Eeny Meeny Miny Moe

[Jonathan Lighter]

The 1890s NYC version had "Little Johnny picked it up."  Have never heard this one with the "N" word.  In NYC in the '50s, I never heard "eenie meenie..." with it either.  My grandmother used "kitten." When I heard my second-grade teacher using "tiger," I was confused and angry, as kids are when others mess up cultural heirlooms.

In fact, neither grandparent ever used the "N" word so far as I know. When the word first came up -  can't remember how or when - my grandmother warned me forcefully never to use it.

JL


Janis Vizier Nihart <tarheel at MOBILETEL.COM> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Janis Vizier Nihart
Subject: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe
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Here in southern La. was our version. (By the way I had no idea what a =
Jew was until I was in high school. )
Eeny Meeny Miny Moe
Catch a N------ by the toe
I f he hollers make him pay
Fifty Dollars every day.
My mother cut her finger, what color was the blood? (Answer:red)
R--E--D-- spell red and=20
Out you go with a dirty dishrag in your mouth.

Anyone remember this one? I'm not sure about the words..
Inka Dink
A Bottle of Ink
You sure do stink.

Then there was ...
A tisket a Tasket=20
A green and Yellow Basket
I wrote a letter to my mom
And on the way I dropped it.
A little N----- picked it up and=20
Put it in his pocket.

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