# What songs did your parents sing to you as a child? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779 "2005-05-27T16:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/41 "2005-05-28T14:51:37Z")
> [@MerryMagdalen](#): > > I love you a bushel and a peck > A bushel and a peck > And a (whatever the rest of the words are…) The others finished the lyrics for you; I’m just here to mention that it’s from the musical _Guys & Dolls_. It’s sung by burlesque dancers, and I never would have thought of it as something to sing to a child, but isolated like this it’s a _great_ song for a kid to hear! I think my friend’s 3-year-old-son might love it … I’ll have to remember to start singing it to him. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Prancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Prancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prancer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/42 "2005-05-28T17:39:26Z")
> [@MerryMagdalen](#): > > My Grandma used to sing me “Mairsey Doats” and: > > I love you a bushel and a peck > A bushel and a peck > And a (whatever the rest of the words are…) My Grandma used to sing me that one! The rest that part is, “And a hug around the neck.” My Gram used to sing this one, too: "I’m a lonely little petunia in an onion patch An onion patch An onion patch I’m a lonely little petunia in an onion patch And all I do is cry all day! Boo hoo Boo hoo All I do is cry all day!" My Mom sang me Three Little Fishes (which I think was inspired by the Capatin Kangaroo show), and many others, some of which she made up. She made up a song about armpits, which she called boomchickies, mostly to be silly. The song sounded like a high school cheer or a stripper’s theme music: “Boom chicky boom chicky boom boom boom!” The purpose of the song was to encourage us to wash our armpits or just to inspire good hygeine. There was one about getting ready for bed that was “Jammy Time.” She sang a real one that went like this: “Detour, There’s a muddy road ahead Detour, Ain’t got no mind what it said Detour, Should have read That detour sign.” My Dad didn’t really sing too much when I was a kid (still doesn’t), but every once in awhile he’d sing the bass line of a doowap song. I have a theory that I inherited my non-stop internal radio and talent for exteporaneous song from my Mom! I have a whole play list of made-up songs for my dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/43 "2005-05-28T18:23:15Z")
Not a lot of singing in my childhood either. My Nain (Welsh Grandmother) was the most vocal with her uplifting repertoire See Saw majory door Johnny must have a new master He shall have but a penny a day because he can’t work any faster or the Welsh version (excuse the spelling I’ve never seen it written down) See saw majory door Cysgu heddw A meddw yfory (… asleep today drunk yesterday) Or Diddle diddle dumlping my son John Went to bed with his trousers on One shoe off and one shoe on Diddle diddle dumpling my son John ! (do you see a common theme at all?) “There was a little girl who had a little curl…” was a good frequent one one too. More lullaby and less nursery rhyme was - Go to sleep my baby Close your pretty eyes Angels are above you Watch you when you smile The big moon is shining Stars begin to peep Time for little (ahem - she was _old_ ) pickininnies to go to sleep Pickinninny time to go to sleep When pushed Dad had a welsh nursery rhyme about a pony and chestnuts I think then there was this one, which involves placing small child on knees which move up and down at an apropriate rate and evenness How go farmers how go they ? Hobbeldy gee hobbeldy gee How go lords and gentlemen? Trit trot trit and home again How goes the butcher boy who wants to be rich ? Gallop a gallop and (adult opens kness and delighted child almost drops to the floor) And plop in a ditch !! Don’t recall anything from Mum. Eek just realised this reads as a very long post - sorry. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/44 "2005-05-28T18:38:52Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I’m just here to mention that it’s from the musical _Guys & Dolls_. It’s sung by burlesque dancers, and I never would have thought of it as something to sing to a child, but isolated like this it’s a _great_ song for a kid to hear! I think my friend’s 3-year-old-son might love it … I’ll have to remember to start singing it to him. Thanks! 🙂 Sucks that it was cut from the film version. It’s a great love song–my son would always hug me 'round the neck when that part came. Lots of fun. Anyone have the rest of the lyrics to Down in the Valley? Who’s in jail? I only know those two verses. “when Irish eyes are smiling” Skye boat song lots and lots–we did Diddle Diddle Dumpling etc too. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/45 "2005-05-28T18:45:07Z")
My father was a huge fan of folk and old country. He used to sing [Sweet Betsy from Pike](http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/railton/roughingit/map/wombetsy.html) [The Arkansas Traveler](http://freepages.music.rootsweb.com/~edgmon/starkansastraveler.htm) _Wayfarin’ Stranger_ Pretty much anything by The Sons of the Pioneers Lots of Civil War songs (both north and south- the old man could make you cry when he sang _Lorena_ or dance when he sang _Stonewall Jackson’s Way_) I still sing these, albeit to my dogs rather than to kids. My mother has an Edith Bunker style singing voice and didn’t sing to her kids due to state order. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/46 "2005-05-28T19:00:55Z")
This old man , he played one, He played knick knack on his thumb, With a knick, knack, paddy whack, Give the dog a bone; This old man came rolling home. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/47 "2005-05-28T21:01:21Z")
My dad used to sing me a song I’ve never heard anyone else sing. I suppose he could have made it up (and lord knows he made up lots of goofy songs), but it seems a little schmaltzy for that: I see the moon and the moon sees me, the moon sees the one I want to see. So god bless the moon, and god bless me, and god bless the one I wanted to see. Here’s one my dad made up: Who’s got freckles on her nose? I think Kyla Helen\* does. What’s she got those freckles for? I think she found them on the floor. \*Mock me not. Helen was my great-aunt. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/48 "2005-05-29T01:54:36Z")
My mom used to sing, "[I Can Sing a Rainbow](http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/singarainbow.htm) to us when we were little, as well as [“C is for Cookie”](http://www.northern-pine.com/songs/cookie.html). My dad used to sing “My Old Man’s a Sailor” (from the Smothers Brothers) and also, [“The Tattooed Lady”]([http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/TattooedLady.htm#Song](http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/TattooedLady.htm#Song) lyrics). ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/49 "2005-05-29T02:59:10Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > My mom used to sing, "[I Can Sing a Rainbow](http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/singarainbow.htm) to us when we were little, as well as [“C is for Cookie”](http://www.northern-pine.com/songs/cookie.html). > > My dad used to sing “My Old Man’s a Sailor” (from the Smothers Brothers) and also, [“The Tattooed Lady”]([http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/TattooedLady.htm#Song](http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/TattooedLady.htm#Song) lyrics). Heh. My old man used to sing about [a different tattooed lady.](http://www.whyaduck.com/info/movies/scenes/lydia.htm) But never as a lullaby, and well after I had outgrown “Bah-Bah Black Sheep.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/50 "2005-05-29T03:28:46Z")
Tu scendi dalle stelle O Re del Cielo E vieni in una grotta Al freddo al gelo O Bambino mio Divino Io ti vedo qui a tremar, O Dio Beato Ah, quanti ti costo L’avermi amato A te che sei del mondo, Il creatore Mancano panni e fuoco, O mio Signore Caro eletto, Pargoletto, Quanto questa povertà, Piu m’innamora Giacche ti fece Amor povero ancora ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/51 "2005-05-29T06:30:46Z")
What a wonderful thread! I was just thinking about one of the little songs my Mom used to sing to us kids - she was a musician (organist), so we were all introduced to music, especially classical music, fairly early on. One tune she used to sing, the one I was thinking of, was probably something that she made up (or maybe it was her Mom who made it up). It went "I see the moon, the moon sees me, (insert kid’s name) sees the moon, the moon sees (kid)… and I forget the rest of it! We got all the Raggedy Ann songs too; one of my brother’s favorites was “The Tired Old Horse,” my favorite was “the Cookie Bush.” I have four younger brothers, and another song my Mom used to sing was “Pony Boy,” - Pony Boy, Pony Boy, won’t you be my Pony boy, marry me carry me, far across the sea … Giddyup Giddy up, whoa, my Pony Boy. _laughs_ That’s not the complete tune, but most of it (what I can still remember). Thanks for helping me to recall all the songs my Mom sang to us kids! ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/52 "2005-05-29T14:03:01Z")
I remember my mom singing: Did you ever see a lassie A lassie A lassie did you ever see a lassie go this way or that Go this way or that-a way or this way or that-a way Did you ever see a lassie go this way or that? I have no idea about the origin of that song and have never heard it anywhere else. I sing “This Will Be An Everlasting Love” to my son. He then flips on the light to catch me singing it, but I stop and look innocent. He loves that game. I also sing “The Salting of the Slug” by Riders in the Sky and omit the “sex and drugs” line by singing “and I’m skipping this line because I don’t like the words” or some such silliness. That cracks both kids up. I sing them a song I don’t know the title of that goes: I’m blue every Monday Thinking of you Sunday That one day when I’m with you Bo do de oh do It seems that I sigh all day Tuesday I cry all day Wednesday Oh my, how I long for you you oohh And then comes Thursday Gee it’s long, it never goes by Bo de oh de do Friday makes me feel that I’m gonna die But after pay day It’s my fun day I shine all day Sunday That one day when I’m with you Gonna See you next Sunday Uh huh, uh huh I think this song is from the '40’s Finally, I’m looking for the lyrics for a song that says: “He broke my heart in three places Seattle, Chicago and New York” and “(something) we drifted on a lake in Cocomo I whispered ‘Oh, give my heart a break’ so he broke my heart in 4 places” It goes on to break her heart in 5 places, etc and the list of cities becomes quite cumbersome. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/53 "2005-05-29T14:46:29Z")
The moon sees me is a poem, cannot remember the poet–amy be that well known one, anonymous. The verse goes “I see the moon and the moon sees me. I love the moon and the moon loves me.” I loved the “lassie” song–it’s a Scottish (Irish?) folk song. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/54 "2005-05-29T17:00:45Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I remember my mom singing: > > Did you ever see a lassie > A lassie > A lassie > did you ever see a lassie > go this way or that > Go this way or that-a way > or this way or that-a way > Did you ever see a lassie go this way or that? > > I have no idea about the origin of that song and have never heard it anywhere else. I learned that one in Kindergarten in southern California (1947). It was a game. Kids stood in a circle and a girl (lassie) or a boy (laddie) would move to the center and perform some kind of movement (this way and that) while the whole group sang the song. Funny the things you remember. . . and for how long. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/55 "2005-05-30T06:36:01Z")
Wow! This turned into a long thread! I think my dad had a version of the moon song. It was different though. “I see the moon, the moon sees me, We are as happy as can be, Please let the moon that shines on me, Shine on the one I love.” the next verses replaced “moon” with “sun”, “stars” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/56 "2005-05-30T14:37:08Z")
My sister used to sing [[http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~ramsoc/about/songs\_or.htm#rickety](http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~ramsoc/about/songs_or.htm#rickety)] **Rickety-Tickety-Tin** ]([http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~ramsoc/about/songs\_or.htm#rickety](http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~ramsoc/about/songs_or.htm#rickety)) to me. When I looked up the song, I found that either she was singing it wrong or that I remembered it wrong. The way I remember it is: _She cut her baby brother in two A-rickety-tickety-tin She cuter her baby brother in two And served him up in an Irish stew She served him up in an Irish stew And invited the neighbours in, them in She invited the neighbours in._ ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/57 "2005-05-30T17:16:06Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Anyone have the rest of the lyrics to Down in the Valley? Who’s in jail? I only know those two verses. Hmm, googling brings up conflicting ideas of the actual lyrics, so I’ll just post them as I learned them, m’kay? Down in the Valley Valley so low Hang your head over Hear the wind blow Hear the wind blow, love Hear the wind blow Hang your head over Hear the wind blow. Roses love sunshine Violets love dew Angels in heaven Know I love you Know I love you, dear Know I love you Angels in heaven Know I love you If you don’t love me Love who you please Put your arms 'round me Give my heart a squeeze Write me a letter Send it by mail Send it in care of The Birmingham Jail Birmingham Jail, love Birmingham Jail Send it in care of The Birmingham Jail Ok, so now that I think about it that’s probably wrong too, but that’s how I learned it. [Here’s](http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/0489/) a set of lyrics that look kinda right, all the verses I know were included, albeit in a different order. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/58 "2005-05-30T17:37:29Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > She also sang some Carole King and some religious songs, as well as this song about being an old woman, I’ve never heard it anywhere since. > > The chorus was: > > _Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery > Make me a poster of an old rodeo > Just give me one thing that I can hold onto > To believe in a livin’ is such a hard way to go_ That’s a John Prine song “Angel from Montgomery.” The Bonnie Raitt version singing with him is wonderful 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/59 "2005-05-30T22:12:17Z")
Dad used to sing: Ole Dan Tucker was a mean ole man, Washed his face in a frying pan. Combed his hair with a wagon wheel, And he died with a tooth ache in his heel. 😕 I also remember dad drinking a lot of whiskey back then . . . :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Bangiadore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Bangiadore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bangiadore)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779/60 "2005-05-31T00:29:38Z")
My **Babci** (_bop_-shee, Polish grandmother), used to sing to me, when I was very little: Aah-aah-AH! Koht-kee DVAH! STA-reh, BOO-deh, koht-kee DVAH! (That’s phonetic, of course; my Polish spelling is just awful.) Babci spoke little English, and I spoke little of _any_ language at that age; she died before I would have thought to ask her what she’s been singing about. An aunt later told me that it could be translated thusly: Aah-aah-AH! Two kittens! White and grey! Two kittens! I think there may have been another verse, kind of a punch line, but I don’t really remember it. What I do remember is Babci’s ab-so-lutely unconditional love, the ambrosial taste of the raisin bread and pierogi she used to make, and the blackberries from her yard that she’d give me in a bowl with milk and sugar. When she died suddenly at 67, it changed my life as well as the lives of everyone in my family. My Mom used to sing me that “Bushel and a Peck” song sometimes, right about the time when the ‘peck’ was going out of business as a unit of measurement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-did-your-parents-sing-to-you-as-a-child/305779.md?page=4)