ID: 359
Date: 1990s - 2000
Title: See my finger
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Fun tease 
Rhyme: 

See my finger,
See my thumb,
See my fist,
And here it comes.

(Christchurch, 1990 x 3; Gisborne, 2000; Timaru, 2000)

--

See my finger,
See my thumb,
See my bum 
On Channel One.

(Christchurch, 1990; Whangarei, 2000)

--

See my finger,
See my thumb,
Pull down my pants 
And see my bum.

(Kerikeri, 2000)

--

See my finger,
See my thumb,
Well, you'd better,
'Cos here it comes.

(Te Aroha, 1990s)

--

See my finger,
See my thumb,
This is the shape of Elsie's bum.
(Referring to Elsie Tanner in "Coronation Street")

(Springfield, 1970s)

--
 
Background Info: Recorded as a verbal teasing rhyme 1920-1950 by Sutton-Smith, 1959:100.

==

Turner, 1978:89-90 records versions including:

See my finger,
See my thumb,
See my little tommy gun.
(Canberra, 1962)
Look at the sky,
Look at the ground,
Look at my thumb,
Gee you're dumb.

(Victoria, 1910)

==

Opie, 1967:196 records the version:

See my finger,
See my thumb,
See my fist, 
You'd better run.

(UK, 1950s)

==

Onwuchekwa, 2003:106 records the variations from urban black America:

See my pinky,
See my thumb,
See my fist,
You better run.

See my heart,
Gee, you're smart,
See my thumb,
Gee, you're dumb.

==
 
Keywords: threat, taunt, media culture, bawdy 
Location: Various NZ, Australia 
Group size: 2 
Incidence: 10