Black men (incredulously): “Ice cream?! Do Your Ears Hang Low? The melody of this song comes from "Turkey in the Straw".. American Folklorist Vance Randolph collected this song in 1941 but it wasn't until 1992 that it first appeared in print in the book "Randolph, Roll Me in Your Arms". A common belief is that the lyrics refer to the long ears of a hound, but it appears considerably more likely that the song originated as the vulgar "Do Your Balls Hang Low? "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" Can You Tie Them in a Knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Other nursery rhymes have done the same i.e. Can you shut them up for sure When you hear an awful bore? Do they wobble to and fro? Do your ears hang low? Ha! It was as if the truck was taunting me for having the audacity to call its song racist. Do your ears hang low? Do your ears hang low? In the 1820s, the song was rewritten as “Zip Coon,” a song about a black-face character by the same name and “the character…propelled minstrel shows to the height of their popularity.” According to NPR this is how “Nigg*r Love a Watermelon Ha! There was not much information about the song, but I did find the following … While the list of recommended songs has since been adjusted, Schuurman-Olson says many "racially problematic" ones remain including "Jingle Bells", "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", and "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" Can you flap them up and down As you fly around the town? Can you tie 'em in a knot, can you tie 'em in a bow? The Conscious Kid/Instagram. For most of them, I wasn’t aware of the racist connotations, although I did once hear a playmate singing the racist version of “Eenie Meenie Miney Moe.” The tune—which many now associate with "Do Your Ears Hang Low? The ice cream song is racist, NOT the ice cream…so let’s continue to enjoy the tasty treats every Summer, but just like the Old School saying goes: “What’s done in the dark, always comes to the light” and this ice cream truck song has just gotten it’s light switch flipped on. Can you waggle them about? Do they reach up to the sky? Can you tie them in a bow? Do They Wobble to and Fro? 1. Do they straighten when they're dry? This word (Continental) took this nursery rhyme from racist jargon to playful melody. While the tune behind the song has a long history dating back to at least mid-19th century Ireland, its popularity in America and its association with ice cream trucks are the result of decades of racist songs. Can you flap them up and down As you fly around the town? If you don’t know, you can’t change. Sing along with Barney and all his friends on the farm!Sing and dance along with Barney! "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" The ice cream truck song- that many of us thought was about “Do your ears hang low? The ice cream truck song- that many of us thought was about “Do your ears hang low? placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Do they reach up to the sky? Can you tie 'em in a bow? Barney - Do Your Ears Hang Low? 'Jimmy Crack Corn' There is no alternative version to this nursery rhyme, it is just as the lyrics … Colored man’s ice cream: WATERMELON!!”. Many of the racist childhood songs on this list are songs that were routinely sung by me and other kids I know, and we didn’t know their original lyrics or origins. Are they stringy at the bottom? Also see "Do Your Ears Hang Low", "Turkey in the Straw", and "Zip a Dee Doo Dah." Tell me 'bout your legs Are they short, are they thin Are they tall or wide. Do they wobble to and fro? Can you use 'em for a swatter, The melody of the song is almost as old as America itself. Can you tie it in a knot? Jibbs debut single “Chain hang low” has a history that most people are not aware of. ” Personnally knowing this myself I can’t stand to hear the song. Do Your Ears Hang Low From an old minstrel show song to a childhood staple & a 2000s rap hit. Can you throw them o'er your shoulder Like a Continental Soldier? Do your ears hand low, do they wobble to and fro? Do they wobble to and fro? Flip the page to actually listen to the REAL song with the original lyrics that Columbia Records released in 1916. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Do Your Ears Hang Low Lyrics: Do your ears hang low? Yikes. / Can you tie 'em in a knot? It was probably first heard in the British song “The (Old) Rose Tree” before becoming “Turkey in the Straw” in the 19th century, but it became popular because of black-face minstrel shows. Do your ears hand low, do they wobble to and fro? "Turkey in the Straw" is an American folk song that first gained popularity in the early 19th century. AUTHOR: unknown CATEGORY: Traditional, Public Domain KEYWORDS: children, humorous EARLIEST PRINTED OR RECORDED REFERENCE: The earliest known recording was in 1922- sheet music with slightly divergent lyrics from 1925 is in the Library of Congress. Can you tie 'em in a bow? Yeah we are too, but here’s the rest of the details to further jack up our childhood memories: 8 “Do Your Ears Hang Low” Is A Cleaned-Up Army Song Can you tie them in a bow? TITLE: Do Your Ears Hang Low? Released in March 1916 by Columbia Records, it was written by actor Harry C. Browne and played on the familiar depiction of black people as mindless beasts of burden greedily devouring slices of watermelon.”. Do your ears hang low? Do your ears hang low? The “ice cream song” – arguably the most iconic jingle of American childhood – has an incredibly racist past. It is the song that your hear whenever the ice cream truck comes around the corner or sometimes at little kids birthday parties because of the catchy tune. Naturally, the traditional minstrel tunes of the previous century were employed to evoke the memorable parlor experience.”. Do they wobble to and fro?”-has connections to a totally different song that was made popular years before a rhyme about your ears wobbling to and fro, NPR’s Theodore R. Johnson III explains: “‘Nigg*r Love A Watermelon Ha! The melody is usually a shorter version of "Turkey in the Straw", but it can also be sung to the tune of the "Sailor's Hornpipe", or "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers". (Roud 15472) is a children's song that is often sung in schools, at camps and at birthday parties. ... Turkey in the Straw" and "Do Your Ears Hang Low" — date back 200 years. Do Your Ears Hang High? Do The Droop When They're Wet? Does your tongue hang down? As I showered, I pondered over the meaning of the lyrics. Song Title: Do Your Ears Hang Low? Are they curly at the top? Can you tie 'em in a knot? Same goes for "Shortnin' Bread." Knowledge is power and Ignorance IS NOT BLISS; its SUICIDE. Do your ears hang low? My question to young people black and white is that “Does knowing the history of the nursery rhyme change your opinion of the New single by Jibbs. If you're racin' will they win. Do your ears stick out? Does it flop all around? target_type: 'mix' Do Your Ears Hang Low? Many of us sang at least part of "Oh! These “trinkets” were then placed on a rope necklace and worn as a trophy piece. As the lyrics to the nusery rhyme state “do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro… etc” “Can you throw them over your shoulder like a (Continental) soldier”. We need conversation like this so that we are not continuing to live in the dark and so that we all have a greater understanding of one another, which will allow us to continue to push the American culture forward. Do your ears hang low? Putting aside the question of why you would ever want to tie your ears into a knot, what exactly is the relevance of Continental soldiers to low-hanging ears? Can you shut them up for sure When you hear an awful bore? Can you throw 'em o'er your shoulder Like a continental soldier Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? / Can you tie 'em in a bow? This word (Continental) took this nursery rhyme from racist jargon to playful melody. Ha!’ merits the distinction of the most racist song title in America. Ha! Do they wobble to and fro? Can You Throw Them Over Your Shoulder Like a Continental Soldier? Do your ears flip, flop, can you use 'em for a mop? Do your ears hang low Do they travel to and fro Can you tie them in knot Can you tie them in a bow Can you throw them over you shoulder Like The song even begins with a skit about ice cream: Browne: “You nigg*rs quit throwin’ them bones and come down and get your ice cream!” Ha!" mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Do your ears flip-flop? Can you tie 'em in a knot? The lyrics have changed since the song's original composition, and all Americans are equal under the law. Do They Reach Up to the Sky? Can You Tie Them in a Bow? / Do they wobble to and fro? Some folks may be confused by this news and might be thinking “Oh, so ice cream trucks are racist now?” NO not at all! We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. ", and was later sanitized. It seems to advertise our ignorance as a people. Let’s be clear: We’re not saying that we should ban ice cream trucks, nor forget all of the beautiful memories we have of it. Can you throw'em over your shoulder like a Continental soldier? Do they wobble to and fro?”-has connections to a totally different song that was made popular years before a rhyme about your ears wobbling to and fro, NPR’s Theodore R. Johnson III explains: [quote_box_center] “‘Nigg*r Love A Watermelon Ha! Eenie, Meenie, Minee, Moe catch a Ni**er by his toe. I arose from bed this morning with the song “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” stuck in my head. Do your ears hang low? container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', As the lyrics to the nusery rhyme state “do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro… etc” “Can you throw them over your shoulder like a (Continental) soldier”. Do they wrinkle when they're wet? _taboola.push({ The Conscious Kid/Instagram. "I've Been Working on the Railroad" AKA "The Levee Song" was used in minstrel shows and the original lyrics mock enslaved people's speech and contains racial slurs. is a children's song probably of American origin and popular with children to sing around campfires. Do your ears hang high? ?” Can you use them as a mop? [quote_box_center], “19th century ice cream parlors played the popular minstrel songs of the day…A music box was installed in [ice cream trucks] as a way to announce their presence in neighborhoods. Ha! Do your ears hang low? The word that filled this space was (Confederate) as in Confederate soldier. Browne: “Yes, ice cream! So black, white, indifferent tell me how you feel about this now that you’ve attained knowledge, Profanity : Our optional filter replaced words with *** on this page •. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Can you throw them on your shoulder Like a continental solider Do your ears hang low? Do your ears stand high? Are they stringy at the bottom, are they curly on the top? Yeah. Can you throw'em over your shoulder like a Continental soldier? Can you tie them in a knot? Do Your Ears Hang Low is a song that I am kind of familiar with. Do your ears stick out? Not Tiger. Do they droop when they are wet? "Turkey in the Straw" was initially a popular tune for fiddle players as early as 1820. }); © Copyright 2015 . The particular nusery rhyme that the song mimics is “Ears Hang Low” The history behind this song is that during the civil war Confererate soldiers would remove certain body parts (primarily ears and testicles) from the deceased corpses of freed slaves who were fighting as Northern (Yankee) soldiers after their battles. French asserted that the song "Do Your Ears Hang Low" is also racist because it's melody, although not the lyrics, originates from the 1838 minstrel song "Zip Coon." Can you tie them in a knot? I wrote this note to inform people of this. Can you wave them at your neighbor With an element of flavor? Offended yet? Can you tie them in a knot? Lyrics. Do your ears hang low Do they wobble to and fro Can you tie 'em in a knot Can you tie 'em in a bow Can you throw them over your shoulder Like a continental soldier Do your ears hang low. Do your ears stand high? Do Your Ears Hang Low Barney Top Barney Lyrics Kill Barney My Kite I Love The Holidays The Clapping Song The Sister Song If You're Happy And You Know It The Rainbow Song Mary Had A Little Lamb The Barney Bag Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay 2. In the late 1870s until the 1930s, "Turkey in the Straw" was performed in minstrel shows by blackface actors and musicians.. The familiar tune that's synonymous with summer—also sung by kids as "Do Your Ears Hang Low"—was originally a song called "N****r Love a Watermelon Ha! Can you throw them o'er your shoulder like a Continental Soldier? Lyrics: Do Your Ears Hang Low? So all this time, our childhood memories of running to the ice cream truck to get Drumsticks and Rainbow Pops has now been tainted, but all hope is not lost though. Can you tie 'em in a knot, can you tie 'em in a bow? The song is sung by his slave, who isn’t particularly upset about his master’s death. Can you throw 'em o'er your shoulder Like a continental soldier Do your ears hang low? 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