ID: 642
Date: 1970s-2001
Title: Flee, Fly, Flow
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Fun chant 
Rhyme: 

Flee (flee)
Flee, fly, (flee, fly)
Flee, fly, flow (flee, fly, flow)
Vista, (vista)
Coom-a-la, coom-a-la, coom-a-la,
Vista.
Oh no, not the vista
In-a-mini, desks-a-mini
Oo-la-la-wull-a-mini
In-a-mini, dess-a-mini
Oo-la-la-wah.

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Flea, flea,
Flea, fly, flea, fly.
Flea fly mosquito,
Flea, fly mosquito,
Oh no no no, not mosquito, (x 2)
Itchy bitchy scratchy watchy (x 2)
Got a buggy down my backy (x 2)
Hit that buggy with a fly spray (x 2)
Beat billy boat-en doat-en.
Bo-bo bar deet-en dat-en.
Shh!

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Flee (x 2) 
Flee fly (x 2)
Flee fly flo (x 2) 
Vesta (x 2)
Cooma la, cooma la cooma la vesta.
Oh no no not the vesta,
Ina meni, dessa meni,
Oo la la walla meni
Ina meni, dessa meni,
Oo la la wah,
Beat billy boaten doaten,
Bo bo bar deeten daten,
Shh.

(NZ, 1980s)

--

Flee, flee, flee fly,flee fly,
Flee fly mosquito (x 2)
Oh no no no not mosquito, (x 2)
Itchy bitchy scratchy watchy (x 2)
Got a buggy down my backy (x 2)
Hit that buggy with a fly swat (x 2)

(Wellington, 2000)

--

Flea (flea)
Flea fly, (flea fly)
Flea, fly, flow (flea fly flow)
Vista, (vista)
Coom-a-la, coom-a-la, coom-a-la,
Vista
Oh no not the vista
In-a-mini, dess-a-mini,
Co-la-la wull-a-mini,
In-a-mini, dess-a-mini,
Oo-la-la wah,
Beet-bill-y boat-en doat-en
Bo-bo-bar deet-en dat-en
Shh!

(Gisborne, 2001)

--
 
Background Info: Group chant where the group follows by repeating the leader's words. Used as a model for children to make up own versions.
Popular in America at summer camps and sung by Scouts and Guides around the world, especially during 1970s; also recorded in Norway in 1973.
Further background and music in Opie, 1988:404.

==

First part chanted, second part sung.
Shh - whispered as a contrast. (Personal informant) 

==

Popular music: recorded by Red Hot Chilli Peppers on their album "Out in L.A." and by Fe-Mail as part of the musical sound track of "Little Vampire".

==
 
Keywords: nonsense chant 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 10 
Incidence: 5