"This is the version of 'Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe' that I sang as a child growing up on L.I. in New York." -Lisa

 

•  MP3 Recording of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe

•  Another MP3 Recording of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe

Notes

When you chant this rhyme as a choosing game, you break it down by word. It's said like this below. On each line you point to a different kid:

Eenie,
meenie
miney,
moe,
catch a
tiger
by the
toe.
If he
hollers,
Let him
go.
My
mother
said
to
pick
the
very
best
one
and
you
are
noooot (not)
it.

*****

Bretta Gerhard wrote: "I was looking through your U.S. songs and I noticed some differences between the ones you have and the ones I know."

Here's one of the songs Bretta sent...

Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe

Eenie, meenie, miney, moe,
Catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers, make him pay.
50 dollars every day
My mother told me
to pick the very best one
And you are not it.
You dirty, dirty, dish rag, you.

Comments

Both Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe and Eenie Meenie Sicileeny are methods children use to choose one from a group (for instance, who goes first in a game). Children sing each word and point to each kid in turn, until they get to the end of the song. Whoever is being pointed at on the last word is either chosen or eliminated, depending upon the version or how the children choose to play.

-Mama Lisa

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to Bretta Gerhard for the alternate version of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe.

Artwork by Gracie Gralike.

MP3 Recordings by Mama Lisa.