Skidamarink

Skidamarink or Skinnamarink is a popular preschool song. Originally titled "Skid-dy-mer-rink-adink-aboomp" or "Skiddy-Mer-Rink-A-Doo", the initial version of the song was written by Felix F. Feist (lyrics) and Al Piantadosi (music) for the 1910 Charles Dillingham Broadway production "The Echo." Since the title is gibberish, it has had various spellings over the years.

In Canada, the song was popularised by the band Sharon, Lois & Bram, who first released it on their debut album One Elephant, Deux Elephants, and then sang it on The Elephant Show. 'Skinnamarink' became their signature song, and their next television show would be named Skinnamarink TV after it. A natural ice rink at the Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground in Davisville, Toronto has been named the "Skinnama-rink" in honor of the song.

The song had been discovered for the band by Lois Lilienstein, who had asked her cousin's daughter if she knew any good songs; the girl sang 'Skinnamarink', which she had just heard at camp. None of the band members knew the origins of the song, and the track was attributed to Traditional.

ORIGINAL 1910 VERSION:

1. Down on a Boola Boola Isle,

Where the mermaids chant,

Reigns big chief Crocodile

Beneath an oyster plant.

He loved a sea-nymph selfishly,

Queen of the Gay White Wave.

Each night in his shell he'd go to sea

And in tuneful scales he'd rave:

CHORUS: Skiddy-mer-rink-a-dink-a-boomp, skiddy-mer-rink-a-doo,

Means I love you.

Skiddy-mer-rink-a-dink-a-boomp, skiddy-mer-rink-a-doo,

Means I'll be true

Skiddy-mer-rink-a-dink-a-boomp, skiddy-mer-rink-a-doo,

All the time he {sang/sings} this rhyme

Skiddy-mer-rink-a-dink-a-boomp, skiddy-mer-rink-a-doo,

Means I love you.

2. But when the midnight moon was pale,

King Fish Kokomo

Came floating over with his tale

To say he loved her so;

But she was true to Crocodile,

Said "Koko-Nut, go 'way;

I know, in a very little while

You will hear my lover say:"

CHORUS

LATER 1980s VERSION:

Skidamarink a-dink, a-dink,

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