By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Une, fine, fane, fo We don't always do this with American folk songs. Hide and Seek Chasey; Site-wide utilities 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. 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. 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. Thus, instead of tiger, it said the n-word to describe what would happen if a white slave owner caught a runaway. Manage Settings Wash your hands afterwards. The use of the word nigger was censored for the American market, being replaced by sailor. I mean do people kind of sing it? Shorty is a eenie meenie miney mo lover (Here we go!) Raphel wrote about eeny meeny miny mo for The Paris Review. A more acceptable version has now established itself: 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. Sometimes the child pointed to at the end of one count is the one selected - to be 'It' in a game of hide and seek, for example. 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. The rhyme is used to choose who is it in childrens games. I understand that one of the earlier versions of the rhyme included a racial slur. You know, they're like these nonsense syllables that then sound like words that you recognize. The diverse origins of the first line Eenie, meenie, miney, moeare plausible but contested. Each country had their own lyrics, but the structure and melody remained the same. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Doo-dah day!". Catch a racist by the toe. Catch an nigger by the toe. Counting off has always been a way to group and identify things. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe is part of a large collection of Counting-out rhymes, used in playground games, since the early 19th century. In this case, we say the kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes. The explanations for the American versions are varied. 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. 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." 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. These songs are part of a racist history our nation's history. American in origin or English? 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. 'Eeny, meeny, miny, mo' is certainly a strange line, so does it mean anything and does curiosity about its origin lead us anywhere? You're playing a game, and it's time to figure out who goes first. You know? In the US, Bolton found no less than 8 different versions using the word n***** in the second line. Unsurprisingly, the term was changed to tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo (via The Paris Review). Adrienne Raphel is a poet and PhD student in English at Harvard University. And so, a simple game of tag turned into a research assignment with unsettling outcomes. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. 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. Its well known that theres some challenging language in the Gospel of John,". Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. 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. Germany: Shaftel explains that we usually attach a disclaimer to Bach and explain how his art was a product of his time. For centuries, this has been a popular method to make a hard choice for both children and adults all over the world. As children often do, my daughter suggested choosing whoever will be it by singing the famous rhyme as it is now very commonly sung. RAPHEL: I'd say it's somewhere between a poem and a song and a chant because it's hard not to do it. Barcelona, stony, sty, Eenie, meenie, miney, moe " In historical references of this song, the word "tiger" is replaced by the N-word. In other musical instances, this is not the case. The rhyme appears towards the end of 1949 British black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets. Kling klang, In the 1800s, the nursery rhyme could be found in both the US and Europe (via An Injustice). As adults, we might be curious as to whether the words mean anything and what their origin might have been. Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. I could remeber working for Califonia Department of Forestry in 1985 at Ryan Air field Hemet Ca. The stories we learn from them are painful, but also valuable. 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 either "chosen" or "counted 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. Compare Dutch iene miene mutte German ene mene mu. The first line in the version sung in Cornwall, England was Eeha, meena, mona, mite. If they squeal make them squeal some more. Eggs, butter, cheese, bread, And it's really fun to repeat them in a pattern. But that decision raises even more questions: what kind of music are we censoring? "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" (sometimes written as "moe") has been chanted and beloved by children on playgrounds for centuries. Accuracy and availability may vary. In other online discussions, I found a theory that this line refers to a common way for slave traders to examine a prospect slave. Catch an nigger by the toe. Oops. And his story raised awareness among his readers. "When the reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again. Then shop him to the FBI. 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. I've opted for 'Eeny, meeny, miny, mo' but there are many others - 'Eenie, meenie, miney, moe', 'Eany, meany, miney, mo' and so on. The meaning: The meaning of this rhyme is rooted in the slave trade. 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. If he hollers, let him go, A leader takes the counting role and, in the rhythm of the rhyme, points to each child in turn. Update: A reader pointed out that I was inconsistent in citing the use of the word "nigger" in lyrics and in the piece. ine mina mana mu meaning my sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very similar to the first line in the childrens rhyme. Interestingly, Dutch scholars had the same idea. The stories we learn from them are painful, but also valuable. The lyrics of the song include one about the ole massa gone away, and have been terrorizing Black children for centuries. Eeny, meeny, mony, my, 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. 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. Good Luck! 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. [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 . Whenever I hear the music now, the antique voice laughing about niggers and watermelon fills my head," Johnson wrote. You seem like the type To love them and leave them And disappear right after the song. The song can be seen as glorifying and poking fun at slave conditions. Its not hard to see why children would use a playful variation of (essentially) one, two, three to count down their options. It was used in the chorus of Bert Fitzgibbon 's 1906 song "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo": Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo, Catch a nigger by the toe, If he won't work then let him go; Skidum, skidee, skidoo. Since many similar counting-out rhymes existed earlier, it is difficult to know its exact origin. As late as the 1980s, though, children weren't catching a "tiger" by the toe, but a "n-word." Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. The airline claimed that the flight attendant wasnt even aware of the rhymes history and only used it in humor. The poem has many versions used in different regions, but the roots consistently make clear references to slavery and discrimination of Black people. 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. And it sounded a little like this. The first line of a popular children's counting rhyme. Catch an [N-word] by the toe Support our mission, and make a gift today. This nursery rhyme has been taught to many children to help them learn how to count. RAPHEL: I think the take away is these words sound really good together. The song portrays a slave who shows emotion and perhaps longing in the wake of his master's death. So then you stick words that you recognize into the nonsense syllables. eeny, meeny, miny, moe ( uncountable ) A method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by children. Harvard PhD student Adrienne Raphel looked into its origins, and tells NPR's Rachel Martin it's found on playgrounds around the world. A version from Yorkshire is: Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo. There is a similarity between the words of the phrase and some of the numerals in pre-English Celtic and Cumbrian languages; for example, the oral tradition of the English coastal town of Yarmouth voices 'one, two, three, four' as 'ina, mina, tethera, methera'. Father, husband, dog person. "Iniminimanimo" is a 1999 song by Kim Kay. A flight attendant urged them to pick a seat by saying "Eenie, meenie, minie, mo, pick a seat, we gotta go." The meaning: The song is about a slave and the death of his master. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh, Lordie, pick a bale a day." Then there's choosing a completely alternative rhyme to choose which kid sits in the front/ gets to play first on the xbox etc. 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'. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. Why do so many fairy tales contain a hero named Jack? 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. The traders would pinch or twist the slaves toe. Ban them? Every kid seems to know a version of Eeny Meeny Miny Mo. 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. What is known is that countless variations of the nursery rhyme exist. The title of Chester Himes's novel If He Hollers Let Him Go (1945) refers to the rhyme. 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. You know them by heart, but you can do these little, like, switches and flips and variations in them. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. ", 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. Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo. It goes something like this: Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, When the reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again. 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 Eenie, meenie, minie mo." There's also another version that goes. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe"which can be spelled a number of waysis a children's counting-out rhyme, used to select a person in games such as tag, or for selecting various other things. A little over a week ago, NPR had an illuminating and poignant report on the the racist beginnings of the ice cream truck song. My mother told me The book was published in 1888 and thoroughly describes the authors research into various childrens counting-out rhymes that were popular at the time. The song is made up from a number of syllables, (the counting out 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. "[4] "Tigger" is also used instead of "tiger" in some versions of the rhyme.[5][6]. Copyright 2015 NPR. You probably sang something about a tiger, but the original lyrics go like this: "Eenie, meenie, minie mo/. Popularized in the 19th century, it was often sung by minstrels in blackface using the dialect of enslaved Africans, to boot. Versions of the Score include: Northern England, southern Scotland: yan, tan, tethera, methera, pimp. In 2017, fashion giant Primark removed a shirt that captured a famous scene from the hit TV show The Walking dead. 144 Likes, 0 Comments - VW Barstool (@barstool_vw) on Instagram: "eenie meenie miney mo, your season is over, time to go home @barstool_elida" Or. It was written by Stephen Foster (Camptown Races, Swanee River,) in the 19th century, and was originally sung in a slave dialect. We change the songs and scrub them clean. [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. In 2005, the song made the news when a school in suburban Detroit incorporated "Pick a Bale of Cotton" in a choir performance. In order to justify slavery, slavers propagated the libel that people of African descent were inherently more animal, less civilized, and thus less human.. Likewise, some believe the nursery rhyme is based on an ancient British counting system. 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. He should run again. There is some offensive language below. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and If he hollers, let him go. And then maybe your new eeny meeny miny mo variation will be the one that kids on the playgrounds for generations will be reciting. In some Dutch versions Ene, mine, mike, maken.. Support me by joining Medium via this link: https://eladsi.medium.com/membership. 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.". By submitting your email, you agree to our, Theracist children's songs you might not have known were racist. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Eje, veje, vaek. "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. The FBI and Energy Department think Covid-19 came from a lab. Eeny meeny miney mo, Catch a tigger by the toe, If you ever let it go, Eeny meeny miney mo. Right. 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. Alternate Versions and Related Songs Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe Song Variations Tweet Notes *Potty ***** Other Versions: Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo. Something went wrong. You . You can also contribute via. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Ooza, vooza, voka, tooza, It was actually a part of a 2004 lawsuit against Southwest. If he hollers let him go, The version before this one was much more grim and ghastly. or 'O, U, T spells out! A Cornish version collected in 1882 runs: There are many theories about the origins of the rhyme. Bolton says that it is impossible to trace the exact origin of the rhyme. 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). Pastor, lone, bone, strei, [31] The uncensored word was restored for the Criterion Collection edition of the film. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? It has been utilized before in songs including "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo," a popular song written in 1935 by Johnny Mercer and Matty Malneck and the similarly titled "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe," which was an European hit for Dutch girl group Luv . On an ancient British counting system personal again fun at slave conditions similar to the rhyme included a slur! Lordie, pick a bale a day. go, the term was changed to tiger when reach! 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