Friday, April 30, 2010

Magpie Entry #12

Song: “Down in the Fish-Bowl”
(For those who remember…)

Down in the fish-bowl in an itty-bitty pool,
Lived a lovely she-fish, looking rather cool.
“Swim!” said her mama-fish, “swim if you can.”
So she darted about like a wet Peter Pan.

(Lively, happy tempo)
Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!
Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!
She darted about like a wet Peter Pan.



“Whee!” said our girl-fish, “here’s a lot of fun!
I can swim like this until the day is done!”
She swam and she swam; it was all such a lark,
Till tragedy struck: she came upon a…
SHARK!

(Slowly and lugubriously)
Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!
Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!
Tragedy struck: she came upon a shark.

38 comments:

Jeanne Estridge said...

Love it!

When I was little (pre-school), we used to sing a song that went:

I was sittin' on a fence on a hot summer day
Just sittin' on the fence when the fence gave way
With my hands in my pockets
And my pockets in my pants
Watchin' the fish
Do the hula-hula dance.

Now I sing it to my grandkids, who call it the "fish in the pants" song....

Berowne said...

That's a new one for me. Thanx for sharing.

Everyday Goddess said...

Like that isn't going to be stuck in my head all day!

Great Magging!

Berowne said...

Everyday Goddess: "Great Magging!"

Hey, I've learned a new verb -- thanx.

Catalyst said...

Good one, Berowne. Reminded me of "he fwam and he fwam all over the dam!"

Harvee said...

You are too funny! Great Friday after-work read!

Berowne said...

Thanks for the kind words, Catalyst and Book Dilettante.

Unknown said...

Golden Oldies eh? The song, that is!

chiccoreal said...

Wonders how we all resorted to our childhood in this prompt! My childhood rhymes o' the school yard were a little more "post cold war" sinister I'm afraid. Yours sounds like they were made pre-atomic bomb area.
I remember these ominous rhymes; l

Behind the Iron Curtain
There was a piece of glass
and "Janie" sat upon it
and hurt her little
ask me no more questions
I'll tell you no more lies
and that's the end of (insert name here)
and all her dirty lie, lie, lies.

or there was this perrenial fav;

The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
there's one little worm
that ain't so shy
he crawls in your nose
and out through your eye
and then you turn a sterling green
and pus comes out like whipping creme
Don't you wish you had a spoon?

These were actual schoolyard songs we sang in Kindegarten. Egads what do these schoolyard songs tell us about ourselves?! What ever happened to the "good old days" nursery rhymes? Seems like the Brothers Grimm became these modernist's take on old classics. A way of dealing with fear perhaps by singing about it?
Kids always like a good scare and gross-out. So do some adults so it appears!

Berowne said...

Those are some songs, chiccoreal! As Derrick said, "Golden oldies" (or maybe not). :-)

Suz said...

I fell right into it!
a goodie

Helen said...

Wonderful! My feet were moving all around trying to dance as I read your Magpie!

Berowne said...

Thanks, Suz -- I always enjoy your visit. :-)

Tumblewords: said...

What fun it is - brings back a shipload of memories.

joanna said...

The comments are as intriguing as your -- little
"Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!" I have not made up my mind here -- is it a Sylvester the cat thinking you have going on here? or is it a Cheshire cat smile you have on your face dear Berowne?

Joanny

Berowne said...

joanny: "...is it a Cheshire cat smile you have on your face dear Berowne?"

Well, it couldn't be a Cheshire cat smile because he disappeared. As you see, I never do. :-)

Berowne said...

Helen: "Wonderful! My feet were moving all around trying to dance as I read your Magpie!"

Good. Will you join me in the next schottische? :-)

Berowne said...

Tumblewords: "What fun it is - brings back a shipload of memories."

Which is why the subtitle: "For those who remember..."

Tess Kincaid said...

Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu! I want to hear you sing this one, Mr. B. :)

Berowne said...

willow: "I want to hear you sing this one, Mr. B."

Trust me, willow; I don't honestly think you do. :-)

Steve Capelin said...

I remember that one. It crossed continents and swept the western world before it. I'm humming.

Brian Miller said...

what a fun magpie...funny, i gave a slight nod to Pan as well. sharks are deadly beautiful...

Berowne said...

My thanke to little hat and Brian Miller for such encouraging comments.

christine said...

Totally different to your usual!! Very funny.. but how do you get the tune out of your head??? LOL

Christine

Lyn said...

You absolutely get a gold star for this one! The tune is almost pushing its way to the surface..I'm sure I'll remember it by the end of the day..or go nuts!

Katherine said...

Oh your funny Berowne...you make me chuckle!! I know this song, or at least a different version of this song and used to sing it to my boys at bath-time, along with five little ducks!

Kathe W. said...

Hilarious! love the Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!
Makes me want to get out the tappin' shoes!

Berowne said...

Christine: "Very funny.. but how do you get the tune out of your head??? LOL"

Easy. Just keep humming "Puttin' On My Top Hat" to yourself and the other tune will disappear. :-)

Berowne said...

Lyn: "You absolutely get a gold star for this one!"

Good. I can put it next to the silver star I got for eating a healthy breakfast this morning. :-)

Berowne said...

Katherine: "I know this song, or at least a different version of this song and used to sing it to my boys at bath-time, along with five little ducks!"

Yes, quite a number of bloggers seem to remember it.

Berowne said...

kathew: "...love the Boop boop dittem dattem wattem Chu!"

Yes, one of the great musical compostions of the century. :-)

Ronda Laveen said...

This post made me think of my mother. She always sang the other version to us when we were on long driving trips. Thanks for the grin.

Sheri said...

oh yes, i remember this, berowne! now look what you've gone and done...creative magpie, lovely little song that will be stuck in my head all night now ;) i'm going to have to start singing 'bimbo' if the boop boop dittem dattem wattem chu gets to be too much, heh heh! you brought back some delightful memories with this...
thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your comment. it's always nice to see a new face but better yet, seeing it in my 'followers' box! you made my day, thank you :)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

what a happy and uplifting magpie!
handsome job!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/magpie-tale-the-list-of-magpie-tale-participants/

mine is here!
Thank you in advance for reading it!
;)

Katherine Krige said...

This was too cute, even with the tragic ending. It gave me a smile. thanks
Katherine

Unspoken said...

I'm not big on rhyming, but this had a song to it, and I had to sing to read it ;). Nice!

The Crusty Crone said...

hahaha This is great!! (Yes, and now that tune is in my head, damn it.)

 
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