The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A rhyming game played by African-American Children

A sailor went to see see see (put hands over brow)
to see what he could see see see.
But all that he could see see see
was the bottom of the deep blue see see see.
A sailor went to chop chop chop (chopping motion of arm)
to see what he could chop chop chop.
But all that he could chop chop chop
was the bottom of the deep blue chop chop chop.
A sailor went to knee knee knee (touch knees)
to see what he could knee knee knee.
But all that he could knee knee knee
was the bottom of the deep blue knee knee knee.
A sailor went to Oooh-aah-chee-ka (swivel hips)
to see what he would Oooh-aah-chee-ka.
But all that he could oooh-ah-chee-ka
was the bottom of the deep blue ooh-ah-chee-ka.
A sailor went to see, chop, knee, oooh-ah chee-ka
to see what he could see, chop, knee, ooh-ah-chee-ka
but all that he could see, chop, knee, ooh-ah-chee-ka
was the bottom of the deep blue see, chop, knee, ooh-ah-che-ka.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1961