sing song kitty...
CHO: Keemo kime-o where O where, m'hee m'high and in come Sally singing sing song
pennywhistle ding tongue nippy cat, sing song kitty kitcha kime-e-o
I grabbed that frog and pulled him out...
He hopped and he skipped and he danced all about (CHO)
She's in the springhouse, 9 days old...
The rats and the mice is a-getting mighty bold... (CHO)
Way down yonder in Possum Creek...
The fellows grow to beat 10 feet...(CHO)
Try to sleep, but it's no use...
The feet stick out for the hens to roost...(CHO)
Repeat CHO as fast as you can.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo?

From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 08:41 PM
"Dere war' a frog lib' by de pool; Sho' he war' de biggest fool!
Fo' he could dance an' he could sing;
An' make all de woods all aroun' hin ring!"
&
Here is a version from Alabama, coll. 1915:
Milk in the dairy, getting mighty old,
Skippers and the mice working mighty bold,
Sing song Kitty can't yer kinny meo
Keymo ki mo doro hi me hi me ho.
In come Sally singing, sometimes
Penny with a wink turnings cat
Sing song Kitty can't yer ki meo
Key mo ki mo doro hi, me hi me ho.
"Slavery-time song." From N. L. White, 1928, American Negro Folk Songs, p. 176
from http://mudcat.org/thread.CFM?threadID=6853
Subject: Lyr Add: WAY DOWN YONDER ON BEAVER'S CREEK
From: Boo Bear

Date: 05 Oct 98 - 06:54 PM

All right, all you extra-smart folks out there, I've got another one for you. A friend of mine taught
me a song of the title named above, but she only knew two verses. Anybody know more verses?
Here's the song as I've learned it from her:
1) Way down yonder on Beaver's Creek
Keemo kitty won't you kymeeo
Darkies* there grow to be ten feet
Keemo kitty won't you kymeeo
CHORUS: Keemo kymo zero are
M'hee, m'hy, m'humdrum pennywinkle
Pit-pat pitty pat, blue-eyed pussycat
Singsong kitty won't you kymeeo.
2) I go to bed, but it ain't no use
Keemo kitty won't you kymeeo
My feet stick out for the chickens to roost
Keemo kitty won't you kymeeo
&
Doc Watson's recording of SING SONG KITTY
Doc Watson-Home Again/Vanguard VSD-79239 believed to originally called: Beaver Creek
keeps this old tune alive
I recall an additional verse:
And a different chorus
My old dog went out to get a bone
Sing song kitty, won't you cry me-ow?
He saw me and I ran home
Sing song kitty, won't you cry me-ow?
Chorus:
Tee-me, tye-me, beetie bug jingle
Me-He, My-Ho, pretty pretty winkle
Tit-tat pitty pat, blue-eyed pussycat
Sing song kitty, won't you cry me-ow?
& [something missing here .]
The two sensible lines (1 & 3) are from Lonnie Donegan's "Cumberland Gap"
Also:-

"Two old ladies sitting in the sand

Each one wishing that the other was a man"
&
My Gramp's chorus was:
Kemo Kimo dar awa
Mahi Maho
Rump sump sack a nickles
Poopdag nipcat
Polly won't you kimeo
I love you
Wonderful variations......
&
Metchosin's chorus reminded me of one in American Memory:
Keemo, Kimo, dar a war,
Me hi, me ho, rumsit pum a diddle,
Sot bug poddy woddy link cum nip cut,
Sing song Kitty. can't you Kimeo.
Also look at those under Beaver Creek (6853)
&
Kimaneero, kitty come keero
Kimaneero, kimo
Ba ba ba ba billy illy inkum
Inkum kitty come kimo.
&
My Dad's version, (Born Oklahoma 1930)
There was a frog lived in a stream
sing song kitty catch a ki me o
He was so fat the he could not swim
Sing song kitty catch a Ki me p
Ke meo me ki meo me dreary o me way
Me hi, me ho, me in come sally sinkle
some time penny winkle

in step muskrat
bigger then a big cat
Sing song kitty catch a ki me o
***
Circle game: Quaker Meeting
Kids sit in a circle facing each other. Chant together
Quakers meeting has begun
no more laughing
no more fun
if you show your teeth or tongue
your fortune has begun
hummmmmmmmmmmm
*
clapping game Apple on a Stick
Apple on a stick
Makes me sick
Makes my heart beat
Two forty six
Not because its dirty,
Not because its clean,
Not because I kissed a boy behind a magazine
Boys girls having fun
Here comes Johnny with a pickle up his bum,
He can wiggle he can wobble
He can even do the splits
But I bet you 10 dollars
He cant do this,
Close your eyes and count to ten,
If you muck it up youre a big fat hen:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10..
if you succeed or your friend succeeds you say
You didnt muck it up so your my best friend..
if they did or you did you say
You mucked it up so youre a big fat hen!!
&

jump rope rhyme 3 6 9

3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine.
The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line.
The line broke.
The monkey got choked.
And they all went to heaven in a little row boat.
& 2 clapping games Chinese Restaurant
I went to a Chinese Restaurant
to buy a loaf of bread bread bread
They asked me what my name was
and this is what I said said said
My name is anion panion
illy willy wanion
Dads gone crazy
Moms got a baby
My name is e i e i
nic e ni
nic e ni
pom pom poodle
extra cutie
willy willy whiskers
My name is Elvis Presley
boys are messy
sitting in a hot tub
drinking down a Pepsi
I do karate
Punch you in the body
Oops Im sorry
Im calling Mommy
Mommys mad! I am sad.
Chinese Japanese Chinese freeze!
Another Version
I went to a Chinese Restaurant
to buy a loaf of bread bread bread
they wrapped it up in bubble gum

and this is what I said said said

My name is L I L I
chicka li
chicka li
pom pom cutie
extra cutie
I know karate
punch you in the body
Oops Im sorry
dont tell my mommy
Chinese Japanese Indian Chief!
(Stand facing each other with arms crossed staring until someone blinks the one who blinks
loses.)
& clapping game:
Bo-bo ski watten totten,
Eh-eh, eh-eh, boom boom boom
Itty bitty wotten totten
Bo-bo ski watten totten
Bo-bo ski wotten totte BOOM!
Go Chiefs!
& Another Version
Bo-bo ski watten totten
Ah-ah, ah-ah boom boom boom
itty bitty wotten totten
bo bo ski wotten totten
bo bo ski wotten totten
Freeze please American cheese (stop clapping)
Please dont show your teeth to me
(start over and repeat song hiding different body parts at the end, ie: lips, eyes, etc.)
Poof with the Attitude:
Thats the way
uh huh, uh huh,
We like it
uh huh, uh huh,
Peace, Punch,
Captain Crunch
Brick Wall, Waterfall

Girl, you think you know it all

You dont
I do
So POOF with the attitude
POOF with the attitude
Talk to the hand cause the girl not speaking
Talk to the hand cause the girl not thinking
Elbow Elbow
Wrist Wrist
Fly like a birdy
Kiss Kiss
See my pinkie
See my thumb
See my fist you better run
(See video)
Another Poof:
Brick wall, waterfall
Girl you thinks he got it all,
but he dont
I do
so BOOM with that attitude
peace punch
captain crunch
Wait! Come back.
I think you need a tic-tac,
Not one or two
but the whole six pack.
Sorry to be mean
but you need some Listerine
not a sip, not a swallow,
but the whole dang(damn) bottle.
I got something
You cant touch
bang bang
choo choo train
Wind me up
I do my thing
no Reeses Pieces 7-up
mess with me
I ll mess you up
My Little Playmate/Enemy:

My little playmate
come out and play with me.
Youll bring your dollies three
climb up my apple tree
slide down my rainbow
into my cellar door
and well be jolly friends
forever more.
My little enemy
come out and fight with me.
Youll bring your daggers three
climb up my poison tree
slide down my razor blade
into my dungeon door
and well be enemies
forever more, more, more.
Shut the DOOR!
Inka Binka
Inka binka is a way for kids to choose who will be IT in the next game they play. Kids stand in
a circle and put a closed fist into the circle with their thumbs facing up. One person sings the
song, keeping one hand in the circle with the other kids, and the other hand goes around the
circle with each syllable of the song, pounding the fists as they go.
Whoevers fist is the last one touched on the last syllable zine is IT in the next game.
Inka binka, bottle of inka
cork fell out and youre a stinka,
not because youre dirty,
not because youre clean,
just because you kissed a boy,
behind a mag a zine.
Met My Boyfriend
Met my boyfriend at the candy store.
He bought me ice cream, he bought me cake.
He brought me home with a belly ache
Mama, mama, I feel sick
Call the doctor quick, quick, quick.

Doctor,doctor will I die?

Count to five and youll be alive.
1,2,3,4,5 Im alive!
Mickey Ds Menu
Big Mac,
Filet of Fish,
Quarter Pounder,
French Fries,
Icy Coke,
Thick Shake,
Sundaes and
Apple Pies!
(see video)
Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack,
Mack, Mack
All dressed in black,
black, black
with silver buttons,
buttons, buttons
all down her back,
back, back
She asked her mother,
mother, mother
for fifteen cents,
cents, cents
to see the elephants,
elephants, elephants
jump over the fence,
fence, fence.
They jumped so high,
high, high
they reached the sky,

sky, sky
and they didnt come back,
back, back
til the fourth of July,
July, July.
Miss Lucy Had a Baby
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
and he ate up all the soap
He tried to eat the bathtub
but it didnt fit down his throat.
So Miss Lucy called the doctor
and the doctor called the nurse
and the nurse called the lady
with the alligator purse
in came the doctor
in came the nurse
in came the lady with the alligator purse
Out went the water
out when the soap
out when the bathtub that wouldnt fit down his throat
A quarter for the doctor
and nickel for the nurse
a penny for the lady with the alligator purse.
Miss Lucy Had a Steamboat
Miss Lucy had a steamboat
the steamboat had a bell
Miss Lucy went to heaven
and the steamboat went to.
Hello operator
Please give me number nine

and if you disconnect me

I will chop off your.
Behind the fridgerator
there was a piece of glass
Miss Lucy sat upon it
and she broke her big fat.
Ask me no more questions
tell me no more lies
the boys are in the bathroom
pulling down their.
Flies are in the meadow
the bees are in their hives
Miss Lucy and her boyfriend
are kissing in the
dark
dark
dark
dark, dark, dark!
&
Down in the valley
where the green grass grows
there sat girls name,
pretty as a rose
she sang, she sang,
she sang so sweet
along came boys name,
and kissed her on the cheek
how many kisses
did she get that week?
1, 2, 3, 4.
Blue Bells, Cockle Shells
Blue bells, cockle shells
Evie, ivy, over
I like coffee
I like tea
I like the boys
and the boys like me
yes, no, maybe so
yes, no, maybe so

(repeat the last line until the jumper trips the word they trip on is the answer that applies to
them)
an augury game !!!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,
teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,
teddy bear, teddy bear, walk up the stairs,
teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers,
teddy bear, teddy bear, shut off the light,
teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night,
Good Night!
(Jumper must follow the directions in the song by doing the movements that the teddy bear
should be doing.)
Cinderella
Cinderella
dressed in yella
went upstairs
to kiss a fella
by mistake
she kissed a snake!
How many doctors
did it take?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5..
(count until the person jumping trips)
MORE JUMPROPE/CLAPPING RHYMES
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/jump_rope_ryhmes/
Bird Thoughts
I LIVED FIRST IN A LITTLE HOUSE
AND THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS SMALL AND ROUND
NEXT I LIVED IN A LITTLE NEST
AND BROODED BY MY MOTHER
ONE DAY I SPREAD MY WINGS
AND FLEW INTO THE LEAVES
NOW THE WIDE WORLD CALLS ME
FROM THE SHELTER OF MY TREE

[http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/74/nursery-rhymes-and-traditional-poems/5060/bird-thoughts/

I lived first in a little house,

And lived there very well;
I thought the world was small and round,
And made of pale blue shell.
I lived next in a little nest,
Nor needed any other;
I thought the world was made of straw,
And brooded by my mother.
One day I fluttered from the nest
To see what I could find.
I said, The world is made of leaves;
I have been very blind.
At length I flew beyond the tree,
Quite fit for grown-up labours.
I dont know how the world is made,
And neither do my neighbours!
Coffee and Tea
Molly, my sister and I fell out,
And what do you think it was all about?
She loved coffee and I loved tea,
And that was the reason we couldnt agree.
Cushy Cow
Cushy cow bonny, let down thy milk,
And I will give thee a gown of silk;
A gown of silk and a silver tee,
If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.
Dance Little Babby
Dance little baby, dance up high,
Never mind baby, mother is nigh;
Crow and caper, caper and crow,
There little baby, there...you go;
Up to the ceiling, down to the ground
Backwards and forwards, round and round.
Dance little baby, mother will sing,
With the merry choral, ding, ding, ding.
DANCE LITTLE BABBY,

AWAY UP HIGH

NEVER BE SAD WHILE MOTHER IS NIGH

DANCE LITTLE BABBY, CAPER LOW
SHED A TEAR, MOTHER MUST GO
UP TO THE SKY AND DOWN TO THE GROUND
DANCE FORWARD, DANCE BACKWARD
DANCE ROUND AND ROUND (AND ROUND
DANCE LITTLE BABY, MOTHER WILL SING
WEEP LITTLE BABBY, CORAL-A-LING DING DING
CORAL FOR THE CHOIR
AND A DIAMOND FOR THE DRUM
A SANDWICH FOR THE WATCHER
AND HOPE THE THIEF DONT COME

Dapple Gray
I had a little horse, his name was Dapple Gray;
His legs were made of cornstalks, his body made of hay.
I saddled him and bridled him and rode him off to town;
Up came a puff of wind, and blew him up and down.
The saddle flew off, and I let go,
Now didnt my horse make a pretty little show?
[do a scarier version like he runs off up the wind or something a faery horsie - horsey
SOMETHING SOMETHING WIND AT NIGHT
NOW DIDNT THAT HORSEY OF MINE FRIGHTEN THE GIRLS? OF MINE/PUT A FRIGHT IN THE GIRLS
AND DIDNT HE CAST A SHADOW ON THE MOON?

Diddle, Diddle
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John
Went to bed with his stockings on;
One shoe off, the other shoe on,
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John.
Diddley, Diddley, Dumpty;
The cat ran up the plum tree.
Ill wager a crown
Ill fetch you down;
Sing, Diddledy, Diddledy, Dumpty.
DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPLING, OUR SON JOHN
FELL OUT OF BED WITH HIS STOCKINGS ON
WHEN WE WOKE UP, JOHN WAS GONE
DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPLING, WHERES HE GONE?

DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPTY, KITTYS UP THE TREE

FIDDLE FADDLE PLUMSKI, KITTY BLAMES ME
Trad:
Evening red and morning gray
Sets the traveler on his way;
Evening gray and morning red,
Brings down rain upon his head.
trad:
Ding, dong, bell; Kittys in the well.
Who put her in? Little Tommy Green.
Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Trout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To drown poor Pussy Cat.
trad
For every evil under the sun,
There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try and find it,
If there be none, never mind it.
Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock.
1. I am a gold lock.
2. I am a gold key.
1. I am a silver lock,
2. I am a silver key.
1. I am a brass lock,
2. I am a brass key.
1. I am a monk lock.
2. I am a monk-key.
Ickity, pickity, ally gadaw,
Dicks, do, ally gamaw,
Okus, pokus, pelly gaw,
Franz.
In the merry month of May
When green leaves begin to spring,

Little lambs do skip like fairies,

Birds do couple, build, and sing.
Inly, minly, dibbity fig,
Delia, Dolia, dominig,
Otcha, potcha, dominotcha,
Ella Bella boo,
Out goes you.
Intery, mintery, cutery corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn,
Wire, brier, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock;
Along came Tod,
With his long rod,
And scared them all to Migly-wod.
One flew east, one flew west,
One flew over the cuckoos nest.
Make your way home, Jack.
Here am I, little jumping Joan;
When nobodys with me,
I am always alone.
A little cock-sparrow sat on a tree,
Looking as happy as happy could be,
Till a boy came by, with his bow and arrow,
Says he, I will shoot the little cock-sparrow.
His body will make me a nice stew,
And his giblets will make me a little pie, too.
Says the little cock-sparrow, Ill be shot if I stay,
So he clapped his wings and then flew away.
Little girl, little girl, where have you been?
Gathering roses to give to the Queen.
Little girl, little girl, what gave she you?
She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe.
There was a little man
And he wood a little maid,
And he said Little maid will you wed, wed, wed,
I have little more to say,
Than will you, yea or nay,
For the least said soonest men ded, ded, ded.
The little maid replied
(Some say a little sighed)

 But what shall we have for to eat, eat, eat,

Will the love that you are so rich in
Make a fire in the kitchen,
Or the little God of Love turn the spit, spit, spit.
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,
Up went Pussy-cat, and down went he;
Down came Pussy-cat, and away Robin ran;
Says little Robin Redbreast, Catch me if you can.
Little Robin Redbreast flew upon a wall,
Pussy-cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall;
Little Robin chirpd and sang, and what did Kitty say?
Pussy-cat said Mew, and Robin flew away.
REDBREASTED ROBIN UP IN HER TREE
UP CLIMBED THE CAT, AND DOWN FLEW SHE
DOWN JUMPED KITTY, AWAY ROBIN FLEW
FLY PRETTY, FLY PRETTY, ILL STILL CATCH YOU!
REDBREASTED ROBIN FLEW UP TO THE WALL
KITTY TRIED TO FOLLOW AND TOOK A FALL
SANG PRETTY ROBIN, WHAT DID YOU SAY?
THE CAT SAID MEOW AND ROBIN FLEW AWAY.

Bow-wow-wow, whose dog art thou?

Little Tom Tuckers dog, bow-wow-wow.
[the original answer more fey or shadowed]
My maid Mary, she minds her dairy,
While I go hoeing and mowing each morn;
Merrily run the reel and the little spinning wheel,
Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Silver bells, and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.
Naught, one,
Work is done;
Two, three,
Jubilee;
Four, five,
Ducks are alive;
Six, seven,
Stars shine up in heaven;

Eight, nine,
Queen, Queen Caroline,
Wash your face in turpentine,
Monkey-shine, monkey-shine,
Queen, Queen Caroline.
The North Wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor Robin do then?
He will hop to a barn,
And to keep himself warm
Will hide his head under his wing,
Poor thing.
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man;
He washed his face in a frying pan,
He combed his hair with a wagon wheel,
And died with the toothache in his heel.
Old Dan Tucker
(Daniel Decatur Emmett)
cho: Get out the way for old Dan Tucker,
He's too late to have his supper,
Supper's over, dinner's a-cookin',
(alternate: Pot's on the fire and dinner's cooking)
But Old Dan Tucker's just standin' there lookin'.
Old Dan Tucker's a fine old man,
Washed his face in a frying pan,
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel,
Died of toothache in his heel.
Old Dan Tucker he come to town,
Riding on a billygoat, leading a hound,
Hound dog bark and the billygoat jump,
Throwed Dan Tucker on top of a stump.
Old Dan Tucker, he got drunk,
Fell in the fire and he kicked up a chunk,
Red hot coal got in his shoe,
Oh my Lawdy how the ashes flew.
[VAR: Now Old Dan Tuckergot drunk and fell
In the fire and kicked up holy hell

A red-hot coal got in his shoe

An oh my Lord the ashes flew]
Old Dan Tucker, he come to town,
Swinging the ladies round and round,
First to the right and then to the left
And then to the gal that he loved best.

[or, to the east then to the west

I come to town the other night,

To hear the noise and see the fight
The people, they was running around (or: watchman, he was..)
Cryin' Old Dan Tucker's come to town.
Ol' Dan and me we did fall out,
An' what do you reckon it was about?
He stepped on my corn, I kicked him on the shin,
An' that's the way this row begin.
(And 3 less well-known verses:)
Ol' Dan Tucker clumb a tree,
His Lord and Master for to see,
The limb it broke and Dan got a fall,
Never got to see his Lord at all.
Ol' Dan Tucker went to the mill,
To git some meal to put in the swill;
The miller swore by the p'int of his knife
He never seed such a man in his life.
Dan Tucker begun in early life
To play the banjo and the fife;
He'd play the boys and gals to sleep
And then into some bunk he'd creep.
AJS
oct97
var. verses
I come to town de udder night,
I hear de noise an saw de fight,
De watchman was a runnin roun,
Cryin Old Dan Tucker's come to town.
Gran' Chorus.
So get out de way! Get out de way!

Get out de way! Old Dan Tucker.

You're too late to come to supper.
Tucker was a hardened sinner,
He nebber said his grace at dinner;
De ole sow squeel, de pigs did squall
He 'hole hog wid de tail and all.
Here's my razor in good order
Magnum bonumjis hab bought 'er;
Sheep shell oats, Tucker shell de corn,
I'll shabe you soon as de water get warm.[11]
Old Daniel Tucker wuz a mighty man,
He washed his face in a fryin' pan;
Combed his head wid a wagon wheel
And he died wid de toofache in his heel.[19]
A common chorus variant goes:
So, git outa de way for old Dan Tucker,
He's come too late to git his supper.
Supper's over and breakfast cookin',
Old Dan Tucker standin' lookin'.[20]
For decades "Old Dan Tucker" was used as part of a dancing game.[21] The players formed a ring,
and one man moved to the center. He selected women to swing around according to the lyrics:
Here's old Dan, he comes to town;
He swings the ladies round and round.
He swings one east, he swings one west,
He swings with the one he loves the best.
Wikipegia
The song consists of 28 bars. It begins with a boisterous eight-bar introduction. Four bars follow
to frame the coda. The remainder consists of sixteen bars with lyrics, half devoted to verse, and
half to refrain.[33] Each phrase gives way directly to the next with no rests between sections.[35]
Rhythm is perhaps the most important component of "Old Dan Tucker". It begins with a
cadenced introduction and little melody.[36] Even when the tune begins in earnest, it is flat and
non-harmonized and does little more than provide a beat on which words are uttered.[33][37]
The refrain is syncopated in a way that had only previously been used in the minstrel song "Old
Zip Coon". The intense rhythm on the line "Get out the way!" generates a forward momentum
and is answered by instruments in one example of the song's black-influenced call and response.
[35]

Pease porridge hot,

Pease porridge cold,
Pease porridge in the pot,
Nine days old.
Some like it hot,
Some like it cold,
Some like it in the pot,
Nine days old.
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes.
[AUDIO]
Lets go to bed,
Says Sleepy-head;
Lets stay awhile, says Slow;
Put on the pot,
Says Greedy-sot,
Well sup before we go.
Swan swam over the sea,
Swim, swan, swim;
Swan swam back again,
Well swum, swan.
There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
There was a little girl,
And she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead;
When she was good,
She was very, very good;
But when she was badshe was horrid.
This little mouse got caught in a trap,
And this little mouse she heard it snap,
This little mouse did loudly squeak out,
And this little mouse did run all about,
This little mouse said, Do not bewail
And let us take hold and pull him out by the tail.

A finger-rhyme
ONE LITTLE MOUSE GOT CAUGHT IN THE TRAP
ONE LITTLE MOUSIE HEARD IT SNAP
ONE LITTLE MOUSE SQUEAKED RIGHT OUT
ONE LITTLE MOUSE SCURRIED ALL ABOUT
AND ONE LITTLE MOUSE SAID DO NOT BEWAIL
BUT LET US TAKE HOLD AND PULL HIM OUT BY THE TAIL.
Trit-trot, trit-trot,
To buy a penny cake;
Home again, home again,
I met a black-snake.
Pick up a stone
And breaky backy-bone
Trit-trot, trit-trot
All the way home.
Were all in the dumps,
For diamonds are trumps;
The kittens are gone to St. Pauls;
The babies are bit,
The moons in a fit,
And the houses are built without walls.
WERE ALL IN THE DUMPS
CAUSE BABYS GOT MUMPS
AND KITTYS RODE OFF TO ST. PAULS
THE MOONS IN A FIT
OUR TOES ARE ALL BIT
AND THE ROSES ARE CLIMBING THE WALLS
When the bees all homeward fly,
Flowers will not long be dry.
When the fog goes up the hill,
Then the rain comes down by the mill.
[combine those two and develop a skipping rhyme maybe with the morning/evening one?
One day I went to my whirly-whicker-whacker, (Fodder field)
I met bow-backer, (A hog)
I called Tom-tacker (A dog)
To drive bow-backer
Out of my whirly-whicker-whacker.

In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house;

And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room;
And in the dark, dark room there was a dark, dark cupboard;
And in the dark, dark cupboard there was a dark, dark shelf;
And on the dark, dark shelf there was a dark, dark box; And in the dark, dark box there was a....
One fine day in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back-to-back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise,
And rushed to save the two dead boys.
A paralyzed donkey walking by,
Kicked the copper in the eye,
Sent him through a rubber wall,
Into a dry ditch and drowned them all.
(If you don't believe this lie is true,
Ask the blind man -- he saw it too!)
The deaf man heard,
the mute man say,
the blind man saw,
the crippled man walk.
John Lennons Faulty Bagnose:
The Mungle pilgriffs far awoy
Religeorge too thee worled.
Sam fells on the waysock-side
And somforbe on a gurled,
With all her faulty bagnose!
A carrion crow sat on an oak,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
Watching a tailor shape his coat.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow.

Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
The tailor he shot and missed his mark,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
And shot his own sow right through the heart.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
A farmer went trotting
Upon his grey mare,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
With his daughter behind him
So rosy and fair,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A raven cried "Croak"
And they all tumbled DOWN,
(slip child down between knees)
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
The mare broke her knees,
And the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
The mischievous raven
Flew laughing away
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
And he vowed he would serve them
The same the next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A Little Cock Sparrow
Sat on a tree,
Looking as happy
As happy could be,
Till a boy came by
With his bow and arrow:
Says he, "I will shoot
The little cock sparrow
"His body will make me
A nice little stew,
And his giblets will make me

A little pie too."

Says the little cock sparrow,
"I'll be shot if I stay,"
So he Clapped his wings
And then flew away.
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
Hark! hark! the dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town;
Some in rags and some in tags,
And some in silken gowns.*
Some gave them white bread,
And some gave them brown,
And some gave them a good horse-whip,
And sent them out of the town.