One of the joys of childhood: annoying everybody with novelty songs.

1962: Four third-graders around the piano. One of them plunks out a song. They're practicing for the school's Talent Show. Their selection? 'Oh, My Darling Clementine'. This goes on for an hour, until everybody's ears hurt. The youthful pianist is finally satisfied. Older people sigh with relief. Until. . . from the hallway comes a tiny, piping voice, 'In a cav-ern, in a can-yon, exca-vat-ing for a mine. . . '

Two-year-old Tricia has learned a new song. It was a rough couple of weeks.

Didn't you do that when you were a kid? Sure you did. Refresh your childhood memories. Identify the titles of the songs with these weird lyrics, beloved of children.

1. The mush was as tasty as tasty could be,
   
   And early next summer it grew to a tree.
2. Jeremiah was a bullfrog,
   
   Was a good friend of mine. . .
3. I rode my bicycle past your window last night
   
   I roller-skated to your door at daylight. . .
4. Well you left me anyhow
   
   And then the days got worse and worse
   
   And now you see I've gone
   
   Completely out of my mind. . .
5. Slide down my rain barrel,
   
   Into my cellar door
   
   And we'll be jolly friends forevermore.
6. Well my daddy left home when I was three
   
   And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
   
   Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. . .
7. Rollin', rollin', rollin'
   
   Though the streams are swollen. . .
8. The prettiest tree
   
   That you ever did see
   
   Now, the tree in a hole
   
   And the hole in the ground. . .
9. Trailer for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents.
   
   No phone, no pool, no pets. . .
10. Remember, my darlin'
    
    When spring is in the air,
    
    And the bald-headed birds are whistlin' everywhere,
    
    When you see them walkin' southward in their dirty underwear. . .

Click the picture for answers and earworms.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

02.10.17 Front Page

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