Fridays' Unscientific Poll: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

[nanila]

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

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

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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:

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Comments

[ironed_orchid]

Apparently our regional version has weird sexism and references to an airline that no longer exists:

Jingle Bells Batman smells,
Robin Ran away,
Wonder Woman lost her bosoms
flying T.A.A

ETA: I wonder what Aus kids sing these days, and whether it rhymes with Jetstar or Tiger Air

[nanila]

HOW DO YOU LOSE YOUR BOSOMS BY FLYING ON AN AEROPLANE*

There's now a version in the poll with a second verse that goes "Father Christmas lost his knickers on the motorway", which has me in conniptions.

*(unless there's some kind of insurance scam involving in-flight double mastectomies, which does not sound like a good plot for a superhero adventure AT ALL)

[ironed_orchid]

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.

[lark_ascends]

I think that's the closest to what I remember! Wonder woman sounds about right.

[fred_mouse]

I was amused to look through other people's answers, and discover that you were the other person with my version!

ETA - have asked eldest who tells me that the version zie learnt was

Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg
The Batmobile lost its wheel, so the Joker got away.

disappointingly, no airlines at all. Will try and remember to ask the other kids when they wake up.

[ironed_orchid]

I have since learned that TAA turned into Qantas, so they sort of exist, but have a new name that doesn't rhyme. For some reason I'd assumed they turned into Ansett.

[fred_mouse]

I had remembered the change to Australian Airlines in the 80s, but had completely forgotten what had happened to them after that!