# Songs & poems you remember from childhood **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683 "2008-08-20T16:37:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/21 "2008-08-21T18:17:05Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] [They’re coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!](http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~norm/TakeMeAway.html) I only mention it because when they were in junior high, I discovered that a few of my kid’s friends didn’t know the song. I had to force them to listen to a copy. You can’t say you’ve been a kid if you don’t know that one. [/QUOTE] My babysitter used to play that all the time – I loved it! [QUOTE=hellpaso] nobody loves me nobody cares i’m going to the garden and eat worms big worms little worms even fat and skinny worms i’m going to the garden and eat worms! [/QUOTE] My mother sang me a version of that song that went: Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms Big worms, little worms, ooshy gooshy gooshy worms, worms that wiggle and squirm First one’s greasy, slips down easy, second one sticks to my tongue Third one’s rusted, fourth one’s busted, fifth one tries to run Ha Ha! [QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Sounds vaguely like the schoolyard taunt I remember for someone who was being a baby, chanted to a sort of generic “Nyah nyah” cadence: Kindergarten baby! Born in the gravy! Died in the Navy! [/QUOTE] Ours was kind of a combination of the two: Kindergarten baby Stick your head in gravy Wrap it up in bubble gum And send it to the navy Here are a few that always bring me back: [The Ants Go Marching One By One - Hurrah! Hurrah!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL8zUos9c8w) [I’ve Got Sixpence](http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/sixpence.html), jolly, jolly sixpence. I’ve got sixpence to last me all my life. . . [There’s a hole in the bucket](http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/t028.html), dear Liza, dear Liza There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole. . . The prettiest girl I ever saw Was [sippin’ ci-der through a straw](http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/sippingc.htm). . . [there was a hole](http://artists.letssingit.com/barney-lyrics-and-the-green-grass-grows-all-around-4mt55x6) (there was a hole) in the middle of the ground (in the middle of the ground) the prettiest hole (the prettiest hole) that you ever did see (that you ever did see) and the hole in the ground and the green grass grows all around all around and the green grass grows all around. . . [Miss Mary Mack, Mack Mack](http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/m008.html) All dressed in black, black, black With silver buttons, buttons, buttons All down her back, back, back. . . ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/22 "2008-08-21T20:15:56Z")
I’m just glad I have songs like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC9FtLQJoGM) to remember, instead of [this mess](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5R8gSgedh4). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/23 "2008-08-21T21:09:56Z")
_Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts, Marinated monkey meat Chopped-up baby parakeet. Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts And me without my spoon!_ and _Do your boobs hang low Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder Like a Continental soldier? Do you boobs hang low?_ (Yes, I know it’s supposed to be “ears”. But that’s the way _we_ sang it. 🙂 ) ETA: thought of another one: \*I ran around the corner And I ran around the block And I ran right into the donut shop. Well I picked up a donut And I wiped off the grease And I handed the lady a five-cent piece. Well, she looked at the nickel And she looked at me And she said “This nickel is no good, you see. It’s got a hole in the middle And it goes right through.” And I said, “There’s a hole In the donut, too! Thanks for the donut! Bye now!”\* ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/24 "2008-08-22T01:06:16Z")
(Cite from Miss Fran circa 1959): “Romper-bomper-stomper boo Tell me, tell me, tell me do Magic Mirror tell me today Did all my friends have fun at play?” Miss Fran would then “tell” the names of friends she saw through the Magic Mirror…“I see Suzie and Toby and Debbie and Tommie and…” I listened closely to find out whether she “saw” me. As my name was (in the late 1950’s) fairly uncommon, she rarely saw me. My little sister, Peggy, on the other hand, she saw regularly, so I heard, “Ha, ha, ha…she saw me…didn’t see you!” To a six-year-old, this was a rotten thing to say, especially because my six-year-old self believed her. Man, was I gullable back then. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/25 "2008-08-22T18:05:51Z")
Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peaaaanut last night Last night I found a peanut, found a peanut last night Cracked it open, cracked it open, cracked it open last night… and on and on… 99 Bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer, take one down and pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall and on and on… Who put the overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder? Nobody answered so I’ll ask a little louder [louder] Who put the overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder? Nobody answered so I’ll ask a little louder[\louder] and on and on until everyone is screaming at the top of their lungs. ``` I guess we drove quite a few bus drivers crazy. ``` ---
**Author:** ![ramapith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@ramapith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramapith)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/26 "2011-06-28T16:15:51Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Now I’m trying to remember a song that my grandfather used to sing for us kids. I think I’ve only got bits and pieces of it, and the last bit may have been thrown in from another song. > > Oh, I live under the viaduct (pronounced wye-a-duct) down by the vinegar (pronounced win-a-ger) works. > > They tie all the children to fences and logs > They do it to keep them from biting the dogs. > > Oh, I live under the viaduct down by the vinegar works Bringing back this old thread simply to link you to [this great version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg2GJE3Za9Q) of the full song! _Me pals is a couple of bulldogs With mustard I sweetens me tea— “Why, there’s only two guys in the world who’s that tough!” Well, both of them babies is me!_ ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/27 "2011-06-28T16:21:37Z")
My mom would always chant this one whenever the moon came into view: I see the moon and the moon sees me, The moon sees somebody I’d like to see, God bless the moon and God bless me, And God bless the somebody I’d like to see. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/28 "2011-06-28T16:22:32Z")
I heard this long before Bruce did it: \*Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man, Washed his face in a fryin’ pan, Combed his head with a wagon wheel, Died with a toothache in his heel So get out the way, old Dan Tucker, It’s too late to get your supper Supper’s over and dinner is cookin’, Old Dan Tucker just standin’ there lookin’\* ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/29 "2011-06-28T16:35:47Z")
Although I found the online text for this at a nursery rhymes place, my grandfather recited it as something he had learned in school. He tried to get me to learn it so I could also recite it, but all I remember now is the first stanza. > **[Contented John](https://www.nursery-rhymes-fun.com/contented-john.html)** > > Contented John A Poetic Lesson on Being Content Contented John (My grandfather’s title was “Honest John Tomkins,” and the spelling of the surname might have had a “p” in it, although I don’t remember seeing a printed version until I tried looking it up just now. Also, the “digger” was a “hedger.” There could be other subtle differences in versions, but the gist is close to the same.) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/30 "2011-06-28T16:58:44Z")
From the first grade, way back in the day, I recall: _Black socks, they never get dirty The more you wear them, the more they get sturdy Sometimes I think of the laundry But something tells me “Don’t think of that yet”_ And _There once was a man named Dirty ol’ Bill Who lived on top of a garbage hill He never took a bath and he never will Phee-yew! Dirty ol’ Bill!_ First grade taught us mixed messages on personal hygiene. In the fourth grade, the library had a copy of Edward Lear’s _Complete Book of Nonsense_ and I could recite “[The Owl & the Pussycat](http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/pussy.html)” from heart. _The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, ‘O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!’_ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/31 "2011-06-30T16:58:14Z")
This is the song that doesn’t end, Yes it goes on and on my friend, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn’t end, Yes it goes on and on my friend, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn’t end, Yes it goes on and on my friend, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn’t end, Yes it goes on and on my friend, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn’t end… Hey, almost forgot the Fox Song! Fox went out on a chilly night Prayed to the moon for to give him light For he’d many a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o, Man a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o. He ran till he came to a great big pen Where the ducks and the geese were put therein “A couple of you will grease my chin Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o, Couple of you will grease my chin Before I leave this town-o.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/32 "2011-07-01T01:45:43Z")
There’s a merry brown thrush singing up in a tree. He’s singing to you. He’s singing to me. And what does he sing, little girl, little boy? Oh the world’s running over with joy. Memorized that for my Kindergarten graduation and soon forgot it. However, on the day of my high school graduation, it all came back to me. Talk about mood-state-dependent memory! ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/33 "2011-07-01T04:12:09Z")
\*\* Miss suzie had a steam boat The steamboat had a bell Miss suzie went to heaven The steamboat went to Hell-o, operator Please give me number nine And if you disconnect me I’ll kick you right Behind The 'frigerator There lay a piece of glass Miss suzie sat upon it And cut her little Ask me no more questions I’ll tell you no more lies The boys are in the bathroom Zipping up their Flies are in the meadow Bees are in the park T the boys and girls are kissing In the D-A-R-K,.dark, dark dark!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/34 "2011-07-01T04:15:37Z")
I also have _The Owl and the Pussycat_ memorized from a kids’ record that set it to music. Froggy went a-courtin’, he did ride, Uh-huh, uh-huh, Froggy went a-courtin’, he did ride, Sword and pistol by his side, Uh-huh, uh-huh… [Rattler is a dog.] Here, Rattler, here! Here, Rattler, here! Call ol’ Rattler from the barn, Here, Rattler, here!.. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/35 "2011-07-01T04:17:13Z")
Deck the halls with gasoline, fa la la la la la la la la Light a match and watch it gleam, fa la la la la la la la la Watch the school yard burn to ashes, fa la la la la la la la la Aren’t you glad you played with matches? fa la la la la la la la la ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/36 "2011-07-01T04:17:37Z")
I remember the.Fox song too, and little bunny foo foo! Eta: I recently taught the very young daughter of a friend little bunny foo foo, complete with hand.gestures, and she made me sing it round about 50 times. That and the bumblebee song were big hits. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/37 "2011-07-01T07:06:13Z")
(From memory.\* Can’t beat Henry Clay Work, 1875. God, I feel old!) My grandfather’s clock stood to tall for the shelf so it spent ninety years on the floor. It was taller by half than the old man himself, though it weighed not a penny-weight more. It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born, And was always his treasure and pride, But it stopped Short Never to go again When the old man died. Ninety years without slumbering, Tick-tock, tick-tock, His life’s seconds numbering, Tick-tock, tick-tock, But it stopped Short Never to go again When the old man died. I never thought of myself as especially ethnic, but the earliest lullabyes I can remember hearing were in German. - - I did pretty well, considering all those years. [My Grandfather's Clock - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Grandfather's_Clock) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/38 "2011-07-01T08:34:57Z")
_“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/39 "2011-07-02T19:18:53Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I heard this long before Bruce did it: > > \*Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man, > Washed his face in a fryin’ pan, > Combed his head with a wagon wheel, > Died with a toothache in his heel > > So get out the way, old Dan Tucker, > It’s too late to get your supper > Supper’s over and dinner is cookin’, > Old Dan Tucker just standin’ there lookin’\* Opie sang that one to his Pa back in the early '60s. This was my Dad’s favorite: I know a dog and his name is Rover He is a very clever pup He can stand up on his back legs If you hold his front ones up mmm ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683/40 "2011-07-02T23:12:55Z")
The Oroweat bread man at our supermarket taught me this one when I was a tiny kid: “The mule has two legs behind And two he has before. If you stand behind, then you will find What the two behind be for.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-you-remember-from-childhood/460683.md?page=3)