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 on Jan 3rd, 1967."
I knew they said it in Australia and Canada, though - I don't know, I guess I just assumed it was a commonwealth thing. It's got that specific flavour of daftness to it.
Someone who sucks because the second half doesn't even fucking rhyme. Like that's the best you could do?? You'd be second in a poetry competition/rap battle as well.
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.
"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.
28 Comments
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 159d
Some kid who spends their time coming up with rhymes instead of getting good at running fast, probably.
weimaraner_of_doom@piefed.social · 6 pts · 158d
Jimmy came in first place. What a loser! -- The Kid in Second Place
db2@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 159d
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.
pitaya@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 159d
Oh yeah? I don't see you with a treasure chest
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 13 pts · 159d
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 on Jan 3rd, 1967."
Apepollo11@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 159d
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. It's got that specific flavour of daftness to it.
tlekiteki@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 159d
Yes! The Americans reject some elements of English culture just for being weird.
Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk · 9 pts · 159d
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.
jaschen306@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 158d
I distinctively remember the hair chest one.
fletcher_bosom@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 159d
Jimmy.
SolidShake@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 159d
Yeah. But third's a turd so.....
Apepollo11@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 159d
Third's the one with the hairy chest!
TaterTot@piefed.social · 1 pts · 159d
That's not all! That's not all!
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 159d
Someone who sucks because the second half doesn't even fucking rhyme. Like that's the best you could do?? You'd be second in a poetry competition/rap battle as well.
howrar@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 159d
It does rhyme. The e in second and best are assonant.
SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 159d
the fuck did you just call me?
actionjbone@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 159d
You should hear what he called your mother last night.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 159d
Well, looks like we got ourselves a reader!
queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 159d
Also third is the one in the polka-dot vest.
Pappabosley@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 159d
Because they forget the last bit: First the worst, Second the best, Third the one with the hairy chest
davidgro@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 159d
I didn't know what OP was talking about until your comment unlocked the memory.
Pappabosley@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 159d
I'll send you an invoice for my services
kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 159d
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.
SkipWapPallyPap@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 157d
I always heard it as "first the worst, second the same, third the best of all the game". I wonder if its a regional thing.
OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 159d
"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
ComradeMiao@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 159d
Google or Google ai?
OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world · -7 pts · 159d
Google ai summerising google
Nihilore@quokk.au · 9 pts · 159d
In the future, don’t