Down by the Bay

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"Down by the Bay" is a traditional children's song. A famous version was performed by Raffi and Randy Luxton.

The song lyrics usually are as follows:

"Down by the bay (repeat),
Where the watermelons grow (repeat),
Back to my home (repeat),
I dare not go (repeat),
For if I do (repeat),
My mother will say:"

Usually follows some kind of variation on "Did you ever see a _____, _____ing a _____", with rhyming words, for example:

  • "Did you ever see a goose, kissing a moose?"
  • "Did you ever see an ant, climbing a plant?"
  • "Did you ever see a whale, with a polka-dot tail?" (this is the original variation)
  • "Did you ever see a bear, combing his hair?"
  • "Did you ever see a llama, eating his pajamas?"
  • "Did you ever see a fly, wearing a tie?"
  • "Did you ever see a bee with a sunburned knee?"
  • "Did you ever have a time when you couldn't make a rhyme?"
  • "Did you ever see a rhino dancing with a dino?" (Barney and Friends)
  • "Did you ever see a goat riding in a boat?"

..."Down by the bay."

[edit] In popular culture

The song "Polka Dot Tail" from Ween's 1997 album The Mollusk contains lyrics taken from "Down by the Bay," including original variations on the pattern.