The Hokey Cokey
Continuing the dancing theme, we come to the Hokey Cokey. According to where you live in the world, it is called the Hokey Pokey (Australia, USA), the boogie woogie (Denmark), Rucki-Zucki (Germany) and in Mexico, it is known as the Hockey Pockey.
I don’t know if anyone ever sings and plays it now. It used to be a staple at children’s school parties, but today’s youngsters are far too sophisticated for such nonsense. It’s believed to have folk dance origins from 1826, according to Wikipedia. I was astonished to discover that it had become a hit in the record charts, not once, but twice in the 1980s. That’s forty years after it first became popular with the public.
You put
your left foot in,
Your left foot out,
In, out, in, out,
Shake it all about.
You do the hokey cokey and you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.
Oh, hokey cokey cokey,
Oh, hokey cokey cokey,
Oh, hokey cokey cokey,
Knees bend, arms stretch,
Rah, rah, rah!
The Washington Post Style Invitational, or simply Invite, now defunct as a column since 2022, was an established weekly humour competition. It received the following, winning entry for something written in the style of Shakespeare. It’s not easy to sing, but do try!
O proud
left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe,
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl,
To spin! A wilde release from heaven’s yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl,
The Hoke, the poke – banish now thy doubt,
Verily, I say, ‘tis what it’s all about.
The Style Invitational or SI was renamed ‘The Invitational’ and found a new home on Substack. It can be found at The Gene Pool, GeneWeingarten.substack.com.
There is also a Facebook group, called Style Invitational Devotees. Anyone joining has their name anagrammed by members.
This YouTube video shows the Hokey Cokey being danced by some young children. All human character is there – the bold, the shy, the leader, the follower, the one who holds back, the one who’d rather follow his own path . .
i do so recall this at all our rural community dances in the 1970's
ReplyDeleteIt's great fun to dance.
DeleteI remember hokey pokey with my kids. When my son was about 6 he liked to perform and hokey pokey was one of his standards.
ReplyDeleteAww, bless him.
DeleteBrings back great memories of parties in the 80s and the holiday camps!
ReplyDeleteI only just realised in the US they call it the Hokey Pokey lol. I told my daughter she was saying it wrong and she said no you are lol
LOL!
DeleteThat was fun to watch. I don't remember the "in out in out" bit before we "shake it all about", I guess we did it differently here. Love the compere saying "'ave a banana", that sounds so Australian. I think I will teach the twins.
ReplyDeleteThey will love it.
DeleteHokey-cokey just sort of erupted towards the end of an evening for adults, it was a very social happening - I suppose a happy time everyone slightly drunk and part of a greater expression of community. Such foolishness would be frowned upon by today's youngsters.
ReplyDeleteWe have to have room for foolishness, always.
DeleteI learned this song and dance in about 1955 when the words were:
ReplyDeleteYou put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
Our two versions are very similar, after all these years :)
Sometimes I think the adults enjoy it more than the children.
DeleteWe used to play the Hokey Cokey with my children and grandchildren. Jolly and fun
ReplyDeletePs hokey pokey is the best icecream in NZ. We all rave about it here. One thing visitors can't bring us lol
DeleteEven living in paradise there are some things you can't have. 😉😂🤣
DeleteOh my, yes. I do remember the Hokey Cokey from way back when. It was great fun.
ReplyDeleteRushing into the middle became very boisterous at times.
DeleteThe Hokey Cokey is a metaphor for life itself until the day comes that you can longer put your right leg in and shake it all about. I hope to do The Hokey Cokey for a few more years yet...Ra-ra-ra!
ReplyDeleteThere's no speed limit, so there's hope for us all, though the rushing to the middle was quite fast.
DeleteI am fairly sure when I was young we called the dance Hokey Cokey, but yes, now it is certainly Hokey Pokey. Most of the children look like they are enjoying the dancing fun.
ReplyDeleteSome of them look as though they're wondering what's going on!
DeleteWe do the Hokey Cokey here, both George and Molly loves it, George often points to Alexa, Molly can now say her name clearly and ask for some songs if she knows the right title.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is so encouraging. How lovely.
DeleteNever much of a dancer myself but I remember the song.
ReplyDeleteIt's more crowd participation than dancing, really. 🤣😂
DeleteHokey Cokey as played by Bill Bailey in the style of Kraftwerk. Never fails to make me smile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwaxWoJPUC0
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the link. It's a revelation to me and gets funnier the more you watch it.
DeleteIn my whole dancing career, I have never heard in any Dancings, private balls etc and I assure you I missed no new dance style, lol. Dances which doesn't exist anymore. Boogie Woogie I know as a song but not as a dance. And the German word I never heard, but I only danced in Germany during the Carneval, when I was invited by a friend.
ReplyDeleteYou don't know what you've missed! 😂🤣
DeleteI just saw a Hokey Cokey dance on you Tube, and no, we never danced in Belgium, I am sure. But isn't that something for kids ?
ReplyDeleteIt's a party song and dance.
DeleteIt is fascinating to see how the simple Hokey Cokey carries such history, charm, and even a touch of Shakespearean flair
ReplyDeleteIt's mad, isn't it?
DeleteWhat memories that brought back. I guess that was one dance that the nuns let us do, lol. The hokey pokey. And actually if I'm truthful I remember this they also let us dance the Virginia Reel.
ReplyDeleteI'm just visualising nuns dancing the Hokey Cokey . . .
DeleteI haven't heard this in years. I remember hearing this a lot back when I was in school.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be singing it in your dreams!
DeleteWe performed it in elementary school for our families!
ReplyDeleteOh, good - well done your school. 😊
ReplyDeleteI remember the song but never took it as an actual dance for some reason.
ReplyDeleteYou missed out! 😉
DeleteIn my area the song is still popular in preschools, both because it's a lot of fun and because it helps tots learn body parts.
ReplyDeleteAction songs and rhymes are an excellent way for little ones to learn.
DeleteWhat a delightful trip down memory lane! I had no idea the Hokey Cokey had so many international names
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise it was so international.
DeleteThis post had me grinning—who knew the Hokey Cokey had such a rich, globe-trotting history? That Shakespeare twist? Absolutely brilliant. “O proud left foot” deserves a standing ovation. Funny how something so simple captures human nature so well, even in a kids' dance. Now I’ll never hear it again without imagining a mini Shakespeare doing the turn-around.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/07/the-cheese-cure-my-review-finding-more.html
I'm sure the Hokey Cokey made it to Belgium at some point but I've no idea whether it's been given an alternative name here ... xxx
ReplyDeleteI knew it as the hokey pokey and yes, it was great fun!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard it called the Hokey-Cokey! That's funny. I LOVED the Shakespeare version! Genius!
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of it being called anything but the hokey Pokey, which is what I know it as. I remember doing that dance at school, at camp, and even at weddings. I guess I’m showing my age. Fascinating post Especially reading it in Shakespearean style. I loved that.
ReplyDeleteIt was a few years ago now at a family gathering that we all did the 'Hokey Cokey' all ages, great fun :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
PS I do like your new flower header, what a lovely colour :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I remember singing this many times in my childhood and watching parents, aunts and uncles joining in. Very much enjoyed this, thank you :)
ReplyDeleteIt was something we did at the very least, weekly at our preschool. It was a great way to teach kids left and right, and rhythm. They loved it.
ReplyDelete