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Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies
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Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies |
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Subject: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Muttley Date: 14 Apr 07 - 10:06 PM Hey folks: Need additional verses and an origin to this rhyme/chant Was singing this to my daughter's youngest and helping her clap with it (she's VERY young) and thought, not for the first time that there must be more verses to it. My mother used to sing it with both my sister's and my children and she learned it from her mother and aunts - so it's probably a fairly well established 'chant' or rhyme. My main request is firstly: where did it come from (the site of the market/source of the bell is Scottish in ours but bound to be different for others. And secondly (and more importantly) Are there any other verses anyone is aware of? The rhyme is 'Penny Bell' or "Clap Handies" - depending on who sings it and the verse I am conversant with goes: Clap-a-clap-a-handies Mother's at the well Father's gone to Edinburgh To buy a Penny Bell It has the 'feel' that there should be more. If anyone can help I would be most grateful Muttley |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Azizi Date: 14 Apr 07 - 10:35 PM Muttley, I'm not familiar with that rhyme. That rhyme isn't listed in Roger D. Abrahams' "Jump Rope Rhymes- A Dictionary", which was published for the American Folklore Society in 1969. I'll look through other books on children's rhymes that I have to see if I can find it. If so, I'll post the words to this thread. ** When I read that "clap a clap a handies" line, this [1960s? or 1950s?] USA toothpaste ad popped into my mind: Brush-a bush-a brush-a It's the new Ipana. With the brand new flavor. It's dandy for your tee-eth. -snip- Yeah, I know I'm weird. There's probably no connection. And I guess that new flavor didn't work that well for Ipana since I don't think that brand of tooth paste is still being sold. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Snuffy Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:15 AM My mother (born Tyneside 1920, of Scots parentage) used to sing this verse when we were very small Clap-a-clap-a-handies Daddy's coming hame Pennies in his pocket For his ain wee wean I've always assumed it was a Geordie song, but looking closely it does seem more like Scots. And here's a fragment of another one (which may be a different song) Clap a hands for daddy Coming doon the waggon way With a ... |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Little Robyn Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:28 AM Snuffy, the second song could be a modification of this Geordie song which is called Waggoner in the DT. Robyn |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Snuffy Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:37 AM Yes, that's the one - "pocket full of money and a poke full of hay". Only ever heard the one verse though. And it was definitely Daddy, not "my love" - probably a conflation of the two separate songs. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Jim McLean Date: 15 Apr 07 - 08:22 AM My dad also sang this to us but changed the name at the end depending on whom he was singing to (I had four other siblings): Clap-a-clap-a-handies Daddy's coming hame Pennies in his pocket For Jimmie McLean |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Geordie-Peorgie Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:22 PM Aah remember me Mam singing the Geordie version te me when aah wez a nipper and aall the other bairns in the family and to my bairns when they came alang. Clap hands for Daddy comin' Doon the Waggon Way His pocket's full of money and his hands aall clay* *Clay (or clarts) wez the generic term for mud - so basically the mother figure is telling the bairn that Da's been working hard and today's pay-day so they might be able to afford summat nice Canny! Eh, Man!! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Muttley Date: 16 Apr 07 - 02:04 AM Thanks people - any others recalled would be gratefully received - PM me if you do remember Mutt |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Australia Date: 15 Sep 11 - 05:03 PM Clap a Clap a handies Daddy coming home Pennies in his pocket for..... *insert name* |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Anne Neilson Date: 15 Sep 11 - 08:38 PM Have just been singing this today to my 9 month-old great niece in Ayrshire (Scotland) who has recently added clapping hands to her repertoire -- great to see her interest and progress! Our family custom has been tpwards endless repetition for familiarity -- with the substitutions of various family members to keep it 'interesting' eg. daddy/mummy/granny/ granpa/uncle Robbie/auntie Annie etc. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Granny Nowell Date: 16 Apr 17 - 10:53 AM clap clap a handies, clap clap away, when the rain is over the sun comes out to play, clap a handies, clap clap away. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Granny Nowell Date: 16 Apr 17 - 10:59 AM Clap Clap a handies, clap clap away, clap clap a handies on a rainy day. When the rain is over, the sun comes out to play, clap clap a handies, clap clap away. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,nana Date: 10 Jul 17 - 11:55 AM My mother used to sing it in Flemish /Dutch, but I only know the first few words. "Clappa clappa muncha" It is also sung by Santa in "Miracle on 44th St" with Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. The Scotts and Flemish were united somewhere in UK history. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Avril Date: 13 Nov 18 - 10:57 AM This is the Edinburgh one I know “Clappa clappa handies Mammy’s in the well daddy is away to Edinburgh to buy Wee “....” a bell And if he doesn’t want it he will keep it to himself Clappa clappa clappa handies Mammies in the well. Xxx This was a family favourite and I sing it to my Grandson. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST Date: 02 Dec 18 - 11:17 AM The verse I know is : Capa a Clap a hands Mummies at the well Daddies away to buy a skin To wrap our baby bunting in. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: Snuffy Date: 03 Dec 18 - 04:15 AM As a kid I learned: Bye Baby Bunting Daddy's gone a-hunting Gone to fetch a rabbit skin To wrap poor Baby Bunting in That was quite separate from the Clap-a-handies rhymes, and may have even been in a book of Nursery rhymes we had. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Susie Date: 05 Dec 18 - 06:09 PM In Cheshire, we were sung a rhyme in a similar vein: Clap handies; Daddy comes With a pocket full of plums A-a-a-all for ( child's name). |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Clap-a-clap-a-handies From: GUEST,Sophieajazz Date: 31 Oct 20 - 04:05 PM My granny, born in Edinburgh 1888, came to South Shields when she was 2, sang this to me (and my younger cousins) as a baby. I'm sure it was something her mother sang. Clap a hands a daddy's coming down the waggonway A handful of money and a pocket full of clay Clap, clap handies mammy's at the well Daddy's gone to Edinburgh to buy the bairn a bell I believe the reference to money in the hand was because it was hard earned (keeping tight hold of it and the good feel of having it) and the clay is in his pockets as the clothes were laden down with dirt from the hard work to earn it. |
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