“Put Your Finger On It”
"Nanny" Nikki Rung describes the background of, "Put Your Finger on It" as an alternative for "Do Your Ears Hang Low" (or "Turkey in the Straw") for the Know Better Do Better Project.
“Nanny” Nikki Rung performs "Put Your Finger On It", an alternative for “Do Your Ears Hang Low”, written for the Know Better Do Better Project.
“Do Your Ears Hang Low” is related to “Turkey in the Straw”, also known as “The Ice Cream Truck Song.” You can learn more about the racist history of this song in the NPR article, “Recall That Ice Cream Truck Song? We Have Unpleasant News for You”, or view in this Genius News video, “The Racist History of The Ice Cream Truck Song”. (Note: For educational purposes, these sources use racist language and images which may not be appropriate for children and others. Please use discretion.)
“Put Your Finger On It”
Lyrics by “Nanny” Nikki Rung
Music by “Nanny” Nikki Rung and Traditional
© 2021 Nanny Nikki Music, LLC, nannynikkimusic.com
Permission granted by the composer to be used for personal and educational purposes.
The verse melody is derived from the very old traditional dance tune “La Varsovienne”, originally an eight part composition by Francisco Alonso which can also be heard in the song “Put Your Little Foot.”
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on your head
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on your ear
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on your toes
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on your nose (HONK)
CHORUS:
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers everywhere
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers here and there
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something red
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something blue
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something green
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something yellow
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers everywhere
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers here and there
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something hard
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something soft
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something smooth
Put your finger on, put your finger on, put your finger on something- NOT IN THERE! (Point to nose)
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers everywhere
Put your fingers in the air
Put your fingers here and there... just not in there! (Point to nose)
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Here are the chords that Nikki uses in this video. Note that the verses are in 3/4 time and the chorus is in 4/4 time.
C - - / C - - / C - - / G7 - -
G7 - - / G7 - - / G7 - - / C - -
C - - / C - - / C - - / G7 - -
G7 - - / G7 - - / G7 - - / C - -
CHORUS:
C - F - / F - - - / F - C - / C - - -
C - G7 - / G7 - - - / G7 - C - / C - - -
C - F - / F - - - / F - C - / C - - -
C - G7 - / G7 - - - / G7 - C - / C - - -