I actually learned this particular ditty at MYF (Methodist Youth Foundation) winter camp… that and the pioneer song! I used to love going to the Winter and Summer (weeklong) MYF camps. I’d always get to bring a friend, and there wasn’t much in the way of churchiness to it. There’d always be activities, fresh air, some sort of reading (thought-provoking but never from the bible… we read The Lottery one night) and free time… lots of free time!
I remember the year we decided to teach the girls to play AD&D… it did not go well…
In any case, what is the most bizarre children’s song that you were taught as a child?
Wow lol, I’ve never heard this song before…sounds terrifying and hilarious. The scariest song I can remember was probably “On Top Of Spaghetti”…cause I lost my poor meatball 🙁
I may have just grown up with a twisted crowd…
man, I LOVED teaching our oldest the meaning behind Ring Around the Rosie. When we go camping, she usually asks for a sachet (“pocket”) of flowers, ‘cuz she knows Daddy ain’t gonna be showering for a few days.
Her favorite is when I sing the English words to Alouette. She likes to imagine herself plucking feathers off a live bird….
🙂
I was a freshman in high school when I first learned what Alouette was all about. Horrible, horrible song! Or wonderful… but only in a twisted sort of way!
Oh, and I tend to “shanty-ize” the lyrics to Gilligan’s Island, too. The kids think it’s a legitimate pirate song now….
I’ll have to ask you to perform that some time…
I haven’t heard of your song, Dave. But I do remember “On Top of Spaghetti” and the story behind “Ring Around the Rosey.”
I have to look up the English words to “Alouette,” RunsWithLightning! I am intrigued! And hubby also pirates up the Gilligan theme! HAHAH
I remember several songs from Childhood that are… strange:
“Miss Mary Mack” and “Miss Lucy Had a Steamboat” come to mind.
Also, does anyone else remember:
COMET! It tastes like LISterine.
COMET! It makes your teeth turn green!
COMET! It makes you VOMIT!
So buy some COMET
and VOMIT! To-day!
This Mary Mack ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDtjq0mGVSQ )?
Interestingly, while on youtube, I also found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrVIdlVHpM
They sing it wrong over there though.
And finally, just for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4PPu4PjSDY
I always thought “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” was kinda odd. Doesn’t really GO anywhere, just repeats itself.
In her bio, it will be revealed that my new character Faylin Flarkenschidt is a decendant of wealthy 19th-century industrialist John Jacob Jingleheimer Flarkenschmidt. A nortoriously cold-hearted skinflint, he used child laborers in sweatshops to manufacture buggy whips.
Faylin is trying to be a good-hearted and generous person to make up for her ancestor’s transgressions. Because you see, his shame is her shame too. 🙂
Sounds like an interesting character. I think her ancestor just turned evil because of the name though! He was probably picked on in the schoolyard as a child… 😉
Dave:
THIS Miss Mary Mack…link has interesting possible origins of the song.
Here is a wikipedia link for Miss Lucy Had a Steamboat (I had no idea there were so many variations of the song!)
Jason: I love the “notorious cold-hearted skinflint” name! That’s great!
patty-cakers are weird…