Yon Yonson

Yon Yonson is an infinitely recursive poem, nursery rhyme or song, perhaps best known from the novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, although Vonnegut did not create it.

Origins of the song

The song is often sung in a Scandinavian accent (e.g. j pronounced as y, w pronounced as v). This accent is revealed by the name "Yon Yonson," which when recited in American English is usually rendered "Jan Jansen" or "John Johnson." The Swedish pronunciation "Yon Yonson" probably dates the origin of the song to soon after the Swedes' arrival in the United States.^[1]

The earliest known appearance of the song has been credited to Jan Sophus Jansen (1870–1953)^[2][3][4]. Jan Jansen (pronouced "Yon Yonson) was born in Amager Denmark. At age 23 (1893), he immigrated to the United States. Jan settled in Berlin, Wisconsin, where he first worked in a lumberyard and later worked as a carpenter, cabinet maker, and wood pattern maker.^[5]. Jan was known to sing his namesake song while playing the concertina as he walked the streets of Berlin.

Another possible origin of the song is the Swedish play "Yon Yonson" (1899). The play's setting was a Minnesota lumber camp (Minnesota is a neighbor of Wisconsin). However, no evidence shows that the song was actually performed as part of the play.^[6]

Lyrics

Numerous versions of the song exist, but all are similar to the following:

My name is Yon Yonson,

I come from Wisconsin.

I work in a lumber yard there.

Everyone that I meet

When I walk down the street,

Says "Hello! What's your name?"

And I say: My name is Yon Yonson... (repeated again and again).

Another version goes:

My name is Yon Yonson,

I come from Wisconsin

I work in a lumber mill there

All the people I meet

As I walk down the street

Ask me how in the heck I got there

So I tell them: My name is Yon Yonson...

Other occurrences of the song

• The novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Chapter 1, paragraph 8
  
• The Canadian band The Dave Howard Singers released an industrial/punk version of "Yon Yonson" in 1987.
  
• The Children's Band Ralph's World released a version of this on their 2003 album Peggy's Pie Parlor. The lyrics have been changed slightly from what is quoted in this article.
  
• The phrase was also used in a TV promotion ("Altered States") for Calvin Klein perfume.
  
• In the video game Psychonauts, Sasha Nein will begin to recite this in an injury-induced daze if the battle with the mega-censor continues long enough.
  
• The song has also appeared in numerous children’s song books
  

Images

• 

  Jan Jansen & Hannah Jansen (nee Swenson)

• 

  Jan's Apollo Concertina

• 

  The "My name is Jan Jansen" song

References

1. ^ [1]|Wisconsin in History
2. ^ 1900 U.S. Census Report for Green Lake County, City of Berlin, Wisconsin
3. ^ Riverside Cemetery records, Appleton, Wisconsin
4. ^ Wisconsin State Board Of Health, Certificate of Death, Local Registrar’s no. 109
5. ^ 1900 U.S. Census Report for Green Lake County, City of Berlin, Wisconsin
6. ^ Vanished America (http://www.vanishedamericana.com/old-time-fun/yon-yonson-1899-stage-play-poster/)

External links

• Calvin Klein - "Altered States" promotion for CK One and CK Be, based on the phrase.
• [2] David Howard Singers "Yon Yonson"
• [3] Vanished America "Yon Yonson" poster