Down Down Baby

Down Down Baby is a clapping game played by children in English-speaking countries. In the game, two or more children stand in a circle, and clap hands in tune to a rhyming song. As with most hand-clapping games, there are many variations. Modified versions of the song have appeared in Little Anthony and the Imperials's Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop,^[1][2] Nelly's Country Grammar,^[3][4] Simian Mobile Disco's 'Hotdog', The Drums' 'Let's Go Surfing', and the film Big.^[5]

Lyrics

There are many variations of this clapping game from around the world.^[6] The actual lyrics that any given group of chilren use may vary based on region, era, and ethnicity.

Basic

Four children playing as another observes. Featured on a 1980s segment of Sesame Street.

The lyrics cited here are the essential lyrics of the rhyme, and are the lyrics that were featured in a 1980s segment of the US version of Sesame Street.^[7]

Down, down, baby
Down, down the roller coaster (accompanied by the hand making a horizontal wave motion)
Sweet, sweet, baby (accompanied by both arms crossing the chest)
I'll never let you go

Chimmy, chimmy cocoa pop
Chimmy, chimmy pow
Chimmy, chimmy cocoa pop
Chimmy, chimmy pow

Grandma, grandma sick in bed
She called the doctor and the doctor and the doctor said
Let's get the rhythm of the head, ding dong (rock the head to each side once in time with "ding-dong")
Let's get the rhythm of the head, ding dong (rock the head to each side once in time with "ding-dong")

Let's get the rhythm of the hands (followed by two hand claps)
Let's get the rhythm of the hands (followed by two hand claps)

Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp the right foot, then the left)
Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp the right foot, then the left)

Let's get the rhythm of the hot dog (place hands on hips and twirl)
Let's get the rhythm of the hot dog (place hands on hips and twirl)

Put it all together and what do you get?
Ding dong (accompanied by head rock), (followed by two claps), (followed by two stomps), hotdog (accompanied by hip twirl)
Put it all backwards and what do you get?
Hotdog (accompanied by hip twirl), (followed by two stomps), (followed by two claps), ding dong (accompanied by head rock)

Variations

Down, down, baby // Down by the riverside // Sweet, sweet tulip // No place to go. (Heard in Nottinghamshire, England)

References

1. ^ Little Anthony And The Imperials "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop". "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop lyrics". Oldielyrics.com. http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/little_anthony_and_the_imperials/shimmy_shimmy_ko-ko-bop.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
2. ^ Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop video on YouTube
3. ^ "Country Grammar lyrics". Lyrics007.com. 2010-06-03. http://www.lyrics007.com/Nelly%20Lyrics/Country%20Grammar%20Lyrics.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
4. ^ Country Grammar video on YouTube
5. ^ clip from the film Big on YouTube
6. ^ The British Library. "Down Down Baby". Playtimes. The British Library. http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/playground/browseadultview.html#cm=Videos&gm=Clapping&id=120549&id2=121185. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
7. ^ Sesame Street clip on YouTube

External links

• The British Library - Video recording of Down Down Baby, 2010