It is a bizarre, nonsensical earworm that has survived for over a century. You probably know the hand gestures before you even remember the words. The "Skinnamarink" song—often searched as the skinny marinky dinky dink song lyrics—is a staple of preschool classrooms, summer camps, and nostalgic 90s television. But it wasn't always a sugary-sweet anthem for toddlers. Honestly, the history of this song is a weird trip through Broadway pits and Canadian television studios.
Most people think it’s a folk song from the "Old Days." Not quite. It was actually written for a 1910 Broadway production called The Echo. Back then, it wasn't a song about hugging your mom or dad; it was a novelty ragtime tune. The original spelling was "Skid-dy-mer-rink-adink-aboomp" or "Skid-dee-mer-rink-adink-a-do." It was meant to be gibberish. Pure, unadulterated nonsense.
If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you likely associate these lyrics with Sharon, Lois & Bram. They took a forgotten vaudeville relic and turned it into a cultural phenomenon.
The Actual Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink Song Lyrics
Let's clear up the confusion on the wording first. Because the song is based on phonetic nonsense, everyone hears it a little differently. Some people hear "Skinny marinky," while others hear "Skinnamarink." In the world of Sharon, Lois & Bram—the definitive version for most—it goes like this:
Skinnamarink dink-a-dink,
Skinnamarink do,
I love you!
Skinnamarink dink-a-dink,
Skinnamarink do,
I love you!
I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening,
And underneath the moon!
Oh, Skinnamarink dink-a-dink,
Skinnamarink do,
I love you!
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It's short. It's punchy. It’s basically a Pavlovian trigger for anyone who watched The Elephant Show. But the simplicity is exactly why it works. The rhythm mimics a heartbeat or a walking pace, which makes it incredibly easy for a child's brain to latch onto.
Why the Spelling Is Such a Mess
You'll see it written as "Skidamarink," "Skinnamarink," or the phonetic "Skinny marinky dinky dink." Why the discrepancy? It's the "Telephone Game" effect across generations. When the song was first published in 1910 by Felix F. Feist and Al Piantadosi, the sheet music had several variations of the nonsense words. Over time, as it moved from the stage to the playground, the "d" sounds softened into "n" sounds. "Skid-dee" became "Skin-ny."
It’s a linguistic evolution. Kids change words to make them easier to say.
The Vaudeville Origins: It Wasn't Always for Kids
Imagine a smoky theater in New York City at the turn of the century. The air is thick with the smell of greasepaint and cheap cigars. A performer walks out and starts singing about "Skid-dy-mer-rink." In its original context, the song was a "novelty" number. These were the "baby shark" hits of the 1910s—songs designed to be catchy, slightly annoying, and very easy to dance to.
The original version had verses that nobody remembers today. They were about a character named "Zulu Lovey" and had a much more "musical theater" vibe. It was about attraction and courtship, not the platonic, familial love we associate with it now. It’s kinda wild to think that a song once used to woo a crowd in a Broadway musical is now what we use to put toddlers to sleep.
How Sharon, Lois & Bram Saved It from Obscurity
In 1978, a trio of Canadian musicians—Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison—were putting together their first album, One Elephant, Deux Éléphants. They needed a "goodbye" song.
Sharon’s cousin had heard a version of the song at a camp and sang it for them. They loved the rhythm but knew it needed a specific visual to go with it. They didn't just sing the skinny marinky dinky dink song lyrics; they choreographed them.
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The hand gestures are what made the song a titan of children’s media:
- Putting your elbows in your hands.
- Waving.
- Pointing to your eye for "I."
- Hugging yourself for "love."
- Pointing for "you."
By the time The Elephant Show hit Nickelodeon in the United States in the mid-80s, the song was inescapable. It became their signature. Even after Lois passed away in 2015, Sharon and Bram continued to perform it, often seeing three generations of fans in the audience—grandparents, parents, and kids—all doing the hand signs in unison. It’s one of those rare pieces of media that bridged the gap between the Silent Generation and Gen Alpha.
The Psychological Hook: Why You Can’t Stop Singing It
There is actual science behind why these lyrics stick. It’s called an "earworm," or more technically, Involuntary Musical Imagery (INMI).
Several factors make "Skinnamarink" a perfect candidate for your brain to replay on a loop:
- Repetition: The "dink-a-dink" and "do" structure creates a predictable rhythmic pattern.
- Simple Intervals: The melody doesn't jump around. It stays within a very narrow range that is easy for the human voice to mimic.
- The "B-Section": The part about "I love you in the morning" provides a melodic release before returning to the familiar chorus.
Basically, your brain likes patterns. This song is nothing but patterns. It’s also deeply tied to emotional nostalgia. For many, hearing the skinny marinky dinky dink song lyrics triggers a hit of dopamine because it’s associated with childhood safety and comfort.
Common Misconceptions About the Meaning
Is there a secret meaning to the words? Honestly, no.
Every few years, a conspiracy theory pops up on Reddit or TikTok suggesting that "Skinnamarink" is a coded phrase or has some dark, Victorian origin. It doesn't. We live in an era where people want everything to have a "hidden back story," but sometimes nonsense is just nonsense. The words were chosen because they sounded funny and fit the syncopated rhythm of ragtime music.
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Some people confuse it with "Skimble-shanks" from Cats or other similarly named characters in literature, but "Skinnamarink" stands alone as a purely phonetic invention. It's a "vocable"—a word used for its sound rather than its definition.
Teaching the Song: Tips for Parents and Educators
If you’re trying to teach the skinny marinky dinky dink song lyrics to a new generation, don't overthink it.
- Go slow with the hands. The "morning, afternoon, evening, moon" sequence is usually where kids get tripped up. Use a large physical gesture for the "moon" (making a big circle with your arms) to help them anchor the memory.
- Emphasize the "Dink-a-Dink." Use your fingers to mimic a "walking" motion on your opposite arm.
- Variation is key. Try singing it super fast, then super slow, then in a "whisper" version. This helps with phonological awareness—a fancy way of saying it helps kids hear the individual sounds in words.
The song is also an excellent tool for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Because the words are nonsense, there’s no pressure to "understand" them, which allows students to focus entirely on the rhythm and the basic "I love you" sentiment.
Modern Pop Culture References
While it started in 1910 and peaked in the 1980s, the song hasn't disappeared. You’ll find it in horror movies (used ironically to create a "creepy" vibe), in indie covers on YouTube, and all over Spotify.
In 2022, the song saw a massive resurgence on social media platforms when users began sharing videos of their own children reacting to the Sharon, Lois & Bram clips. It turns out that what worked for Boomers and Millennials works just as well for kids raised on iPads. The simplicity of the message—unconditional love regardless of the time of day—is universal.
Actionable Steps for Using the Song Today
- Create a Routine: Use the song as a "transition" marker. Many teachers use it to signal the end of the day or the beginning of a nap time.
- Physical Coordination: If you’re working with toddlers on motor skills, the "Skinnamarink" gestures are perfect for crossing the midline (an important developmental milestone).
- Digital Archives: If you want the "authentic" experience, look for the original Elephant Show clips on YouTube. Seeing the trio interact with the "Elephant" mascot adds a layer of context that the lyrics alone don't provide.
- Check the Chords: For those who play guitar or ukulele, the song is a simple C-F-G7 progression in most keys. It’s one of the easiest songs to learn if you’re a beginner.
The skinny marinky dinky dink song lyrics represent more than just a silly rhyme. They are a piece of living history that has traveled from the stages of vaudeville to the living rooms of the digital age. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the things that make the least sense are the ones that stay with us the longest.