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  • Do You Know a Rhyme That Starts… “Head Knocker, Eye Blinker,…”?

    Barb wrote:

    I am looking for an action poem that has to do with head knocker, eye blinker, nose blower, mouth chewer, chin chopper, gulla gulla gulla…but I cannot remember all of it. Can someone remember for me? I’m getting old in my young age.

    Mema

    If anyone can help, please let us know in the comments below.

    Thanks!

    Lisa

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    67 Responses to “Do You Know a Rhyme That Starts… “Head Knocker, Eye Blinker,…”?”

    1. Mindy Says:

      The Wiggles sing this song–their version is slightly different from the one I learned as a child, but here it is:

      Hands on my head what is that here?
      That is my head thinker my mamma dear
      Head-thinker head-thinker
      Nicky nacky nocky noo
      That’s what they teach us at our pirate school

      Hands on my chin what is that here?
      That is my chin-wagger my mamma dear
      Chin-wagger head-thinker
      Nicky nacky nocky noo
      That’s what they teach us at our pirate school

      Hands on my waist what is that here?
      That is my waist-bender my mamma dear
      Waist-bender chin-wagger head-thinker
      Nicky nacky nocky noo
      That’s what they teach us at our pirate school

      Hands on my knees what is that here?
      That is my knee-lifter my mamma dear
      Knee-lifter waist-bender chin-wagger head-thinker
      Nicky nacky nocky noo
      That’s what they teach us at our pirate school

      Hands on my toes what is that here?
      That is my toe-tapper my mamma dear
      Toe-tapper knee-lifter waist-bender chin-wagger head-thinker
      Nicky nacky nocky noo
      That’s what they teach us at our pirate school

    2. Shane Says:

      My sister and I grew up with this finger-play and I played it with my two sons when they were little:

      “Head thinker, eye blinker, nose smeller, mouth eater, chin chopper, gully gopper!”

      You touch each part of the face as you say the rhyme,
      and with the words “gully gopper”, you tickle your child under his chin!

    3. Jo Phillips Says:

      Hi

      I know a different version and I think it has something to do with driving a carriage of horses….. who knows

      This is where the cabman sits (tap head)
      This is where he cracks his whip (tap temple)
      eyeblinker
      nose pusher
      mouth chomper
      chin chin chin chin chin chopper

    4. katie Says:

      My mom would always sing it this way and point to each eye, then our nose, then our mouth, then our chin:
      Eye Winker, Tom tinker, Nose Dropper, Mouth Eater, Chin Chomper, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble ( here she would tickle under our chin)

    5. mary Says:

      My Dad always does this one with my son:
      Head of hair (rub his head)
      Forehead bare (rub his forehead)
      Eye winker (circle right eye)
      Tom tincker (circle left eye)
      Nose dropper (circle his nose)
      Mouth eater (circle his mouth)
      Chin chopper chin chooper chin chopper (tickling his chin)

    6. Kirsten, Atl GA Says:

      Written By: Unknown Copyright Unknown; believed to have begun as an old German folksong.

      My hand on my head,
      What have I here?
      This is my top-notcher,
      My Mama dear
      Top-notcher, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my brow,
      What have I here?
      This is my sweat boxer,
      My Mama dear
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my eye,
      What have I here?
      This is my eye blinker,
      My Mama dear
      Eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my nose,
      What have I here?
      This is my smell sniffer,
      My Mama dear
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my mustache,
      What have I here?
      This is my soup strainer,
      My Mama dear
      Soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my mouth,
      What have I here?
      This is my food grinder,
      My Mama dear
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom!

      My hand on my chin,
      What have I here?
      This is my chin chopper,
      My Mama dear
      Chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my chest,
      What have I here?
      This is my air blower,
      My Mama dear
      Air blower, chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my stomach,
      What have I here?
      This is my bread basket,
      My Mama dear
      Bread basket,
      Air blower, chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my lap,
      What have I here?
      This is my lap sitter,
      My Mama dear
      Lap sitter, bread basket,
      Air blower, chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my knee,
      What have I here?
      This is my knee bender,
      My Mama dear
      Knee bender,
      Lap sitter, bread basket,
      Air blower, chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      My hand on my foot,
      What have I here?
      This is my foot stomper,
      My Mama dear
      Foot stomper, knee bender,
      Lap sitter, bread basket,
      Air blower, chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      Smell sniffer, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Dickey, dickey doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Boom! Boom! (slap thighs)

      One of our friends grew up in a German-speaking church that sang this song at fun family gatherings, as shown below. With each body part, you’d put your hands on that part, and with each verse, as the list of parts grew ever longer, you’d have to point/touch faster and faster, with barely enough time to say the words.
      Hands on mineself
      Vas is das here?
      Das is my [bread basket],
      Mama, mama dear.
      Bread basket, bread basket,
      Inky, dinky doo
      Das vat ve learned in da school
      Ya, ya!

    7. Lisa Says:

      This seems to be a scout song now. You can hear the tune at a scout site – just click the link!

    8. Anna Says:

      with my hands on my head,
      what have we here?
      this is my brain thinker my teacher dear,
      brain thinker
      nicky nacky nocky noo
      that’s what they taught me when i went to school

      with my hands on my eyes
      what have we here?
      these are my eye blinkers my teacher dear,
      eye blinkers, brain thinker
      nicky nacky nocky noo
      that’s what they taught me when i went to shcool.

      with my hands on my nose,
      what have we here?
      this is my nose sniffer my teacher dear,
      nose sniffer, eye blinkers, brain thinker
      nicky nacky nocky noo
      that’s what they taught me when i went to school

      etc etc with chatterboxer, chinwagger, rubbernecker, cougher chester, bread basket, hip swingers, kneww knockers, foot stampers etc r any variation

    9. Sean Berry Says:

      Here’s one that’s been in our family through four generations along with coordinating face/head areas:

      Eye winker, Eye blinker (left eye, right eye)
      Tom Tinker, Tom Tinker (left cheek, right cheek)
      Nose Dropper, Mouth Eater (nose, mouth)
      Chin Chopper (chin)
      GubbieS! GUBBIES!!! GUBBIES!!!!! (neck)

    10. Mare Says:

      Hand on my heart, what is das here? Das is my tinker boxer my mama dear.

      Tinkerboxer
      Eye Blinker
      Cheese Smeller
      Crumb Duster
      Mouth Eater
      Chin Chopper

      I can’t think of the rest either.

      Wingy wing wang woo. Thats what I learned in my school ya ya!

    11. Philip Says:

      This version has been passed down through our family;

      This is where the cat sits (touch forehead)
      This is where he jumps to (between eyebrows)
      Eye winker (touch eye)
      Nose twinker (touch nose)
      Mouth eater (touch mouth)
      Chin chopper (touch chin)
      Belly buster (big tickle on tummy)

    12. Ann Vise Says:

      I learned this in Scouts:

      I said to myself,
      Vas ist das here?
      Das ist mine head-thinker my Momma dear.
      Head thinker head thinker das ist der rule,
      Das vas I learn in der School!

      going down to

      Foot stomper, knee bender, bread basket [for tummy], hand toucher, chin chomper, mouth taster, nose smeller, ear listener, eye looker, head thinker,
      Das ist der rule,
      Das vas I learn in der School!

      We used to have a lot of fun with that. We were eight years old and had no idea that the song might be mocking a German accent or the process of the child of a German immigrant learning English. But that is what it may have been. And of course we touched each relevant part as it was mentioned. We sat Indian style in a circle when we sang it.

    13. Tom Chism Says:

      The version I learned from my father and have passed on to my own children is as follows:

      Forebumper (tuch the forehead)
      Eye winker (touch just below the eye)
      Nose smeller ( tip of the nose)
      Mouth eater (the lower lip)
      Chinny choper ( the chin)
      Tom tinker (pinch the cheek)

      followed by tickling under the the chin or all over with (gitcha gitcha gitcha)

    14. Lara Heady Says:

      I love all the different versions. I thought I’d add my family’s version. My Dad did this so often that even as an adult I’ll start laughing uncontrollably if he starts the rhyme and points at me.

      Eye winker (touch right eye)
      Tom tinker (touch left eye)
      Nose breather (touch nose)
      Mouth eater (touch mouth)
      Chin chucker (touch chin)
      (pause)
      gully gully gully gully ….. (while tickling neck)

    15. Debra, Cleveland Says:

      I also grew up with this song, in the Amish country,
      I think our hands were “noodle maker”.

      eyeblinker, headknocker,
      inkydinky do,
      dat’s vat ve learnt in de school, ya ya.

    16. Deanna Says:

      My dad always did it this way:

      Here’s where the kitty sits(point to top of forehead)
      Here’s where he jumps(point to just above eye)
      Eye winker(point to one eye lid)
      Tom Tinker(point to other eye lid)
      Nose Dropper(point to nose)
      Mouth Eater(point to mouth)
      Chin Chomper(point to chin)
      Then make tickling noises as you tickle under the chin

    17. Bob Says:

      I have no idea where I heard this, but I did it to my kids when they were babies, and now to their children.

      Forehead knocker ….touching the forehead
      Eye peeper……touching the side of their eye
      nose dropper…..touching their nose
      mouth eater….touching the side of their mouth
      chin chopper…..touching their chin
      gully gully gully…..tickling their neck under the chin.

    18. MAry Beth Says:

      hey,
      my version is so totally different, it has been passed down… fore bumper, (forehead) eye winker, tom tinker (eyes) nose smeller, cheek cherry, cheek cherry, mouth eater chin gully gully. (Then you tickle their chin.)

    19. Lawrence Says:

      I learned a different version from my three older sisters in the ’50s:

      Hands on my chest [cross hands on chest)],
      do-si-do here [uncross hands and put on shoulders],
      do-si my head bumper my momma dear,
      Head bumper, gully gully gully goo,
      That’s what I learned in the school-la.

      Hands on my chest, do-si-do here,
      Do-si my eye winker my momma dear,
      Head bumper, eye winker,
      gully, gully, gully, goo,
      That’s what I learned in the school-la.

      Our facial names were head bumper, eye winker, eye blinker, nose dropper, mouth eater, chin chopper, and gully gully. I’m interested in the extra words of “gully goo,” do-si-do,” and “school-la.” I think we had names for the ears, but I can’t remember what they were.

    20. Leslie Says:

      My mom did one that started on our forehead with “here sits a mousey, eating cream and cheese…” then proceeded to the respective parts of our face with “eye winker, tom tinker (for the second eye), nose smeller, mouth eater, chin chopper, coochie coochie coo” then would tickle us under the chin.

      I was looking online to see if anyone had heard this before (none of my friends had) and stumbled upon your site here, it’s quite interesting to see the random versions of such a similar thing.

    21. Nancy Says:

      Here’s where the coachman sits (forehead)
      Here’s where he cracks his whip (bridge of nose)
      Eye winker
      Tom Tinker
      Nose Dropper
      Mouth Eater
      Chin Upper
      Chin Upper
      Chin Upper

    22. Lisa Says:

      I found this one in a book of old nursery rhymes:

      BROW brinky,
      Eye winky,
      Chin choppy,
      Nose noppy,
      Cheek cherry,
      Mouth merry.

    23. S. Smith Says:

      “Head Bender, Eye Peeper, Nose Popper, Mouth Feeder, Chin Chopper,
      Gully, Gully Gully (neck)

    24. lisa b Says:

      eye winker(left eye), tom tinker (right eye), nose dropper, mouth eater, chin chatter, the go down cellar, the go down celler (tickling neck and chest)

    25. Jan Says:

      So many versions … mine is closer to Anna’s

      With my hands on my head, what have I here?
      This is my … ….. please teacher, dear

      foot-stompers
      knee-knockers
      thigh-benders
      hip-swingers
      bread basket
      chest-protector
      rubber-necker
      chin-a -wagger
      chatterboxer
      smelly-boxer
      eye blinkers
      brain thinker
      Nicky -nicky – noo ….
      That’s what they taught me
      When I went to School

      I’m sure I’ve forgotten some

    26. Abi Says:

      I learned this song from my father, who had parents of German ancestry. He always sang it with an accent:
      “Head thinker, eye winker, nose smeller, soup strainer (mustache), girl kisser, bread basket (belly) oo, la, oo, la, oo, Dat’s vat ve lernt in de Schulehaus.”

    27. Kristi Says:

      My dad and Grandma used to sing this to me when I was a little girl.

      Head acher, Eye blinker, Tom tinker (the other eye), Nose dopper, Mouth chewer, Chin chopper, (tickle tickle under the chin) for gully gully.

    28. michelle Says:

      thank you sooooooo much forthe words i had the tune in my head and everyone i asked thought i was making this song up. at last now i can sing it to myself at work, without too many mistakes

    29. dee Says:

      Ours goes:
      Here’s where the coachman sits,
      Here’s where he cracks his whip.
      Eye winker,
      Tom blinker,
      Nose dropper,
      Mouth eater,
      Chinny chinny chopper!
      If you’ve ever read or seen Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Mercutio (sp?) gives a lovely speech about the fairy queen and I have to believe our little children’s poem is derivedn from that speech. My mom did it to us, I did it to my 5, and now they are doing it to their children! And how they love the chin tickles at the end!

    30. Trisha Keller Says:

      We also had a rhyme in my family that I now do with my little ones it goes…
      Car Fender (touch forehead)
      Eye Winker (eye)
      Tom Tinker (other eye)
      Nose Dropper (nose)
      Mouth Eater (mouth)
      Chin chopper (chin)
      Get’cha, Get’cha, Get’cha (tickle under chin or belly)

      Very interesting to see the variations – I thought this one was just in my family too – none of my other mommy friends had heard it or anything like it.

    31. Carla Says:

      I recall my family’s version as…
      Forebender
      Eye Winker
      Tom Tinker
      Nose Smeller
      Mouth Eater
      Chin Chucker
      Gully, Gully, Gully!

    32. Nikki Says:

      The one my father did (and I now do with/to my daughter) was:
      Noggin Knocker (touch forehead)
      Eye Winker (point to eye)
      Eye Blinker (point to other eye)
      Nose Smeller (poke nose)
      Mouth eater (touch lips)
      Chin Chomper (touch chin)
      Get ‘er get ‘er get ‘er get ‘er (tickle under chin)
      (”Get ‘im” if it’s a boy)

    33. John Says:

      This is the version I learned from my Irish Grandmother. I think this may be a specifically Irish version:
      You point to each body part, and tickle under the chin at the end with the “Gully gully gully” part.

      Headacher
      Eye-blinker, Eye-winker
      Nosedropper
      Sweet-cheek, sour-cheek
      Moutheater
      Chin-chopper
      Gully, gully, gully

      I’d ask her to do it for hours. My little boy wanted me to do the same when he was about four.

    34. Lisa Says:

      That’s neat!

      I just found this rhyme that ends with the chin chopper that’s in many of the versions above (though it’s almost a different rhyme all together):

      Knock at the door, (forehead)
      And peep in, (lift eyelids)
      Open the door, (mouth)
      And walk in.
      Chinchopper, chinchopper,
      Chinchopper chin!

    35. Lisa Says:

      Here’s another version I found:

      Here sits the Lord Mayor, (touching forehead)
      Here sit his two men, (eyes)
      Here sits the cock, (right cheek)
      Here sits the hen, (left cheek)
      Here sit the little chickens, (tip of nose)
      Here they all run in; (mouth)
      Chinchopper, chinchopper,
      Chinchopper chin! (chuck the chin)

    36. Vanesa Says:

      foredinker
      eyewinker
      tomtinker
      nosedropper
      moutheater
      chinchomper
      giddygiddygiddy

    37. Marianne Says:

      There are a few my family would sing on camping trips and around camp fires they were….

      My hand on my heart and what is this here
      this is my top notcher my momma drear\top knotcher inky dinky do thats what i learned at the school
      my hand on my heart and what is this here
      this is my sweat boxer my momma dear
      sweat boxer, top knotcher inky dinky do
      thats what i learned at the school ( and so forth)

      then there was one that my mom would put her index and middle finger on top our head and walk down out face saying

      (from top of the head to our forhead)
      this is the way the pussy cat comes
      (knocks on forhead)
      knocks on the door
      (lifting eye lid)
      peeps in
      (lifts nose)
      opens the latch
      (softly tickling lips)
      walks in
      (tickling under the chin)
      Chinny Chop Chinny chop Chinny chop

      Or she would take our hand and make a circle in the palm of our hand 3 times while saying

      round and around the garden like a teddy bear
      ( walking fingers up for arm)
      One step two step tickle under there (tickling our arm pit)

      I have also heard this one but in stead of tickle under there is is tickle every where and you just tickle the child.

    38. Carmen Says:

      My husband and I were discussing what the correct words are; seems like all are correct to me. Here’s the Oklahoma version:

      Ford Bumper (forehead…and yes, like the truck.)
      Tom Tinker (left eye)
      Eye Winker (right eye)
      Nose Beeper (nose… like the horn, I suppose?)
      Mouth Chewer
      Chin Chopper

      Chewy, Chewy, Chewy! (grab the chin and shake it a little.)

    39. Charlotte Says:

      I was doing this rhyme with my grandson, that my mother did to my kids and her grandmother did to her…just started wondering if anyone else knew it or what. Thought it was funny!!! Ours went a little different.

      Louse bed (touch the head)
      Forehead (touch the forehead)
      Eye Winker (touch the left eye)
      Tommy Tinker (touch the right eye)
      Nose Smeller (touch the nose)
      Mouth Eater (touch the mouth)
      Chin Chopper (touch the chin)
      Then tickle them under the chin. So cute when the child pulls their chin in to their chest anticipating being tickled. Fun Fun

    40. caroline Says:

      From my grandpa:

      Mousie bed
      Forehead
      Eye winker
      Tom tinker
      Nose dropper
      Mouth eater
      Chin chopper chin chopper chin chopper chin

    41. angie Says:

      Hey everyone above us, we too were looking for the lyrics to this song and had great enjoyment seeing all the different variations. Makes the world a little more connected seeing how many people know this tune.

      cheers.

    42. Heather Says:

      This is my mother-in-law’s version…

      Hand on myself, what is this here, this is my headknocker mama, my dear, headknocker, headknocker nick nicky doo, that’s what I learned in the school, Ya, Ya

      and then…
      eye blinker
      nose blower
      soup strainer
      rubbernecker
      chest protector
      breadbasket
      sitter-downer
      knee bender
      flat footer

    43. C Brown Says:

      I am looking for the rest of the rhyme
      Eye Brow brinky
      Eye eye winky
      Cheek cheek merry
      Nose nose cherry
      Chin chopper, chin chopper

      The rest goes down the body to knee knockers.

    44. Arlene Says:

      Our first grandchild was born this past Dec.; this song popped into my head last week as I sang and talked to him. I remember it from my childhood in the 50s in Cincinnati; since Cincy is an old German community, that version is the one I remember being most like what my mother sang, with the refrain being ‘inky dinky do’. I could also perhaps have sung the song in Brownies.
      Amazing how so many of those memories deeply imbedded in our brains resurface with the advent of grandchildren!

    45. Sarah Says:

      This is the version that my Grandfather always did with us, he was French Canadian.
      Headacher (touch the forehead)
      Eyewinker (touch the eye)
      Nosedropper (touch the nose)
      Moutheater (touch the nose)
      Chinchopper (touch the chin)
      Giddy, Giddy, Giddy! (tickle under the chin)

      When my husband saw me doing this with our young son he responded that it is supposed to go like this:
      Head Thinker
      Eye Blinker
      Nose Smeller
      Mouth Eater
      Chin Chopper
      Giddy, Giddy, Giddy!

      Who knew that there were so many versions?? I thought this was something that my Grandfather made up and I had no idea that it was a song…wonder what the tune is?

    46. Lisa Says:

      I always thought it was more of a rhyme. Do other people sing it or say it like a rhyme?

    47. Mary Says:

      Wow – so many versions…I’m surprised that mine is a bit different still. My father was of German decent and this is how he said it:

      Here’s where the Dutchman sits – top of head
      Here’s where he cracks his whip – forehead
      Eye winker, eye blinker – eyes
      Nose dropper – nose
      Mouth eater – mouth
      And, chinny chin chin – chucks under chin

      I loved this interactive rhyme

    48. Margaret Says:

      Lisa and Sarah, yes certainly has a tune, think its a German waltz tune. Mostly the same here, except we had
      …chin wagger, nose wiper, ear listeners, eye peepers, head thinker and nicky nicky noo
      Cant think of Dad’s mouth version for the moment.

    49. bridgett Says:

      Lord Mayor was our version…and while it made a little story, I never could figure out (once I was an adult) what the heck it was all about. Thanks for this thread!

    50. Kate Says:

      Eye Winker, Tom Tinker, Nose Sniffer, Mouth Eater, Chin Chupper, Chin Chupper, Chin.

    51. caroline Says:

      head of hair forehead bare
      eye winker
      tommy tinker
      nose dropper
      mouth eater
      chin chopper chin chin

    52. caroline Says:

      this is the version i learned from my nana here in ireland

    53. Rayne Says:

      My hand on my self, what is this here?
      This is my … , my momma dear,

      Foot Stomper
      Knee Knocker
      Hip Bouncer
      Breadbasket
      Chest Wheezer
      Shoulder Shrugger
      Rubbernecker
      Chin Chopper
      Cookie Duster
      Nose Blower
      Eye Winker
      Head Knocker

      Inky Dinky Doo
      That’s what I learned at Day Camp.
      Yah Yah!

    54. Lisa Says:

      These are very cool!

      Mama Lisa

    55. Murphy Henry Says:

      This is one reason I love the internet! I learned this song in first grade in Georgia and for years have puzzled over what the words in my head really were. (I’m a musician–banjo player–and words & tunes just stay in my head.) I also “heard” it in a German accent. But I never could figure out what “vatdasdis here” meant. Until I read all these versions! Surely it means “what does this here?” So my version went:

      My hands on my head
      Vat das dis here
      That is my sweat boxer Mama my dear
      Sweat boxer, sweat boxer, nicky, nicky, nicky noo,
      That’s what I learned at the school.

      The tune I know is in quick waltz time, maybe even 6/8. Thanks for helping me clear this up!

    56. Ann Blanchard Says:

      I remember sitting on my Grandmothers knee and she would start so gently with her finger going over my hair:

      This is where the coachman sits,
      This is where he cracks his whip (forehead)
      Head of hair (back to hair again)
      Forehead fair (forehead again)
      Eye winker (left eye)
      Tom Tinker (right eye)
      Nose smeller (nose)
      Mouth Eater (nose)
      Chin Chopper (point of chin)
      And tickle you under there……… (tickles starting and neck and over
      body, accompanied by gales of laughter on both sides)

      My little grandchildren loved it too, but I never knew it came from
      Germany till now. Loved all the different version, but love ours best!

    57. Robert August Says:

      I have a slightly different version that my dad used to sing when I was a child. He learned it from his parents that were Lithuanian imigrants to America.

      With my hand on myself, vas ist das here.
      Das is my head tinker, ya mamma dear.
      Thats what we learn in da school YA YA!

      REAPEATS:
      Head Tinker (head)
      Sweat Browser (fore head)
      Eye Tinker (eye)
      Soup Strainer (under nose)
      Chin Chowser (chin)
      Rubber Necker (neck)
      Chest Protector (chest)
      Bread Basket (stomach)
      Baby Bouncer (Knee)
      Wife Kicker (Foot)

      … i may have missed one, its been awhile.
      I listened to the tune on the Scout website and
      thats the tune.

    58. Jenny C. Says:

      My mom from Oklahoma did it this way, which I now do in Arkansas:

      “FIRE” bumper (probably mutated from “fore” bumper)
      Tom tinker
      eye seer
      nose smeller
      chin chopper
      gully gully gully! (while grabbing chin and chomping it up and down
      very quickly)

    59. Matt Says:

      My grandfather had a version of this that has been passed throughout our family. I’ve always played the game with my younger relatives, and tonight my wife was arguing that it was nonsense that my grandpa made up. Off to google, which brings me here.
      Reading all the different versions all so similar is fascinating, but my granddad’s specific take on it isn’t quite here, so I’ll add it:

      Fore Bumper
      Eye Winker
      Tom Tinker
      Nose Smeller
      Mouth Eater
      Neck Twister
      Bread Box (this is where the tickling comes :) )

      thanks everyone.

    60. Jenny Says:

      My hand on my self, what is this here, this is my ____my momma dear…

      chin chopper
      milk pusher
      nose blower
      eye winker
      sweat boxer
      etc…

      ….nicky nicky new ….and that’s what I learned at this camp !

    61. manu k Says:

      chin chopper
      milk pusher
      nose blower
      eye winker
      sweat boxer
      etc…

    62. Liz Hegarty Says:

      We used to sing this in brownies but it was a little different..

      With my hands on my knees, what have I here
      this is mybrainbox and nothing to fear
      brain box and willy willy woo
      That’s what they taught me when i went to school

      eye-blinker
      snitch-wiper
      soup strainer
      bread-basket
      hip-wiggler
      knee-bender
      toe-tapper

    63. sara Says:

      we have heard two versions
      head knocker
      eye winker
      nose dropper
      mouth feeder
      chin chooper
      gully gully gully gully gully

      head knocker
      eye winker
      nose mary
      lip lily
      chin chilly
      gilly gilly gilly

    64. Kim Says:

      The version that I remember my grandmother (in the 60’s) doing to us, and my mother now doing to my children, is:

      Farbumper (touch forehead)
      Eye Winker (touch one eye)
      Tom Tinker (touch other eye)
      Nose Dropper (touch nose)
      Mouth Eater (touch mouth)
      Chin Chopper (touch chin)
      Gully Gully Gully Gully (tickle neck area)

    65. Erica Says:

      I learned:
      “Put your hands on my shoulders and vas is das here, this my tinkerboxer oh mama dear! Tinkerboxer, ringee digee do, thats what i learned in this school… YA HOO”!

      Tinkerboxer
      Headknocker
      Sweat browser
      Eye blinker
      Snot blower
      Soup strainer
      …..

    66. Sue Says:

      Like Arlene above, I grew up in Cinti. in the 50’s and learned this song in Brownies. The following are the lyrics I learned:

      Hands on my hips,
      What have we here?
      This is my foot stomper,
      My Mama dear
      Foot stomper, knee bender,
      Lap sitter, bread basket,
      Air blower, apple knocker,
      chin chopper,
      Food grinder, soup strainer,
      horn blower, eye blinker,
      Sweat boxer, top-notcher,
      Inky, dinky doo
      That’s what I learned in my school.
      Tra lah

    67. Sarah O Says:

      Well, my mama and uncle would not sing it, it was more of the child knowing they’d get tickled underneath the chin and it was fun.. My family’s version isnt very different, but here it is:

      forebumper (single tap to the forehead)

      Eyepeeper (single tap to the eye (usually the kid closes them, lol))

      Nosesmeller (single tap to the tip of the nose)

      At this point the child starts tucking in their chin to kind of block what’s coming

      Moutheater (single tap to the lips)

      Chinchumper (single tap to the chin)

      Here at this point there is an extended pause, as if trying to let the child relax

      Gullywhopper! (tickle attack to the neck)

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