Friday, October 11, 2013

The Clapping Song-Updated

Anybody remember this from school recess?  It is the Clapping Song, we would say this and we would clap our hands in a certain way...clap both hands on lap, then clap hands together, clap your right hand against right hand of girl sitting opposite you,  clap hands together again, and then the left hand of girl opposite, and then both girls clap the girl's hands opposite, then start again...

Three, six, nine
Goose drank wine
Monkey chewed tobacco on the street car-line.
Line broke, monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven on a little rowboat.
CLAP CLAP!

It occurred to me that this little rhyme would never do for these days and times and so here is how it might be re-written for this century...

Three, six, nine
The Goose is in AA
The Monkey gave up all tobacco products.
OSHA got involved about the broken street car-line,
and the case has been tied up in courts for years with no resolution in sight.
And we can't mention heaven because we are in school.
CLAP CLAP.

Oh dear, that just does not have the same kind of rhythm, does it?

Does this bring any memories back for anyone?  Shirley Ellis had a hit with "The Clapping Song" in 1965.  She wrote the song along with Lincoln Chase.  They also had a hit a few years earlier with "The Name Game".  Remember that one?


Sunset At Arabia Mountain- Something to clap about!

24 comments:

  1. I remember the Name Game, but not the Clapping song. I'm sure it's there in the memory bank some where...The Sunset picture is indeed something to clap about!

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    1. I can't seem to remember much these days but those songs/rhymes from childhood are firmly implanted in my brain! :-)

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  2. I remember the Name Game song but not the Clapping one. We had a clapping game when I was a kid at school but I can't remember the verse that went with it now. It certainly did not involve monkeys and rowboats, LOL!

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    1. DEBRA! Debra, Debra, Bo-Bebra, banana,bo bebra, fee fi fo febra, DEBRA!
      Come on now, think back and see if your clapping rhyme comes to you, let me know!

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  3. I loved the Clapping Song - it will be whizzing round in my head for the rest of the day. I don't recall Shirley's Name Game though. Must check that out.

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    1. Hey John!
      Check out my reply to Debra's comment above...John, John, Bo Bon...you get the idea!

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  4. I remember doing the clapping song at school and not have the first clue what a street car line was!

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    1. That's funny, you were like me when I used to sing along with the Beatles, and I had no idea what a "Daytripper" was!

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  5. I am sure that there was a different set of words, maybe because I grew up on the west coast. It was a thing the girls did though and we boys made fun of it.

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    1. Oh how funny! You are so right, it was only the girls who did this and I most certainly remember the boys to the side, teasing us about doing this. We didn't mind though, we knew they liked us!

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  6. Somehow i missed this one way back when. Your update is sad and funny at the same time.

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    1. Our world is a bit sad and funny at the same time these days...

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  7. Oh, how I do love VW ~ they always have the BEST commercials. I do recall the Clapping Song although I'd forgotten about it. Clap clap!!!

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    1. We had a VW Beetle growing up, my Dad used to wave at every single one we saw on the road. (And they ALWAYS waved back.)

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  8. Oh yeah. I remember those songs and still sing it sometimes with the kids. One of the sweetest girls in our school's last name was one that was very misused in the Name Game song. :-(

    Your photos are always outstanding.

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    1. Oh yes, there are a few names that turn very naughty when you change just one letter!
      And I so agree with you about the photos on my blog, almost ALL of them are taken by my husband, Richard and I think they are outstanding too!

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  9. My mother told me If I was goody that she would buy me a rubber dolly. My auntie told her I kissed a soldier. Now she won't buy me a rubber dolly. Oh my do I remember those songs. This was a nice trip down Memory Lane.

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    1. OH! I am very glad that you remembered that part too! I didn't mention it but I hoped that someone would in a comment! Did you know that part was really from a song from the 30's? I didn't until I looked this up to do this post!
      Let's remember the good times! :-)

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  10. Kids still do those clapping songs when they are playing, I think, although they are always a bit different from each other. Always used to interest me how there were different versions with different kids.
    Just a little memory of my own.... :)

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    1. Do kids still do clapping songs? I've not seen any.
      Hey! There was a TV special here about Alice In Wonderland just this past week and I must tell you, it would have scared me as kid! It was a bit scary as an adult!

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  11. Hi Kay

    Political correctness in this country has reached such a pitch that the words 'three, six, nine' would probably be banned because ' their usage is at the expense of other numbers such as two and seven which are equally valid and should not be side lined unless the author can establish beyond reasonable doubt that they were properly considered for inclusion and were only excluded because the context was not conducive to their wellbeing or future growth as organic and valued entities'.

    Even then, the author would probably have to issue an apology for 'unintended hurt'.

    Kind Regards

    Henry

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  12. I sincerely hope that my post did not harm any other numbers. There...I hope that will suffice for the lawyers!
    Thanks, Henry, for your comment! It should scare you if you understand my sense of humour.
    I hope you are burning up Youtube listening to The Seven's!

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  13. Funny for me to watch an American advert for a German product, I enjoyed this!

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    1. Oh, good! I was hoping that you saw this! Of course, I thought of you when I chose this particular clip from Youtube! ;-)

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