ID: 170
Date: 1950s - 2006
Title: Hey Mr Postman
Gender: Male/Female 
Classification: Skipping, Clapping 
Rhyme: 

Hey Mr Postman,
Do your duty,
Here comes Miss American Beauty.
She can do the pom-pom, (wibble wobble)
She can do the twist,
But I bet you five bucks 
She can't do this! (do the splits)
A, B, C, D, (legs wider apart with each letter until someone falls over.)

(Christchurch, 2000 x 8; Auckland, 2000; Gisborne, 2001; Christchurch, 2001: Wellington, 2002; Christchurch, 2002; Kaiapoi, 2003; Tapanui, 2003; Auckland, 2003; Blenheim, 2004;  Christchurch, 2004; Ashburton, 2005; Hokitika, 2005; Arrowtown, 2006; Christchurch, 2006)

--

Hey Mr Postman doing your business,
Here comes Miss American fitness.
She can do gymnastics,
She can do the obstacle course.
But I bet ya five bucks she can't do this,
1,2,3 (Splits)

(Auckland, 2000)

--

Policeman, policeman do your duty,
Here comes the lady with the African bootie.
She can shake it, she can wobble,
She can do the splits,
But I bet you 10 bucks she can't do this.
Turn around, 2,3,4, 
Touch the ground, 2,3,4 
Get out of town, 2,3,4.

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Hey, Mr Pirate, 
Here she comes,
From American radio.
She can do the pom pom,
She can do the splits,
I bet ya five bucks she can't do this,
A, B, C..

(Gisborne, 2001)

--

Postman, postman,
Do your duty,
Here comes Mr African beauty,
He can do the pom, pom,
He can do the splits,
He can make you kiss,
K. I. S. S.

(Tauranga, 2000)

--

Policeman, policeman, do your duty,
Here comes the American beauty.
She can do the rumba,
She can do the splits,
She can wear her skirt up over her hips.

(Palmerston North, 1970s)

--
 
Background Info: Chance for jumpers to show off their skills.
Knapp, 1976:117:

She can hobble, she can wobble, 
She can do the twist,
But I bet you she can't do this:
Jump on one foot, one foot,
Jump on two feet, two feet,
Jump on three feet, three feet,
Jump on four feet, four feet.

==

Reference in Butler, 1989:75.
Sung to the same tune as "Shirley Temple is a Star".

==

Alternative ending Abrahams,1969:161.

==

Turner, 1978:  24:

Policeman, policeman, do your duty,
Here comes (Debbie) the American beauty.
She can wiggle, she can waggle,
She can do the splits.
But I bet you a dollar that she can't do this.

(Canberra, 1959)

==

Gaunt, 2004:257 discusses sexual references in relation to this version of the rhyme accompanying the hand-clapping games of Afro-American girls:

Mailman, mailman, do your duty,
Here comes the lady with da African booty.
She can do da wah-wah, she can do da splits,
She can do anything to make you split, so split!

==

Opie, 1997:235 discusses this post-war American chant, along with variants such as:

Postman, postman do your duty,
Deliver this note to the sleeping beauty.
She wiggles, she waggles, she does the kicks,
She wears her dress right up to her knicks.

(Coventry, 1970s)

A similar verse was found inscribed on a Valentine's day card envelope: Postman, postman, do your duty, take this to my loving beauty.

==
 
Keywords: teenage culture 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 2 
Incidence: 27