May I?
Richard Himber and his Orchestra Lyrics
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Ring around the rosy and I'll catch you if I can
And if you don't say may I, then you'll have to start again
But first you must indulge me and count from one to ten
Let the game begin
I adore you when you touch me
Pin the tail upon the donkey, you will surely win
And I won't give you any, but you won't make a sound
You don't eat soap, anyhow
Red light, green light, blue light, yellow light
You can take three giant steps or a baby step will do
But if you don't say may I, then I'll march you out the door
Where you'll be contemplating the numbers one to four
I hope you're keeping score
Cause if you don't say may I, then I'll get you with the hose
And spoil your Sunday clothes Will it please you if I tease you
While you're at the spindry, I'll pass the pie around
But you won't make a sound
You don't eat blackbird anyhow
There's four and twenty reasons why it can't be wrong
How long have you been gone
Finders, keepers, losers, weepers
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater
Wear your sneakers around sound sleepers
The lyrics of Richard Himber and his Orchestra's "May I?" are playful and childlike, full of games and teasing. The singer instructs the listener on various games and activities, but each time warns that if they don't say "may I," they'll have to start over or be punished. It's a song about playfulness, boundaries, and the importance of politeness.
The song begins with the line "Finders, keepers, losers, weepers," which is a common playground rhyme that often accompanies games of tag or hide-and-seek. The next line, "Ring around the rosy and I'll catch you if I can," is another reference to a playground game. The singer is establishing a playful and childlike atmosphere, but the warning that "if you don't say may I, then you'll have to start again" adds a sense of consequence and fairness to the proceedings.
As the song progresses, the games become more complicated, involving counting, colors, and rules about saying "may I" before doing anything. The threat of punishment also becomes more severe - at one point, the singer threatens to hose down the listener if they don't comply. Throughout it all, the tone remains playful and teasing, but there's also a sense that the singer is trying to impart some sort of lesson about politeness and respect for rules.
Overall, "May I?" is a charming and whimsical song that captures the spirit of childhood play. It's a reminder that even the simplest activities can be a lot of fun when approached with curiosity and a playful attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Finders, keepers, losers, weepers
If you find something, it is rightfully yours, but if you lose it, you'll cry about it.
Ring around the rosy and I'll catch you if I can
I'll chase you in a circle and try to catch you, just like in the children's game.
And if you don't say may I, then you'll have to start again
If you don't ask for permission, you'll have to reset the game.
But first you must indulge me and count from one to ten
Before we start, you must humor me and count to ten.
Let the game begin
We're ready to start playing!
I adore you when you touch me
I love when you touch me.
Pin the tail upon the donkey, you will surely win
If you play this game, you are likely to win.
And if you don't say may I, then I'll pass the cake around
If you don't ask for permission, I'll share the cake with others but not with you.
And I won't give you any, but you won't make a sound
I won't give you any cake, but you won't complain about it.
You don't eat soap, anyhow
You shouldn't eat soap, it's not food.
Red light, green light, blue light, yellow light
We're playing a game where you have to stop and go when I say different colors.
You can take three giant steps or a baby step will do
You can move quickly or slowly, it's up to you.
But if you don't say may I, then I'll march you out the door
If you don't ask for permission, you'll be kicked out of the game.
Where you'll be contemplating the numbers one to four
You'll be outside thinking about four different numbers.
I hope you're keeping score
I hope you're paying attention to how well you're doing in the game.
Cause if you don't say may I, then I'll get you with the hose
If you don't ask for permission, you'll get sprayed with a hose.
And spoil your Sunday clothes
Your clothes will get ruined by the hose water.
Will it please you if I tease you
Do you like it when I tease you?
While you're at the spindry, I'll pass the pie around
While you're busy, I'll share the pie with others.
But you won't make a sound
You won't protest or complain about it.
You don't eat blackbird anyhow
Blackbirds are not edible.
There's four and twenty reasons why it can't be wrong
There are many good reasons why what we're doing is not wrong.
How long have you been gone
How long have you been away?
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater
Reference to a nursery rhyme character.
Wear your sneakers around sound sleepers
Be quiet and wear sneakers around people who are sleeping.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MACK GORDON, HARRY REVEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind