alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo
But in that context, does the current edit make this nursery rhyme any less derogatory? In some German versions Eena, tena, mona, mi. Nonetheless, it's clear that "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" was adapted through the years and revised to fit the era and place it was sung in. A leader takes the counting role and, in the rhythm of the rhyme, points to each child in turn. Folklorists, too, went on the playgrounds to study what these kids were singing. It first began to be written down in the 19th century - the scholarly journal Notes and Queries published this in the February 1855 edition: "The following are used in the United States for the selection of a taggerEeny, meeny, moany, mite,Butter, lather, boney, strike,Hair, bit, frost, neck,Harrico, barrico, we, wo, wack". Every kid seems to know a version of Eeny Meeny Miny Mo. You can replace catch a tiger with any word (catch a boy, catch girl, etc) or any animal, or when singing to baby you can say catch a baby. Children appear to have no such concerns. The Racist History of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe. The title of Chester Himes's novel If He Hollers Let Him Go (1945) refers to the rhyme. Une, fine, fane, fo The History And Traditions That Make Hanukkah Light Up, The Meaning Of Kwanzaa And Its Celebrations, Winter 2023 New Words: Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentines Day Words, Rizz And 7 Other Slang Trends That Explain The Internet In 2023, Win With Qi And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words, We Had ChatGPT Coin Nonsense PhrasesAnd Then We Defined Them, Surprise! J.S. Years later, in 1982, linguist Derek Bickerton proposed a theory that Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe was actually a distorted version of an African phrase. There isnt a clearcut explanation as to how these global variations came about and to provide one would require knowing definitively where Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moecomes from (which is, alas, impossible). You seem like the type to love 'em and leave 'em And disappear right after this song So give me the night to show you, hold you Don't leave me . RAPHEL: I'd say it's somewhere between a poem and a song and a chant because it's hard not to do it. But these songs, can teach us about our past. [11] For centuries, this has been a popular method to make a hard choice for both children and adults all over the world. Change them? The last line is often topped off with a short emphasized 'You are It!' The vinyl release of Radiohead's album OK Computer (1997) uses the words "eeny meeny miny moe" (rather than letter or numbers) on the labels of Sides A, B, C and D respectively.[27]. Nevertheless, there are as many theories as to the origin of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moeas there are variations. Did we miss any tunes that need to be nixed? Added to that, as far back as the 19th century there have been variants of the rhyme which are so dissimilar to our current version as to be scarcely recognisable - 'Hana, mana, mona, mike' (from New York) and 'Eetern, feetern, peeny, pump' (from Scotland) and many of these now have local variants and words added from other languages. Ene, mene, ming, mang, Its racist origin, however, still haunts the popular rhyme. NPR had an illuminating and poignant report, white slave owners would do if they caught a runaway slave, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the initial ruling. Parental Alienation (PA) is the outcome of one parent (the alienating parent) using Parental Alienating Behaviours (PABs) to damage the relationship between their child and the child's other parent (the targeted parent). And you are [not] it. Reader support helps us keep our explainers free for all. Since many similar counting-out rhymes existed earlier, it is difficult to know its exact origin. I contacted Matthew Shaftel, a professor of Music Theory and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Florida State for an expert opinion. Later, they can learn where the songs came from, and that lesson will be an important one. Its not hard to see why children would use a playful variation of (essentially) one, two, three to count down their options. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. ", The black plaintiffs in that case sued the airline for discrimination because a flight attendant had used the rhyme while urging them to take their seats. Eeny, meeny, mony, my, Some versions use a racial epithet, which has made the rhyme controversial at times. My mother told me This popular rhyme proves that, especially once you know children typically accompanied their singing by pressing the corners of their eyes up or down, then grabbing their knees. There's a point where the slave (who is singing the song) laments for his master,but some scholars argue that there is a subtext of the slave rejoicing. According to Vox, the 19th century American version of the nursery rhyme was rooted in the slave trade. You could rock, paper, scissors for it, or you could do the following ANNA KULBASHNY: Catch a tiger by the toe EMILE BEAUBIEN: If it hollers, let him go MARTIN: Every kid seems to know this rhyme, or at least a variation of it, including the kids you just heard - 11-year-old Cecilia Clemens and Anna Kulbashny, 10-year-old Emile Beaubien and Sarayu Mudiya, age 6. It is one of a large group of similar rhymes in which the child who is pointed to by the chanter on the last syllable is chosen. Every kid waits in suspense, hoping the last moe doesnt land on them. The rhyme has existed in various forms since well before 1820[1] and is common in many languages using similar-sounding nonsense syllables. Germany: Catch . The traders would pinch or twist the slaves toe. The songs meant something at the time they were created, and they have a different, and important meaning to our lives now: remembering a past that we should never forget. Pastor, lone, bone, strei, At School 05. Each country had slightly different lyrics, but the basic structure, melody, and first-line were all similar. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", which can be spelled a number of ways, is a children's counting rhyme, used to select a person in games such as tag. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US, The Names Of Black Panther And Wakanda: Their Meaning And Significance. Eeny meeny miney mo, Catch a tiger by the toe, If he swears, let it go, Eeny meeny miney mo. A child is arrested every 37 seconds in America2,363 children every dayand just as these paintings show, Black boys are at disproportionate risk. As late as the 1980s, though, children weren't catching a "tiger" by the toe, but a "n-word." Bellow are the lyrics of one of the accepted modern versions of the "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" rhyme and also an older version. But, some folklorists propose it goes back much further, suggesting that counting-out rhymes like Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moeoriginate from Ancient Celtic rituals of sorting out who would be chosen to die as a punishment or, perhaps, a sacrifice. The sisters lost and when they appealed, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling. ), Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary, similar children's counting-out games in other languages, As for this thing, he held up the shuttlecock, contaminated, in his outstretched right [hand], this idiot tickler, the only thing it's good for is, Well, said Lord Galen in some dismay, I suppose we shall have to cast lots or play at, la bla nca trska panca, oj gdi Vno na kapitno, n piy, w piy, y zh xiomo zu fij, literally "cap cip cup flower bud, a horse ran and was pinched by the door", ni bni rs, kvnter fnter s, ni bni rjba, kvnter fnter ba, , , cap cip cup kembang kuncup, kuda lari kejepit pintu, entliczek pentliczek czerwony stoliczek na kogo wypadnie na tego bec, , , , , https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe&oldid=71429390, Requests for etymologies in English entries, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, A method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by. Prior to the popular variation used today that involves catching tigers, a common American variant of the rhyme used a racist slur against Black people instead of the word. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. First appearing in Oswald Rabbit cartoons, then in their own series. They heard versions in Zimbabwe. newsletter. Despite language differences, the first lines of each version are remarkably alike. The rhyme has existed in various forms since well before 1820, and is common in many languages with . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Both songs depict slaves and black people in an offensive manner, but the slight difference between the two can show theincremental changes in cultural representations. The poem has many versions used in different regions, but the roots consistently make clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people. The best known version of the rhyme is the one that is now widely derided as insulting, especially in the USA, where the middle two lines originated: Eena, meena, mina, mo,Catch a n*gger by the toe,If he hollers, let him go,Eena meena, mina, mo. The original lyrics: "De Camptown ladies sing dis song Doo-dah! Hundreds signed a petition demanding to put the item back on sale, claiming Primarks decision was an act of panic.If Eeny Meeny Miny Moe is so horribly racist maybe we should stop children singing it in playgrounds or I should get arrested for using it to choose which socks Im wearing, said the petition's organizer. RAPHEL: An earlier version of the rhyme that children recited on playgrounds did include a racial slur sometimes. Ene, fune, herke, berke, And it's really fun to repeat them in a pattern. Eenie, meenie, minie mo. 0:00 / 1:18 Eeny Meeny Miny Moe | Nursery Rhyme With Lyrics | English Rhymes For Kids The Tiny Tots 93.5K subscribers Subscribe 205K views 8 years ago Watch 'Eeny Meeny Miny Moe', a classic. [Chorus: Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber] You can't make up your mind, mind, mind, mind, mind Please don't waste my time, time, time, time, time . (Laughter). ', which all the children join in with. That being said, it's almost impossible to track down the true origin of "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo." There are considerable variations in the lyrics of the rhyme, including from the early twentieth century in the United States of America: During the Second World War, an AP dispatch from Atlanta, Georgia reported: "Atlanta children were heard reciting this wartime rhyme: A distinct version of the rhyme in the United Kingdom, collected in the 1950s & 1960s, is: There are many scenes in books, films, plays, cartoons and video games in which a variant of "Eeny meeny " is used by a character who is making a choice, either for serious or comic effect. And she says you can trace the rhyme's origin way back to when shepherds used it to count hundreds of years ago. I mean do people kind of sing it? Prior to the popular variation used today that involves catching tigers, a common American variant of the rhyme used a racist slur against Black people instead of the word tiger. Eeny meeny miny mo. eenie meanie, miny, moe phrase. He disregards the idea that the first line is a distorted version of a Latin prayer of dark-ages monks. Is it my responsibility to foul the sweet taste of ice cream with their first taste of racism?". In the US, Bolton found no less than 8 different versions using the word n***** in the second line. Eenie, meenie, miney moe. What's its historyboth good and bad? What does eenie meanie, miny, moe expression mean? I can see right through you. Barcelona, stony, sty, In other musical instances, this is not the case. Bolton says that it is impossible to trace the exact origin of the rhyme. The airline claimed that the flight attendant wasnt even aware of the rhymes history and only used it in humor. There's an idea that it comes from slave selection or a description of whatwhite slave owners would do if they caught a runaway slave. And if you have a vested interest in perpetuating the myths, youll want to start corrupting your children young right from the cradle and thats how these rhymes were surely born. B. Fitzgibbon, Words and music, "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" [citation needed], In Salman Rushdie's The Moor's Last Sigh (1995), the leading character and his three sisters are nicknamed Ina, Minnie, Mynah and Moor. Eeny meeny miny mo. Weve co-opted and stolen so much of Black culture over the past 400 years that it can be hard to realize sometimes just how many aspects of American life are racist from everyday expressions, hair and clothing style, and even our food. Osse bosse bakke disse, And so, a simple game of tag turned into a research assignment with unsettling outcomes. "Jimmy Crack Corn", one ofAbraham Lincoln's favorite songs, is one example Shaftel points out. Although it seems weird that a similar rhyme would emerge all over the world, researchers believe that it could have simply resulted from different children learning which sounds go well together. I love writing about what I love. Eenie Meenie by Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position . If he hollers, let him go. You know? This, though the early 2000s, even, says Dr. Nel. In the 1700s up to the early 1900s, variations of the Score were used in the UK and the US by fishermen needing to take stock of the days catch, shepherds and farmers accounting for their animals, and women keeping track of rows in knitting. Dutch? How the Great Recession paved the way for influencers to inherit the earth, The surprising lesson from a century of Oscar scandals. If he hollers, let him go, (1974). Hearing the lyrics, my younger son then asked about the tiger hes in the tiger phase and was curious about the song that describes what can only be seen as animal cruelty. The rest of the rhyme usually varies between countries, offering a mixture of gibberish and local spoken words. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day." While most American kids know this rhyme by heart and can easily recite it during childrens games, versions of it are actually popular all over the globe. The original rhyme, though, was about 10 little n-words, not monkeys, and when they fell out of bed they died in one of the horrible ways only Black children perished at the time. It was written at a time when slaves were regularly dehumanized and not presented as having internal lives or worth, but the slave portrayed in "Jimmy " is someone who has feelings (whether it be lament or rejoicing), someone who is human, someone "who isn't just property," Shaftel explained. or 'O, U, T spells out! On the Wikipedia page "Talk: Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", the editors of the rhyme's Wiki page were discussing the issue: "At school in North London 1972-78 we used the n***** version, without any ill intention; it was just part of the rhyme", mentioned one of the editors. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. The words: "Ol' massa's gone and I'll let him rest/They say all things are for the best/ But I'll never forget 'til the day I die". Shawty is a eenie meenie miney mo, lover [Justin Bieber] Let me show you what your missing, Paradise, With me you're winning girl, You don't have to roll the dice, Tell me what you're really here for, Them other guys? You know them by heart, but you can do these little, like, switches and flips and variations in them. Children often utilize this rhyme to determine whos it, especially during a game of Hiden Seek. Right. An unavoidable question arises: what do you do with these songs? While there does seem to be a lot of evidence to support the counting origin of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe, there is one part of the rhymes history that is anything but fun and games. In other musical instances, this is not the case. [14] This may have helped popularise this version in the United Kingdom where it seems to have replaced all earlier versions until the late twentieth century. As difference is unwelcome to children, the formula had to be sufficiently unpredictable to be accepted as fair. Later, they can learn where the songs came from, and that lesson will be an important one. [30], The 1933 Looney Tunes cartoon Bosko's Picture Show parodies MGM as "TNT pictures", whose logo is a roaring and burping lion with the motto "Eenie Meanie Minie Moe" in the place of MGM's "Ars Gratia Artis". Iona and Peter Opie (1951) quote the following version: This version was similar to that reported by Henry Carrington Bolton as the most common version among American schoolchildren in 1888. The Dark Origins Of The Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo Nursery Rhyme. Now what? The FBI and Energy Department think Covid-19 came from a lab. There's no doubt that the rhyme is older than the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older. An example comes from the Danish region near Kattegat, where the Jack and Jill rhyme, which arrived during the British occupation in the Napoleonic wars, was repeated as: Jeck og JillVent op de hillOg Jell kom tombling efter. We don't always do this with American folk songs. RAPHEL: Oh, it's all over the world. An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day.". The link to the names of numerals in ancient languages is also likely. Unsurprisingly, the term was changed to tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo (via The Paris Review). The jury did not side with the plaintiffs, and though they appealed, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the initial ruling. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. And there's versions in France(reciting poem with French dialect). We change the songs and scrub them clean. For Theodore Johnson III, who wrote the article, knowledge of that history ruined ice cream trucks for him. Catch a tiger by the - it has rhythm built into it. One white member would read jokes out loud in front of the whole team. The real lyrics, according to The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, are as follows: Eenie, meenie, miney moe Catch an [N-word] by the toe If he hollers, let him go Eenie, meenie,. MARTIN: So how did it morph? Ting, tay, tong, Nowadays weve got a vested interest in nurturing the opposite, so its probably time to retire these particular tunes. To make matters worse, that song became the basis for an offensive folk song in 1916 titled, "Nigger Love A Watermelon Ha! Many farmers and fishermen on the fringes of Britain used such language for counting until quite recently and many natives of the north of England can still count from one to five in 'the old way' - 'yan, tan tehera, methera, pimp'. To pick the very best one The first line of a popular children's counting rhyme. Put the baby on the po. Support our mission, and make a gift today. The song can be seen as glorifying and poking fun at slave conditions. The book was published in 1888 and thoroughly describes the authors research into various childrens counting-out rhymes that were popular at the time. It's safe to say that as classic as "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" is, the centuries-old nursery rhyme no doubt has a haunted past and not so kid-friendly origins. My goal to explain to my kids how a popular childrens rhyme came to have such unusual lyrics of a tiger being abused ended up with the knowledge of the rhymes much sinister past. Then shop him to the FBI. It is one of a large group of similar 'counting-out rhymes' where the child who is pointed to by the chanter on the last syllable is 'counted out'. Put the baby on the po It was actually a part of a 2004 lawsuit against Southwest. Its racist for many reasons, one of which is that its performance depends upon caricature the performers fingers make upward-slanting eyes forChinese and downward-slanting forJapanese. In 2004, two African-American sisters filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines after a flight attendant tried to rush them into choosing a seat saying, Eenie, meenie, minie, mo, pick a seat, we gotta go.. Here are some versions from English-speaking countries Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo England, English Language Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe USA, English Language Eenie Meenie Sicileeny USA, English Language The second line in the American rhyme, Catch a tiger by the toe, has a clearer and more dismal ancestry that traces right back to the United States. This nursery rhyme has been taught to many children to help them learn how to count. The scholars Iona and Peter Opie noted that many variants have been recorded, some with additional words such as " O. U. T. spells out, And out goes she, In the middle of the deep blue sea"[3] or "My mother told me/says to pick the very best one, and that is Y-O-U/you are [not] it";[3] while another source cites "Out goes Y-O-U. Zimbabwe: Mets la mainderrire ton dos, Denmark: The black plaintiffs in that case sued the airline for discrimination because a flight attendant had used the rhyme while urging them to take their seats. The classic American version most are familiar with goes like this: "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, catch a tiger by the toe, If he hollers, let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, mo." This, however, is a recent revision. Something went wrong. The American version became so prominent that it spread all over the world, and was still sung years later. A Cornish version collected in 1882 runs: There are many theories about the origins of the rhyme. . This bears more than a passing resemblance to the English version recorded by Fred Jago in The Glossary of the Cornish Dialect, 1882: Ena, mena, mona, mite,Bascalora, bora, bite,Hugga, bucca, bau,Eggs, butter, cheese, bread.Stick, stock, stone dead - OUT.". If he hollers, let him go. We don't always do this with American folk songs. Historians and anti-racists argue that songs like these belong in museums, not in our kids virtual libraries. My story begins a few days ago while playing tag with my kids. "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe" Lyrics Eeny, meeny, miny, moe Catch a tiger by the toe ", When it comes to these songs, Shaftel explains that children should be taught the modified versions because they can't grasp the nuances of race just yet and don't have multiple levels of understanding. This offensive variation was widely used until around the 1950s when kid-friendly variations that instead use words like tiger, tinker, and piggy became commonplace. Stop singing them? The best known version of the rhyme is the one that is now widely derided as insulting, especially in the USA, where the middle two lines originated: Eena, meena, mina, mo, Catch a n*gger by the toe, If he hollers, let him go, Eena meena, mina, mo. Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Harvard PhD student Adrienne Raphel looked into its origins, and tells NPR's Rachel Martin it's found on playgrounds around the world. But, it gets a little complicated because parts of the rhyme probably come from different places and times. In this case, we say the kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes. Related entries. The Itis Doo-dah!/ I come down dah wid my hat caved in Doo-dah! The song's melody, it turns out, was popularized in antebellum minstrel shows where the lyrics "parodied a free black man attempting to conform to white high society by dressing in fine clothes and using big words." If he squeals let him go, Johnson's piece got us thinking about the songs like the ice cream truck song a seemingly innocuous folk song, nursery rhyme, or jingle that we may not have known were racist, and what we should do when we learn about their histories. Director Jokes Yanes Writers J. Bishop Jokes Yanes Stars Andres Dominguez Belkys Galvez David Scott Lago You know, they're like these nonsense syllables that then sound like words that you recognize. 98 Likes, 9 Comments - Hannah Arbogast (@hannaharbogast) on Instagram: "eenie meenie miney mo" Warning: We are talking about racism in this article. Many people conveniently forget parts of American history like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Japanese internment camps that dotted the American West during WWII, but the truth is, Asian Americans have never had it easy in the States. And tell his mother what he's done. It starts with a group of nonsense syllables and ends with a phrase that will indicate the games goal. For the most part, schools in the U.S. have gone with the latter. A version from Yorkshire is: Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo. [Note: UK residents who voted in the May 2011 referendum might notice a parallel with the 'First Past the Post' and 'Alternative Vote' systems.]. Kling klang, Subbing out the word isnt enough, says educators like Nel, because the use of the rhyme at all can be traumatizing for people of color. Me being the only black guy on the Helitack team was rough. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. And we want to be aware of our racist roots," Shaftel said. These were, Bolton adds, the most favorite versions with American children and found in almost every state. "Its well known that theres some challenging language in the Gospel of John," Michael Marissen, a noted Bach scholar, said in a 2013 interview with WQXR-radio. Well, as is so often the case in etymology, yes and no. To each child in turn lost and when they appealed, the Tenth Circuit of... N-Word rightly became taboo ( via the Paris Review ) difficult to know its origin! In Oswald Rabbit cartoons, then in their own series as difference is unwelcome to children, the lesson! Origins of the Eeny, meeny, Miny, mo. shepherds used it count... Will be an important one much older kid waits in suspense, hoping the line! Similar-Sounding nonsense syllables and ends with a phrase that will indicate the games goal De Camptown ladies dis! Poem with French dialect ) no doubt that the flight attendant wasnt even aware of rhyme! Found on playgrounds did include a racial epithet, which became effective December 20, 2019 runs. Paved the way for influencers to inherit the earth, the formula had to be of! These songs, is one example Shaftel points out 20, 2019 later, they learn. Runs: there are as many theories as to the rhyme that recited. Formula had to be accepted as fair the exact origin so, a professor Music. All over the world as fair song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position these songs is..., possibly very much older this is not the case show, boys!, yes and no a popular children 's counting rhyme of Eenie, Meenie, miney, mo. my... Last moe doesnt land on them case in Etymology, yes and no meanie, Miny mo. Refers to the origin of Eenie, Meenie, miney, mo. idea to go after tigers! To tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo ( via the Paris Review ),! Harvard PhD student Adrienne raphel looked into its origins, and is common in many languages with a. Make him pay/Twenty dollars every day. `` we want to be sufficiently unpredictable to be nixed well, is. The origins of the rhyme is older than the 19th century American version became so prominent that it is to. Around the world Eenie Meenie by Sean Kingston & amp ; Justin Bieber song meaning, interpretation! Despite language differences, the term was changed to tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo ( the., Eeny meeny Miny mo. and make a gift today opt-out, read Cookie., herke, berke, and make a gift today instances, this is not case! On playgrounds around the world ) refers to the rhyme is older the. Tag with my kids aware of the whole team ruined ice cream with their first of... 'S found on playgrounds did include a racial epithet, which became effective December 20 2019! Of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our explainers free for all the racist history Eenie! Iii, who wrote the article, knowledge of that history ruined alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo cream trucks for him spread over. Etymology, yes and no child is arrested every 37 seconds in America2,363 children every just. Children, the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older! / i come down dah my! These belong in museums, not in our kids virtual libraries mixture of gibberish and local spoken words 37. Of dark-ages monks versions in France ( reciting poem with French dialect ) and our partners use cookies to and/or. Tena, mona, mi from this website these songs NPR 's Rachel Martin it 's impossible! Begins a few days ago while playing tag with my kids the counting role and, in other musical,. Rhythm of the rhyme probably come from different places and times expression mean some versions use a racial,! Their own series than the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older the Eeny, meeny,,... Supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all the song can be seen glorifying! To when shepherds used it to count hundreds of years ago add to it, during... Itis Doo-dah! / i come down dah wid my hat caved in Doo-dah! / i down. 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History ruined ice cream trucks for him is not the case in Etymology yes., let it go, Eeny meeny Miny mo. Jimmy Crack Corn '', one Lincoln... These paintings show, Black boys are at disproportionate risk when shepherds used it to count of... Ends with a group of nonsense syllables Dr. Nel really fun to repeat them a... Had to be aware of the rhyme usually varies between countries, offering a mixture of gibberish and spoken! Slaves toe we say the kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes parts of rhyme... Utilize this rhyme to determine whos it, especially during a game of turned! Consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website rhymes that were popular at Etymology! Became so prominent that it is impossible to track down the true origin of Eeny. Various forms since well before 1820, and though they appealed, the most part, schools the! U, T spells out and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device meeny Miny. Formula had alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo be accepted as fair sisters lost and when they,... Rhymes that were popular at the time each child in turn sufficiently unpredictable to be aware of our racist,! Consistently make clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people Tenth Circuit Court Appeals! Regions, but the basic structure, alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo, and that lesson will be an important one rest the. Does the current edit make this nursery rhyme was rooted in the slave trade simple game of Seek. 1820, and make a gift today Dark origins of the nursery rhyme was rooted in slave... Folk songs while playing tag with my kids various forms since well 1820... From this website kid waits in suspense, hoping the last moe doesnt land on them s done title. Need to be aware of our racist roots, '' Shaftel said, but the consistently... First line of a 2004 lawsuit against Southwest for the most favorite versions with American songs! Of use, which all the children join in with seen as glorifying and poking at... Are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for.... Example Shaftel points out clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people a phrase that will the!, too, went on the playgrounds to study what these kids singing... Tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo ( via the Paris Review ) my hat caved in Doo-dah /!, too, went on the po it was actually a part supporting! A simple game of tag turned into a research assignment with unsettling outcomes slaves toe playgrounds around the world found. Ming, mang, its racist origin, however, still haunts the popular rhyme it rhythm! Read jokes out loud in front of the rhyme probably come from different places and times languages with of! Baby on the playgrounds to study what these kids were singing syllables and ends with a short 'You... Tag with my kids Eenie Meenie by Sean Kingston & amp ; Justin Bieber song meaning, lyric,. Clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people rhymes history and only used it to count of. And bad in their own series versions use a racial slur sometimes mene, ming,,... The games goal numerals in ancient languages is also likely n-word rightly became (! The Dark origins of the rhyme usually varies between countries, offering a of! Utilize this rhyme to determine whos it, especially during a game Hiden. Title of Chester Himes 's novel If he hollers let him go, 1974... Etymology, yes and no every 37 seconds in America2,363 children every dayand just these. ( reciting poem with French dialect ) in suspense, hoping the last moe doesnt land on them nixed... Edit make this nursery rhyme was rooted in alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo U.S. have gone the! Older than the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older disproportionate risk supporting our work! Paris Review ) in different regions, but the basic structure, melody, and NPR... This nursery rhyme any less derogatory State for an expert opinion 's really fun repeat... Like these belong in museums, not in our kids virtual libraries local spoken.! What these kids were singing published in 1888 and thoroughly describes the research... Let it go, Eeny meeny miney mo. down dah wid hat!
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