Question: What five-note tune might get you a cheerful two-note response if you hum it in the US, but might get you a punch in the nose if you hum it in Mexico?



Forfeit: Part of the national anthem, La Cucaracha, other traditional American or Mexican songs a Briton might know.



Answer: "Shave and a Haircut." (



Notes: In America (and I think in the UK, too?), the tune can end a song, or you could knock on a door to its rhythm. It was common in old cartoons and was a plot point in the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" where the cartoon rabbit couldn't stay hidden since all someone had to do was hum "shave and a haircut" to make him respond "two bits."



The traditional American lyrics are "Shave and a haircut, two bits." As was said in Series E, "two bits" used to mean 25 cents because the Spanish dollar coin, which was used in America about 200 years ago, was cut into 1/8th slices called "bits." Contrary to what was said in Series E, it's not really used to mean a quarter anymore, and the term persists only in the "Shave and a Haircut" lyrics and as an insulting adjective that simply means "inferior."



In Mexico, however, the lyrics are a lot stronger: "Chinga (a) tu madre, cabron!" (The "a" is slurred with "chinga" so that you don't really hear it.) The translation is roughly, "Go f--k your mother, a--hole!" Most Americans have no clue about the Mexican version, and vice-versa, which could lead to quite an interesting misunderstanding. In Mexico, you can honk your horn to the five-note rhythm instead of using your middle finger. And if you knocked it on a door, it would be like saying, "Open the door, a--hole!" The origin is unclear, but the lyrics are known widely enough to offend.



Production notes: If nobody gets it, Fry could tap the first five notes on the table to see if anyone taps the next two. Then he could ask if they know the lyrics.



Sources:

Wikipedia: Shave and a Haircut

Wikipedia: Spanish milled dollar

Translated Spanish explanation What five-note tune might get you a cheerful two-note response if you hum it in the US, but might get you a punch in the nose if you hum it in Mexico?Part of the national anthem, La Cucaracha, other traditional American or Mexican songs a Briton might know."Shave and a Haircut." ( Listen to it here. In America (and I think in the UK, too?), the tune can end a song, or you could knock on a door to its rhythm. It was common in old cartoons and was a plot point in the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" where the cartoon rabbit couldn't stay hidden since all someone had to do was hum "shave and a haircut" to make him respond "two bits."The traditional American lyrics are "Shave and a haircut, two bits." As was said in Series E, "two bits" used to mean 25 cents because the Spanish dollar coin, which was used in America about 200 years ago, was cut into 1/8th slices called "bits." Contrary to what was said in Series E, it's not really used to mean a quarter anymore, and the term persists only in the "Shave and a Haircut" lyrics and as an insulting adjective that simply means "inferior."In Mexico, however, the lyrics are a lot stronger: "Chinga (a) tu madre, cabron!" (The "a" is slurred with "chinga" so that you don't really hear it.) The translation is roughly, "Go f--k your mother, a--hole!" Most Americans have no clue about the Mexican version, and vice-versa, which could lead to quite an interesting misunderstanding. In Mexico, you can honk your horn to the five-note rhythm instead of using your middle finger. And if you knocked it on a door, it would be like saying, "Open the door, a--hole!" The origin is unclear, but the lyrics are known widely enough to offend.If nobody gets it, Fry could tap the first five notes on the table to see if anyone taps the next two. Then he could ask if they know the lyrics.

Last edited by pdxuser on Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:41 am; edited 2 times in total