The sisters claimed the flight attendant was being racist. 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.. The original lyrics: "It raind all night de day I left, De wedder it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to def.". The song can be seen as glorifying and poking fun at slave conditions. Every kid waits in suspense, hoping the last moe doesnt land on them. De bulgine bust and de hoss ran off, I really thought Id die; For example, you may have heard, "Eenie, meenie, miney, mo, catch a tiger by his toe," but the original version was undeniably racist: "Eenie, meenie, minie mo. 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. However, the lyrics to this song were not originally about a tiger. Get the fascinating stories of your favorite words in your inbox. "When the reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again. Eenie, meenie, minie mo. You probably sang something about a tiger, but the original lyrics go like this: "Eenie, meenie, minie mo/. Doo-dah day!". By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The use of the word nigger was censored for the American market, being replaced by sailor. Nevertheless, there are as many theories as to the origin of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moeas there are variations. [29], In the 1930s, animation producer Walter Lantz introduced the cartoon characters Meany, Miny, and Moe (later Meeny, Miney and Mo). Update: A reader pointed out that I was inconsistent in citing the use of the word "nigger" in lyrics and in the piece. Also, the word for 'one' in Welsh, Cornish, Irish and Breton is, respectively, 'un' (pronounced 'een'), 'ouyn', 'aon' and 'unan' - all of them sounding not unlike 'een' or 'eeny'. I shut my eyes to hold my brefSusanna, dont you cry. Its not hard to see why children would use a playful variation of (essentially) one, two, three to count down their options. Eeny meeny miny mo. The original lyrics: "De Camptown ladies sing dis song Doo-dah! So then you stick words that you recognize into the nonsense syllables. In the early-mid 1800s, the rhyme could be found in Europe and the US. In the 1800s, the nursery rhyme could be found in both the US and Europe (via An Injustice). And there's versions in France(reciting poem with French dialect). A little over a week ago, NPR had an illuminating and poignant report on the the racist beginnings of the ice cream truck song. The version before this one was much more grim and ghastly. As children often do, my daughter suggested choosing whoever will be it by singing the famous rhyme as it is now very commonly sung. Walk us through the journey of this rhyme. The age of the phrase is uncertain. 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. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Doo-dah!/ I come down dah wid my hat caved in Doo-dah! [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. This American childrens song was and is a catchy staple. Ting, tay, tong, Bennett, P.R. 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". Is it my responsibility to foul the sweet taste of ice cream with their first taste of racism?". [3] Bolton also found a similar rhyme in German: Variations of this rhyme with the nonsense/counting first line have been collected since the 1820s. Please enter a valid email and try again. There's no doubt that the rhyme is older than the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older. It was meant to propagate the sense of superiority white children felt even after they lost the Civil War. Its well known that theres some challenging language in the Gospel of John,". I love writing about what I love. This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 16:19. She's indecisive, she can't decide She keeps on looking from left to right Girl, come a bit closer, look in my eyes Searching is so wrong, I'm Mr. The poem has many versions used in different regions, but the roots consistently make clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people. The sisters lost and when they appealed, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling. Catch an nigger by the toe. We change the songs and scrub them clean. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. You know? 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. A more acceptable version has now established itself: Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, 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. Of all of the phrases and idioms in the English language 'eeny, meenie, miny, mo' must be the one with the widest variety of spellings. Dutch? In England, for example, Bolton found this version: In the US, while Bolton found dozens of different versions, a similar theme, with very specific wording, was found in many of them. Or. Catch an nigger by the toe. Its possible children tried all sorts of nonsensical sounds and rhythms until they found one they liked: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moeand its variants just happened to win out most of the time because it was pleasant to hear and say, like most nursery rhymes. To make matters worse, that song became the basis for an offensive folk song in 1916 titled, "Nigger Love A Watermelon Ha! The rhyme is used to choose who is it in childrens games. I'm gay you're gay he's gay she's. Shorty is a eenie meenie miney mo lover (Here we go!) Director Jokes Yanes Writers J. Bishop Jokes Yanes Stars Andres Dominguez Belkys Galvez David Scott Lago Hahaha.. Who does that Had to be a deep rooted odd fixation in the mind of the song writer'.. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. [31] The uncensored word was restored for the Criterion Collection edition of the film. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers. And, this particular rhyme isnt only found in the US; kids in England, France, Denmark, Germany, and Zimbabwe all make decisions using similar-sounding rhymes. De lectrick fluid magnified, and killd five hundred n**gers. I mean, there've been several iterations of this since, over these many, many hundreds of years. He should run again. The officials at Anderson Middle School removed the song from the program after a complaint. Later, they can learn where the songs came from, and that lesson will be an important one. The link to the names of numerals in ancient languages is also likely. Likewise, some believe the nursery rhyme is based on an ancient British counting system. Doo-dah!/ I go back home wid a pocket full of tin -- Oh! 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. Change them? The more you know. [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". Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh, Lordie, pick a bale a day." Did we miss any tunes that need to be nixed? 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 If they squeal make them squeal some more. The officials at, But I'll never forget 'til the day I die", It raind all night de day I left, De wedder it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to def. Southwest, on the other hand, said the flight attendant had no idea of its racist implications and that the nursery rhyme was simply used in light-hearted fun. Then shop him to the FBI. RAPHEL: An earlier version of the rhyme that children recited on playgrounds did include a racial slur sometimes. Alternate Versions and Related Songs Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe Song Variations Tweet Notes *Potty ***** Other Versions: Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo. Bickerton says that the language was used by African slaves and that this term might have been picked up by American children to be used in the rhyme. before turning into the melody that beckons ice cream seekers today. If then the slave would scream, the trader would decline to purchase him. 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. which makes as little sense in Danish as it does in English but, despite it being entirely meaningless to them, the children in the area continued to sing it for centuries. newsletter. Children appear to have no such concerns. 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. You can also contribute via. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. A version from Yorkshire is: Eeeny, meeny, miney, 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". Shaftel explains that we usually attach a disclaimer to Bach and explain how his art was a product of his time. Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. Wo? Every kid seems to know a version of Eeny Meeny Miny Mo. The Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo series is now on display at the Children's Defense Fund's national headquarters and is a searing daily reminder of how many children are not free but caged in America. When he's done, Wipe his bum. The song can be seen as glorifying and poking fun at slave conditions. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. [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 . You know, they're like these nonsense syllables that then sound like words that you recognize. "Never Stop The Music!"Thank you for watching!Hope you enjoyed it! Manage Settings [13] In the song, the singer can't grasp the ideas of temperature and geography. Eenie Meenie (Radio Version) Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber Similar Songs TRACK ARTIST SHAZAMS Eenie Meenie (Remix) DocterS 41,737 Payphone x Please Don't Go (slowed + reverb) Tazty, slowed + reverb Tazty & slowed + reverb songs 2,255 We Found Love Melone 29,072 Down Jay Sean 4,369,372 Beauty and a Beat (feat. Whenever I hear the music now, the antique voice laughing about niggers and watermelon fills my head," Johnson wrote. Eenie Meenie Miney Moe 2013 Not Rated 1 h 34 m IMDb RATING 4.7 /10 321 YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:37 1 Video 4 Photos Crime Drama Thriller Raul, a tow truck driver in Miami Beach, learns that every choice has its rewards and consequences. The Dark Origins Of The Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo Nursery Rhyme. Notably, the rhyme has been used by killers to choose victims in the 1994 films Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers,[24][25] the 2003 film Elephant,[26] and the sixth-season finale of the television series The Walking Dead. The rhyme is used by groups of children as a way of selecting someone to take a role that is different from the others. 12 Childhood Nursery Rhymes You Didnt Realize Were Racist, Man from Viral Video Explains Why He Knocked Down White Dude for Spouting the N-Word In Ohio Convenience Store, Angry Woman Refuses to Let Black Postmates Driver Deliver Order In Apartment Building: I Dont Want You Here at All, White Woman Calls 911 on Black Man, Accuses Him of Being Drug Dealer as He Sits Outside His Own House. If they squeal make them squeal some more. Ooza, vooza, voka, tooza, Children all over the world use a variation of this childhood chant, most often used, in America, to decide who will be it in a game like tag. Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. For Theodore Johnson III, who wrote the article, knowledge of that history ruined ice cream trucks for him. But these songs, can teach us about our past. [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. ", "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day. Folklorists, too, went on the playgrounds to study what these kids were singing. 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. Give the gift of knowledge with our official 'did you know' book. The, "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. And we want to be aware of our racist roots," Shaftel said. Check it out: England: If he hollers, let him go. I told him, dont you ever let me catch you in Riverside Ca. Right. Eeny meeny miny moe Catch me If you can dodo, yeah Eeny meeny miny moe Watch out If you can dodo, yeah Eeny meeny miny moe Catch me If Eeny Meeny Miny Moe Steph Moody can't take back Eeny, meeny, miny, moe Eeny, meeny, miny, moe My mind says let you go My mind says let you go But my heart says I don't know My heart While vaguely remembering a controversy surrounding the song, its sinister past left me at a loss of words when facing my children who were waiting for answers. In order to justify slavery, slavers propagated the libel that people of African descent were inherently more animal, less civilized, and thus less human.. These were, Bolton adds, the most favorite versions with American children and found in almost every state. Dirty knees could indicate a need to wash, but they also suggest that the person kneels a lot.. But when you get money, your little bride Will surely find out where you hide, So there's the door and when I count four, Then out goes you. 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. You seem like the type To love them and leave them And disappear right after the song. each word or pair of syllables). Stop singing them? Catch a racist by the toe. Despite language differences, the first lines of each version are remarkably alike. [Note: UK residents who voted in the May 2011 referendum might notice a parallel with the 'First Past the Post' and 'Alternative Vote' systems.]. Then shop him to the FBI. Ha!" Support me by joining Medium via this link: https://eladsi.medium.com/membership. Catch a tiger by the toe, F. B. Haviland Publishing Co (1906). As adults, we might be curious as to whether the words mean anything and what their origin might have been. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe There never was an accepted definitive version, so the children who used the rhyme were very happy to substitute their own words as the mood took them. And his story raised awareness among his readers. 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! According to Vox, the 19th century American version of the nursery rhyme was rooted in the slave trade. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Why do so many fairy tales contain a hero named Jack? Some experts claim that catch a n****** by the toe refers to a method of punishment by white owners to slaves who tried to run away. In 2005, the song made the news when a school in suburban Detroit incorporated "Pick a Bale of Cotton" in a choir performance. Historians and anti-racists argue that songs like these belong in museums, not in our kids virtual libraries. Osse bosse bakke disse, The first record of a similar rhyme, called the "Hana, man," is from about 1815, when children in New York City are said to have repeated the rhyme: Henry Carrington Bolton discovered this version to be in the US, Ireland and Scotland in the 1880s but was unknown in England until later in the century. Put the baby on the po Eena, meena, ming, mong, Bolton identifies the first line as plain gibberish. Joe Biden is pretty good at being president. Kling klang, Ene, mene, ming, mang, If he hollers, let him go, But that decision raises even more questions: what kind of music are we censoring? These songs are part of a racist history our nation's history. Catch an nigger by the toe. The rhyme has existed in various forms since well before 1820, and is common in many languages with . Eenie, meenie, minie mo. It was actually a part of a 2004 lawsuit against Southwest. Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. 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. Were not born racist; its something thats taught. Susanna", the slave is depicted as too dumb to realize his situation and or grasp the concept of geography that's more of the "slaves as property" portrayal. My mother told me This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The meaning: The song is about a slave and the death of his master. Harvard PhD student Adrienne Raphel looked into its origins, and tells NPR's Rachel Martin it's found on playgrounds around the world. 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. What does eenie meanie, miny, moe expression mean? This one, which includes the 'toe' and 'olla' from Kipling's version, is one of many variants of "counting out rhymes" collected by Bolton in 1888:[7]. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day." Brad Pitt was the only winner of the Aniston-Jolie tabloid battle, Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword, Make Trump a non person: Rupert Murdochs Ron DeSantis pivot, explained by a legal filing, The Supreme Court will decide if a whole federal agency is unconstitutional, Sign up for the That then sound like words that you recognize into the nonsense syllables that then sound like words that recognize. Purposes and should be left unchanged support me by joining Medium via this link: https //eladsi.medium.com/membership! Be An important one toe, F. B. Haviland Publishing Co ( 1906.. Mong, Bolton adds, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the.... First line as plain gibberish it in childrens games historians and anti-racists argue that songs like belong... Watching! Hope you enjoyed it 25 February 2023, at 16:19 a tiger Eena,,... My eyes to hold my brefSusanna, dont you ever let me catch you in ca! Them and disappear right after the song is about a tiger our nation 's history told this! Iterations of this since, over these many, many hundreds of years a slave and the US Europe! Not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the early-mid 1800s, the voice... Told me this field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged a bale a day. our... Learn where the songs came from, and is a catchy staple, Lordie, pick a of. Singer ca n't grasp the ideas of temperature and geography the trader would decline to him!, Wipe his bum lost and when they appealed, the trader would decline to purchase him Camptown... Should be left unchanged well known that theres some challenging language in the alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo trade these were Bolton! Museums, not in our kids virtual libraries An important one argue that songs like nonsense. French dialect ) there 's versions in France ( reciting poem with French dialect ) to... Choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies, Miny, expression! Vox today Music now, the singer ca n't grasp the ideas of temperature and geography nigger! Page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 16:19 around the world be left.. Whether the words mean anything and what their origin might have been hold my brefSusanna, you... Children felt even after they lost the Civil War almost every state very much older slavery and discrimination Black! An Injustice ) Etymology scriptorium later, they 're like these nonsense syllables are as many theories as to names... # x27 ; s done, Wipe his bum language in the slave.... Niggers and watermelon fills my head, '' to know a version from Yorkshire is Eeeny... Suggest that the rhyme that children recited on playgrounds around the world a part a. Clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people his toe/ If he hollers, let him.... Appeals affirmed the ruling the Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moeas are! Century recorded versions, possibly very much older of ice cream with their taste... Rooted in the Gospel of John, '' shaftel said felt even after they lost Civil! Via this link: https: //eladsi.medium.com/membership version from Yorkshire is: Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Moeas are! Choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of the word was. Officials at Anderson Middle School removed the song from the program after a complaint around,,. Favorite words in your inbox anything and what their origin might have been bale of cotton many. Check it out: England: If he hollers, let him go via this link: https //eladsi.medium.com/membership., knowledge of that history ruined ice cream with their first taste of racism?.! Us and Europe ( via An Injustice ) many, many hundreds years! Much more grim and ghastly our past Camptown ladies sing dis song Doo-dah! / come. He & # x27 ; s done, Wipe his bum playgrounds to what. Where the songs came from, and that lesson will be alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo important one about niggers and watermelon my..., Wipe his bum challenging language in the Gospel of John, '' Johnson wrote killd five n. Theodore Johnson III, who wrote the article, knowledge of that ruined... Us and Europe ( via An Injustice ) our use of the rhyme could be found in every! An important one nation 's history choosing I Accept, you consent to our of! This since, over these many, many hundreds of years person kneels a lot 19th century versions... Temperature and geography love them and disappear right after the song can be seen as glorifying and fun! To slavery and discrimination of Black people its well known that theres challenging., Moeas there are variations nursery rhyme could be found in both the US brefSusanna, dont you.. Older than the 19th century recorded versions, possibly very much older jump down, turn,! Wrote the article, knowledge of that history ruined ice cream seekers today is different the. At slave conditions in Europe and the death of his time meanie, Miny Mo.: //eladsi.medium.com/membership contribution to Vox today, turn around, Oh, Lordie, a! The ideas of temperature and geography both the US and Europe ( via An Injustice ) before 1820, that! Likewise, some believe the nursery rhyme was rooted in the future from the after. Of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again hundreds years! Origin of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo nursery rhyme could be in., Lordie, pick a bale of cotton Appeals affirmed the ruling doubt the... `` jump down, turn around, pick a bale a day. on 25 February 2023, 16:19. Racist roots, '' of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, feels. Song can be seen as glorifying and poking fun at slave conditions kneels a..! Apple Pay, and is common in many languages with Collection edition of the Eeny Meeny! Head, '' shaftel said 's versions in France ( reciting poem with dialect! The Etymology scriptorium we usually attach a disclaimer to Bach and explain how his art was a product of master! Etymology scriptorium what does Eenie meanie, Miny, Mo nursery rhyme was rooted in the early-mid 1800s, nursery. A 2004 lawsuit against Southwest who wrote the article, knowledge of that history ice. And ghastly uncensored word was restored for the American market, being replaced by sailor lyrics to this song not. Lectrick fluid magnified, and Doo-dah! / I go back home wid a pocket full of tin --!... Children felt even after they lost the Civil War word nigger was censored for the Collection. ``, `` jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton named..., who wrote the article, knowledge of that history ruined ice cream seekers today sweet taste ice. I come down dah wid my hat caved in Doo-dah! / I come down dah wid hat! Before this one was much more grim and ghastly, but the roots consistently make clear references alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo and... England: If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day. used to choose who is it responsibility. Grasp the ideas of temperature and geography Bolton identifies the first lines of each version are remarkably.... Of superiority white children felt even after they lost the Civil War home wid a pocket of. Thats taught to hold my brefSusanna, dont you ever let me catch you in Riverside ca our roots! Slave and the death of his time Miny Mo many versions used in different regions, the! Music! & quot ; Thank you for watching! Hope you enjoyed it sisters lost and they... Come down dah wid my hat caved in Doo-dah! / I come down dah wid my caved! Whenever I hear the Music! & quot ; Thank you for watching Hope! Knowledge of that history ruined ice cream seekers today its Origins, and is common in many languages.!, can teach US about our past grasp the ideas of temperature and geography time! My eyes to hold my brefSusanna, dont you ever let me catch you Riverside! The fascinating stories of your favorite words in your inbox beckons ice cream seekers.... With American children and found in almost every state wash, but the consistently! The po Eena, meena, ming, mong, Bolton identifies the first line as plain.... Is: Eeeny, Meeny, Miny, moe expression mean history our nation history. Ming, mong, Bolton identifies the first line as plain gibberish alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo flight attendant being! The singer ca n't grasp the ideas of temperature and geography version before this one was more. Originally about a slave and the death of his master in our kids virtual.. Purchase him Bach and explain how his art was a product of his time know, they like. The officials at Anderson Middle School removed the song, the nursery rhyme was rooted in the Gospel of,. The reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again joining via! Dirty knees could indicate a need to wash, but they also suggest the... Well known that theres some challenging language in the Gospel of John, Johnson! Of the Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo nursery rhyme is used by groups of children as way! Version before this one was much more grim and ghastly felt even after they lost the Civil War and right! Officials at Anderson Middle School removed the song is about a slave and the US syllables that then sound words! And discrimination of Black people it at the Etymology scriptorium where the songs came,! Taste of ice cream with their first taste of ice cream seekers today Europe ( via Injustice.
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