travadja moukère brûle karnival chaud chalti tureen hotte naggin iesha 欧 hyori bartles zella canibus 陶 靖 quintette prend toc gaadi bombo 湘 kusturica wank tut ça 戏 www.whosampled.com discographical
theres a place in france theres a hole in the wall
The Streets of Cairo , or the Poor Little Country Maid - wikipedia The Streets of Cairo , or the Poor Little Country Maid `` The Streets of Cairo , or the Poor Little Country Maid '' <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file ? See media help . `` The Streets of Cairo '' or `` The Poor Little Country Maid '' , also known as `` the snake charmer song '' , is a well - known melody in the United States . Alternate titles for children 's songs using this melody include `` The Girls in France '' and `` The Southern Part of France '' . This song is often associated with the hoochie coochie belly dance . Contents 1 History 2 Travadja La Moukère 3 In popular culture 3.1 Music 3.1. 1 1920s 3.1. 2 1930s 3.1. 3 1950s 3.1. 4 1960s 3.1. 5 1970s 3.1. 6 1980s 3.1. 7 1990s 3.1. 8 2000s 3.1. 9 2010s 3.2 Cartoons 3.3 Computer games 3.4 Television 3.5 Film 3.6 Children 's culture 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History ( edit ) 1895 sheet music cover for `` The Streets of Cairo '' Purportedly the original version of the song was written by Sol Bloom , a showman ( and later a U.S. Congressman ) who was the entertainment director of the World 's Columbian Exposition in 1893 . It included an attraction called `` A Street in Cairo '' produced by Gaston Akoun , which featured snake charmers , camel rides , and a scandalous dancer known as Little Egypt . Songwriter James Thornton penned the words and music to his own version of this melody , `` Streets Of Cairo or The Poor Little Country Maid '' . Copyrighted in 1895 , it was made popular by his wife Lizzie Cox , who used the stage name Bonnie Thornton . The oldest known recording of the song is from 1895 , performed by Dan Quinn ( Berliner Discs 171 - Z ) . The first five notes of the song are similar to the beginning of a French song named `` Colin Prend Sa Hotte '' ( 1719 ) , which in turn resembles note for note an Algerian or Arabic song titled `` Kradoutja '' . The melody is often heard when something that is connected with deserts , Arabia , Persia , Egypt , belly dancing , or snake charming is being displayed . The song was also recorded as `` They Do n't Wear Pants in the Southern Part of France '' by John Bartles , the version sometimes played by radio host Dr. Demento . Travadja La Moukère ( edit ) In France , there is a popular song that immigrants from Algeria brought back in the 1960s called `` Travadja La Moukère '' ( from trabaja la mujer , which means `` the woman works '' in Spanish ) , which uses the same Hoochy Coochy tune . Its original tune , said to have been based on an original Arab song , was created around 1850 and subsequently adopted by the Foreign Legion . Partial lyrics : Travadja La Moukère Travadja Bono Trempe ton cul dans la soupière Si c'est chaud c'est que ça brûle Si ça brûle c'est que c'est chaud ! Translation : Travaja La Moukère Bono Travaja Soak your ass in the tureen If it is hot it burns If it burns it 's that it 's hot ! In popular culture ( edit ) Music ( edit ) Since the piece is not copyrighted , it has been used as a basis for several songs , especially in the early 20th century : `` Hoolah ! Hoolah ! '' `` Dance of the Midway '' `` Coochi - Coochi Polka '' `` Danse Du Ventre '' `` In My Harem '' by Irving Berlin `` Kutchy Kutchy '' ' ' Strut , Miss Lizzie ' ' by Creamer and Layton In Italy , the melody is often sung with the words `` Te ne vai o no ? Te ne vai sì o no ? '' ( `` Are you leaving or not ? Are you leaving , yes or no ? '' ) . That short tune is used to invite an annoying person to move along , or at least to shut up . Later popular songs that include all or part of the melody include : 1920s ( edit ) The `` Little Egypt '' segment of the World 's Columbian Exposition scene in Show Boat ( 1927 ) 1930s ( edit ) `` Twilight in Turkey '' by the Raymond Scott Quintette ( 1937 ) 1950s ( edit ) `` Istanbul not Constantinople '' by Four Lads ( 1953 ) and They Might Be Giants ( 1990 ) `` Nellie the Elephant '' by Ralph Butler ( 1956 ) `` Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si '' from the motion picture Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi ( 1958 ) 1960s ( edit ) `` The Sheik of Araby '' performed by the Beatles during their 1962 Decca audition , with George Harrison as the lead singer and Pete Best on the drums ( this track can be found on Anthology 1 ) . `` Revolution 9 '' by the Beatles ( 1968 ) `` Funky Mule '' by Buddy Miles Express ( 1968 ) 1970s ( edit ) `` The Grand Wazoo '' by Frank Zappa ( 1972 ) `` You Scared the Lovin ' Outta Me '' by Funkadelic ( 1976 ) `` Open Sesame '' by Kool & The Gang ( 1976 ) `` One for the Vine '' by Genesis ( 1976 ) `` Egyptian Reggae '' by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers ( 1977 ) `` King Tut '' by Steve Martin ( 1978 ) `` White Cigarettes '' by P - Model ( 1979 ) 1980s ( edit ) `` Menergy '' by Patrick Cowley ( 1981 ) `` Lies , '' by Thompson Twins , immediately after the line , `` Cleopatra died for Egypt . What a waste of time ! '' ( 1982 ) `` Starchild '' by Teena Marie ( 1984 ) `` Egypt , Egypt '' by The Egyptian Lover ( 1984 ) 1990s ( edit ) `` Iesha '' by Another Bad Creation ( 1990 ) `` Place in France '' by L.A.P.D. ( an early band for 3 of the original members of Korn ) ( 1991 ) `` Gypsy Reggae '' by Goran Bregović ( 1993 ) `` Cleopatra , Queen of Denial '' by Pam Tillis ( 1993 ) `` Cleopatra 's Cat '' by the Spin Doctors ( 1994 ) `` It 's On Now '' by 57th Street Rogue Dog Villains ( 1995 ) `` Skatanic '' by Reel Big Fish ( 1996 ) `` Criminal '' by Fiona Apple ( 1997 ) `` Rip Rock '' by Canibus ( 1998 ) `` Circus '' ( 马戏 团 ) by David Tao ( 陶喆 ) ( 1999 ) 2000s ( edit ) `` Playboy '' by Red Wanting Blue ( 2000 ) `` Learn Chinese '' by MC Jin ( 欧阳 靖 ) ( 2003 ) `` Over There '' by Jonathan Coulton ( 2003 ) ( lyrics ) `` Act a Ass '' by E-40 ( 2003 ) `` Lækker pt. 2 feat . L.O.C. '' Nik & Jay ( 2004 ) `` Naggin '' by Ying Yang Twins ( 2005 ) `` Rojo es el color '' by Señor Trepador ( 2006 ) `` Toc Toc Toc '' by Lee Hyori ( 이효리 ) ( 2007 ) `` Ular '' by Anita Sarawak ( 2008 ) `` Till You Come to Me '' by Spencer Day ( 2009 ) `` ¿ Viva la Gloria ? '' by Green Day ( 2009 ) `` Mr. Ragga ! ! '' by Shonanno Kaze ( 湘南 乃風 ) ( 2009 ) 2010s ( edit ) `` Space Girl '' by The Imagined Village ( 2010 ) `` Take It Off '' by Ke $ ha ( 2010 ) `` Who 's That ? Broooown ! '' by Das Racist ( 2010 ) `` Grunt Tube '' by Blue Water White Death ( 2010 ) `` Lipstick '' by Orange Caramel ( 2012 ) `` I 'm Not In Your Mind '' by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard ( 2014 ) `` Glory Hole '' by Steel Panther ( 2014 ) `` Hypnotic '' by Zella Day ( 2015 ) `` Back On The Train '' by Phish ( 7 / 22 / 2015 , Bend OR ) Music To Watch Boys To by Lana Del Rey ( 2015 ) `` Genghis Khan '' by Miike Snow ( 2015 ) Cartoons ( edit ) Mickey Mouse speaks his first words , `` Hot dogs ! '' , while the melody is played . From the 1929 cartoon The Karnival Kid . Felix the Cat : Arabiantics ( 1928 ) Mickey Mouse : The Karnival Kid ( 1929 ) Mickey Mouse : The Chain Gang ( 1930 ) Circus Capers ( 1930 ) Goofy Goat Antics ( 1933 ) Mickey Mouse : The Band Concert ( 1935 ) Mickey Mouse : Clock Cleaners ( 1937 ) Goofy and Wilbur ( 1939 ) Goofy Groceries ( 1940 ) Bugs Bunny : What 's Cookin ' Doc ? ( 1944 ) Private Snafu : Booby Traps ( 1944 ) Aladdin 's Lamp ( 1947 ) Popeye `` Nurse to Meet Ya '' ( 1955 ) Woody Woodpecker : Witch Crafty ( 1955 ) Vincent ( 1982 ) The Simpsons episode `` Homer 's Night Out '' ( 1990 ) The Simpsons episode `` Milhouse Does n't Live Here Anymore '' ( 2004 ) Bob 's Burgers episode `` Uncle Teddy '' ( 2014 ) Family Guy episode `` Switch the Flip '' ( 2018 ) Computer games ( edit ) From cartoons the song has been adapted to video games . It appears on following computer and videogames : Dark Tower ( 1981 electronic game , bazaar ) Venture ( 1981 ) Lady Tut ( 1983 ) Oh Mummy ( 1984 ) Bombo ( 1986 ) The Legend of Sinbad ( 1986 , Level 2 ) Rick Dangerous ( 1989 , Level 2 -- Egypt ) Quest for Glory II : Trial by Fire ( 1990 , Katta 's Tail Inn ) Lotus Turbo Challenge 1 ( 1991 , desert level ) Jill of the Jungle ( 1992 ) The Lost Vikings ( 1992 , Level 3 -- Egypt ) Lemmings 2 ( 1993 , Egyptian tribe ) Zool 2 ( 1994 , Tooting common level 3 ) Rampage Through Time ( 2000 , Egyptian timezone ) Mevo and the Grooveriders ( 2009 ) Television ( edit ) Andy Bernard sings a variation with a sitar in the `` Moroccan Christmas '' episode of season 5 of The Office . Film ( edit ) In Charles Lamont 's 1932 short film War Babies , the first film in the Baby Burlesks series , the song is briefly used while Shirley Temple 's character Charmaine is dancing around in Buttermilk Pete 's Cafe . In Laurel and Hardy 's Sons of the Desert ( 1933 ) , it is heard briefly in a belly dancer scene at the beginning of the convention . It is heard in the beginning of Patrice Leconte 's short film `` Le laboratoire de l'angoisse '' ( 1971 ) . In Emir Kusturica 's 1993 movie Arizona Dream , the tune is being played several times with accordion by Grace . Children 's culture ( edit ) The tune is used for a 20th - century American children 's song with -- like many unpublished songs of child folk culture -- countless variations as the song is passed from child to child over considerable lengths of time and geography , the one constant being that the versions are almost always smutty . One variation , for example , is : There 's a place in France Where the ladies wear no pants But the men do n't care ' cause they do n't wear underwear . or a similar version : There 's a place in France Where the naked ladies dance There 's a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all Another World War II - era variation is as follows : When your mind goes blank And you 're dying for a wank And Hitler 's playing snooker with your balls In the German nick They hang you by your dick And put dirty pictures on the walls See also ( edit ) Oriental riff - similar musical motif , often associated with China Italian riff References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : Elliot , Julie Anne ( 2000 - 02 - 19 ) . `` There 's a Place in France : That `` Snake Charmer '' Song `` . All About Middle Eastern Dance . Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 17 . ^ Jump up to : `` France , Pants '' . Desultor . Harvard Law School . January 21 , 2004 . Retrieved March 6 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Settlemier , Tyrone ( 2009 - 07 - 07 ) . `` Berliner Discs : Numerical Listing Discography '' . Online 78rpm Discographical Project . Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 17 . Jump up ^ Adams , Cecil ( 2007 - 02 - 23 ) . `` What is the origin of the song ' There 's a place in France / Where the naked ladies dance ? ' '' . The Straight Dope . Creative Loafing Media , Inc . Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 17 . Jump up ^ http://www.whosampled.com/sampled/Sol%20Bloom/ Jump up ^ http://www.bilibili.com/video/av8860777/ External links ( edit ) `` Streets of Cairo '' sheet music in the Levy Collection , via Jscholarship `` The Streets of Cairo or the Poor Little Country Maid '' reference recording on YouTube `` The Streets of Cairo '' Dan Quinn recording on YouTube Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Streets_of_Cairo,_or_the_Poor_Little_Country_Maid&oldid=854815721 '' Categories : Traditional children 's songs Stereotypes 1895 songs Songs written by James Thornton ( songwriter ) Riffs Songs about Egypt Songs about cities Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2010 Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2012 Articles with unsourced statements from September 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano Português Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 14 August 2018 , at 00 : 18 ( UTC ) . 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