The Great Debate: Is it Itsy Bitsy, or Inky Dinky, of Spider Fame?
For the better part of a year, I've had an on-again, off-again debate with my D.H. as to the "correct" adjective in the children's finger-play nursery rhyme, "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" (now you know which one I favor).
My D. H. insists that the correct descriptive is "inky dinky," whereas I demur. I vaguely recollect from my own childhood, either hearing "itsy-bitsy spider," or even more familiar to me, the description "eency-weency," referring to said spider's miniscule size, yet plucky persistance, and how he (she?) braved the violent rainstorm which "washed it out" after the arduous climb up the water spout, yet doggedly climbed the spout again, after the sun came out and 'dried up all the rain.'
Many, if not most of our American nursery rhymes originated on the other side of the pond, in England, for obvious reasons: the American colonists were British in origin, and brought with them the culture and history of England, and also of some other countries in Europe (e.g., The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales are of German origin). Often the nursery rhymes reflected history or taught a moral value. For example, Mother Goose herself dates back to the 16th century or earlier, when people (mainly women) were accused of being "witches." Frightening, devastating events that were not understood, were often attributed to "witchcraft." Old Mother Goose, flying on the back of a goose, alludes to that era.
But coming back to our spider song, it seems that in the U. K. and in Australia, the verse is some form of "eency-weency," and in the New World, especially the East Coast, it's "itsy-bitsy."
As far as "Inky-Dinky" goes, all I remember is a little ditty that I heard as a child, I'm, uh, a bit embarrassed to say. But for what it's worth, here it is:
My D. H. insists that the correct descriptive is "inky dinky," whereas I demur. I vaguely recollect from my own childhood, either hearing "itsy-bitsy spider," or even more familiar to me, the description "eency-weency," referring to said spider's miniscule size, yet plucky persistance, and how he (she?) braved the violent rainstorm which "washed it out" after the arduous climb up the water spout, yet doggedly climbed the spout again, after the sun came out and 'dried up all the rain.'
Many, if not most of our American nursery rhymes originated on the other side of the pond, in England, for obvious reasons: the American colonists were British in origin, and brought with them the culture and history of England, and also of some other countries in Europe (e.g., The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales are of German origin). Often the nursery rhymes reflected history or taught a moral value. For example, Mother Goose herself dates back to the 16th century or earlier, when people (mainly women) were accused of being "witches." Frightening, devastating events that were not understood, were often attributed to "witchcraft." Old Mother Goose, flying on the back of a goose, alludes to that era.
But coming back to our spider song, it seems that in the U. K. and in Australia, the verse is some form of "eency-weency," and in the New World, especially the East Coast, it's "itsy-bitsy."
As far as "Inky-Dinky" goes, all I remember is a little ditty that I heard as a child, I'm, uh, a bit embarrassed to say. But for what it's worth, here it is:
Ball McCarty had a party,
All the kids were there...
Inky-Dinky left a stinky,
Blew him off the chair!And now, I have to give my D. H. credit for finding this video on YouTube, attesting to the fact that somebody, somewhere, did use the term "inky-dinky spider." It's kinda...catchy.
Comments
However, I, too, grew up on the East Coast, and I don't ever remember hearing "inky dinky." Doesn't matter. To a little kid, all of them are valid.
And may this be our most contentious debate, amen!
My daughter-in-law treats me like I am some kind of idiot. She makes it a point that "we" sing Itsy Bitsy when the grandkids hear me sing Inky Dinky. I think there are more important that words to a cute childs song.
Besides, The INKY DIKY SPIDER was a number one folf hit! lol
Long live the Inky Dinky Spider!
My daughter-in-law treats me like I am some kind of idiot. She makes it a point that "we" sing Itsy Bitsy when the grandkids hear me sing Inky Dinky. I think there are more important that words to a cute childs song.
Besides, The INKY DIKY SPIDER was a number one folf hit! lol
Long live the Inky Dinky Spider!
Inky Dinky
I grew up and my parents grew up in and around Baltimore, Maryland.
My parents were born in 1917 and I in 1958. My brother and sister were born in 1940 and 38 respectively.
All my life; from the time I was in arms my mother sang this to me and when I grew up and heard others singing the itsy-bitsy or eency-weency spider, it was very confusing. My Mom always taught me inky-dinky (meaning black and small). It still amazes me that this is not more widely known and used. I always assumed that inky-dinky was the correct lyric and the others were simplifications by those not sharp enough to understand inky-dinky as is the American want. Bow to the lowest common denominator etc.
I would very quietly and politely suggest to her that perhaps it's her lack of intellect that forces her to use such a simplified version but you are sure that your grand-children are intelligent enough to understand the real lyrics.
One of the first ditties I learned as a kiddie was Inky Dinky. First time I heard otherwise was in the NYC metro area in the late 1960's, early 1970's when I had children of my own and learned that Itsy Bitsy was in vogue.
Always kind of thought the term Inky Dinky went the way of Little Black Sambo and the Disney/Uncle Remus/Bre'r Rabbit Tar Baby, coinciding with the civil rights movement in the late '50s early '60s.
It became political incorrect to say Inky Dinky. Never actually seen that written anywhere but it has been my theory forever...at least since I became aware of the lyric change.
Don't fuk with the people from Motown with your incy Wincy crap