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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June 10th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
head of hair forehead bare
eye winker
tommy tinker
nose dropper
mouth eater
chin chopper chin chin
June 10th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
this is the version i learned from my nana here in ireland
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
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!
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
These are very cool!
Mama Lisa
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
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!
August 20th, 2009 at 3:47 am
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!
August 20th, 2009 at 7:56 am
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.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:36 am
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)
August 27th, 2009 at 1:59 am
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.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
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 !
September 21st, 2009 at 7:30 am
chin chopper
milk pusher
nose blower
eye winker
sweat boxer
etc…
September 30th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
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
October 5th, 2009 at 12:55 am
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
October 7th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
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)
October 8th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
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
…..
October 16th, 2009 at 9:02 am
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
November 13th, 2009 at 5:06 am
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)
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Wow! This songs been in my family for generations too! They’ll be fascinated to learn it’s of German origin. This is the English West country version I know (It has a lovely tune too!) We point to the various parts of the body as we sing
With my hands on my head, what have I here
This is my brain boxer my teacher dear
Brain boxer, nicky , nicky, nacky, noo
That’s what they taught me when I went to school
With my hands on my head, What have I here
These are my eye blinkers my teacher dear
Eye blinkers, brain boxer, nicky , nicky, nacky, noo
That’s what they taught me when I went to school
continues in the same vein with
nose wiper (obvious!)
tea strainer (mouth)
chin wagger (um..chin!)
bread basket (tummy)
back acher (back)
trouble maker (one guess!)
wind breaker (bottom)
knee knockers (knees)
globe trotters (feet)
Last verse also ends really quickly with the little ones in the family desperately trying to keep up! Fab. I love the way we in true west country style have appeared to have added “er” onto nearly every line too. Great stuff!
November 28th, 2009 at 8:04 am
I was searching for a similar poem that was taught to me in the 70s . My kindergarten teacher was taught this in pre-independence India by the British teachers.
Brain boxes (head)
Sweat Boxes (temple)
Bulrushes(eye brows)
Eye blinkers (eyes)
Snuff boxes (nose)
Chatter boxes (mouth/teeth)
Bread boxes (stomach)
Knee benders (knees)
If someone has the words to this variation, please post it – I would love to teach it to my kids.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I have also heard it with snot locker/ schnotlocker for the nose.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:16 pm
My Grandfather sings a similar song:
With my hands on my shoulder now vat is dis here this is my:
top notcher, top notcher dear. Top nothcher, Top notcher, top notcher dear. thats what i learned in school.
sweat browser
eye blinker
snot blower
soup strainer
bull thrower
chin chowser
rubber necker
milk factory
bread basket
trouble maker
poop shooter
knee knocker
February 24th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
We do this song all the time in Canada with our Girl Guides!!! Our version is a little more girlie!!!
I point to myself, what is this here? This is my brain boxer yeah momma dear. Brain boxer, ring a ling a ling, toot toot! that’s what I learned at my school today.
Brain boxer
Eye Blinker
Telephoner
Nose Blower
Boy Kisser
Rubber Necker
Chest Protector
Bread Basket
Sit-Upon (tush)
Knee Knockers
Boy Kicker (foot, we usually don’t encourage this one!)
February 27th, 2010 at 10:30 am
I was just singing this with my 10 year olds and they wanted me to look it up on the net. Ours was passed down for generations… might have been modified in the process:
What is this my son
What is this, what is this (pointing to top of head)
This is my Hard Knocker
That’s what it is
Hard Knocker doodle do
That’s what we learn in the School.
(Keep adding body parts until the last verse goes like this:)
What is this my son
What is this, what is this
This is my Foot Stomper
That’s what it is
Foot Stomper
Knee Knocker
Sit Downer
Beer Belly
Chest Maker
Bird Nester (chin/beard)
Boy (Girl) Kisser
Soup Strainer (the channel between the nose and lips)
Stink Smeller
Eye See You
Sweat Brower (forehead)
Hard Knocker Doodle Do
That’s what we learn in the School!
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I grew up in rural Kentucky and here’s what I was sung
Benfore *taps forehead
Eyewinker *taps under left eye
Tom Tinker *taps under right eye
Nose Smeller *taps nose
Mouth Eater *taps mouth
Chin Chopper *taps chin
Whee Whee Whee *tickles under chin
It’s cool to find out it’s still around isn’t it? Like a small pocket of our collective childhoods lives on. Sweet!
April 28th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
We did this as a family, similar, but different (no song):
Knock on the door (knock on forehead)
Peep in (pretend to peep into their eyes)
Open the latch (push up on nose)
Walk in (open the mouth)
chin chopper, chin chopper, chin chopper, chin (tickle under the chin)
May 1st, 2010 at 12:53 am
This was passed down from my great- grandfather
Mousetrap- Forehead
Forban- Forehead
eye-winker- left eye
tom-tinker- right eye
nose puller
mouth chewer
chin chopper
gully, gully, gully
May 29th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Yes, “knock on the door” was dads favourite …which was a great amusement when I was a tot.
One Australian version of “chin-chopper” etc goes:-
“With my hand on my heart, what have I here –
This is my (chin-chopper) …jolly good cheer –
Chin-chopper, nose-rosy, eye-peeper, thinking-box and nicky-nicky-noo –
…thats what they taught me when I went to school.
There are “bits” for the whole body …but I can’t recall too many others ;-(
June 6th, 2010 at 2:24 am
I point to myself and say what is this here this is my Brain boxer oh momma dear
Brain boxer -head
Eye blinker- eyes
Nose blower-nose
Boy Kisser- mouth
Rubber necker- neck
Chest protector-chest
Bread Basket-stomach
Sit Upon- butt
Knee Bender -Knee
Boy Kicker-feet
Ring a ding a ling toot toot thats what I learned at my school ya ya
June 11th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I learned this song in a music class in elementary school in West Texas in the 70’s. It was in our music book. Our version was slightly different:
Vas ist das, my son
Vas ist das, Vas ist das?
Das ist my hat-racker, my father dear.
Hat-racker, ooh-la, ooh-la
Dast vat we learned in the Schule haus.
Eye blinker
Nose Smeller
Mouth Eater
There were more but I can’t rememer them all.
June 17th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
“I asked my Mom, vot I got here. Dat is yer shwet boxer, ah momma dear, dats vat I learnt in da school, ya hoo.
I asked my Mom, vot I got here. Dat is yer eye peeper, ah momma dear. Eye peeper, shwet boxer my momma dear. Dats vot I learnt in da school, ya hoo.
Then….
nose blower
lip locker
soup catcher(chin)
heart thumper (chest)
bread basket,(stomach)
babe holder(lap)
long walkers (legs)
bug stompers (feet)
My mama dear, dats vot we learnt in da school, ya hoo!
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Head knocker ( rap on head)
Eye blinker ( touch eye area )
Tommy tinker ( touch other eye area )
Nose blower (pull nose)
mouth eater ( touch lips )
chin chopper ( squeeze chin )
and gully gully gully ( tickle neck)
July 9th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
The semi-english version of the German song my Father and his 7 brothers and sisters sang was a bit different. Starting with –
So I points to myself and say “Vas is das here?
Das is my “Sweat brower” mine Father dear. That’s what I learned in my school. And so on…..
eye blinker
cheese smeller
bull shooter
rubber necker
chest protector
belly acher
trouble maker
wind blower
knee bender
toe jammer
July 10th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
My Grandmother did;
around forehead (make circle with finger)
eye wink (touch side of eye on head)
nose drop (touch nose)
chin chop (pinch chin gently)
AND
a goolie, a goolie, a goolie while tickling the tummy….
July 11th, 2010 at 3:35 am
Thank you so much for all the time and effort here….BRAVO!… the internet….I write & illustrate children’s stories…..some years ago I was totally captivated by my nephew at 4 years ….he would add ‘Nicky Nocky Noo’ on to the end of everything he said…..’i just drank a glass of milk… nicky nocky noo’….’I am going to play outside …nicky nocky noo’….’i am going to bed now…nicky nocky noo’…..etc etc…..I couldn’t work out why?…but at the same time it was also familar to me somehow…..after reading all these absolutely wonderful accounts here…..I am embarrassed to say that my family sang a version of this rhyme to me and my siblings…..I had forgotten the details….but the rhythm of my nephew’s ‘nicky nocky noo’ was firmly programmed into my memory bank……and now thanks to you all I have started to piece together my childhood memory of this sweet little ditty. I wish I had done so earlier…for me teenage phase is in full swing now!!!!……thank you!
July 11th, 2010 at 3:39 am
thank you
July 13th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
The version i remember was:
I point to myself right here, right here
This is my tree topper, yes mother dear
tree topper, tree topper, yes mother dear
That’s what i learned in the school.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Head Thinker
Eye Winker
Nose Stinker
Cheek Cheater
Mouth Eater
Chin chopper – chin chopper – chin chopper
August 14th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Ok I learned this song in Sunday School way back in the 60’s and I am 53 now lol
Hands on my hips what should I do?
This is my eye blinkers God gave to me
Hands on my hips what should I do I do?
This is my food grinder God gave to me
Eye Blinker ~ Food Grinder
But alas I do not know the rest
August 16th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
My mom’s version was
Headacher
Tom tinker
Eye winker
Nose dropper
Mouth eater
Chin Chopper
(then tickle and say “get that little girl)
August 31st, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I learned a slightly sillier version, but it was always very important that it be done with a thick, goofy German accent:
Mein Hand an Meinself,
Was ist das hier?
Hand an mein Kopfthinker, my mama dear.
Kopfthinker, nicky nicky noo (WOO-WOO!)
That’s what I learned at der Camp. Ja, Ja!
All the way down with…
Eyewinker
Schnitzel Hole
Chest Boxer
Bread Basket
Butt Sitter
Knee Bender (K-nee, pronounce the K)
Fuss Kicker
The Wiggles version is downright creepy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXAnbIbK-kU
October 19th, 2010 at 6:52 am
My English/Scots Irish Grandma and my mother said this:
Here’s where the kitty walks (smooth one eyebrow)
Here’s where the kitty sits (smooth other eyebrow)
Eye Winker
Tom Tinker
Nose Smeller
Mouth Eater
Chip Chopper
Gully gully gully! (under the chin)
October 26th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
My mother (from her Irish mother, I guess) used to say this:
This is where the coachman sits (lightly tapping the hairline at top of forehead)
This is here he cracks his whip (lighly running her finger across the forehead)
Eyeblinker (lightly touching right eyelid under brow)
Eyewinker (lightly touching left eyelid under brow)
Nosedropper (tapping tip of nose)
Moutheater (tapping lips)
Chinchopper, chinchopper, chinchopper (jiggling her hand under chin and tickling)
October 29th, 2010 at 9:10 am
I learned this song in Girl Scouts as well. The lyrics I learned were slightly different:
Hansel, my son. Vas is das here?
Das is mine …… my mama, dear
….., ….., rinky dinky doo
That’s what I learned in my school, ya ya!
November 9th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Wow, I am SO glad I googled this song! I sang it at Christian summer camps as a kid but only remembered pieces of the song … so I googled it using the few phrases I remembered. I really wanted to pass this onto my kids because I loved it so much. Now I finally can! I think mine went like this:
Mine hand on mineself, vas is das here? Das is my head knocker, my mama dear. Head knocker, head knocker, nicky nicky noo, woo woo! Dat’s vat I learned in da school, yah yah!
The rest were:
sweat boxer
eye winker
nose blower
mouth eater
chin chopper
chest ? (I know we said it but can’t remember)
bread basket
waist bender
lap sitter
knee bender
foot stomper
Yay!
November 14th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Mine goes;
Forehead painer
Eye winker
Tom tinker
Nose dauber
Mouth eater
Chin chomper
and a Gobble gobble gobbble gobble
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Mine was from the Amish country in PA.
My hands by my side, vas ist das here (point to head)
Vas ist my “think boxer” my teacher dear.
Think boxer, dinky dinky doo,
that’s what we learned in our school.
eye blinker,nose smeller,mouth eater, chin chopper, rubber necker, chest protector, bread basket, lap sitter, knee bender, ….
that’s all I can remember. can you add?
November 27th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Passed from my Ohio grandmother, through my mother, to me, my children and grandchildren:
Here’s where the cat sits,
Here’s where he eats his dinner,
Eye winker
Tom tinker
Nose smeller
Mouth eater
Chin chipper
Giddy-giddy-giddy!!
November 30th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I’m 60 + and remember singing this song in Michigan.
Vat is dis, my son? Vat is dis? Vat is dis?
(pointing to the part of the body)
This is my hat-topper. Das vat it is. Hat-topper, doodle do.
That’s what we learn in the school.
There is a version above which is about the same as mine.
I’m really glad some people remember the old songs.
Thanks.
December 12th, 2010 at 11:23 am
The version I grew up with was off of a kids album (I can’t remember the name of it). It went something like this (but not entirely certain about some of the parts:
With my head on my shoulders now what have we here?
This is my brow blister my sister dear.
Brow blister, brow blister
Down by the pool.
That what we learn in the school.
Each part was repeated:
Head on my shoulders
Kiss maker
Nose blower
Eye winker
Brow blister
I’m not sure that was all of them either. I am hoping I can find the album somewhere so my kids can enjoy it. It had…. Ooo, while typing this I just remembered the name of the album. It was “Little Red School House”. Did anyone else have this when they were growing up?
January 13th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
My grand mother used to sing this to us to teach us English. When we were young. Some of the ones I remember go like this
Hands on my Side,
What is this Dear,
this is my Head Boiler Mommy my dear
Head Boiler, Head Boiler
Inky Dinky Doo
This is what I learnt, when I went to school.
Hands on my Side,
What is this Dear,
this is my Nose blower Mommy my dear
Head Boiler, Nose blower
Inky Dinky Doo
This is what I learnt, when I went to school
Hands on my Side,
What is this Dear,
this is my Eye Blinker Mommy my dear
Head Boiler, Nose blower, Eye Blinker
Inky Dinky Doo
This is what I learnt, when I went to school
……………………….
Would love if some one else has the same set of words. I beleive that this could be something that My Granny got during her growing up days in the British Raj in India.