What Did Delaware, Boys?
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Song Lyrics & Words
What did Delaware, boys,
What did Delaware?
What did Delaware, boys,
What did Delaware?
What did Delaware, boys,
What did Delaware?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Delaware?
She wore her New Jersey, boys,
She wore her New Jersey
She wore her New Jersey, boys,
She wore her New Jersey
She wore her New Jersey, boys,
She wore her New Jersey
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She wore her New Jersey
What did Idaho, boys,
What did Idaho?
What did Idaho, boys,
What did Idaho?
What did Idaho, boys,
What did Idaho?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Idaho?
She hoed her Maryland, boys,
She hoed her Maryland
She hoed her Maryland, boys,
She hoed her Maryland
She hoed her Maryland, boys,
She hoed her Maryland
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She hoed her Maryland
What did Ioweigh, boys,
What did Ioweigh?
What did Ioweigh, boys,
What did Ioweigh?
What did Ioweigh, boys,
What did Ioweigh?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Ioweigh?
She weighed a Washington, boys,
She weighed a Washington
She weighed a Washington, boys,
She weighed a Washington
She weighed a Washington, boys,
She weighed a Washington
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She weighed a Washington
How did Wiscon-sin, boys,
How did Wiscon-sin?
How did Wiscon-sin, boys,
How did Wiscon-sin?
How did Wiscon-sin, boys,
How did Wiscon-sin?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
How did Wiscon-sin?
She stole a New-brass-key, boys,
She stole a New-brass-key
She stole a New-brass-key, boys,
She stole a New-brass-key
She stole a New-brass-key, boys,
She stole a New-brass-key
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She stole a New-brass-key
What did Tennessee, boys,
What did Tennessee?
What did Tennessee, boys,
What did Tennessee?
What did Tennessee, boys,
What did Tennessee?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Tennessee?
She saw what Arkansaw, boys,
She saw what Arkansaw
She saw what Arkansaw, boys,
She saw what Arkansaw
She saw what Arkansaw, boys,
She saw what Arkansaw
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She saw what Arkansaw
How did Flora-die, boys,
How did Flora-die
How did Flora-die, boys,
How did Flora-die
How did Flora-die, boys,
How did Flora-die
I ask you now as a personal friend,
How did Flora-die?
She died in Missouri, boys,
She died in Missouri
She died in Missouri, boys,
She died in Missouri
She died in Missouri, boys,
She died in Missouri
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She died in Missouri
Where has Oregon, boys,
Where has Oregon?
Where has Oregon, boys,
Where has Oregon?
Where has Oregon, boys,
Where has Oregon?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
Where has Oregon?
She's gone to Oklahom, boys,
She's gone to Oklahom
She's gone to Oklahom, boys,
She's gone to Oklahom
She's gone to Oklahom, boys,
She's gone to Oklahom
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She's gone to Oklahom
Why did Califon-ya, boys,
Why did Califon?
Why did Califon-ya, boys,
Why did Califon?
Why did Califon-ya, boys,
Why did Califon?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
Why did Califon?
She phoned to say Hawai-ya, boys,
She phoned to say Hawai-ya
She phoned to say Hawai-ya, boys,
She phoned to say Hawai-ya
She phoned to say Hawai-ya, boys,
She phoned to say Hawai-ya
I tell you now as a personal friend,
That's why Califoned.
What did Mississip, boys,
What did Mississip?
What did Mississip, boys,
What did Mississip?
What did Mississip, boys,
What did Mississip?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Mississip?
She sipped a Minnisota, boys,
She sipped a Minnisota
She sipped a Minnisota, boys,
She sipped a Minnisota
She sipped a Minnisota, boys,
She sipped a Minnisota
I tell you now as a personal friend,
That's what Mississipped.
Alternative Lyrics & Words
Why did Ohi-oh! boys,
Why did Ohi-oh!?
Why did Ohi-oh!, boys,
Why did Ohi-oh!?
Why did Ohi-oh!, boys,
Why did Ohi-oh!?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
Why did Ohi-oh!?
She heard an Illi-noise, boys,
She heard an Illi-noise.
She heard an Illi-noise, boys,
She heard an Illi-noise.
She heard an Illi-noise, boys,
She heard an Illi-noise.
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She heard an Illi-noise.
How did Connecti-cut, boys,
How did Connecti-cut?
How did Connecti-cut, boys,
How did Connecti-cut?
How did Connecti-cut, boys,
How did Connecti-cut?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
How did Connecti-cut?
She used her New Hamp-shears, boys,
She used her New Hamp-shears.
She used her New Hamp-shear, boys,
She used her New Hamp-shears.
She used her New Hamp-shears, boys,
She used her New Hamp-shears.
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She used her New Hamp-shears.
Why was Pennsyl-vain, boys,
Why was Pennsyl-vain?
Why was Pennsyl-vain, boys,
Why was Pennsyl-vain?
Why was Pennsyl-vain, boys,
Why was Pennsyl-vain?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
Why was Pennsyl-vain?
She looked down on Lousy-ann, boys,
She looked down on Lousy-ann.
She looked down on Lousy-ann, boys,
She looked down on Lousy-ann.
She looked down on Loosey-ann, boys,
She looked down on Lousy-ann.
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She looked down on Lousy-ann.
What did Massa-chew, boys,
What did Massa-chew?
What did Massa-chew, boys,
What did Massa-chew?
What did Massa-chew, boys,
What did Massa-chew?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Massa-chew?
Just a moment and I'll ask-her, boys,
Just a moment and Al-ask-a.
Just a moment and Al-ask-a, boys,
Just a moment and Al-ask-a.
Just a moment and Al-ask-a, boys,
Just a moment and Al-ask-a.
I tell you now as a personal friend,
Just a moment and Al-ask-a.
What did Ala-bam, boys,
What did Ala-bam?
What did Ala-bam, boys,
What did Ala-bam?
What did Ala-bam, boys,
What did Ala-bam?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Ala-bam?
She bammed that big Tex-ass, boys,
She bammed that big Tex-ass.
She bammed that big Tex-ass, boys,
She bammed that big Tex-ass.
She bammed that big Tex-ass, boys,
She bammed that big Tex-ass.
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She bammed that big Tex-ass.
Additional lyrics
What did Io-weigh, boys
She weighed a Washing-ton, boys.
Where has Michi-gone, boys?
She's gone to see Georgie, boys.
What did Mass- shew, boys?
He chewed New Mexi-Chow, boys.
Short Version
Where has Oregon, boys,
Where has Oregon?
If you want Alaska,
(I'll-ask-a) where she's gone.
She went to pay her Texas
She went to pay her Texas
She went to pay her Texas,
That's where she has gone.
Information About This Song
Lyrics and music by Irving Gordon, 1959
Comments (30)
By James in Fort Wayne Allen on 30 January 2009
What Did Ohi-owe? A Lot of Tax-es
By Anna in Ca, Usa on 6 February 2009
Oh lighten up, Amanda!
By Hydie in Wa,usa on 9 March 2009
This song was written in 1959 they did not have a problem with it and you sang it in school so get over your self! Amanda.
By Jean in Jackson, Mi on 17 March 2009
Other alternative verses that I remember are, What did Ohi-owe? She owed her back Taxes. What did Mississipp? She sipped her Old Virgin.
By Kirsty in Sussex, Uk on 4 April 2009
I agree with Amanda, using the word 'ass' in a childrens song is inappropriate. And as for people in 1959 not having a problem with it, over the years the meaning of words change as does how and when they are deemed suitable for use.
By Carol in Antwerp,usa on 11 April 2009
Are you sure that it was written in 1959? I thought my older sisters taught it to me long before that.
By Rene' in Hampton on 17 April 2009
Oh it sounds wonderful i would sing this song for my mother
By Moira in St. Petersburg, Florida on 28 May 2009
Thanks so very much - I heard this years ago and could only remember a few of the states involved and during a conversatioin tonight several people remembered other states - and now I have all the words
By Bonnie in Ohio, U.s.a. on 11 July 2009
I think this song is from the 20's or 30's. I graduated in 1958, and I don't remember hearing it after that, but years and years before that.
By Div Bigger in Scotland on 1 August 2009
what did missip boy? She sipped a minnisoda.
By Dayna in San Diego; Usa on 2 September 2009
I don't know when it was written, but pretty sure we sang it during the 50's, so 1959 is probably late for a publish date. All right all you "politically correct" people, there is nothing wrong with ASS and if used correctly you should not have a problem with it. Some may disagree, but we all grew up with it and it hasn't hurt us that I can see. You can explain it to children or leave it out or change some words in the song if it really bothers you. Can't recall if we sang it in school, but was a good car or bus traveling song--after all "99 bottles of beer on the wall gets tiresome". An ASS is an animal, by the way, AND is used in the Bible. I was looking us the lyrics so I could teach my grandkids ages 3 and 4. Now I at least have more than one verse, some I didn't remember and some I never knew. I suspect there are lot of similar, yet different, verses for some states just like a lot of "round" songs. Still not exactly sure of the song title. I always thought it did all or most states, but perhaps not. Might be a good way to help learn state names.
By Mary in Ocala Usa on 12 September 2009
I don't remember this from my childhood but my mother and her siblings knew it quite well - they were born around 1908 - 1916. They taught it to everyone at family reunions starting in 1976 so I think the original version must be quite old.
By Cheryl in Dallas ,usa on 25 September 2009
This is hysterical my dad knew this song from his childhood. This song is old. I have to say some of the verses were not taught to me as my dad is a preacher. I can not wait to share my new knowledge with him. As for the kids song "controversy" . Do what parents have be doing for thousands of years. ---censor.
By Janet in Colorado Springs, Co on 6 October 2009
I was happy to find the lyrics to this song on this website today. I was GOOGLING to try to find this because the residents in the senior home where I work learned their 50 states by singing it. They range in age from 80 to 96. I continue to learn something new from them every day. Now this would have been a FUN way to learn the 50 states, I think!
By Steve in Usa on 23 October 2009
For GOD sakes people why don't you lighten up, saying that this song in "inappropriate" for children only goes to prove one thing. All you are interested in is "What can I stop little Johnnie doing now" ?. Are you going to say he can't say the name "Texas" any more because it MIGHT sound as if he's saying ass at the end. Because if you start down THAT road, what about AlASSka, or NebrASSca, or even TenASSee, all these CAN be sung with the stress on ASS. Are you going to ban these states too. You'll be burning books next, and I REALLY hope you don't want to go there. Don't forget by starting this ruccuss you only make little Johnie wnat to sing it all the more. If you'd left alone he'd most likely not even bothered with it, but now you've said it#s "inappropriate" he's going to want to know what all the fuss is about, and as soon as he finds out he can say ASS in a word he's going to be singing it every day. So take some constructive criticism from a guy who knows, clam up, and leave little Johnnie to sing his song, after all who is he harming ?. It's not racist, it's not ageist, it's not sexist, it's not ANYTHINGist, so leave the damn thing alone.
By Christine in Wales Uk on 24 January 2010
watching a tv programme this song was just played. I sang and learnt the staes of America as a child, I am now nearly sixty and it has brought back happy memories of when I sang it, what negative thoughts people conjure up, it is a pity we consider this as harmful, what about the language heard daily on out streets...that's what I find offensive. Sorry but who sang it? I have a bet on with my husband.
By Luke in Wausau on 1 February 2010
I agree with Steve!
By Tara in Aurora U.s.a on 29 March 2010
I think it simply is unaceptable for a childerns song to have the word ass in it. It is not a word young kids should be saying! If i said that when i wa little, my mom would slap my mouth. It is unaceptable!
By Loyd in Portersville U.s.a. on 20 April 2010
I too agree with Steve, I am so tired of political correctness and the thought police that it is not even funny. Let kids be kids. You can't protect them from everything. Also this song was not written in 1959, I am 74 years old and it was in an old songbook we had at home when I was a little boy.
By Stu in Wales Uk on 24 April 2010
Lighten up everyone, the word Ass in this day and age is nothing, do you stop your kids playing out with their friends, I bet they know words far worse, do you stop them watching television so that they don't see the world as it is, if so God help that child when it enters the real world, do you stop your children playing computer games, texting, going to school, we are too soft with children these days, they need to see what the world is like, then and only then they may appreciated what they have and what they can achieve, so tell me how bad is the word ASS now? buy the way this is a web page, if you see it so do your kids, they are on the web and they ain't daft, there are far worse WORDS on the net, as there are far worse stories, images, songs and lyrics...grow up. Explain the meaning of the word ASS to them, enjoy the song and help them learn, kids learn more when the enjoy the activity, so what ASS is a word, its not a knife, sword, gun or base ball bat, sticks and stones can break bones, words don't hurt if you explain them.
By Stu in Wales Uk on 24 April 2010
Lighten up everyone, the word Ass in this day and age is nothing, do you stop your kids playing out with their friends, I bet they know words far worse, do you stop them watching television so that they don't see the world as it is, if so God help that child when it enters the real world, do you stop your children playing computer games, texting, going to school, we are too soft with children these days, they need to see what the world is like, then and only then they may appreciated what they have and what they can achieve, so tell me how bad is the word ASS now? buy the way this is a web page, if you see it so do your kids, they are on the web and they ain't daft, there are far worse WORDS on the net, as there are far worse stories, images, songs and lyrics...grow up. Explain the meaning of the word ASS to them, enjoy the song and help them learn, kids learn more when the enjoy the activity, so what ASS is a word, its not a knife, sword, gun or base ball bat, sticks and stones can break bones, words don't hurt if you explain them.
By Betty in Kansas City Usa on 3 May 2010
There may be a version published in 1959, but we sang a version in the late 1940's and early 1950's. I think I learned it in Girl Scouts but it was a favorite on road trips. We didn't have unacceptable words-all clean.
By Tim in Alaska on 3 May 2010
I'm sure if kids were singing this on a bus ride the driver would get a huge kick out of it and a simple word like ass would ensure even the biggest of trouble makers would participate. I don't know about a teacher actually teaching kids to say "he bammed that big ass" though... these days kids know much worse and it could be taken multiple ways. I'm kinda on the fence on this one.
By Leanna in Pomona Usa on 3 May 2010
I lost my mom in january and I thought I lost the words forever - we sang this on the way to utah every summer when I was a kid - I can't thank you enough for saving all the memories for me - now I can teach my grandson and make out own memories! Bless you!
By Mitzi in Bristol, Usa on 9 June 2010
I looked everywhere for this song, as this is how I learned the states as a child in elementary school. Nobody in my entire family claims to have heard it, even though I'm the youngest at 62. Thank you for publishing this for us oldies but goodies. I can now prove to my husband that it truly does exist!
By Mike in Cheddleton, England on 13 June 2010
For some reason I woke this morning with this d****** song running through my head. At last, thanks to 'bussongs.com' I can lay the thing to rest. It was great fun when I first heard it and still is. At 75 I'm close to the geriatric stage of life so the appearance of this song suggests my second childhood is nigh...I still like it!
By Jim in Tempe, Az, Usa on 23 June 2010
I remember singing this song on a school trip to Washington, DC, about 1948.
By Linda in Usa on 1 August 2010
I first heard this song on "My Hit Parade" in the fifties, if anyone remembers. It was a weekly variety tv show that performed the current popular songs. The theme was a french girl wanting to come to the USA. The first verse was, "Sailor boys come talk to me in english. Sailor boys come tell me what to say. Sailor boys come talk to me in english. Now I know all about the USA! Then she sang the "Delaware" song. I never knew it was a childrens song but, it was done really cute and I remembered parts of it just from that one performance. Does anyone else remember this?
By Jill Holsen in Pelican Rapids, Us on 6 August 2010
On a road trip, I started singing this song, and my husband, who's from Minnesota (and aged 63) said he'd never heard it. I'm from England originally and remembered so many of the states, but I was asking him if he remembered what they sang about Missouri (we were in Hannibal at the time). I was shocked he just didn't recognize it!
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By Amanda in Ca,usa on 23 January 2009
This is a childrenʻs song and using the a-s-s in one of the verses is inappropriate.