Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a small collection of English language children's recreational rhymes that include the names of cities, states, and/or nations.
Additional examples of some of these rhymes are found in other pancocojams posts on children's recreational rhymes.
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.
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RHYME EXAMPLES
Rhymes in this collection are given under the first letter for their title or the first letter of the first word in the line that begins that rhyme.
Italics are used for the first time that the name of a particular city, state, or nation is mentioned in each rhyme.
A , B
A MY NAME IS
A my name is Alice
And my husband's name is Arthur,
We come from Alabama,
Where we sell artichokes.
B my name is Barney
And my wife's name is Bridget,
We come from Brooklyn,
Where we sell bicycles.
C my name is _________
And my husband's name is ___________
We come from __________
Where we sell ___________.
(Continue throughout the alphabet)
-Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher,https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
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A SAILOR WENT TO SEA (Example #1)
A sailor went to sea sea sea To see what he could see see see But all that he could see see see Was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea
A sailor went to China** To see what he could China But all that he could China Was the bottom of the deep blue China **every time you say China, put your hands together and bow.
A sailor went to Texas*** to see what he could Texas but all that he could Texas was the bottom of the deep blue Texas! *** Every time you say Texas, move your right arm around in the air, like twirling a lasso
A sailor went to doo-wop, doo-wop,**** to see what he could doo-wop, doo-wop, but all that he could doo-wop, doo-wop, was the bottom of the deep blue doo-wop, doo-wop!!! **** Every time you say doo-wop, doo-wop, shake your butt like you're dancing."
-Aug 12 2003,
-snip-
This example is reformatted to enhance it's readability.
The suggested action for China may be considered stereotypical, but it's a big improvement over the offensive slant eye gestures that are said to accompany the word "China" in some versions of this children's rhyme.
****
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA (Example #2)
(Australian Version)
Action Song
1. A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see,
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea.
2. A sailor went to chop, chop, chop
To see what he could chop, chop, chop,
But all that he could chop, chop, chop
Was the bottom of the deep blue chop, chop, chop
To see what he could knee, knee, knee,
But all that he could knee, knee, knee
Was the bottom of the deep blue knee, knee, knee.
4. A sailor went to toe, toe, toe
To see what he could toe, toe, toe,
But all that he could toe, toe, toe
Was the bottom of the deep blue toe, toe, toe.
5. A sailor went to Timbuktu
To see what he could Timbuktu,
But all that he could Timbuktu
Was the bottom of the deep blue Timbuktu.
- https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=58
-snip-
Timbuktu is a city in Mali, West Africa.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WENT TO FRANCE
Benjamin Franklin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First the heel, and then the toe,
Spin around and out you go.
-Adele Greil, https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
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Betty, Betty stumped her toe
On the way to Mexico.
On the way back
She broke her back
Sliding on a railroad track.
Source: Abrahams (1969)
- https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
C, D
Charlie Chaplin came to Duluth
To have a dentist pull his tooth.
First he hollered then he yelled
Then he pulled the emergency bell.
Charlie Chaplin has big feet.
Thinks he owns the whole darn street.
If that street were made of glass
Charlie would fall and break his ---
Don't get excited. Don't get alarmed.
Charlie would fall and break his ARM!
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
Charlie Chaplin washing up
Broke a saucer and a cup.
Charlie Chaplin went to war.
When he came back
His pants were tore.
Source: Abrahams (1969)
- https://mudcat.org/jumprope/jumprope_display_all.cfm
****
CHARLIE CHAPLIN WENT TO FRANCE
Charlie Chaplin went to France,
To teach the ladies the hula dance.
First on the heels,
Then on the toes,
Around and around and around you go.
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
Touch the bottom of the submarine.
-Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher, https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
E, F
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE (Example #1)
Engine, engine number nine,
Going down Chicago line,
If the train goes off the track,
Do you want your money back?
Yes, no, maybe so!
-https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4143 [Jump Rhyme Rhyme]
****
ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
-lloyd64, 30, 00; https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 Children's rhymes and playground songs [Singing game]
-snip-
Here's the comment that was written with this example:
"As kid on the Chicago streets our favorite games were Buck, Buck and Engine, Engine Number Nine.
Everyone sits in a circle with hands folded into a fist. The leader (Engine) would say a rime as he tapped each fist….
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
Some one would call out a number, the leader would count out the number by tapping the fists. If the leader landed on one of your fists, you had to take it out of the game by putting it behind your back. The leader would then start over again.
Engine, Engine number nine,
Coming down the Chicago line
Please tell me the correct time, the correct time is what?
This would continue until only one fist was left this became the new Engine."
****
G, H
HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside
'Cause mighty Natasha don't take no jive
-Barbara Michels, Bettye White, editors, Apples On A Stick, The Folklore of Black Children; (Coward-McCann, Inc, 1983, p.14)
-snip-
No rhyme categories or performance descriptions is given for this example. However, I've collected foot stomping cheer examples and hand clap examples of "Hollywood Swinging".
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horsey horsey dont you stop
just let your feet go clippity clop
let your feet got swish and your tail go round
gailey up to london town.
- GUEST, 29 Nov 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 [Ball bouncing rhyme]
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I, J
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #1)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl,
As pretty as pretty can be,
And all the boys around the block
Go crazy over me.
My boyfriend's name is Billy,
He comes from good ole Philly,
With a cherry on his nose
And ten fat toes,
And that's the way my story goes.
My boyfriend gave me peaches,
My boyfriend gave me pears,
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
And kissed me on the stairs.
I gave him back his peaches,
I gave him back his pears,
I gave him back his fifty cents
And kicked....him....down.....the.....stairs!
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; version 2, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
"Philly" is a nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #2)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl,
As pretty as pretty can be, be, be,
And all the boys on the baseball team
are chasing after me, me, me.
My father came from England,
My mother came from France, France, France.
My boyfriend came from the USA
to teach me how to dance, dance, dance.
My boyfriend gave me apples,
My boyfriend gave me pears, pears, pears.
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
and kissed me up the stairs, stairs, stairs.
I gave him back his apples,
I gave him back his pears, pears, pears.
I gave him back his fifty cents
and kicked him down the stairs, stairs, stairs.
...with a pickle on his nose and 3 sore toes,
that's the way it goes, goes, goes.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #5, Western Canada, 1960s, retrieved August 11, 2022
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #3)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl
As pretty as pretty can be
and all the boys in my hometown
are crazy over me
My boyfriend's name is Chico
he came from Puerto Rico
with a rubber nose
and 28 toes
and this is how my story goes
One day as I was walking
I heard my Chico talking
to a pretty little girl
with strawberry curls
and this is what he said to her
I L-O-V-E love you
I K-I-S-S kiss you
I K-I-S-S kiss you
in the D-A-R-K dark dark dark
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #7,retrieved August 11, 2022
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I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #4)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl
As pretty as pretty can be
And all the boys around the block
Are crazy over me.
My boyfriend's name is Harry.
He comes from Paris, France
With turned up toes and a pimple on his nose
And this is the way my story goes.
My boyfriend gave me apples,
My boyfriend gave me pears.
My boyfriend gave me fifty cents
And took me to the fair.
One day as I was walking
I heard my boyfriend talking
To a pretty little girl with a strawberry curl
and this is what he said to her:
I L-O-V-E, love you.
I K-I-S-S, kiss you.
I K-I-S-S, kiss you
On your F-A-C-E, face, face, face.
I gave him back his apples
I gave him back his pears
I gave him back his fifty cents
And threw him down the stairs.
I threw him over London.
I threw him over France.
I threw him over [substitute wherever here]
And he lost his underpants.
-https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #8, retrieved August 11, 2022
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I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #5)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl, As pretty as can be, And all the boys around the block are crazy over me, me, me. My boyfriend's name is Chaim, He comes from yerushalayim, With a pickle up his nose and three black toes, And this is how my story goes. One day when I was walking, I saw my boyfriend talking To a pretty little girl with a strawberry curl And this is what he said to her: I L-O-V-E love you, I K-I-S-S kiss you. And he fell in the lake, And he swallowed a snake, And he came out with a bellyache.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #9, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
yerushalayim is a form of the name "Jerusalem". Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
****
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (Example #6)
I am a pretty little Dutch girl, as pretty as pretty can be be be. And all the boys in the baseball team, go crazy over me me me. My boyfriends name is Steven, He comes from New Zealand. With five fat toes and a pimple on his nose, And this is how my story goes. One day when I was walking, I heard my boyfriend talking. To a pretty little girl with strawberry curls, and this is what he said to her: "I LOVE love you and I KISS kiss you" So jump in the lake and swallow a snake, and come out with a belly ache.
- https://www.facebook.com/109490367471306/posts/pretty-little-dutch-girlthe-lyrics-of-the-song-vary-considerably-british-version/112343993852610/; variation #12, retrieved August 11, 2022
-snip-
This version is from Australia.
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I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL (FRAGMENT; Example #7)
my boyfriend's name is patty
he lives in cincinatti
with forty-eight toes and a pickle on his nose
this is how my story goes:
one day i saw him walking when he was also talking
to a pretty little girl with strawberry curls and this is what he said to
her:
i L-O-V-E love you
i K-I-S-S kiss you
and if you ever move away i'll M-I-S-S miss you
i kicked him over london,
i kicked him over france
i kicked him over U-S-A and saw his purple underpants!
Miss Farrar, quoting maggie, email address,
Apr 3, 1997, https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.books.childrens/c/KqUfjV4xxzc?pli=1
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I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD
Shame, shame, shame, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more. There's a fake Michael Jackson at the door, door, door. Grabbed me by the hips, kissed me on the lips, I don't want to go to Hollywood no more, more, more SHAME!
- unsigned comment added by 74.194.118.238 (talk) , 27 July 2014; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AClapping_game/Examples
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I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO
Shame Shame Shame
I don't want to go to Mexico no more more more
There's a big fat policeman at the door, door, door.
He will pull you by the collar
Make you scream and holler
I don't want to go to Mexico no more.
-Geneas, Nov 4, 2018 "90s Hand games!; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEcsIfe6lU&feature=emb_logo
****
I see London,
I see France,
I see someone's underpants.
Are they blue?
Are they pink?
I don't know but they sure do stink!
-Jessica, February 07, 2007, http://hunsford.blogspot.com/2007/02/childhood-sayings.html
K, L
****
M, N
“M-I crooked letter
Crooked letter I
Crooked Letter
Crooked letter I
Humpback humpback I
Mississippi!”
- https://www.care.com/c/11-catchy-jump-rope-rhymes/
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MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (Example #1)
Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell,
Miss Susie went to heaven, The steamboat went to...
Hello operator, please give me number nine,
And if you disconnect me, I'll chop of your...
Behind the fridgerator, there was a piece of glass,
Miss Susie sat on it, and broke her little...
Ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies,
The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their...
Flies are in the meadow, bees are in the park,
Miss Susie and her boyfriend, are kissing in the...
D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K, dark, dark,
Dark is like a movie, A movie's like a show,
A show is like a TV set, and that is all...
I know I know my ma, I know I know my pa,
I know I know my sister, with the 80 meter bra!
My mom was born in England, My dad was born in France,
I was born in diapers, I couldn't fit in pants.
My mom is Godzilla, My dad is King Kong,
My brother is the stupid one, who made up this dumb song!
- http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml Children's Rhymes From the Eighties
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MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #1)
Miss Sue! *clap clap*
Miss Sue! *clap clap*
Miss Sue from Alabama
Her real names Suzyanna
Sittin in a rockin chair
Eatin Betty Crocker bread
Watchin the clock go
Tick tock tick tock Banana rock!
Tick tock tick tock Banana rock!
A-b-c-d-e-f-g Wash them spots right offa me!
Moocha Moocha Moocha Freeze!
*literally freeze on the last clap,
try to stay still longer than your friend
-darlenevil; cocojams.com, 2/1/2005
-snip-
Cocojams was the name of my cultural website. Some content from that website is found on my pancocojams blog and/or on my cocojams2 blog.
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MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #2)
Miss Sue, Miss Sue, Miss Sue from Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska
Sitting in a rocker, eating Betty Crocker,
Watching the clock go
Tick, tock, tick, tock, banana rock(sometimes we said "around the clock" instead of "banana rock")
Tick, tock, tick, tock, banana rock
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, wash those boy germs off of me
Mooshka, mooshka, mooshka
FREEZE!
- Bijlee » 2012-11-20, 5:00, Re: Childhood Rhymes, https://forum.unilang.org/viewtopic.php?t=39100
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MISS SUE FROM ALABAMA (Example #3)
ms sue clap clap clap ms sue from Alabama Alaska Nebraska she was sitting in her rocking chair chewing on her under ware watching the time go tick toc tick toc banana rock tic toc tick toc banana rock abcdefg wash these kittens off of my mushka mushka mushka freeze icky icky donkey daddy had a donkey donkey died daddy cried icky icky donkey
-Jennifer Lofgren, 2018; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkxEU3OFbU, [comment]
-snip-
This comment started with the words "Me and my friends go"
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MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven,
The steamboat went to $&#/$&
Hello operator,
Please give me number nine.
And if you disconnect me
I’ll chop of your /&$#%$
Behind the frigerator
There was a piece of glass.
Miss Mary sat upon it.
It went right up her "%"$(=
Ask me no more questions,
Please tell me no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom,
Zipping down their "$%$&/&
Flies are in the city,
The bees are in the park.
Boys and girls are kissing
In the D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark
Dark is like a movie,
A movie’s like a show.
A show is like a TV screen,
And that is all I know
I know I know my mother,
I know I know my pa.
I know I know my sister
With the forty acre bra.
Brother’s like a sister,
A sister’s like an aunt.
An aunt is like a relative
Who likes to rave and rant.
I wish I had a nickel
I wish I had a dime
I wish I had a boyfriend
Who kissed me all the time!
My Ma gave me a nickel
My Pa gave me a dime.
My Sister gave me a boyfriend,
Who'd kiss me all the time
My Ma took back the nickel,
My Pa took back the dime.
My Sister took back her boyfriend,
and gave me Frankenstein!
He made me wash the dishes,
He made me wash the floors,
He made me wash his underwear,
So I kicked him out the door
I kicked him over London,
I kicked him over France.
I kicked him to Hawaii,
where he learned to Hula dance!
My mothers like Godzilla,
My fathers like King Kong.
My sister is the stupid one
That taught me this dumb song.
Hello operator,
Please give me number ten.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll sing this song again!
- https://www.nurseryrhymes.org/miss-susie-had-a-steamboat-hello-operator.html
****
MY MOTHER GAVE ME A NICKEL
My mother gave me a nickel
My father gave me a dime
My sister gave me a boyfriend
His name is Frankenstein/to kiss him all the time.
He made me wash the dishes
He made me wash the floor
He made me wash his underwear
So I kicked him out the door.
I kicked him to Los Angeles
I kicked him to Japan
I also kicked him everywhere
without his underwear.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470773567.app2 Hanley School Jump Rope Rhymes; Appendix B, Jump Rope Rhymes [jump Rope Rhymes in Downtown Los Angeles]
****
My soup, my soup
My soup from California
Sitting in a rocket
Eating chocolate waiting for the Time to go
Tic tic cicawawa tic tic cicawawa
A b c d e f g
Gummy bears are chasing me
One is red
One is blue
One is peeing on my shoe
I'm running running for my life
Cause the red one has a knife
CACHING"
- The Colour English, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-svfUMX3BM [comment]
****
MY YOUNG MAN
My young man has gone to France,
To teach the ladies how to dance.
When he comes back,
He'll marry me,
And we'll dance the polka 1 2 3
1 2 3, 1 2 3,
We'll dance the polka 1 2 3.
- https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-rhymes-songs-buyjumpropesnet/
****
O, P
****
Q, R
****
S, T
So so suck your toe
All the way to Mexico.
While you're there
Cut your hair
And don't forget your underwear.
-Jessica, February 07, 2007 http://hunsford.blogspot.com/2007/02/childhood-sayings.html
-snip-
This example was prefaced by this comment: "Someone just mentioned one I haven't heard in twenty-five" years:
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TEXACO MEXICO
Texaco Mexico [Turners turn rope]
Went over the hill [Jumper jumps into the moving rope]
Where far away [Jumper jumps]
And they do some splits, splits, splits [Jumper executes splits]
And they turn around round round [Jumper turns around]
And they touch the ground, ground, [Jumper touches the ground]
And they do some kicks, kicks, kicks [Jumper does kicks]
And they pay their taxes, taxes, taxes [Jumper slaps hand of turner]
And they get outa town, town, town [Jumper moves out of the rope]
And they jump back in, in, in [Jumper jumps back into the rope]
And that’s the end, end, end [Jumper jumps out of the rope]
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470773567.app2 Hanley School Jump Rope Rhymes; Appendix B, Jump Rope Rhymes [jump Rope Rhymes in Downtown Los Angeles]
U, V
****
W, X
wee sam a pice in jam
went to london in a pram
the pram broke
what a joke
wee sam a pice in jam
- GUEST, 29 Nov 09, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20909 [Ball bouncing rhyme]
****
Y, Z
****
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