nanila: little and wicked (mizuno: lil naughty)
Mad Scientess ([personal profile] nanila) wrote2016-02-26 09:43 am

Fridays' Unscientific Poll: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

Before Christmas, the bloke & I were amused to discover that the alternate Batman-based lyrics to "Jingle Bells" apparently percolate into the consciousness of children at a very early age.

Since Christmas, we've been amused because Humuhumu will randomly sing them whenever the fancy strikes her, no matter if Christmas is still 10 months away. (As were the elderly couple who were exiting Powis Castle at the same time as us last weekend. They applauded her, which caused her to be overcome with shyness and hide behind Daddy's legs.)

I found it intriguing that the lyrics differ from the ones I sang as a child in the US and are specifically British-English because of the use of the word "motorway". Now I'm wondering if there are other regional variations!

Poll #17326 Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 47


As a child, I mostly sang these alternate Batman-based lyrics to the Christmas carol "Jingle Bells".

View Answers

Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg/Batmobile lost a wheel and Joker got away
20 (52.6%)

Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin flew away/Santa Claus lost his claws on the motorway
4 (10.5%)

Something else which I shall write in the text box
14 (36.8%)

I sang these alternate Batman-based lyrics instead:

ironed_orchid: watercolour and pen style sketch of a brown tabby cat curl up with her head looking up at the viewer and her front paw stretched out on the left (Default)

[personal profile] ironed_orchid 2016-02-26 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
It is a mystery! I actually had to look up what she lost that rhymed with woman because I had repressed that part. But it has all come flooding back.