# Does Anyone Else Have to Sing the Alphabet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235 "2002-12-03T16:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/21 "2002-12-03T17:57:13Z")
## Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one Excepting February alone: Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine, Till leap year gives it twenty-nine. Another trick is to count off the months on your knuckles and the “valleys” between them – “knuckle months” have 31 days and “valley months” don’t. (If you can’t remember that February is the only one with less than 30 days, then I can’t help you. :D) From one end of your hand to the other takes you to July; then start on the same knuckle for August and head back. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/22 "2002-12-03T18:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*I don’t have to, but every once in a while I’ll break out with > “Ab-cadef-guhjeckel-minop-kerstoov-wix-is, > it’s the most unusual word I’ve ever seen…” > > Another reason why my kids think I’m strange. \*\* Harry Blackstone, Jr., had a mnemonic for memorizing the alphabet _backwards:_ “Zikswa-vuts-erkpo-nimlek-jihg-fedec-ba!” Always fun to trot that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/23 "2002-12-03T18:04:29Z")
Chicken in a car and the car won’t go. That’s the way to spell “Chicago.” ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/24 "2002-12-03T18:06:08Z")
I trip up around G-L, too! It’s the H-I-J-K sequence that gets me. I also have to sing T-U-V-W, because I always want to put W in front of V for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/25 "2002-12-03T18:12:51Z")
Wow. I remember the alphabet song, but never have problems with the alphabet, so I don’t have t’ sing it. Ditto with th’ calendar, an’ all. Maybe I already had it by th’ time _Sesame Street_ cruised onto th’ screens. Well, ya learn something every day. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/26 "2002-12-03T18:16:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cichlidiot \* > \*\*[hi-jack] > How does the “30 days hath November” song go? I was taught it once, and though I still use it, I can’t remember the last part with February and so mine doesn’t rhyme now. > [/hi-jack] \*\* Thirty days hath September, all the rest I can’t remember. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/27 "2002-12-03T18:22:28Z")
> [@](#): > > and x just doesn’t rhyme with anything. Dos Equis, anyone? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/28 "2002-12-03T18:36:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > **I have to sing “Fifty Nifty United States” in my head.** Kids are still learning that one today - the **Tzeroling** whipped it out on our return trip from Pittsburgh this weekend. She got the whole damn thing, too. Me? I just look at the map in my head. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/29 "2002-12-03T18:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \* > \*\*Wow. > > I remember the alphabet song, but never have problems with the alphabet, so I don’t have t’ sing it. Ditto with th’ calendar, an’ all. Maybe I already had it by th’ time _Sesame Street_ cruised onto th’ screens. > > Well, ya learn something every day. \*\* Out of curiosity, **Ice Wolf** , how does the alphabet song go in New Zealand? It can’t be “Q, R, S, T, U, Ved” … can it? Do the last two lines just not rhyme, or is the whole thing written differently? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/30 "2002-12-03T18:45:53Z")
“Ved”? No, I think they let that one go in th’ rewrite. 🙂 The “Alphabet Song” that made it down here in th’ 1970s was American, so it had “Zeeeee…” before the final verse. We stalwart Kiwis, true to th’ Mother tongue, resist this, of course. Probably why I don’t need it. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/31 "2002-12-03T18:49:11Z")
Chicago is spelled “Ciacatcwg?” ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/32 "2002-12-03T19:03:00Z")
No and I can recite the alphabet backwards without trouble. The greek alphabet I still have to sing though. It was taught to me in the 6th grade by one Mr. Brown at Jackson Heights Middle School. Not that anyone cares anymore but I’m a hit at parties. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/33 "2002-12-03T19:05:34Z")
Not only do I not require the alphabet song, but after years of rigorous training, I can also say the alphabet in reverse order quite quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/34 "2002-12-03T19:06:56Z")
…but I’m a slow typer :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/35 "2002-12-03T19:21:15Z")
I have to sing the alphabet song too… Tragic isn’t it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/36 "2002-12-03T19:34:48Z")
W, X, Y and Zed… I know letters, like I said - Next time go ask Uncle Ted. ---
**Author:** ![skittles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@skittles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skittles)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/37 "2002-12-03T19:34:49Z")
I have to sing it to get it right. I’d never be able to recite it backwards though. I can also recite the Greek alphabet. Though I have to recite it quick else I get caught up in some of the letters. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/38 "2002-12-03T19:38:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Chicago is spelled “Ciacatcwg?” My question, too, Eve. Wazzup wif dat, Ukey? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/39 "2002-12-03T19:38:40Z")
I have to sing it between the letters H-L (which is sad because my last name starts with a J), and U-X. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-have-to-sing-the-alphabet/140235/40 "2002-12-03T19:41:46Z")
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