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K-I-S-S-I-N-G

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G" is the (assumed) name of a playground song or taunt. It really only achieves its desired effect—embarrassment—when sung among children to a couple that is in romantic love. The embarrassment is derived from the prospect of romantic contact between a boy and a girl, usually an uncomfortable topic for young children.

The song is learned by oral tradition, yet is almost always recited as:

Harry and Sally sitting in a tree:

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes love,

then comes marriage,

then comes sally and the baby carriage! ^[1]

"A baby" can be replaced with another child's name to cause further embarrassment. The names "Harry" and "Sally" are, of course, replaced by the names of the couple to be embarrassed.

Occasionally, a second verse may be added to the tune of:

That's not it!

That's not all!

Harry's drinking alcohol!

In this case the name of either child is substituted for "Harry". Variations for the last line of this verse are:

Here comes a baby drinking alcohol! (or)

playing basketball! (or)

peeing on the wall!

A popular alternate version can be recited as follows:

"[name] and [name] sitting in a tree,

K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

First comes love,

then comes marriage,

then comes [name] in a baby carriage.

Sucking his thumb,

Wetting his pants,

Doing the hula-hula dance.

Not too big,

Not too small,

Just the size of a doody ball."

References

1. ^ A variant can be found in Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia Of The Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel, 263.