# Hello my baby, hello my \*blank\*, hello my ragtime gal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** cartoons-animation\ **Created:** [September 12, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543 "2021-09-12T13:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/61 "2021-09-14T01:33:15Z")
Honey to me. Darlin’ doesn’t sound right at all. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/62 "2021-09-14T03:43:29Z")
MEtv has morning cartoons, a mix of Loonie Tunes, Tom and Jerry and Popeye and the Bugs Bunny show on Saturday mornings. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/63 "2021-09-14T11:09:07Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Similar to Gossamer, one of Bugs’ enemies. I find Gossamer quite INNNNteresting. I mean, monsters are the most INNNteresting people. The places they must go, the people they must see - they must lead INNNteresting lives. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/64 "2021-09-14T12:58:12Z")
Definitely “honey”. In seventh grade for the school music night my class sang “Roaring 20s” style songs including this one. I also have “Yes, We Have no Bananas”, “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” and “My Blue Heaven” as recurring earworms nearly 50 years later… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/65 "2021-09-14T20:16:55Z")
And you would know, having worked on the inside. Did you ever meet MJ Frog whilst trying to blow up the world? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/66 "2021-09-15T12:48:36Z")
Of course I did. We worked together in 1995: [![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5654b0dce4b0bdb2429855bf/1616699423480-CLM8B6QYCOOHSTX40I81/CJCONCEPT-641.CJCEL-641.jpg?format=1500w) ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5654b0dce4b0bdb2429855bf/1616699423480-CLM8B6QYCOOHSTX40I81/CJCONCEPT-641.CJCEL-641.jpg?format=1500w) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/67 "2021-09-15T14:23:40Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I’m pretty sure Tom Hanks sings “hello my baby, hello my darling“ during the altermate, happy ending to Big. I thought of “darlin’” as well even thought I saw the frog cartoon many times. But now that you mention the alternate ending to Big, I’m sure that’s where I remember darlin’. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/68 "2021-09-15T15:58:18Z")
I was pretty sure it was Honey. As to the origins of “darling,” I’d wager a guess that “Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling, Clementine” might have something to do with it. You have “o my darling” in Clementine, and “[Hell]o my darling” in the incorrect version of the Ragtime Gal song. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/69 "2021-09-15T22:51:25Z")
Sort of like “All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel”? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/70 "2021-09-16T00:06:56Z")
Honey, and I know it because of the singing frog. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/71 "2021-09-16T00:56:09Z")
Ditto. I haven’t seen the sheet music (not in a while, anyway), but “Honey” is sung as two very short syllables in the cartoon. “Darling” just wouldn’t fit rhythmically. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/72 "2021-09-16T03:26:43Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > “Darling” just wouldn’t fit rhythmically. Huh? It fits just fine. Same amount of syllables, same stress pattern. About a third of the respondents seem to have it naturally fit there without a problem, and I have no issue with hearing it either as “honey” or “darlin(g)” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/73 "2021-09-16T12:20:09Z")
I just also realised I remember the last line as “telephone and tell me I’m your guy.” I’m not even a guy. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/74 "2021-09-16T14:49:01Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > “telephone and tell me I’m your guy.” “…I’m your **own**.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/75 "2021-09-16T15:03:09Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > “…I’m your **own**.” Totally cromulent also. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/76 "2021-09-16T15:06:47Z")
I think, in the Chordettes’ version of it, they sing, “telephone and tell my you’re my own.” ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/77 "2021-09-16T15:45:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Huh? It fits just fine. Same amount of syllables, same stress pattern. You’re right, I just watched the cartoon again (possibly first time this century) and my recollection of the rhythm was incorrect. I didn’t know : “Hello” was a relatively new word at the end of the 19th century, and was [closely associated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello#Telephone) with the telephone. So this was a sort of steampunk romance song. ETA : Should have read the song’s [Wiki entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello!_Ma_Baby). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/78 "2021-09-16T15:56:49Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > “Hello” was a relatively new word at the end of the 19th century, and was [closely associated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello#Telephone) with the telephone. “Ahoy, hoy, my baby,”? I 'unno. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/79 "2021-09-16T20:08:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > t fits just fine. Same amount of syllables, same stress pattern. About a third of the respondents seem to have it naturally fit there without a problem, and I have no issue with hearing it either as “honey” or “darlin(g)” But consider, _Hello my ba **by** Hello my ho **ney** _ as opposed to _Hello my ba **by** Hello my dar **lin’** _ To my ear the “bee - ney” at the ends sounds more like tin pan alley than “bee - lin.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543/80 "2021-09-18T22:02:42Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > _Hello my ba **by** > Hello my ho **ney** _ > > as opposed to > > _Hello my ba **by** > Hello my dar **lin’** _ See, when I remember the song I remember it as hello my BA-by, not ba-BY. Watching the video tells me you’re right, the frog sings it ba-BY, but in my head that’s not how it goes, probably because that’s not the way you usually pronounce baby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-my-baby-hello-my-blank-hello-my-ragtime-gal/950543.md?page=5)