# Do other countries have a song equivalent to "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [September 28, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368 "2010-09-28T17:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/21 "2010-09-29T13:13:49Z")
There’s another British counting-up song that’d fall in this category. I remember Hastings and Poirot sang it while driving through the countryside in an early David Suchet Poirot episode. It goes something like: "One man and his dog, went to mow, went to mow a meadow. "One man, two men, and their dog went to mow, went to mow a meadow. “One man, two men, three men…” And so on, adding more men each time. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/22 "2010-09-29T14:48:03Z")
“One naked man just walking down the road Would cause a heap of trouble for all involved.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/23 "2010-09-29T14:52:28Z")
Another one from Spain… Un elefante se balanceaba sobre la tela de una araña, como veía que no se caía fue a llamar a otro elefante. Dos elefantes se balanceaban… One elephant was swinging on a spiderweb. As he could see he was not falling he went and called another elephant. Two elephants were swinging… Which ends when someone gets fed up and decides that the elephants do finally come crashing down. Several of the songs by the so-called Payasos de la Tele (the Aragón brothers, who came from a long family of clowns; one of the most important showmen and producers in Spain is Emilio Aragón, previously known as Milikito, who is the eldest son of Emilio-called-Miliki and used to be on their show before breaking out on his own), while not having a counting element, are very good for trips as well. They usually include gestures, which makes them kind of hard to explain by just writing down. Mi barba tiene tres pelos, tres pelos tiene mi barba, si no tuviera tres pelos ya no sería una barba. (Mi beard has three hairs, three hairs are there in my beard, if it wasn’t for those three hairs it would not be a beard any longer) trades one word for a gesture in each repetition, until it becomes Mi [gesture as if you’re touching a ZZTop-style beard] tiene [raise three fingers] [touch hair], [three fingers] [touch hair] tiene mi [touch beard] si no tuviera [three fingers] [touch hair] ya no sería una [touch beard]. You can find videos of these guys in YouTube. Look for “payasos de la tele” or “miliki”. And of course, now I have “Hola, Don Pepito” for an earworm 😛 ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/24 "2010-09-29T15:19:30Z")
Another from France which also has a B-I-N-G-O thing going on. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’ll see in a moment.) _Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. –Marchez en même temps !_ (Napoleon had five hundred soldiers (x3) March in time !) Then the second time you drop the last syllable from the Napoleon line : Napoléon avait cinq cent sol— but no clap as you do with the Bingo song. The last line (Marchez en même temps) is sung with full gusto. The third time, you drop the last two syllables and successively down the line to the song’s conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/25 "2010-09-29T16:57:03Z")
_Sur le pont d’Avignon_ (On the bridge of Avignon) – the cute, young student teacher who taught us the song in my high school French class was always able to pull out another “and the \_\_ all \_\_\_.” ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/26 "2010-09-29T17:13:58Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > There’s la hormiguita, which is also a song used to teach the vowels to little children. Spanish has only five vowel sounds: you sing it once with all the vowels, next with a, next e… and end with all five vowels again. Facial expression should be exaggerated. > > Tengo, o o o > una hormiguita en la tripita, a a a > que me está\_haciendo cosquillitas, a a a > que me pica, que me pica > > I have > a little ant on my belly > it’s tickling me, > how it tickles, how it tickles. In German, we have the “[Drei Chinesen mit dem Kontrabass](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drei_Chinesen_mit_dem_Kontrabass)” song for this. Drei Chinesen mit dem Kontrabass, sassen auf der Strasse und erzählten sich was. Da kam die Polizei, “Ja was ist denn das?” Drei Chinesen mit dem Kontrabass! Three Chinese with the contrabass sat on the street and told each other something. Then the police came “Well, what’s all this then?” Three Chinese with the contrabass! After the first verse, all vowels are replaced with a, then with e and so on. There’s a simple repeating song, like Henry the Eighth: Ein Hund kam in die Küche, und stahl dem Koch ein Ei. Da nahm der Koch den Löffel, und schlug den Hund entzwei. Da kamen alle Hunde, und gruben ihm ein Grab, und setzten ihm nen Grabstein, worauf geschrieben stand: “Ein Hund…” A dog came into the kitchen and stole the cook an egg. So the cook took a spoon and hit the dog into two. So all dogs came and dug a grave, and put up a gravestone, on which was written: “A dog came …” Repeat until all adults are driven crazy. There’s the “Die Wissenschaft hat festgestellt” (Science has found out) where the children invent stuff: Die wissenschaft hat festgestellt, festgestellt, festgestellt, dass Coca-cola Schnapps enthält, Schnaps enthält, Schnaps enthält. Drum trinken wir auf jeder Reise, jeder Reise, jeder Reise Coca-Cola eimerweise, eimerweise. Science has found out that Coca-Cola contains hard liquor. Therefore we drink on every journey Coca-cola by the bucket. Also popular with many verses is “Wer hat die Kokosnuss geklaut”? (Who stole the coco nut) Die Affen rasen durch den Wald, der eine macht den anderen kalt, die ganze Affenbande brüllt: (kids start shouting) Wo ist die Kokosnuss, wo ist die Kokosnuss, wer hat die kokosnuss geklaut? (Repeat) The monkeys are racing through the forest, one is killing another, the whole group is shouting Where is the coco nut, who stole the coconut? In a travel song book, there are about 10 verses, but you can also make up new ones. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/27 "2010-09-29T17:17:36Z")
Song with dropping words: the most common one is “Jetzt fahren wir übern See” (Now we travel across the lake) Jetzt fahrn wir übern See, übern See, jetzt fahrn wir übern See mit einer dicken Wurzel, Wurzel, Wurzel, kein Ruder war nicht dran. Now we travel across the lake with a thick root, no oar was not fastened to it. On each repetition, you drop the words without making mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/28 "2010-09-29T17:22:40Z")
A popular song with gestures is “[Ein kleiner Matrose](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ein_kleiner_Matrose)” but that’s usually for Kindergarten children, not during travels. Ein kleiner Matrose umsegelte die Welt. Er liebte ein Mädchen, das hatte gar kein Geld. Das Mädchen muss sterben, und wer war Schuld daran? Der kleine Matrose in seinem Liebeswahn. A small seaman sailed around the world. He loved a girl, but had no money. The girl had to die, and whose fault was that? The small seaman in his love craziness. Another one, with gestures, but also with silences, is “[Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Hut_der_hat_drei_Ecken)” (My hat has three corners) which wikipedia says is also known in English and Hebrew: Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken, drei Ecken hat mein Hut. Und hätt er nicht drei Ecken, so wär er nicht mein Hut. My hat has three corners three corners has my hat. And if it didn’t have three corners it wouldn’t be my hat. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/29 "2010-09-29T17:28:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > > [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > > > I’m curious to how these songs end. Do the children simply give up? The 99 bottles appears to have an ending at least, assuming there aren’t any negative bottles. The French foot walking song, does it go into eternity? > > There are no botles of beer on the wall. > No bottles of beer. > So you go to the store, > Buy a hundred more. > 100 bottles of beer on the wall > > Repeat _ad nauseum_ IME that’s always where the knives come out. . . ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/30 "2010-09-29T17:36:33Z")
Missed the edit window. . . . “Father Abraham” is one where the parts of the body are named and slapped as you go. Father Abraham has many sons Many sons has Father Abraham I am one of them and so are you So let;s all praise the Lord. Right Arm! + Left Arm + Right Leg +Left Leg, adding one on each repetition. I’ve seen it get as far as femurs and phalanges and even an appendix once. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/31 "2010-09-29T17:42:24Z")
The balancing elephants and the three-cornered hat are translated into Swedish as well. I suspect in other languages as well. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/32 "2010-09-29T19:47:12Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Another one from Spain… > And of course, now I have “Hola, Don Pepito” for an earworm 😛 Hola don José! ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/33 "2010-09-29T20:03:27Z")
My mom taught us a counting song in French about crocodiles going off to war to fight the elephants. She’s from Quebec. It starts at one and counts upward. At [this website (in French)](http://people.southwestern.edu/~prevots/songs/?p=159) it’s listed as a variant of a longer not-counting song. The version I remember goes like this: \* Un crocodile S’en allait à la guerre Disant adieu À ses petits enfants Sa longues queues Trainaient dans la poussière Il s’en allait Combattr’ les éléphants Si les cro-co-co les cro-co-co les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil se sont perdus n’en parlons plus !\* And so on… ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/34 "2010-09-29T20:13:23Z")
Uh… French speakers, ignore my conjugating mistakes. Anyway, I meant to add that the crocodile song is kind of for the same age group as “Alice the Camel”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/35 "2010-09-30T06:58:34Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Another from France which also has a B-I-N-G-O thing going on. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’ll see in a moment.) > > _Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. > Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. > Napoléon avait cinq cent soldats. > –Marchez en même temps !_ Hey, he had more in Spanish! Na-po-león tenía miiiiiil ¡soldaos! Na-po-león tenía miiiiiil ¡soldaos! Na-po-león tenía miiiiiil ¡soldaos! Marchando al rantamplán. (Napoleon had one thousand soldiers following the drums) So tell me, **Frodo** , ¿pasó usted por mi casa? ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/36 "2010-09-30T09:07:43Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > There’s another British counting-up song that’d fall in this category. I remember Hastings and Poirot sang it while driving through the countryside in an early David Suchet Poirot episode. It goes something like: > > "One man and his dog, > went to mow, went to mow a meadow. > > "One man, two men, and their dog > went to mow, went to mow a meadow. > > “One man, two men, three men…” > > And so on, adding more men each time. One man and his pet Pomeranian poodle pup, Spot! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/37 "2010-09-30T09:57:07Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Missed the edit window. . . . > > “Father Abraham” is one where the parts of the body are named and slapped as you go. > > Father Abraham has many sons > Many sons has Father Abraham > I am one of them and so are you > So let;s all praise the Lord. > Right Arm! + Left Arm + Right Leg +Left Leg, adding one on each repetition. I’ve seen it get as far as femurs and phalanges and even an appendix once. I’ve always heard it end with Turn around as the penultimate, and after that verse, “sit down” is appended, ending the song. …nod your head, turn around, SIT DOWN! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Klutz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captain_klutz/32/4993_2.png) [@Captain\_Klutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Klutz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368/38 "2010-09-30T11:48:05Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > There’s another British counting-up song that’d fall in this category. I remember Hastings and Poirot sang it while driving through the countryside in an early David Suchet Poirot episode. It goes something like: > > "One man and his dog, > went to mow, went to mow a meadow. > > "One man, two men, and their dog > went to mow, went to mow a meadow. > > “One man, two men, three men…” > > And so on, adding more men each time. It goes: One man went to mow, Went to mow a meadow, One man and his dog, Went to mow a meadow. Two men went to mow, Went to mow a meadow, Two men, one man and his dog, Went to mow a meadow. And so ad infinitum (that third line gets difficult to do in one breath) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-song-equivalent-to-100-bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall/555368.md?page=1)