Mama why cant you see

She was popping bubblegum. I asked her can I have some. She looked at me like I was dumb. I visited my dad downtown. He was smoking cigarettes. I asked him can I have some. He looked at me like I was dumb. I went to the doctor and the doctor said. Don't stop til your hands get red. Then you clap until you can't no more. I don't know where she learned this from, lol. But whenever we hand clap at recess, I would listen to the other girls versions and then chant mines and everytime I would get a shocked reaction.

I would call it the bad verison bc of the cigarette part. My guess is that most of the verses that have lines which begin with "I visited" and ends with "out of town" or "downtown" are adaptations of the "I Went Downtown To See Charlie Brown".

The "Don't stop to your hands get red" ending is found in several other contemporary children's hand clap rhymes. I've come across the "he [or she] looked to me like I was dumb rhyming with "have some" in some other contemporary hand clap rhymes, but can't remember which ones right now.

Thanks again for sharing this example and the reactions you got to it! I didnt even realize there were different versions of this! Here's the one I always heard growing up: Mama mama cant you see? I appreciate it! I'm glad to add it to this collection. It goes: mama mama cant you see what the army did to me they took away my favorite toys now im playing with stupid boys they took away my favorite jeans now im wearing army greens I saw a lady chewing gum I asked her if I could have some She looked at me like I was dumb so i shot her with my BB gun pow pow fist fist ooo take a look at this pow pow fist fist ooo take a look at this At the pow and fist part we would hit our fist against our other palm and then pretend to hit each other.

I was literally thinking about this in the morning wondering what the heck brought on the words and started looking around the internet for some sort of clue. I'm happy you added it on this blog although it doesn't mention mp3, cell phones, HDTV, or a computer.

For the folkloric record, would you please share where city state and when decade such as s you chanted that rhyme and whether it was mostly a two person hand clap rhyme or jump rope rhyme etc.

Btw, I just searched this blog and realized that I don't have a post that's dedicated only to children's examples of "mama mama can't you see" versions that don't refer to those electronic devices.

I'll add that link to this post. Thanks again for spurring me to correct that collection gap, Unknown! Joe Oops daisy, Barney's dead Now it's time to go to bed Don't stop until you're hands are red.

Thanks for sharing your example, Unknown. Joe Oops daisy, Barney's dead Now it's time to go to bed Don't stop until you're hands are red -snip- I wonder if "Oops daisy" was "oopsie daisy". Thanks again for sharing your example, Unknown! Here's an example of a recreational rhyme that mentions "texting" sending messages with your cell phone I'll write the line with text in italics. Thanks for sharing your version of that rhyme, Unknown.

Thanks, Caitlin Shaddock for this example. For some reason, I'm just seeing this comment. Mine was Mama Mama cant you see?

Thanks, Kit Penny for this example. Best wishes!! Mine was Mama Mama can't you see what this baby done to me she took away my MP3 now i'm watchin barney tic tac toe 3 in a row mama got shot by G. Unknown July 5, at PM. I love how there are so many examples of these rhymes.

I remember chanting that rhyme in the late s in Atlantic City, Ne Jersey. My version goes like "mama can't you see what the army did to me they took away my favorite toy now I have to play with boys I went downtown to see my mom she was chewing bubble gum I asked her can I have a piece she looked at me like I was dumb I went downtown to see my dad he was looking pretty sad" then I forgot the rest because it's been years since bi played it.

Best wishes! This pancocojams post also includes a compilation of text word only children's examples of "Mama Mama Can't You See" that don't include any of those references. The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and recreational purposes, All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in these video examples. Special thanks to commenter Unknown, August 23, in the above linked "Mama Mama Can't You See" mp3 etc post for prompting me to publish this pancocojams post.

That example which that commenter shared is included in this post. A large number of usually very violent rhymes have been composed which mock this character. However, I think that a lot of children chanting ths rhyme don't realize that connection since they may not know the rock, paper, scissors game. Also, read an example of the hand clap game "Tic Tac Toe" on the "S, T" post of cocojams2' series on children's rhymes. Additional examples of this children's rhyme are very welcome.

Please also remember to include information about any accompanying activity you did while chanting this rhyme for example, a two person hand clap game, group hand clap game, jump rope rhyme etc. If you are sharing an online example of this rhyme, please add the address. I'll convert that address to a hyperlink in my reply to your comment.

Don't stop till your hands get hot Don't stop till your hands get red. I've seen this hand clap rhyme performed in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area by girls [up to the age of about 12 years] and boys up to the age of about 8 years old]. As shown above, some examples of this rhyme the earlier line Barney got killed by GI Joe" line has been replace by the line "your mama got killed".

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