# "All the Girls in France Do the Hoochie-Coochie Dance" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304 "2003-11-14T20:31:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/41 "2003-11-19T18:11:47Z")
I opened this thread because the line “All the Girls in France” fit a song that is on my kid’s CD. The song is “Knees Up Mother Brown” (no known author or copyright). The first part begins: There came a girl from France Who didn’t know how to dance The only thing that she could do Was knees up Mother Brown {refrain} Oh, knees up Mother Brown Knees up Mother Brown Knees up, knees up, never let the breeze up, Knees up Mother Brown Frankly the song sounded quite aggressive, apparently telling the kids to knee Mother Brown in the “groin”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/42 "2003-11-19T18:38:46Z")
I swear, until this very moment I had No Idea™ that there were words to this song. I always heard it as “snake charmer music” and we all just sang, "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah NahNahNahNahNahNahNah Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/43 "2003-11-19T23:57:13Z")
I heard one of the versions already repeated several times - “There’s a place in France where the naked ladies dance/there’s a hole in the wall where the men can see it all.” It didn’t have any more lyrics. Did everyone sing that that “Hello Operator” song at your school too? ---
**Author:** ![bradministrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@bradministrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bradministrator)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/44 "2003-11-20T00:01:57Z")
We used to tack on a “And the men wear bikinis and the women suck their weinees.” ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/45 "2003-11-20T01:08:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Azure Eternity \* > \*\*Did everyone sing that that “Hello Operator” song at your school too? \*\* You mean this one? - Miss Lucy had a steamboat The steamboat had a bell Miss Lucy went to heaven The steamboat went to HELL-o operator Give me number nine If you disconnect me I’ll kick your big be- HIND the frigerator There was a piece of glass Miss Lucy fell upon it And cut her big ol’ ASS me no more questions Tell me no more lies The boys are in the bathroom zipping up their FLIES are in the meadow The bees are in the park Miss Lucy and her boyfriend Are kissing in the dark…\* Gawd, I’m ashamed I remember that much… I’m going to be a terrible influence on my children. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/46 "2003-11-20T02:51:19Z")
Gad, I haven’t thought of this in YEARS, but here’s how we sang it: \*There’s a place called Mars Where the ladies smoke cigars Every puff they take Is enough to kill a snake When the snakes are dead They put roses in their heads When the roses die They put diamonds in their eye When the diamonds break It is nineteen forty-eight\* It’s funny how stuff like that sticks with you 30 years later… Barry ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/47 "2003-11-20T03:17:29Z")
When my contemporary neighborhood chicks were 10, they sang several of the versions posted here. By age 12/13, they had developed some real XXX versions that can’t be posted. Sneakin’ in a lounge with fake ID at age 17, the band sang it this way: “So, I held her in my arms Told her of her many charms Kissed her as the fiddle played Bonaparte’s Retreat” Progress? Questionable. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/48 "2003-11-24T06:46:55Z")
There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance There’s a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all But the men don’t care Cuz they chew their underwear And each pair they chew Costs $1.92 And the king and the queen Have a rubber ding-a-ling ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/49 "2003-11-24T07:08:19Z")
I’d always heard it this way: _Going down to France Where the naked ladies dance The men don’t care Cuz they chew their underwear_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/50 "2003-11-24T08:48:43Z")
Oh, my God, do you have any idea how offensive this is to Eastern Rite Christians? The melody of the song you all are quoting is ripped from a hymn sung at the Entry of the Bridegroom (celebrated on Wednesday and/or Thursday of Holy Week in the Greek Rite Churches.) The lyrics don’t translate well into English but they go roughly Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night Blessed are the servants He shall find awake But the one found asleep is not worthy of Him Beware, Oh my soul, do not fall asleep Lest to death you’re delivered And the doors of the Kingdom be closed on you Watch instead and cry out Holy, holy, holy Lord Through the intercession of the Angels Have mercy on us There are more verses, but I don’t have them available at the moment. You might want to consult with **Dogface** for the rest. Leave it to a bunch of American G.I.'s to take one of the most beautiful hymns in Christianity and turn it into a bawdy song… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/51 "2003-11-24T14:40:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thea Logica \* > \*\*The melody of the song you all are quoting is ripped from a hymn sung at the Entry of the Bridegroom (celebrated on Wednesday and/or Thursday of Holy Week in the Greek Rite Churches.) \*\* Do what you’re telling us is that all visiting non-Greek Orthodox Christians either fall on the floor laughing hysterically when that tuned is played, or injure themselves in a noble attempt not to? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/52 "2003-11-24T14:49:00Z")
Gentleman’s agreement. I don’t laugh at the familiar music, they don’t ask why my practices resemble Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox but aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/53 "2003-11-24T22:05:41Z")
\*\*All the girls in France Do the hula-hula dance And the way they shake Is enough to kill a snake When the snake is dead They put roses in its head When the roses die They put diamonds in its eye When the diamonds break It’s the year of 68![\b] ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/54 "2003-11-24T22:24:35Z")
My version doesn’t involve France! I must have hung out with unusual children. In the land of Oz, the women don’t wear bras But the men don’t care, cause they don’t wear underwear OR In the land of Oz, the women don’t wear bras, and the men go around with their dooeys (dewies sp?) hanging down. ---
**Author:** ![Dinolover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Dinolover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinolover)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/55 "2010-09-05T16:41:47Z")
I heard: All the girls in France do the Hoochie Coochie dance/ And the dance they do is enough to kill a Jew/ And the Jew they kill is enough to take a pill/ And the pill he takes is enough to kill a snake… That is about all I remember… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/56 "2010-09-05T16:49:30Z")
What kind of dance do zombies do? And on seeing this thread, I thought **Eve** was back. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/57 "2010-09-05T17:03:34Z")
**runner pat** , me too. Her user statistics show she hasn’t even read the boards (while logged in, at least) since January, although her last post was in early 2007. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/58 "2010-09-05T17:15:54Z")
We’re no longer automatically closing zombie threads, so I’ll leave this open for now. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/59 "2010-09-06T00:38:52Z")
This reminded me of a scene in The Office that went something like this: Andy: (starts singing the song) Angela: Andy! Stop singing about naked women! (Looks disgusted) And France! ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304/60 "2010-09-06T01:26:04Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > And on seeing this thread, I thought **Eve** was back. ☹ Me too. I was all like “Huh?” and then I was like “Oh,” and then I was like “Aww.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-girls-in-france-do-the-hoochie-coochie-dance/213304.md?page=4)