ID: 125 Date: 1990s - 2006 Title: My boyfriend Gender: Female Classification: Clapping Rhyme: My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me a kiss on the lips And took me to the fair. I gave him back his apple, I gave him back his pear, I gave him back the kiss on the lips, And kicked him in the air. (Christchurch, 2006) -- My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me a kiss on the lips And threw me down the stairs. I gave him back his apple, I gave him back his pear, I gave him back the kiss on the lips, (And kicked him you know where! - Christchurch, 2000) And threw him down the stairs. (Christchurch, 2000 x 2; Mangakino, 2000; Auckland, 2002 x 2; Christchurch, 2004) I took him to a movie, to see a sexy (scary) film. And while I wasn't looking, he kissed another girl. I took him to the dairy to buy some bubble gum, When he wasn't looking, I stuffed it up his bum. (Christchurch, 1998; Christchurch, 2000 x 3; Greytown, 2002; Hokitika, 2003; Christchurch, 2004; Barrytown, 2004; Ashburton, 2006) -- My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me a kiss on the lips And threw me down the stairs. I gave him back his apple, I gave him back his pear, I gave him back the kiss on the lips, And threw him down the stairs. I threw him over London, I threw him over Spain, I threw him over the Harbour Bridge, And he never came back again. I threw him over London, I threw him over France, I threw him over the Harbour Bridge, Without his underpants. (Auckland, 2000) -- My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me a kick up the bum, And threw me down the stairs. I gave him back his apple, I gave him back his pear, I gave him back his kick up the bum, And threw him down the stairs. (Hokitika, 2005) -- My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me sunscreen, And threw me down the stairs. (Hamilton, 2003) -- My boyfriend gave me an apple, My boyfriend gave me a pear, My boyfriend gave me sixty five cents And took me to the fair. I gave him back his apple, I gave him back his pear, I gave him back his sixty five cents, And took his underwear. (and threw him down the stairs - Carew, 1990s) (Awanui, 1990s; Christchurch, 1990s; Auckland, 1990s; Kaiapoi, 2003) -- I threw him over London, I threw him over France, I threw him over the Harbour Bridge, And saw his underpants. He took me to a movie, to see a sexy film. And while I wasn't looking, he kissed another girl. We went to the ice cream shop, to buy some bubble gum, And while he wasn't looking, I stuck it up his bum. (Arrowtown, 2006) -- I made him do the washing, I made him do the floor, I made him clean the baby's bum, In 1994. (Wellington, 2002) -- We went to the dairy to buy some bubble gum, When he wasn't looking, I shoved it up his bum. We went to the movies, To see a sexy film, When I wasn't looking He kissed another girl. (Auckland, 2000) -- He took me to the candy store, To buy some bubble gum, And when I wasn't looking, He shoved it up my bum. (I shoved it up his bum.) I took him to the doctors, To get the gum pulled out, And when he wasn't looking, I pulled it out myself. (Kaiapoi, 2003) -- I threw him over Jupiter, I threw him over Mars, I threw him over a rugby field, And nearly broke his arm. (Auckland, 2000) -- I threw him over Jupiter, I threw him over Mars, I threw him over the USA, And kicked him up the arse. (Auckland, 2001; Kerikeri, 2002) -- I kicked him over London, I kicked him over France, I kicked him over Paris, And he lost his underpants. I threw him over London, I threw him over France, I threw him over the Waikato Bridge, And he lost his underpants. (Hamilton, 2002) -- He flew me over to Paris, He flew me over to France, He flew me over the world and back, And all the way back to dance. (Auckland, 2004) -- His mother went to England, His mother went to France, His mother went to China, And found his underpants. I threw him over England, I threw him over Spain, I threw him over Disneyland, And back he came again. (Rotorua, 2002) -- I threw him over London, I threw him over Perth, I threw him over Disneyland, And right around the earth. (NZ ex Australia, 2000) -- I went to the pub, And my boyfriend bought A bottle of rum, And I went back home, And I showed my bum. (Northland,1998) -- I took him back home, To tuck him into bed, But when he wasn't looking, I farted on his head. (Tauranga, 2002) -- In 1992 the horse went out to poo, In 1993 the horse went out to wee, In 1994 the horse went out the door, In 1995 the horse stood on a hive. (Auckland, 2003) -- Background Info: Also begins, "I gave my boyfriend an apple.." == Derived from the American skipping rhyme beginning (Opie, 1988:478): Twelve o'clock striking, (or Nine o'clock striking.) Twelve o'clock striking, Mother, may I go out? All the boys are waiting For to take me out. One will give me an apple, One will give me a pear, One will give me fifty cents To kiss behind the stair. I'd rather wash the dishes, I'd rather scrub the floor, I don't want an apple, I don't want a pear, I don't want fifty cents To kiss behind the stair. (New York, 1926) == Similar versions in Opie, 1997:289: I don't want your apple, I don't want your pear, I don't want your fifty cents To kiss me on the stair. I'd rather wash the dishes, I'd rather sweep the floor, I'd rather kiss a Chinaman Behind the kitchen door. Massachusetts, 1920s) == Knapp, 1976:123 - 124 records similar variations with the lines: My boyfriend gave me peaches, My boyfriend gave me pears, My boyfriend gave me fifty cents, To fix the broken stairs. Nine o'clock is striking; Mother may I go out? All the boys are waiting for to take me out. Some will give me apples, some will give me pears. (USA, 1943) == Keywords: gender differences, NZ culture, rugby, fart lore Location: Various NZ Group size: 2 Incidence: 38