Bo Peep February 16, 2017 All Rhymes 0 Comments

Two young girls play the hand-clapping game together

I Don’t Want to Go to Mexico

I don’t want to go to Mexico no more, more, more.
There’s a big fat policeman at my door, door, door.
He’ll grab you by the collar,
He’ll make you pay a dollar,
I don’t want to go to Mexico, no more, more, more.

Listen as male American:

Listen as female Mexican:

Posted in All Rhymes, Daily Life & Objects, People & Characters, Play & Action, Playground, Songs & Verses

Tagged collar, hand-clapping, Mexico, policeman

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Meaning

This playground rhyme is chanted for fun, often during jump-rope or clapping games. Its lines do not express a serious aversion to Mexico but playfully tell a silly story involving a policeman or other authority figure. The repetition and rhythmic structure are designed for group chanting and energetic movement.

Origin

The rhyme originated in American schoolyards in the mid-20th century and remains part of playground folklore. Its story and setting change easily, with local versions swapping countries or characters for comic effect.

Time Period

First documented in oral collections from the 1950s and 1960s; passed down and altered across generations of children.

Why It Became Popular

The easy rhythm and dramatic scenario are ideal for jump-rope or clapping games. Children enjoy the rhyme’s ability to be made sillier or customized, keeping the tradition lively and fresh.

First Known Publication

Its origins are largely oral, but it appears in collections of playground rhymes from American folklore researchers in the late 20th century.

Structure and Style

Meter: Trochaic; rhythmic for chanting and skipping
Rhyme Scheme: Mostly AABCCBA
Line Count: 8 (classic chant version)
Style Notes: Rapid repetition, easily adapted, dramatic for game play

Themes

Hand-clapping
Humor
Imagination
Jump-rope and group chants
Dramatic scenario

Language Notes

“No more, more, more!” is a classic playground refrain, emphasizing energy and resistance. Characters and locations can be replaced to fit the group’s imagination or rhyme scheme.

Moral or Lesson

No direct moral; the rhyme is designed for fun and energetic play, supporting social bonding and creative storytelling; however it suggests the turmoil associated with United States immigration enforcement tactics.

Historical or Cultural Notes

This American hand-clapping rhyme is often performed in the “Shame, shame, shame” format where performers often reference places and authority figures, not out of seriousness but for drama and rhythm. “I Don’t Want to Go to Mexico” joins a line of verses where the setting and cast can be changed for local flavor.

Notable Variants

Children swap “Mexico” for other places, “policeman” for teachers, or add new rhyming stanzas to personalize the chant. Some versions lengthen or shorten the rhyme depending on play style.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Included in playground rhyme and folklore anthologies. Sometimes referenced in discussions of children’s folk culture and oral traditions.

Suggested Activities

Jump-Rope Game: Use the rhyme for skipping competitions or rhythm games.
Clapping Challenge: Pair up and develop hand-clap patterns for each line of the rhyme.
Create New Verses: Invent new locations, characters, or scenarios for the rhyme’s story.
Drama Skit: Act out the tale with assigned roles for added comic effect.
Drawing Project: Illustrate silly scenes from the rhyme and put them together as a classroom display.
Group Song: Sing or chant together, exploring different play styles or melodies.

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I Don’t Want to Go to Mexico

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