This entry was posted in Folk speech, Game, general and tagged child, children's rhymes, counting out, rhymes on Apby Amelia Getahun. Rankin, Counting-out Rhymes: a Dictionary (University of Texas Press, 1980)). For example, during World War II, children in Atlanta recited this version of the rhyme: “Eenie, meenie, minie, moe/Catch the emperor by his toe/If he hollers make him say:/’I surrender to the USA.'” There have also been racist variations of this rhyme using the n-word that appeared in the mid- to late-1800s, around the time of the Civil War.įor more versions of this rhyme, see “Counting-out Rhymes: A Dictionary” by R.
After doing some research, I found that different versions of the rhyme have arisen over time, each of them reflecting the specific time period during which they were invented. Because this rhyme exists in the United Kingdom as well as in other English-speaking countries, I thought it was interesting that this version specifically referenced the colors of the American flag. The “red, white, and blue” part of the rhyme was particularly interesting to me, because it made this version specific to the U.S. The fact that this rhyme has been so widespread and also has so many different versions demonstrates the “multiplicity and variation” of folklore as laid out by Dundes. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a tiger by his toe, if he hollers let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Though these were not the lyrics I remember from when I was younger, I recited a version of this rhyme when I was growing up, and almost everyone I know also knows this rhyme. ' Eenie, meenie, miny, moe' ' Catch a tiger by its toe. This was particularly interesting to me, because this is a rhyme that is fairly universal in children’s lore. I haven't corrected her- for one because I think less of the racist origins of this rhyme and have a surreal image of a monkey catching a tiger on his toe- also. “Eenie Meenie Miney Moe/catch a tiger by the toe/if he hollers make him pay/fifty dollars every day/red, white, and blue/I choose you.” GO H has been saying this, her version, for a really long time. Though she could not remember where she first heard it, she believes it was from other kids at school when she was younger. I asked her about what rhymes she knew, and she shared this one with me. The informant is my 9-year-old cousin, who lives in Buena Park, California.
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