John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

Last updated

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt is a traditional children's song which consists of one verse, each time increasing or decreasing in volume or tempo.

Contents

Lyrics and melody

There are various lyrics to the song. For example (in the following version) the verse is first repeated normally (followed with the last line "Da-da-da"). The volume verses are repeated four times (often while altering the volume or pitch). If the volume is lowered, the last line (the "Da-da-da!") often remains constant, shouted even as the rest of the song reduces to a whisper. The first verse is sung in normal volume. After the first verse, the song is repeated four times --through a whisper on the fourth and final verse (not counting the first verse which is in normal volume)-- but the closing (the "Da-da-da!") is always louder on all four verses. [1]

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

Origin

While the origins of the song are obscure, some evidence places its roots with vaudeville and theatre acts of the late 19th century and early 20th century popular in immigrant communities. Some vaudeville acts during the era, such as the work of Joe Weber and Lew Fields, often gave voice to shared frustrations of German-American immigrants and heavily leaned on malapropisms and difficulties with the English language as a vehicle for their humor. [2] "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" shares many characteristics with "My Name Is Jan Jansen", a song that can trace its origin to Swedish vaudeville in the late 19th century.

The song appears to have already become widely known by the mid-twentieth century. It received a major boost when it was circulated throughout the country during scout troop gatherings in the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1926, The Times newspaper of Munster, Indiana, printed that, during a Girl Scout outing, the scouts sat around a camp fire and "it was solemnly announced that John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith after a long and useful life had died from overwork on the way to Whiting. He was buried with due ceremony and his ghost is not to be seen until October first. All the favorite camp songs were sung." [3] In 1927, the Portsmouth Daily Times reported that a group of boys from the state YMCA camp sang several camp songs, including "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt." [4] In 1931, Elmira, New York, newspaper the Star-Gazette reported that at a Boy Scout gathering at Seneca Lake, as scouts entered the mess hall, "Troop 18 soon burst into the first camp song, 'John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith'." [5] A 1941 Milwaukee Journal article also refers to the song, with the same alternate title of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith." [6]

The song is indefinitely repetitive, in a similar manner to "The Song That Never Ends", "Yon Yonson" or "Michael Finnegan." The latter two songs --this song and Michael Finnegan-- are heard in the Wee Sing series (books and audio).

Versions of the song appear in other languages, such as the Spanish rendition, "Juan Paco Pedro de la Mar".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting in New York</span>

Scouting in New York has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. The first National Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Headquarters was in New York City, and the Girl Scouts of the USA National Headquarters is currently located at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at</span> Folk song from Yorkshire, England

"On Ilkla Mooar Baht 'at" is a folk song from Yorkshire, England. It is sung in the Yorkshire dialect, and is considered the official anthem of Yorkshire. It is sung to the hymn tune "Cranbrook", composed by Thomas Clark in 1805; while according to Andrew Gant, the words were composed by members of Halifax Church Choir "some 50 years after Clark wrote his melody", on an outing to Ilkley Moor near Ilkley, West Yorkshire. It is classified as numbers 2143 and 19808 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camporee</span> Local or regional gathering of Scouting units for a period of camping and common activities

A camporee is a local or regional gathering of Scouting units for a period of camping and common activities. Similar to a camporee, a jamboree occurs less often and draws units from the entire nation or world. It should not be confused with the Australian term "jamborette".

"The Song That Doesn't End" is a self-referential and infinitely iterative children's song. The song appears in an album by puppeteer Shari Lewis titled Lamb Chop's Sing-Along, Play-Along, released through a 1988 home video. It is a single-verse-long song, written in an infinite-loop motif in a march style, such that it naturally flows in a cyclical fashion, repeating the same verse over and over. It is still a very popular tune, typically sung during long car rides. The song was written by Shari Lewis' long time producer Norman Martin.

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is a popular song that is sung to congratulate a person on a significant event, such as a promotion, a birthday, a wedding, a retirement, a wedding anniversary, the birth of a child, or the winning of a championship sporting event. The melody originates from the French song "Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gang Show</span> Scouting theatrical performance

A Gang Show is a theatrical performance by members of Scouts and Guides. The shows are produced with the dual aims of providing a learning opportunity for young people in the performing arts, as well as contributing to the artistic and cultural growth of their local community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far Above Cayuga's Waters</span> Cornell University alma mater

"Far Above Cayuga's Waters" is Cornell University's alma mater. The lyrics were written circa 1870 by roommates Archibald Croswell Weeks, and Wilmot Moses Smith, and set to the tune of "Annie Lisle", a popular 1857 ballad by H. S. Thompson about a heroine dying of tuberculosis.

In music, a repeat sign is a sign that indicates a section should be repeated. If the piece has one repeat sign alone, then that means to repeat from the beginning, and then continue on. A corresponding sign facing the other way indicates where the repeat is to begin. These are similar to the instructions da capo and dal segno.

Repeat. Wiederholungszeichen (Ger.) A sign that a movement or part of a movement is to be twice performed. That which is to be repeated is generally included within the sign of two or four dots in the spaces...When the performer does not, on repeating, go so far as the last dot-sign, but finishes at a previous cadence, it is usual to write over the repeat, Da Capo, placing a pause and fine over the chord at which the performer is to stop. If the signs of the repeat do not coincide with a well-defined portion of a movement the [segno] sign 𝄋 [] is sometimes added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let There Be More Light</span> Song by Pink Floyd

"Let There Be More Light" is a song by English rock band Pink Floyd and the opening track on their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets. It was also released in edited form as the fourth American single by the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mermaid (ballad)</span> Traditional song

"The Mermaid" is a traditional folk ballad. Originating around the mid-18th century, this song is known by a number of names, including "Waves on the Sea", "The Stormy Winds", "Our Gallant Ship", and "The Wrecked Ship".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whispering Jack Smith</span> American singer

Jack Smith, known as "Whispering" Jack Smith, was an American baritone singer who was a popular radio and recording artist. He was at his most popular during the 1920s and 1930s, making a brief comeback in the late 1940s. He made occasional film appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouting in popular culture</span>

Since Scouting began in 1907, it has entered into many elements of popular culture, including movies, TV and books.

"One More Drink for the Four of Us" is a traditional drinking and marching song. It became popular during the First World War, and has been widely repurposed for other marches, college bands, and social clubs. It is referenced in Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Ella Blanchard</span> American writer

Amy Ella Blanchard was a prolific American writer of children's literature.

"In the Jailhouse Now" is an American novelty blues song originally found in vaudeville performances from the early 20th century, The earliest known version was written in 1915 by Davis and Stafford. It later became associated with Jimmie Rodgers, by way of the yodeling country music versions he recorded in 1928 and 1930, and has been extensively covered in the subsequent years, often giving songwriting credit to Rodgers. The song's first two verses trace the exploits of Ramblin’ Bob, who cheats at cards and gets caught, while the final verse tells about taking a girl named Susie out on the town and winding up in jail together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Creek Council</span> Boy Scout council in Ohio and Pennsylvania, United States

The French Creek Council serves Boy Scouts in six counties in northwestern Pennsylvania and one township in Ohio. The council was organized in 1972 from a merger of the former Washington Trail Council of Erie, Custaloga Council of Sharon and Colonel Drake Council of Oil City, Pennsylvania. It has headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Harbors Council</span> Local council of the Boy Scouts of America

Three Harbors Council is a local council of the Boy Scouts of America serving three southeastern Wisconsin counties: Milwaukee County, Racine County, and Kenosha County. Its name and logo refer to the three major port cities of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha on Lake Michigan.

<i>Smorgasbord</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Sharon, Lois & Bram

Smorgasbord is the second album by Torontonian kids' folk trio, Sharon, Lois & Bram, originally released in 1979.

Repetitive songs contain a large proportion of repeated words or phrases. Simple repetitive songs are common in many cultures as widely spread as the Caribbean, Southern India and Finland. The best-known examples are probably children's songs. Other repetitive songs are found, for instance, in African-American culture from the days of slavery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)</span> 1971 single by Daddy Dewdrop

"Chick-A-Boom " is a song written by Janice Lee Gwin and Linda Martin and performed by Daddy Dewdrop. It was featured on his 1971 album, Daddy Dewdrop. The lyrics in the verses are spoken, rather than sung.

References

  1. "Bug Juice Days" [ permanent dead link ] Lynch, Dan
  2. Wasson, Andrew. "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt is not a Person". Dairy River. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. The Times , Munster, Indiana. "Girl Scout Hike". July 29, 1926, p. 6. Retrieved on February 2, 2021.
  4. Portsmouth Daily Times . "Hold Reunion". January 18, 1927, p. 3. Retrieved on February 2, 2021.
  5. Star-Gazette , Elmira. "Scouts Open Camp Seneca Term Sunday". July 6, 1931, p. 8. Retrieved on May 29, 2019.
  6. Milwaukee Journal . "Youth Finds Fun at Fair" [ permanent dead link ]. August 17, 1941, p. 4. Retrieved on May 24, 2019.