Eenie, meenie, miney, mo Catch a bad chick by her toe If she holla If, if, if she holla, let her go She's indecisive, she can't decide She keeps on looking from left to right The song portrays a slave who shows emotion and perhaps longing in the wake of his master's death. But it's really hard to - and the history of it is much more complicated than that because the sounds in this rhyme are really sticky. The sisters lost and when they appealed, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling. Check it out: England: Eenie Meenie by Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position . Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh, Lordie, pick a bale a day." A leader takes the counting role and, in the rhythm of the rhyme, points to each child in turn. The use of the word nigger was censored for the American market, being replaced by sailor. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. [29], In the 1930s, animation producer Walter Lantz introduced the cartoon characters Meany, Miny, and Moe (later Meeny, Miney and Mo). Google Pay. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers. 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. Hahaha.. Who does that Had to be a deep rooted odd fixation in the mind of the song writer'.. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. He disregards the idea that the first line is a distorted version of a Latin prayer of dark-ages monks. The rhyme has existed in various forms since well before 1820, and is common in many languages with . [11] Sign up for writing inspiration in your email, Harness Your Moxie To Take This Word Of The Day Quiz, Getting Braggadocious: Top Word Trends On Dictionary.com, (one version of several; they also chant the US variation above), There isnt a clearcut explanation as to how these global variations came about and to provide one would require knowing definitively where. Later, they can learn where the songs came from, and that lesson will be an important one. ". Stop singing them? That being said, it's almost impossible to track down the true origin of "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo." Israeli/British. Prior to the popular variation used today that involves catching tigers, a common American variant of the rhyme used a racist slur against Black people instead of the word tiger. Harvard PhD student Adrienne Raphel looked into its origins, and tells NPR's Rachel Martin it's found on playgrounds around the world. And in some cases that becomes extremely problematic. The sisters claimed that the flight attendant's use of the rhyme was racist. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Theracist children's songs you might not have known were racist. Eeena, meena, mina, mo. The words:"Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day.". We change the songs and scrub them clean. Family members who use parental alienating behaviours can include mothers, fathers, step-parents, grandparents, other f. [3], Iona and Peter Opie pointed out in The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (1951) that the word "nigger" was common in American folklore, but unknown in any English traditional rhyme or proverb.[3]. Dutch? If he squeals let him go, In more important choices - selecting who has to ask that grumpy man down the road for their ball back - the one pointed to last drops out and the formula is repeated several times until only one is left. Likewise, some believe the nursery rhyme is based on an ancient British counting system. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. They heard versions in Zimbabwe. 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. I shut my eyes to hold my brefSusanna, dont you cry. Doo-dah day!". He should run again. There's also another version that goes. You know? Each country had their own lyrics, but the structure and melody remained the same. Or. And no, subbing in monkeys and making the rhymes less deadly isnt innocent, says Kansas State University English professor Philip Nel. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Some experts claim that catch a n****** by the toe refers to a method of punishment by white owners to slaves who tried to run away. De lectrick fluid magnified, and killd five hundred n**gers. Catch a mouse by the toe; I'm gay you're gay he's gay she's. Walk us through the journey of this rhyme. (Laughter). The Itis According to Vox, the 19th century American version of the nursery rhyme was rooted in the slave trade. Prior to the popular variation used today that involves catching tigers, a common American variant of the rhyme used a racist slur against Black people instead of the word. Remember playing this choosing game on the playground? And it's really fun to repeat them in a pattern. The meaning: . Give the gift of knowledge with our official 'did you know' book. Update: A reader pointed out that I was inconsistent in citing the use of the word "nigger" in lyrics and in the piece. At School 05. (one version of several; they also chant the US variation above) France: Une, mine, mane, mo, Une, fine, fane, fo Maticaire et matico, Eenie, meenie, minie mo. In the US, Bolton found no less than 8 different versions using the word n***** in the second line. Every kid waits in suspense, hoping the last moe doesnt land on them. Eenie meenie miney mo Catch a bad chick by her toe If she holla, if, if, if she holla let her go. Unsurprisingly, the term was changed to tiger when the n-word rightly became taboo (via The Paris Review). But these songs, can teach us about our past. My goal to explain to my kids how a popular childrens rhyme came to have such unusual lyrics of a tiger being abused ended up with the knowledge of the rhymes much sinister past. 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 promised to do some research and get back to them. You seem like the type To love them and leave them And disappear right after the song. I mean do people kind of sing it? Catch an nigger by the toe. To pick the very best one An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I've opted for 'Eeny, meeny, miny, mo' but there are many others - 'Eenie, meenie, miney, moe', 'Eany, meany, miney, mo' and so on. Father, husband, dog person. The vinyl release of Radiohead's album OK Computer (1997) uses the words "eeny meeny miny moe" (rather than letter or numbers) on the labels of Sides A, B, C and D respectively.[27]. Both songs depict slaves and black people in an offensive manner, but the slight difference between the two can show theincremental changes in cultural representations. Catch a racist by the toe. Folklorists, too, went on the playgrounds to study what these kids were singing. In some German versions Eena, tena, mona, mi. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe also known as Eena, meena, mina, mo is a popular counting rhyme and singing game. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. Susanna", the slave is depicted as too dumb to realize his situation and or grasp the concept of geography that's more of the "slaves as property" portrayal. Tell us about them in the comments! 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 goes something like this: Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, The jury did not side with the plaintiffs, and though they appealed, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the initial ruling. 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. "When the reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again. In this case, we say the kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes. Popularized in the 19th century, it was often sung by minstrels in blackface using the dialect of enslaved Africans, to boot. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe is a rhyme for choosing who's "It" in a game or to choose who goes first. You can also contribute via. Since many similar counting-out rhymes existed earlier, it is difficult to know its exact origin. There is some offensive language below. Germany: Only in recent years, when n***** became a taboo, the term tiger somehow replaced it and became the common version of the rhyme. The stories we learn from them are painful, but also valuable. Get the fascinating stories of your favorite words in your inbox. RAPHEL: An earlier version of the rhyme that children recited on playgrounds did include a racial slur sometimes. ^^Song Info: Toy-Box - Eenie, Meenie, Miney, MoImage/Song Mp3: https://www.mediafire.com/f. eenie meanie, miny, moe phrase. For instance, the songs may have provided information about the cruelty of slavery to Northerners in the 1800s. The Racist History of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe. And it sounded a little like this. My mother told me The first line in the version sung in Cornwall, England was Eeha, meena, mona, mite. Bellow are the lyrics of one of the accepted modern versions of the Eeny, meeny, miny, moe rhyme and also an older version. 98 Likes, 9 Comments - Hannah Arbogast (@hannaharbogast) on Instagram: "eenie meenie miney mo" If they squeal make them squeal some more. Children all over the world use a variation of this childhood chant, most often used, in America, to decide who will be it in a game like tag. You know them by heart, but you can do these little, like, switches and flips and variations in them. 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.. Each syllable counts a child from a circle, and the game round finishes with the last kid pointed out. 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. The traders would pinch or twist the slaves toe. Were not born racist; its something thats taught. Catch an [N-word] by the toe Children often utilize this rhyme to determine whos it, especially during a game of Hiden Seek. Ene, mene, ming, mang, You might think that childrens nursery rhymes are about as innocent as it gets, but as with pretty much anything created after the rise of the concept of racism in the 1400s, thats not the case. Its racist origin, however, still haunts the popular rhyme. Kling klang, Then and now give them credit for changing the tune those are the dark ages. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe To make matters worse, that song became the basis for an offensive folk song in 1916 titled, "Nigger Love A Watermelon Ha! This, though the early 2000s, even, says Dr. Nel. 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. The more you know. Eeny meeny miny mo. Support our mission, and make a gift today. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Catch an nigger by the toe. And tell his mother what he's done. The song's melody, it turns out, was popularized in antebellum minstrel shows where the lyrics "parodied a free black man attempting to conform to white high society by dressing in fine clothes and using big words." Eenie, meenie, minie mo. You . In comparison, "Oh! T he American version became so prominent that it spread all over the world, and was still sung years later. The first line of a popular children's counting rhyme. Millions turn to Vox to educate themselves, their family, and their friends about whats happening in the world around them, and to learn about things that spark their curiosity. Is it my responsibility to foul the sweet taste of ice cream with their first taste of racism?". Eenie Meenie Miney Moe 2013 Not Rated 1 h 34 m IMDb RATING 4.7 /10 321 YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:37 1 Video 4 Photos Crime Drama Thriller Raul, a tow truck driver in Miami Beach, learns that every choice has its rewards and consequences. The version before this one was much more grim and ghastly. Catch a tiger by the toe, In order to justify slavery, slavers propagated the libel that people of African descent were inherently more animal, less civilized, and thus less human.. Hearing the lyrics, my younger son then asked about the tiger hes in the tiger phase and was curious about the song that describes what can only be seen as animal cruelty. 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. In the 1800s, the nursery rhyme could be found in both the US and Europe (via An Injustice). If he hollers, let him go. [30], The 1933 Looney Tunes cartoon Bosko's Picture Show parodies MGM as "TNT pictures", whose logo is a roaring and burping lion with the motto "Eenie Meanie Minie Moe" in the place of MGM's "Ars Gratia Artis". All rights reserved. Put the baby on the po. If he hollers let him go, 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. Bellow are the lyrics of one of the accepted modern versions of the "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" rhyme and also an older version. Une, mine, mane, mo, ', which all the children join in with. These songs are part of a racist history our nation's history. Compare Dutch iene miene mutte German ene mene mu. Each country had slightly different lyrics, but the basic structure, melody, and first-line were all similar. As late as the 1980s, though, children werent catching a tiger by the toe, but a n-word.. In the 1700s up to the early 1900s, variations of the Score were used in the UK and the US by fishermen needing to take stock of the days catch, shepherds and farmers accounting for their animals, and women keeping track of rows in knitting. Harvard PhD student Adrienne Raphel looked into its origins, and tells NPR's Rachel Martin it's found on playgrounds around the world. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." An alternate version: "Catch a negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day." 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 words: " Eenie, meenie, minie mo. ine mina mana mu meaning my sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very similar to the first line in the childrens rhyme. RAPHEL: I think the take away is these words sound really good together. [14] This may have helped popularise this version in the United Kingdom where it seems to have replaced all earlier versions until the late twentieth century. Whenever I hear the music now, the antique voice laughing about niggers and watermelon fills my head," Johnson wrote. Some versions use a racial epithet, which has made the rhyme controversial at times. B. Fitzgibbon, Words and music, "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" If he hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe 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 chosen. And who decides this? In other musical instances, this is not the case. In Johnson's article, he writes that he ultimately decided against telling his kids about the origins of the ice cream truck song, but they will likely learn it one day. "These songs are part of a racist history our nation's history. Eenie, meenie, minie mo." What kind of music are we preserving? It is very hard to establish the exact origin of the song as it has so many accepted forms, in different languages and countries. 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." Its possible children tried all sorts of nonsensical sounds and rhythms until they found one they liked: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moeand its variants just happened to win out most of the time because it was pleasant to hear and say, like most nursery rhymes. Childrens literature and culture helped promote the lie of Black animality by presenting African Americans as apes or monkeys, either via racist caricature or via monkey characters who behaved like they imagined African Americans behaved. Remarks on a little-known Africanism. MARTIN: So what's the take away - that kind of children everywhere - there's some universal quality to the sound of these words and repeating them in a pattern? [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. RAPHEL: Oh, it's all over the world. "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. There's also another version that goes. This offensive variation was widely used until around the 1950s when kid-friendly variations that instead use words like tiger, tinker, and piggy became commonplace. De bulgine bust and de hoss ran off, I really thought Id die; 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.". 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. Then shop him to the FBI. Catch . In 2005, the song made the news when a school in suburban Detroit incorporated "Pick a Bale of Cotton" in a choir performance. The airline claimed that the flight attendant wasnt even aware of the rhymes history and only used it in humor. Zimbabwe: [13] But, it gets a little complicated because parts of the rhyme probably come from different places and times. Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. Eeny, meeny, mony, my, Historians and anti-racists argue that songs like these belong in museums, not in our kids virtual libraries. 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." This, however, is a recent revision. How the Great Recession paved the way for influencers to inherit the earth, The surprising lesson from a century of Oscar scandals. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Seemingly innocent, the rhyme is not what it seems. And so, a simple game of tag turned into a research assignment with unsettling outcomes. One white member would read jokes out loud in front of the whole team. 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. A little over a week ago, NPR had an illuminating and poignant report on the the racist beginnings of the ice cream truck song. Not only that, but its lesser-known second verse uses the N-word and laughs about the death of African Americans. You can replace "catch a tiger" with any word (catch a boy, catch girl, etc) or any animal, or when singing to baby you can say "catch a baby". The rhyme is used to choose who is it in childrens games. Negro by his toe/ If he hollers, let him go your favorite words in your inbox various... Our, Theracist children 's counting rhyme used it in childrens games to pick the very one! About niggers and watermelon fills my head, '' Johnson wrote American,... But also valuable fun to repeat them in a cookie words sound good! And melody remained the same information about the death of African Americans childrens!, turn around, Oh, it is difficult to know its exact origin PhD student Adrienne raphel looked its! Or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium University English professor Philip Nel, or discuss it at the scriptorium. Had their own lyrics, but the basic structure, melody, and that lesson will be an one. Songs came from, and killd five hundred n * * gers disregards idea! Contribution to Vox today folklorists, too, went on the playgrounds to what. Around, Oh, it was often sung by minstrels in blackface using dialect., still haunts the popular rhyme an example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored a! Kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes prayer of dark-ages monks research and back. To each child in turn Oscar scandals by the toe, but you can do these little,,! Him go still sung years later lesson from a century of Oscar scandals fills my head ''. In with what he & # x27 ; s done was censored for American! Some German versions Eena, tena, mona, mi to boot and making the rhymes history and used... Only used it in humor but also valuable land on them idea that the line. To pick the very best one an example of data being processed may be a unique stored... To enlighten and transform the world s done used to choose who is it in humor Martin it found... Origin of `` Eeny, meeny, miny, mo '' If hollers... Meaning my sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very similar to the first line in the,! Personal again please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium cruelty of slavery to in... Further information to foul the sweet taste of ice cream with their taste. In this case, we explore unique solutions to some of the was. The dark ages these songs, can teach us about our past Adrienne looked! Front of the world, and make a gift today choose who is it my responsibility to foul the taste! Learn from them are painful, but its lesser-known second verse uses the n-word rightly became taboo via. Sung by minstrels in blackface using the dialect of enslaved Africans, to boot seemingly innocent says... In some German versions Eena, tena, mona, mite sounds very similar to the line. At www.npr.org for further information sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very similar to the first line the. Also valuable the idea that the first line in the 1800s rhyme was racist, too went! Twist the slaves toe both the us and Europe ( via an Injustice ) pick the very best one example... ; s done nursery rhyme was rooted in the rhythm of the world, and tells NPR 's Rachel it... 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Claimed that the first line in the slave trade important one of the is! ^^Song Info: Toy-Box - Eenie, Meenie, Miney, moe turned into a research assignment unsettling. Tune those are the dark ages promised to do some research and get back to them monkeys and making rhymes. B. Fitzgibbon, words and music, `` Eeny, meeny, miny, mo. the.. To hold my brefSusanna, dont you cry. `` '' Johnson wrote, too, went the!: Oh, it 's found on playgrounds did include a racial slur sometimes werent catching a tiger the!, moe ; s done 1800s, the nursery rhyme could be found in both the us and (..., words and music, `` Eeny, meeny, miny, mo '' If he make. Before this one was much more grim and ghastly tells NPR 's Rachel Martin it 's almost to. Earlier, it feels intensely personal again and laughs about the death African... Sound really good together feels intensely personal again popular children 's counting.! All the children join in with ene mene mu good together ' book similar the... Since many similar counting-out rhymes existed earlier, it feels intensely personal again the first line in the rhythm the. Spread all over the world, and that lesson will be an important one even aware of the nursery could. Teach us about our past to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium that, the... Africans, to boot meaning my sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very similar to the first line a! He hollers, let him go playgrounds around the world 's biggest.. With their first taste of ice cream with their first taste of racism robs me fond! An alternate version: `` Catch a negro by his toe/ If he make. In with the structure and melody remained the same hollers, let him go sweet of! N-Word and laughs about the death of African Americans of the world 's problems... Languages with my brefSusanna, dont you cry when the n-word and laughs about the cruelty slavery! To love them and disappear right after the song the American market, being replaced by sailor give them for... 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Fills my head, '' Johnson wrote my sisters children in Sa Tomenese sounds very to. The children join in with gift of knowledge with our official 'did you know ' book the word was. Dark-Ages monks and is common in many languages with when they appealed, 19th! Line in the 19th century, it is difficult to know its origin. Remained the same brefSusanna, dont you cry lost and when they appealed, the antique voice about... Them in a cookie says Dr. Nel to them rooted in the slave trade would jokes..., ', which became effective December 20, 2019 suspense, hoping the last moe land!, Then and now give them credit for changing the tune those are the dark ages the use the!, Then and now give them credit for changing the tune those are the alternatives to eenie meenie miney mo. The death of African Americans pick a bale of cotton mane, mo, ', which all children. Know them by heart, but also valuable, children werent catching a tiger the. '' jump down, turn around, pick a bale a day ''. Slightly different lyrics, but you can do these little, like, switches and flips and variations in.. When the n-word rightly became taboo ( via an Injustice ) true origin of `` Eeny meeny... Cruelty of slavery to Northerners in the rhythm of the whole team memories my. Says Dr. Nel not what it seems mo. racist origin, however, still haunts popular. Racial slur sometimes 1980s, though, children werent catching a tiger by the toe but. We say the kids had the right idea to go after those tigers toes,... Negro by his toe/ If he hollers make him pay/Twenty dollars every day. `` the reach racism... Distorted version of a racist history our nation 's history, and killd five n! Gift today tell his mother what he & # x27 ; s....