Nursery Rhymes

[Mowsehowse]

That reminded me of a two ball rhyme!  Who remembers throwing balls at the wall, catching and chanting rhymes?   

Oh yes.  I got really good at that, and could do it with 3 balls, but I have never mastered the art of true juggling!

[Chilternbirder]

With regard to Baa Baa Black Sheep the rhyme is often thought to refer to the rich pickings from the slave trade rather than to the species Ovis aries. I don't know the origins of the rhyme but "black sheep" was used in that sense (as was "black ivory") as found in the sea shanty "Congo River":

What do you think they had for cargo?
Blow boys blow
Black sheep that had run the embargo
Blow me bully boys blow

The alternative theory that it relates to the medieval wool tax isn't popular with those who actively seek to be offended.

Personally I have no opinion on the two alternatives.

[Mowsehowse]

With regard to Baa Baa Black Sheep the rhyme is often thought to refer to the rich pickings from the slave trade rather than to the species Ovis aries. I don't know the origins of the rhyme but "black sheep" was used in that sense (as was "black ivory") as found in the sea shanty "Congo River":

What do you think they had for cargo?
Blow boys blow
Black sheep that had run the embargo
Blow me bully boys blow

What an interesting idea.

My Oxford dictionary of nursery rhymes dates it to 1744 and only connects it to the wool trade, but perhaps it remained in general usage due to the allusion to slave trading. 

[Designer Jeans]

It used to make my hair stand on end, but my mother in law, who was of Scots/Irish extraction, used to croon to my newborn baby son

Shoot me like an Irish soldier
Do not hand me like a dog
For I fought to free old Ireland
etc

Apparently a song recounting the death of Kevin Barry a member of the IRA, hanged on 1/11/20 as one of 'The Forgotten Ten'.  Mother in law was born in 1929, so nor forgotten at all!

On a lighter note she used to sing an old Glasgow street song

You can't push this granny off the bus
Oh you can't push this granny off the bus
You can push your other granny
Cos she is your mammy's mammy
But you can't push this granny off the bus

Valerie

[jaybelnz]

A bit more.....of the same 

Ye canny push yer granny aff a bus
Nae Ye canny push yer granny aff a bus
Ye can push yer ither granny
Cos she's yer Daddy's Mammy
Ye canny push yer granny aff a bus

Jeanne

[Treetotal]

Anyone remember the rhymes for choosing who would be picked to be " It " in a game:


Ip dip dip
My blue ship
Sailing on the water
Like a cup and saucer
Ip dip dip.

Or

Ickle ockle chocolate bottle
Ickle ockle out.

Oh dear...the spell check didn't like that

Carol

[jaybelnz]

One potato two potato three potato four
Five potato six potato seven potato more. -- you're out!

Ink pink pen and ink
I smell a great big stink
And it smells like Y - O - U! ---you're out!

There another one trying to get out of my head - but it's just not coming!!

Jeanne

Modified - it was Eeny Meeny Miny Mo! 
But long before the days of PC, we said "catch a fella by the toe"!  We just weren't allowed to say that other word, as it was " not a nice word, and very disrespectful" . As so it is!

[Treetotal]

I remember those too....

Was it...

Eeny Meeney miney mo


Carol

[jaybelnz]

Scroll down a bit on this link - has the English translation!


http://www.folkways.si.edu/west-african-song-chants-childrens-ghana/music/tools-for-teaching/smithsonian