Since moving to Tennessee back in October, it seems that we need to build an ark for all the rain we’ve had. With all the rain, we’ve been singing songs related to rain like “Rain, Rain Go Away” and “I’m So Sick of all this @#@$%# Rain” (what? you haven’t heard that one?). We’ve also been singing “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” and Tate and I are having a HUGE disagreement about the lyrics of the song.
Here’s my version, verified by Wikipedia.
It’s raining; it’s pouring.
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head,
And couldn’t get up in the morning.
Please note the italicized lyrics. He went to bed and bumped his head.
Tate claims that the lyrics are; He bumped his head and went to bed.
Tate claims his version makes more sense. I appreciate his logic behind the lyrics, I do! It DOES make more sense to bump your head BEFORE going to bed, thus causing one to be unable to get up in the morning. However, it’s a nursery rhyme/kiddie song. These silly songs don’t always make sense, they are not always logical.
Case(s) in point.
“Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe”
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,
Catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers make him pay,
$50 everyday…..
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
Catch a tiger by the toe???? I don’t think there’s any logic in that. (Edited to add: The Wikipedia version states If he hollers, let him go…My version is from circa 1982, Tulsa, OK.)
“Ring around the Rosy”
Ring around the rosy,
A pocket full of posies;
ashes, ashes
we all fall down!
What??? This makes no sense whatsoever. (Edited to add: This song is a lovely ode to the Bubonic Plague. Such a touching subject to sing about.)
I need your help in straightening out Tate since my Wikipedia PROOF did not sway him in his resolve for HIS lyrics. I’m right about the lyrics, He went to bed and bumped his head, aren’t I? AREN’T I???
Ha! We actually always sang it:
He bumped his head on the foot of the bed and couldn’t get up in the morning
which doesn’t make a lot of sense either.
Sorry I didn’t help your argument.
.-= PsychMamma´s last blog ..Chicken Pox Parties and Vaccinations =-.
Nate is WRONG.
You are SO right. Of course he didn’t bump his head before he went to bed. That’s just silly. Even if it does make more sense.
PsychMama, Way to confuse the matter even more. Thanks.
Damn these other versions!
I’m with you…it’s “went to bed, bumped his head…”
But, the Eeny Meeny…I thought it was “If he hollers let him go.” ?
Actually, you are both wrong.
It’s “He went to bed with a bump on his head.”
But, you are closer to correct, so I’ll give it to you.
We always sang, “Went to bed with a cold in his head.”
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers, let him go.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
That’s the version I know. Apparently back in VA in the 50′s my mom was taught that “tiger” was NOT the word — it was The N Word. Real nice. NOT.
As for ring around the rosey, it is a bubonic plague song. Good times.
You are right.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..StayCations =-.
Sarah, Your version is correct according to Wikipedia. But I’m right about the bumped his head song! Score!
VDog, I know! A song about Bubonic plague! What a subject to sing about.
And the n-word! AWFUL. I had no idea. And your version about if he hollers is right according to Wikipedia.
He bumped his head on the headboard. “He went to bed and bumped his head.” Totally legit explanation. Tate is plain cuckoo on this one.
As for Eeny, meeny: same as VDog. And, although I was taught “tiger,” like VDog’s mother, others in VA in the 70s also used the very bad word. I still can’t hear the “song” without cringing.
.-= patois´s last blog ..Baby, Comeback! =-.
Slacker Mama, No, siree, you’re wrong according to Wikipedia!
You know I’m just poking fun, right?!
Ring Around the Rosey is about the black plague or something. It’s a delightful childrens song about dying (hence the “we all fall down” line).
Could the “bumped his head” thing be regional? I’m pretty sure it’s “bumped his head and he went to bed” but I live in Minnesota and we do everything bass-ackwards here.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..A really fun quiz about Elle =-.
You’re right! Even if Tate’s version is more logical – but you can’t just go changing decades of senseless singing based on logic!
My version of Eeny Meeny is if he hollers let him go. Were is pay 50 dollars come from??
We always sang:
“He went to bed and covered his head”
Hrm.
I always assumed he bumped his head on the headboard too- which I’ve done when my butt lands too close to it when I lay down- usually after my vodka tonics have landed too close to my mouth!
I go with your version!
I am definitely on your side on this one.
And if you think about it, most nursery rhymes aren’t really all that pleasant, lyric-wise.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..My Birthday =-.
Jen, the black plague history behind Ring around the Rosey is debated now as false. It makes sense, all except that it was never actually published until 1881…two centuries after the resurgence of the plague in London.
You are totes right (at least by my version). Oh and I sing the other one “if he hollers make him pay” too.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Chase – Month 1 =-.
That is how I sing it. However, my grandmother rarely knows the right lyrics to those songs, and she taught me, so we could all be wrong!
I’m afraid I’m with Tate–we always sang his version.
Tate is right – his version does make more sense. But it’s also completely wrong.
.-= Vic´s last blog .. =-.
You’re right on both Eeny Meeny and on catch a tiger, always make him pay.
My mother told me
to pick the very best one
And you are not it.
Seattle’s versions in the 70′s.
never heard the N word version, yikes.
Interesting discussion. I sign it “Went to bed, with a bump on his head”.
Yeah…tell him, sorry, it’s He went to bed and bumped his head…
LOL. I still sing it when it rains
Not sure about the head bumping…BUT
Eeeny, meenie, miney moe
catch a tiger by the toe
if he hollars LET HIM GO.
Eeny maeeny miney moe.
And the asshes, ashes?
It is an old english rhyme children sang as they carried the deceased to the grave yard. Along the line of ‘ashes to ashes,a nd dust to dust’….Posies were a traditional flower of the mourning. And ‘we all fall down’?..WE all DIE eventually.
So it makes sense. But is dark and morbid.
.-= The Glamorous Life´s last blog ..A tribute to Michael… =-.
You are right, he is wrong, that is why I sing this song!!
Apparently making sense is not of any concern to nursery rhyme composers.
(And how weird is it that WHILE I was typing this comment, my 4yo randomly broke out into “Rain, Rain Go away”!)
.-= Jo@Mylestones´s last blog ..Prodigal June =-.
I just tested my boys on how they sing it and they only knew up to the old man is snoring, so they were no help.
My mother agrees with Tate only because it makes sense. I’m pretty sure I sang it your way and never really thought about it making sense. It’s not supposed to.
.-= Jean M.´s last blog ..Vacation Day 1 =-.
I always thought he went ot bed and bumbed his head. like missed the pillow and hit the headboard. lol
Went to bed and bumped his head. Definitely.
I never heard that “make him pay” version of eeny meeny miny mo. Neat!
You are right “he went to bed and bumped his head…”
I also sang “if he hollers let him go”.
And strangely, I knew that the ring around the rosy song was about the plague.
.-= Michelle Smiles´s last blog ..No such thing as a quick trip =-.
You are both wrong!
“It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring, He bumped his head on the foot of his bed, and couldn’t get up in the morning.”
Also:
“Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo. Catch a tiger by the toe, If he hollers, let him go. Eenie Meenie Minie Mo.”
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Rules For =-.
HellTygr, When I matured into a 3rd grader and lived in Springfield, MO, we also added:
…and you are not it
You dirty dishrag, you.
i constantly question this every.time.i.sing.it!!!
but, yes.
i learned your way. went to bed and bumped his head.
which DOESN’T make sense. b/c if you’re in bed, you shouldn’t be bumping anything.
which is why i’ve questioned it. (ok, think like a kid and not a grownup here)
score one for you.
and, i don’t really pay attention to the fact it probably means he died.
oh, and yeah, that tiger? if he hollers, let him go.
these things are definitely regional, because i always thought it was Tate’s way and gabe thinks it’s your way.
but we both say “if he hollers let him go”
BUT, this is an interesting one. his parents – who are british – says hushah, hushah instead of ashes, ashes. maybe to be less morbid?
NEVER use Wikipedia ~Love, your librarian
For the record: In Ohio, in the 1960′s , it was Tate’s way. Tho…Wikipedia’s version of the tiger song is the way I learned it….Oh well! I can only be right 50% of the time (unless you are one of my kids, then I am right ALL the time
We sang It’s Raining, It’s Pouring the way you did. But we did Eeny Meany Miney Mo the way Wikipedia says. And Ring Around the Rosie? That’s just too creepy. I stay away from that one.
.-= Sue @ My Party of 6´s last blog ..karma, she’s a betch =-.
My dad was talking about the eenie meenie song too, like VDogs mom – he used to sing it with the n-word too. gotta love the 50s.
Also – you are right. Of course.
I do change the words – I always sing – “he went to bed and bumped his head and didn’t wake up ’til the morning.” Only because it’s sort of sad singing that he didn’t wake up at all.
.-= Cathy´s last blog ..Some Days =-.
I have to hand it to Tate on this one. He bumped his head and he went to bed.
And Eeny, Meeny, Minie, Moe makes me cringe EVERY time I hear it. I hate it when my 5yo started singing it (learned it on the playground, or course.)
So right. Completely totally right. I’d err on the side of illogical lyrics in childrens’ songs any time. They make no sense. Ever.
I’m no expert, but I always sang it like you do. One more vote for you!
We always sang it, “bumped his head WHEN he went to bed”.
We sang
“Its raining, its pouring.
The Old Man is snoring.
He went to be with a lump on his head.
And couldn’t get up til morning”
We also sang if he hollers let ‘em go.
hmpf… neither of those is the version i learned. ours went:
it’s raining, it’s pouring
the old man is snoring
he went to bed with a cold in his head and didn’t get up until morning.
and the tiger thing? we say, ‘if he hollers let him go’ cause i’m pretty sure a tiger wouldn’t know what to do with $50
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Flashback Friday! =-.
Sorry, he bumped his head and went to bed : (
.-= Juliet´s last blog ..Sobriety =-.
I learned it “He bumped his head and went to bed…” I always thought it was a commentary on concussions and a reminder to periodically wake the person up. Is that morbid? (Dont’ answer that.)
.-= Alison´s last blog ..In Honor of Finals Week… =-.
I agree with you on this one. He went to bed and bumped his head…I hope you guys see some sunny days soon!
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Creepy Crawlies =-.
I agree on the first, went to bed and bumped his head. However as I recall (born 1986) if you catch a tiger by his toe and he hollers, let him go! This sounds far more logical to me. But I kinda dig your version except that it doesn’t fit as well to me.
.-= Stassja´s last blog ..Uh, sure, k. =-.
me again.
for what it’s worth- i asked The Mr. to sing the song.
he sang it correctly (ie: our versions).
score 2 for you!
.-= mpotter´s last blog ..why, yes. there ARE 3 L’s! =-.