You all know the song.
“neener neener neener”
This melody usually has improvised lyrics, aimed at the subject of some ridicule.
But where does this tune come from? It goes up and down from high to low notes, and I think it is almost universally known.
That’s weird. Does the tune come from some ancient Celtic taunt to drive playful little sprites away, or is it an old Mayan chant to make it rain…
Really, how would you find out who made up this song?
The tune is (or should be) “Ring around the rosie”. “Neener” is a more modern variant of “Nah nah”. “Nah nah” was used in place of the lyrics either because kids couldn’t remember the lyrics or perhaps as a more articulated hum. Search for “Ring around the rosie” and you’ll find that it’s history is rooted in nursery rhyme and possibly dancing bans, but don’t believe the stuff about the plague - it’s been well debunked.
It may be used as a song of ridicule today, but originally it was a playful taunt… essentially “you can’t catch me”.
I believe “neener, neener” is a corruption of “nyah, nyah” by those whose tongues are not limber enough for the n-y consonant blend.
“Nyah, nyah,” is the obviously correct phrasing, because it is the way I heard it on the playgrounds of Plainedge School District some 60-odd years ago.
As to the 2-note sequence that generally accompanies such taunts, I believe Leonard Bernstein once explained all about why that sequence is appealing to and repeated by small children, in one of his educational videos about music. I don’t remember what he said exactly, something about the musical interval involved I think.
