case choice by rhyme

Arnold M. Zwicky zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU
Thu Aug 11 22:48:40 UTC 2005


the exigencies of rhyme often result in choices for pronoun case that
are quite alien to the people who say, or sing, the rhymes, as in the
popular song cited by michael quinion on p. 155 of his Ballyhoo,
Buckaroo, and Spuds [the title of which irresistably reminds me of
george carlin's "cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits", but then my
mind travels on some strange paths]:

Oh where oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where oh where can he be?
Now sausage is good, baloney, of course.
Oh where oh where can he be?
They make them of dog they make them of horse,
I think they make them of he.

i'm sure you can think of many more examples.

i'd guess that someone has collected these.  any know of such a
collection?

arnold



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