Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", which can be spelled a number of ways, is a children's counting rhyme, used to select a person in games such as tag. It is one of a large group of similar 'counting-out rhymes' where the child who is pointed to by the chanter on the last syllable is 'counted out'. The rhyme has existed in various forms since well before 1820, and is common in many languages with similar-sounding nonsense syllables.

Since many similar counting rhymes existed earlier, it is difficult to ascertain this rhyme's exact origin.

Current versions

A common modern version is:

There are many common variations, such as replacing tiger with "piggy", "tinker", "tigger", "chicken", "monkey", "baby", "spider", "teacher", "miner", a two-syllable name, etc.; and changing the verb in the third line to "screams", "wiggles", "squeals" or another verb. The last two lines may be changed to "if he hollers, let him pay, fifty dollars every day."

Sometimes additional lines are added at the end of the rhyme to draw out or manipulate the selection process or make it seem less predetermined, such as:

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (Luv' song)

"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" is the seventh single by Dutch girl group Luv', released in the summer of 1979 by Philips/Phonogram Records. This song appears on the formation's second album Lots Of Luv' and entered the record charts in Benelux, German speaking countries and Denmark.

Background

After the success of "Casanova" on the Continental European charts, "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" was released as the follow-up single. The track's title and chorus lyrics deal with a famous children's counting rhyme in English speaking countries (Eeny Meeny Miny Moe). Its Bouzouki and Balalejka-theme is highly inspired by Boney M.'s "Rasputin". During the promotion of the song, Luv' and their producer Hans van Hemert were not satisfied by the way Philips/Phonogram Records promoted them. They were about to leave the label and were looking for another deal. The Dutch press speculated for weeks about their future record company. In October 1979, the trio signed a contract with CNR/Carrere.

Miny

Miny [ˈminɨ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Secemin, within Włoszczowa County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) north-east of Secemin, 8 km (5 mi) south-west of Włoszczowa, and 52 km (32 mi) west of the regional capital Kielce.

References

Coordinates: 50°48′21″N 19°53′57″E / 50.80583°N 19.89917°E / 50.80583; 19.89917