rump-cord

[Alice Faber]

James A. Landau said:
>In a message dated 3/19/2003 1:10:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>mam at THEWORLD.COM writes:
>
>>  : Mary pulled the rump-cord,
>>  : And blew it all to ... pieces!
>
>perhaps a mondegreen for "rip-cord", implying that the folk author thought a
>"rip-cord" was something used to detonate explosives rather than merely a
>device for opening a packed parachute.  Or perhaps the author had actually
>seen up close what happens when the ripcord of a parachute is pulled.  (I
>once saw some skydivers demonstrate indoors what they do when they jump.  The
>result was the parachute and its risers draped across the entire front of the
>classroom.  "Blew it all to Hell/pieces" would be a mild exaggeration.)
>
>Or perhaps "rump" for "rip" is deliberate.  I know of a version of that song
>which goes:
>
>    Lulu had a steamboat/ the steamboat had a bell
>    Lulu went to Heaven / the steamboat went to
>    Hello Operator / give me number nine
>    And if you don't connect me / I'll stuff it up your
     Ask me no more questions / I'll tell you no more lies???
>    Behind the [I forget the rest]

--
 =============================================================================
Alice Faber                                             faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                                  tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
New Haven, CT 06511 USA                                     fax (203) 865-8963