Yankee Doodle lyrics

[mamazee]

At my daughter's school, they sing "and with the kids be funny" instead of "and with the girls be handy" because the original lyrics are considered too mature.

It's certainly a mature thought but when I was a kid the precise meaning just sailed over my head, and I don't like changing historical lyrics like that.

What do others think about this?

[reezley]

The big problem with your school's lyrics is that they don't rhyme!

We got a kiddie CD from the library and the lyrics for that line in the song was something about all the kids are "eating sugar can-dy!" The new lyric is so over-the-top sweet (literally) that it's funny. Anyway, I'm with you - I don't see a problem with lyrics that kids don't understand anyway.

[dubfam]

I completely agree with you, Mamazee

It wasn't until a few months ago, when I was singing that song for my 6 year old, that I even noticed that line, or stopped to think about it. I was kinda like, at first because I couldn't believe I had never noticed it. It helped me remember just how much stuff goes right over my son's head.

[Super Glue Mommy]

i like when they reword these kinds of things... but not when it doesnt rhyme anymore! i like the candy rhyme, I was going to suggest that! some nursery rhymes really could use a make over - but I do agree that it's usually over the kids heads anyway.

[aprons_and_acorns]

I agree with you, I tend to like the original versions of songs generally. I'm sure the teacher was just trying to avoid offending anyone. I remember learning a new verse of Yankee Doodle every Friday in kindergarten. There was lots of stuff in there about guns, smoking, you know, the usual kindergarten stuff I'm sure they could never get away with that today.

We also sang Georgie Porgie, The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe, Pay Me My Money Down, and several other songs with lyrics that have probably been "spruced up" a little by today's music directors.

[crazydiamond]

I normally don't change lyrics either and if DD had learned it the original way, I'd have just gone with that. She'd probably have thought it meant something else, anyway, and when she was old enough to figure it out it wouldn't have been a big deal anyway. But, the children's CD we have says "girls are sweet as sugar candy" so we just go with that.

[ledzepplon]

Seriously? They're worried about the appropriateness of Yankee Doodle? Of all the things to make an issue of . . . :

Besides, "and with the kids be funny" doesn't make sense. Sounds a little weird.

[Mama2Bug]

You know, I always thought "and with the girls be handy" to mean being readily helpful- like politely pulling out a chair and things like that.

Clearly I am naive.

I wonder though, if lots of kids don't think the same thing. I mean, the common usage of "handy" is convenient, easy-to-use or close at hand.

[Tera_&_Gibson]

What its not "and called it Macaroni"? I always thought that was weird but how I have always known it! LOL!

[Smalls181]

Originally Posted by Mama2Bug

You know, I always thought "and with the girls be handy" to mean being readily helpful- like politely pulling out a chair and things like that.

Clearly I am naive.

I wonder though, if lots of kids don't think the same thing. I mean, the common usage of "handy" is convenient, easy-to-use or close at hand.

I am on the same page as you, here. Actually, I feel like I have to really be reaching to find an inappropriate meaning to that phrase. It just, never crossed my mind!

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Tera_&_Gibson

What its not "and called it Macaroni"? I always thought that was weird but how I have always known it! LOL!

Hmmmmmmmmmm (imagine me humming)

Yankee Doodle went to town a'riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni
Yankee Doodle keep it up
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy

[Theoretica]

Macaroni was used to mean 'cool'

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

Macaroni was used to mean 'cool'

Yeah I read about this once and it was from when British people used to travel to Italy, and the Italian men wore really fancy clothes at that time, and the British young men would come home and dress in that same manner, and it was called Macaroni.

[The4OfUs]

Originally Posted by Mama2Bug

You know, I always thought "and with the girls be handy" to mean being readily helpful- like politely pulling out a chair and things like that.

Clearly I am naive.

I wonder though, if lots of kids don't think the same thing. I mean, the common usage of "handy" is convenient, easy-to-use or close at hand.

: I think they're making something of nothing.

[paquerette]

I think that's silly. If I was a little kid and was thinking about it in that much depth, I'd probably think it meant to do fixer upper chores for girls, like "handyman". If you want to court a girl fix her screen door or change her oil or something. Kinda sexist but not dreadful.

Actually, does anyone want to court me? My screen door has been broken since last year.

[birdie22]

I thought it was about dancing... "mind the music and the step and with the girls be handy," as in, when you're dancing the quadrille or whatever, make sure that you're in place when it's your turn to step up and offer your hand.

I don't mind updating offensive song lyrics, but there ought to be a really good reason. "What do you do with a drunken sailor" comes to mind. And it really needs to be cleverly done, and worthy of the original.

[chinaKat]

Heh, when we sing that song at home I always kinda peter out on the last line, just because it's a strange turn of phrase that never really made sense to me. I never thought it sounded dirty, though...

[hummingmom]

Originally Posted by paquerette

I think that's silly. If I was a little kid and was thinking about it in that much depth, I'd probably think it meant to do fixer upper chores for girls, like "handyman".

DH and I had a conversation about this a while ago, and we both thought the same thing as you.

Of course, guess what's going through my head now: the James Taylor version of "I'm Your Handyman". I don't think he'd be too interested in fixing anyone's screen doors, though.

[momo7]

Originally Posted by ledzepplon

Seriously? They're worried about the appropriateness of Yankee Doodle? Of all the things to make an issue of . . . :

Besides, "and with the kids be funny" doesn't make sense. Sounds a little weird.

I agree....no kidding.....

[Theoretica]

ITA, I kinda think it makes ol' Yankee Doodle sound a smidge on the pervy side....blech!