Anyone remember that “First is the worst, second is the best” rhyme kids used to do? Where did that come from?
Now I’m best. No takebacks.
Anyone remember that "First is the worst, second is the best" rhyme kids used to do? Where did that come from?
Submitted 8 hours ago by Jomega@lemmy.world to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
Comments
db2@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
pitaya@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
Anyone remember that “First is the worst, second is the best” rhyme kids used to do? Where did that come from?
Oh yeah? I don’t see you with a treasure chest
OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
“First the worst, second the best” is a playground chant of unknown, likely early-to-mid 20th-century origin, commonly used by children in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand to tease those in the first two positions. It is a form of oral folklore used to mock the winner and praise the runner-up.
Thats wot googel sed
Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 hours ago
I was wondering about the origins of this and a couple other kid things that somehow managed to spread far and wide without the internet involved for the past few days, myself. It’s crazy how this kind of stuff likely does not have a concrete starting point that you can say “this nusery rhyme originated from little Billy Sojack, age 6, on the playground of Chester A. Arthur elementary in Small Town, OH.”
Apepollo11@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
I’m surprised they have it in the US!
I knew they said it in Australia and Canada, though - I don’t know, I guess I just assumed it was a commonwealth thing.
tlekiteki@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 hours ago
Yes! The Americans reject some elements of English culture just for being weird.
Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 4 hours ago
All I can remember from being at primary school in the 80s is that the first three were the only consistent ones.
First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest.
After that it changed depending on the day/time/vibes
I recall - fourth the dirty donkey, 5th the golden eagle.
We all got bored after that.
fletcher_bosom@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Jimmy.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 hours ago
Someone who sucks because the second half doesn’t even fucking rhyme.
Pappabosley@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Because they forget the last bit: First the worst, Second the best, Third the one with the hairy chest
davidgro@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
I didn’t know what OP was talking about until your comment unlocked the memory.
howrar@lemmy.ca 7 hours ago
It does rhyme. The e in second and best are assonant.
SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
the fuck did you just call me?
queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 hours ago
Also third is the one in the polka-dot vest.
SolidShake@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Yeah. But third’s a turd so…
Apepollo11@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Third’s the one with the hairy chest!
TaterTot@piefed.social 7 hours ago
That’s not all! That’s not all!
kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
When I was in Kindergarten, we would all race to get to our seats in the morning and call out “first”, “second”, “third” and so on as we sat down. We’d of course, always have the first two jeering and arguing about being in “First place!” And “First is the worst, second is best!” No idea how a bunch of 5-6 year olds knew this ubiquitous phrase.
But there was this one weird kid who kept coming in third, and he’d always say the same thing. “Well, actually, if you start counting at 0, then I’m actually second. So I’m the best.” And that guy was the worst. I wish I could say that that kid was destined to be a programmer and got an early start on the meme, but no… he was just just dumb and still is.
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Some kid who spends their time coming up with rhymes instead of getting good at running fast, probably.