Down Down Baby

"Down Down Baby" is a clapping game played by children in English-speaking countries. In the game, two or more children stand in a circle, and clap hands in tune to a rhyming song. As with most hand-clapping games, there are many variations. Modified versions of the song have appeared in Little Anthony and the Imperials's "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop",^[1][2] Nelly's "Country Grammar",^[3][4] Simian Mobile Disco's "Hotdog", The Drums' "Let's Go Surfing", Usher's "OMG", and the film Big.

Lyrics

There are many variations of this clapping game from around the world.^[5] The actual lyrics that any given group of children use may vary based on region, era, and ethnicity.

Basic

The lyrics cited here are the essential lyrics of the rhyme, and are the lyrics that were featured in a 1980s segment of the US version of Sesame Street.^[6]

Down, down, baby

Down, down the roller coaster (accompanied by the hand making a horizontal wave motion)

Sweet, sweet, baby (accompanied by both arms crossing the chest)

I'll never let you go

Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop

Shimmy, Shimmy pow

Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop

Shimmy, Shimmy pow

Grandma, grandma sick in bed

She called the doctor and the doctor said

Let's get the rhythm of the head, ding dong (rock the head to each side once in time with "ding-dong")

Let's get the rhythm of the head, ding dong (rock the head to each side once in time with "ding-dong")

Let's get the rhythm of the hands (followed by two hand claps)

Let's get the rhythm of the hands (followed by two hand claps)

Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp the right foot, then the left)

Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp the right foot, then the left)

Let's get the rhythm of the hot dog (place hands on hips and twirl)

Let's get the rhythm of the hot dog (place hands on hips and twirl)

Put it all together and what do you get?

Ding dong (accompanied by head rock), (followed by two claps), (followed by two stomps), hot dog (accompanied by hip twirl)

Put it all backwards and what do you get?

Hot dog (accompanied by hip twirl), (followed by two stomps), (followed by two claps), ding dong (accompanied by head rock)

Variations

Down, down, baby

Down by the riverside

Sweet, sweet tulip

No place to go.

(Heard in Nottinghamshire, England)

Down, down, baby //

Down by the rollercoaster //

Sweet, sweet cherry //

No place to go//

I caught you with your boyfriend //

Naughty naughty //

...

(Heard in Kent, England)

Down, down, baby

Down by the roller coaster

Sweet sweet baby

I'll never let you go

Gimme gimme cherry pop and gimme gimme rock

Gimme gimme cherry pop and gimme gimme rock

(Heard in Gloucestershire, England)

Holly Version

Down, down baby

Oceania Raincoat

Sweet, sweet baby

I'll Never Let You Go!

Shimmy Cocoa Puff

Pass One to me Now

Shimmy Cocoa Puff

Pass One to me Now.

[Repeat]

Western Pennsylvania Version

Down, down baby

Down, down the roller coaster

Sweet, sweet baby

I'll never let you go

Shimmy shimmy cocoa puff

Shimmy shimmy biscuit

Shimmy shimmy cocoa puff

Shimmy shimmy biscuit

I had a boyfriend

A biscuit

He was so fine

A biscuit

Rolling down the roller coaster drinking some pop

I said,

"Ooh, shee wa wa

ooh ooh, shee wa wa

ooh, shee wa wa

ooh ooh, shee wa wa"

Oh, my

I want a piece of pie

The pie's too sweet

I want a piece of meat

The meat's too hot

Let's do it again!

Southern Minnesotan Version

Down, down, baby

Down, down the roller coaster     (accompanied by the hand making a horizontal wave motion)

Sweet, sweet, baby

I'll never let ya go

shimmy, shimmy cocoa puff

shimmy, shimmy shy

shimmy, shimmy cocoa puff

shimmy, shimmy shy

I love coffee,

i love tea

i love the little boy and he loves me.

ding dong hot dog (swirl your hips)

up down turn around

kick your boyfriend out of town

and freeze

Eastern Massachusetts Version (mid-1970s)

Ronald McDonald, a biscuit (accompanied by thumbs pointing back over the shoulders, first one, then the other)

Ronald McDonald, a biscuit

Down, down, baby

Down, down the roller coaster (accompanied by the hand making a horizontal wave motion)

Sweet, sweet, baby (accompanied by both arms crossing the chest)

I'll never let you go

Ice-cream soda with a cherry on the top (accompanied by pointing one thumb down)

Ice-cream soda with a cherry on the top

Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop

Shimmy, Shimmy POW! (accompanied by punching the air with a fist just below chest-level)

Shimmy, Shimmy cocoa pop

Shimmy, Shimmy POW!

Southern New Hampshire version (late 1970s)

Oooo shishy wah wah ta biscuit

I've got a boyfriend ta biscuit

He was sorta cute ta biscuit

He is the sweetest ta biscuit

Ice cream soda with a cherry on top

Ice cream soda with a cherry on bottom

Down down baby, down by the roller coaster

Sweet sweet baby I will never let you go

Just because I kissed you doesn't mean I love you

Ice cream soda with a cherry on top

Ice cream soda with a cherry on bottom

Other Version

1

Apples on a stick

They make me sick

They make my heart beat two four six.

Boys boys are always dum

Here comes the lady with the big fat bum

She can wiggle she can waggle but she can't do the splits

Bet ya five bucks she is a witch

Now close your eyes and count to ten

If you mess it up then start again

(Do the chest across and handshake while keeping eyes closed)

We didn't mess it up so that's the end

And by the way you're still my friend

2

The train goes...

Down down baby,

Down down the rollercoaster,

Sweet sweet mama,

My hearts love.

Shimmy shimmy cola bottle,

Shimmy shimmy rock!

Shimmy shimmy cola bottle,

Shimmy shimmy rock!

I gotta best friend,

Likes some biscuits,

She gotta best friend,

Likes some biscuits,

Ice cream cone with a cherry on top,

Ice cream cone with a cherry on top,

T-O-P spells,

T-O-P spells,

T-O-P spells,

TOP TOP TOP!

(Heard in Liverpool, UK)

Molesey Version Down Down Baby Down by the riverside Sweet sweet baby No place to go

Down down baby Down by the rollercoaster (Roller coaster movement with hands) Sweet sweet baby No place to go

Caught you with your boyfriend Naughty naughty Didn't do your homework Lazy lazy Jumping out the window Crazy crazy (Said very quickly, before the other person) Stop you broke the law!

References

External links

• The British Library - Video recording of Down Down Baby, 2010

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