However the original version of this song contains a racial slur against Aboriginal Australians.
International Music & Culture
Harris gave a half hearted apology for these lyrics , then shamed Aboriginal people for their misfortune in Australia. Written by Stephan C. Foster, a sample of the original lyrics goes like this:.
I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee—. The sun so hot I froze to def—Susanna, dont you cry. Susanna, do not cry for me;.
I come from Alabama, wid my Banjo on my knee. I shut my eyes to hold my bref—Susanna, dont you cry. This song is very ingrained in American musical history.
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However the minstrel origins and use of racial epithets in the original lyrics are enough for me to want to never hear this song again, even with new lyrics. I definitely do not want my children to learn these songs and sing them thinking they are ok. Other verses that can be viewed in the book contain more racial slurs but are usually not present in modern recordings.
is eenie meenie miney moe racist « Historically Speaking
Mommies, what has your experience been with these songs? Seen them performed in school programs? Watched them in animations? How do you feel about keeping these songs in rotation?
Ten Little Indians
Do new lyrics make it ok? Should they still be taught to children as fun songs or only to adults for historical purposes? Angele is a wife to a wonderful creative husband, mother to two beautiful intelligent daughters and a lover of art, education and laughter. She is the creator and author of ABC remix. Angele is a wife to a wonderful creative husband, mother to two beautiful intelligent daughters and lover of art, education and laughter.
The following are used in the United States for the selection of a tagger.
Eeny, meeny, moany, mite, Butter, lather, boney, strike, Hair, bit, frost, neck, Harrico, barrico, we, wo, wack. Eeny, meeny, miney, moe Catch a tinker by the toe. If he hollers let me go, Eeny, meeny, miney, moe. This same rhyme with its variations exists in other cultures as well. In France children chant this instead.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Une, mine, mane, mo, Une, fine, fane, fo, Chamomile and pepper plant, Put your hand behind your back. Iene miene mutte Tien pond grutten Tien pond kaas Iene miene mutte Is de baas. Eena meena mutte Ten pounds of groats Ten pounds of cheese Eena meena mutte Is the boss. Ena, mena, mona, mite , Bascalora, bora, bite, Hugga, bucca, bau, Eggs, butter, cheese, bread. Stick, stock, stone dead — OUT.
In his book, he included fifty variations of the counting rhyme which included many different specimens being caught by the toe or the tail or even by their thumb!
Some of those variations dated back to Britain and the early s with implications that the rhyme was older than that.