Great Green Gobs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts facts for kids

The song "Great Green Gobs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts" is a well-known playground song that many kids sing, especially in the United States. It's a fun, silly song that has been around since at least the middle of the 1900s. You might recognize its tune because it's sung to the same melody as the old song "The Old Gray Mare".

This song is super popular in places like school lunchrooms and summer camps. It uses funny, slightly gross words to make people laugh. It's a way for kids to explore words and ideas that are usually considered a bit "icky" but in a safe and humorous way. There are many different versions of the lyrics, depending on where you are. But no matter the version, they all use a cool literary trick called alliteration. This means many words start with the same sound, like "Great Green Gobs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts!" This makes the song even more amusing as it describes animal parts and fluids that people in America usually don't eat.

The History of a Silly Song

This song is considered to be in the public domain. This means it's not owned by anyone, and everyone is free to sing it, share it, and even change it! Its popularity grew over time, especially among children. It became a favorite at camps and schools because it's easy to learn and fun to sing with friends.

Why Do Kids Love This Song?

Kids often enjoy songs that are a little bit rebellious or that use words they wouldn't normally say. "Great Green Gobs" fits this perfectly! It lets kids play with "gross-out" humor in a lighthearted way. The alliteration also makes it catchy and memorable, almost like a tongue twister. It's a way for kids to bond and share a laugh over something a little bit naughty but totally harmless.

Famous Recordings of the Song

Even though it's a playground song, "Great Green Gobs" has been recorded by musicians! In 1959, a recording by Mika Seeger was part of an album called The Sounds Of Camp. On the digital version of that album, it was a short track simply called "Jingle."

Later, in 1990, this recording was re-released. It appeared on a collection of traditional children's songs from the United States called A Fish That's A Song. This album was put out by Smithsonian Folkways, which is famous for preserving folk music. The notes that came with the album even included the lyrics to the song.

What Are the Lyrics?

Here are the lyrics that were included with the 1990 Smithsonian Folkways recording: