Re: silly song
Andrew Heath (HEATHA@YVAX.BYU.EDU)
Fri, 11 Nov 1994 13:46:55 -0700
>... It is a repetition song, so the song leader says one verse, has it
>repeated to him, adds a verse and has the whole thing repeated to
>him, etc. I know the words up to twelve verses, apparently there are
>actually 15, but no-one I've met knows the last three.
>One of the most important aspects of the song is that the person
>leading it must be able to say the entire thing in *one* breath. Its
>not all that hard, after all there is no real tune to it.
>Here are the words:
>One hen
>...
>twelve billion red army ants marching single file through the crack
> in the plate glass window of Marmaduke's antique shop.
>
>So that is what the last verse should sound like. It can actually be
>said all in one breath, take a deep one.
>Anyone know more words to it?
This silly song was discussed a while back and since it seams to be popular I
thought I would give everyone a historical perspective on the song.
Following is an extract from the BP-games file:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Scouting Games by Sir Robert Baden-Powell sixth edition
CHAPTER IV - INDOOR GAMES - A Memory Game -
14. A MEMORY GAME.
In order to play this game successfully, it is necessary that the
list of words and sentences given below be memorized by one of the
players, who acts as leader. This leader, turning to his next
neighbor, remarks: "One old owl." The latter turns to his
neighbor, and gives the same formula. So it passes around the
circle till it comes to the leader again, who repeats
it, and adds the formula: "Two tantalizing, tame toads." again
it goes around, and again, and each time the leader adds a
new formula, until the whole is repeated, up to ten. It is safe
to say, however, that no society will ever get that far. Those who
forget part of the formula are dropped from the circle. Here is
the whole:
One old owl.
Two tantalizing, tame toads.
Three tremulous, tremendous, terrible tadpoles.
Four fat, fussy, frivolous, fantastic fellows.
Five flaming, flapping, flamingoes fishing for frogs.
Six silver-tongued, saturnine senators standing strenuously
shouting: " So-so."
Seven serene seraphs soaring swiftly sunward, singing:
" Say, sisters."
Eight elderly, energetic, effusive, erudite, enterprising
editors eagerly eating elderberries.
Nine nice, neat, notable, neighborly, nautical, nod- ding
nabobs nearing northern Normandy.
Ten tall, tattered, tearful, turbulent tramps, talking
tumultuously through tin trumpets.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy !!
YiS, Andrew J. Heath (heatha@yvax.byu.edu)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
