What is the etymology of "sis poon bah?"

Factual Questions
1

As proclaimed by Carnac the Magnificent, it is defined as the sound of an exploding sheep. Yes, I get the fact that that’s a joke.

But what exactly is “sis poon bah” and how do you even spell it? I’ve heard the phrase before, otherwise the Carnac joke would make no sense, but I don’t know what it is. Google is not helping either.

2

Do you mean “sis boom bah”, like what cheerleaders (supposedly) say?

3

I’ve always heard it as Sis Boom Bah. My source is Walt Kelly (Pogo).

Wikipedia

4

And the sheep would likely go “Sis, Boom, Baaaaaaaa”

5

I have heard that the term was originally onomatopoeia – it is an imitation of the sounds of a fireworks display – Sssss… BOOM! “Aaaahhh!” But a quick Google didn’t verify that.

6

Okay, this is for sure NOT the original source, but it is quoted herein:

Bodda getta, bodda getta, bodda getta, bah
Rah, rah, rah, Sis Boom Bah,
Weagle, weagle, war damn eagle
Kick 'em in the butt Big Blue!

Heard every Saturday at an Auburn game near you.

ETA: http://www.theloveliestvillage.org/profiles/blogs/boda-getta-bbq-hits-auburn-ala

7

From my mother, who went to Edwall High School in about 1942:

Fadada! Fadada!
Fadada deeten boaten boaten radda dadda boom!
Sis boom bah!
Edwall High School, rah, rah, rah!

8

I always thought Johnny Carson was imitating the old standup comedians in clubs that would have the drummer from the local band play random drum hits after punchlines, but I didn’t find any support for that on Google.

Instead, I found this:

From here:

I don’t know how accurate it is, but it does list a cite.

9

This guy agrees with it, and attests it from 1867, but unfortunately doesn’t give a source.

10

Speaking of sheep and Johnny Carson, the answer to my favorite Carnac The Magnificent joke was:

“Sis boom bah”

“…sis boom bah…”

And the question is: “What does it sound like when a sheep explodes?”

11

sqweels did you by any chance read the OP?

12

Nevermind then.

13

How most people react to incest?

14

Here’s what the OED has to say:

15

See? Knowing how to spell it correctly greatly increases your chance of getting info from Google. :smack:

Thanks!

16

“Bricka bracka firecracka, sis boom bah!
Bugs Bunny, Bugs Bunny, rah rah rah!”

Okay, so that one’s only from 1943. I’ve read the same attribution as engineer_comp_geek up there, so add my concurrence.

17

I can’t offer a cite, I can only pass along a theory I’ve encountered: that, in a years after the American Civil War, it was widely believed that the younger generations were getting soft, since they’d never had to take part in war, which is just the thing to turn a callow youth into a man.

Football was championed as a viable substitute for war, and chants like “Sis boom bah” were supposed to imitate the sounds heard on a battle field.