"Arabian riff", also known as "The Streets of Cairo", "The Poor Little Country Maid", and "the snake charmer song", is a well-known melody, published in various forms in the nineteenth century. 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 The hoochie coochie () is a catch-all term to describe several sexually provocative belly dance-like dances from the mid-to late 1800s. Also spelled hootchy-kootchy and a number of other variations, it is often associated with " The Streets of Ca ...

belly dance.

History

There is a clear resemblance between the riff and the French song ''Colin prend sa hotte'' (published by in 1719), whose first five notes are identical. ''Colin prend sa hotte'' appears to derive from the lost ''Kradoudja'', an Algerian folk song of the seventeenth century. A version of the riff was published in 1845 by

Franz Hünten Franz Hünten, otherwise known as François Hünten (26 December 179222 February 1878), was a German pianist and composer of salon music. He was born in Koblenz, the son of the organist Daniel Hünten, who taught Henri Herz. Like Herz he moved to ...

as ''Melodie Arabe''. The melody was described as an "Arabian Song" in the '' La grande méthode complète de cornet à piston et de saxhorn par Arban'', first published in the 1850s.

Sol Bloom Sol Bloom (March 9, 1870March 7, 1949) was an American song-writer and politician from New York City who began his career as an entertainment impresario and sheet music publisher in Chicago. He served fourteen terms in the United States House of ...

, a showman (and later a U.S. congressman), published the song as the entertainment director of the

World's Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) was a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, hel ...

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 melody is often heard when something that is connected with

Arabia The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plat ...

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

(''Iran''),

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

, deserts,

belly dancing Belly dance (Egyptian Arabic: رقص بلدي, translated: Dance of the Country/Folk Dance, romanized: Raks/Raas Baladi) is a dance that originates in Egypt. It features movements of the hips and torso. It has evolved to take many different f ...

snake charming Snake charming is the practice of appearing to hypnotize a snake (often a cobra) by playing and waving around an instrument called a pungi. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerou ...

is being shown. The song was also recorded as "They Don't Wear Pants in the Southern Part of France" by John Bartles, the version sometimes played by radio host

Dr. Demento Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941), known professionally as Dr. Demento, is an American radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograp ...

Travadja La Moukère

In France, there is a popular song which pieds-noirs from

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

brought back in the 1960s called "Travadja La Moukère" (from ''trabaja la mujer'', which means "the woman works" in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

), 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:

In popular culture

Music

Since the piece is not copyrighted, it has been used as a basis for numerous 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 Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russ ...

* "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. * In 1934, during the Purim festivities in Tel Aviv, the song received Hebrew lyrics jokingly referring to the Book of Esther and its characters (Ahasaurus, Vashti, Haman and Esther) written by

Natan Alterman Nathan Alterman ( he, נתן אלתרמן, August 14, 1910 – March 28, 1970) was an Israeli poet, playwright, journalist, and translator. Though never holding any elected office, Alterman was highly influential in Socialist Zionist politics, ...

, Israel's foremost lyricist of the time. It was performed by the "Matateh" troupe, under the name "נעמוד בתור / ''Na'amod Bator"'' ("we will stand in line").

1900s

* "Scherzo for String Quartet" by Charles Ives (1904)

1920s

* The "Little Egypt" segment of the

scene in ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...

'' (1927)

1930s

* "Twilight in Turkey" by the Raymond Scott Quintette (1937)

1940s

* This tune is quoted in Luther Billis' dance in "Honey Bun" from the musical '' South Pacific.'' (1949) * " Bonaparte's Retreat" by

Pee Wee King Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski (February 18, 1914 – March 7, 2000), known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "Tennessee Waltz". Pee Wee King is credited with ...

(1949)

1950s

* "

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a 1953 novelty song, with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon. It was written on the 500th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. The lyrics humorously refer to the official ren ...

" by

The Four Lads The Four Lads was a Canadian male singing quartet which, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, earned many gold singles and albums. Its million-selling signature tunes include " Moments to Remember"; " Standing on the Corner"; " No, Not Much"; "Who Nee ...

(1953) and

They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a duo, often accompanied by a ...

(1990) * "Native Dancer" by Abner Silver and Al Hoffman, recorded by

Rusty Draper Farrell Haliday "Rusty" Draper (January 25, 1923 – March 28, 2003) was an American country and pop singer-songwriter and radio and TV host who achieved his greatest success in the 1950s. Biography Born in Kirksville, Missouri, United State ...

(1953) * "

Nellie the Elephant "Nellie the Elephant" is a children's song written in 1956 by Ralph Butler and Peter Hart about a fictional anthropomorphic elephant of that name. Original version The original version, released on Parlophone R 4219 in October 1956, was recorde ...

" by

Ralph Butler Ralph Thomas Butler (12 October 1886 – 8 April 1969) was a British songwriter, responsible for the lyrics of many popular songs of the 1930s and later, mostly with comic or novelty elements. He was active as a songwriter from the late 1920s unti ...

(1956) * "Teenager's Mother (Are You Right?)" by Bill Haley & His Comets (1956) * "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si" from the motion picture

Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' () is a 1 January 1958 Indian musical comedy film directed by Satyen Bose. Starring Madhubala with the Ganguly brothers —Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar, and Kishore Kumar— the film revolves around a middle-aged man wh ...

(1958) * "Oriental Rock" by Bill Haley & His Comets (1958)

1960s

* "

The Sheik of Araby "The Sheik of Araby" is a song that was written in 1921 by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler, with music by Ted Snyder. It was composed in response to the popularity of the Rudolph Valentino feature film '' The Sheik''. "The Sheik of Araby" was ...

" performed by the Beatles during their 1962

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

audition, with George Harrison as the lead singer and

Pete Best Randolph Peter Best (né Scanland; born 24 November 1941) is an English musician known as the drummer of the English rock band the Beatles who was dismissed immediately prior to the band achieving worldwide fame. Fired from the group in 1962 ...

on the drums (this track can be found on ''

Anthology 1 ''Anthology 1'' is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 20 November 1995 by Apple Records as part of ''The Beatles Anthology'' series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the period 1958–64, including song ...

''). * "Egyptian Surf" by

The Temptations (New York vocal group) The Temptations were a vocal group from New York best known for the 1960 hit "Barbara". Issued on Goldisc Records, the song peaked on the Cash Box Magazine chart at #38 and on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at #29. The flip side song on "Barbara" was ...

(1963) * "I've Got the Skill" by Jackie Ross (US #89, 1964) * "

Revolution 9 "Revolution 9" is a sound collage from the Beatles' 1968 self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album"). The composition, credited to Lennon–McCartney, was created primarily by John Lennon with assistance from Yoko Ono and George ...

" by

the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

(1968) * "Funky Mule" by Buddy Miles Express (1968)

1970s

* "The Grand Wazoo" by Frank Zappa (1972) * "Sharon" by

David Bromberg David Bromberg (born September 19, 1945) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. David Bromberg biographyat Billboard.com An eclectic artist, Bromberg plays bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock a ...

(1972) * "Uragiri No Machikado (裏切りの街角)" by Kai Band (甲斐バンド) (1975) * "Pra Lá de Bagdá" by The Fevers (1975) * "You Scared the Lovin' Outta Me" by

Funkadelic Funkadelic was an American funk rock band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1968 and active until 1982. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, pioneered the funk music culture of the 1970s.John, Bush. Funkade ...

(1976) * "Open Sesame" by

Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...

(1976) * "One for the Vine" by

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

(1976) * "Egyptian Reggae" by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1977) * "

King Tut Tutankhamun (, egy, twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn), Egyptological pronunciation Tutankhamen () (), sometimes referred to as King Tut, was an Egyptian pharaoh who was the last of his royal family to rule during the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (ruled ...

" by

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...

(1978) * "White Cigarettes" by

P-Model P-Model (also typeset as P-MODEL and P. Model) was a Japanese electronic rock band started in 1979 by members of the defunct progressive rock band Mandrake. The band has experienced many lineup revisions over the years but frontman Susumu Hira ...

(1979)

1980s

* " Menergy" by Patrick Cowley (1981) * " Lies," by

Thompson Twins Thompson Twins were a British pop band formed in 1977 in Sheffield. Initially a new wave group, they switched to a more mainstream pop sound and achieved considerable popularity during the mid-1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kin ...

, immediately after the line, " Cleopatra died for Egypt. What a waste of time!" (1982) * "Monster" by Fred Schneider (1984) * "Starchild" by

Teena Marie Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the sta ...

(1984) * "Egypt, Egypt" by

Egyptian Lover Gregory James Broussard (born August 31, 1963), better known by his stage name Egyptian Lover, is an American musician, vocalist, producer and DJ, and was a part of the L.A. dance music, electro, and rap scene in the early 1980s. History Th ...

(1984) * "Jail House Rap" by

The Fat Boys The Fat Boys were an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York, who emerged in the early 1980s. The group was briefly known originally as the Disco 3, originally composed of Mark " Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley, ...

(1984)

1990s

* "

Iesha "Iesha" is the debut single by Another Bad Creation, from the album ''Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know! ''Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know!'' is the debut studio album from American hip hop and R&B group Another Bad Creation, released on Feb ...

" by Another Bad Creation (1990) * "Place in France" by L.A.P.D. (1991) * "Gypsy Reggae" by

Goran Bregović Goran Bregović (born 22 March 1950) is a recording artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Slavic-speaking countries in the Balkans, and is one of the few former Yug ...

(1993) * " Cleopatra, Queen of Denial" by

Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis and ex-wife of songwriter Bob DiPiero. Tillis recorded unsuccessful ...

(1993) * "Cleopatra's Cat" by the

Spin Doctors Spin Doctors are an American alternative rock band from New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits "Two Princes" and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong", which peaked on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart at No. 7 and No. 17, respec ...

(1994) * "Whiney Whiney (What Really Drives Me Crazy)" by Willi One Blood (1994) * " The Short-Tempered Clavier and other dysfunctional works for keyboard" by

Peter Schickele "Professor" Peter Schickele (; born July 17, 1935) is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist, best known for comedy albums featuring his music, but which he presents as being composed by the fictional P. D. Q. Bach. He also hosted ...

(1995) * "Skatanic" by

Reel Big Fish Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Orange County, California. The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold-certified album ''Turn the Radio Off''. Soon af ...

(1996) * "Chance to Farewell" (헤어지는 기회) by

So Chan-whee Kim Kyoung-hee ( ko, 김경희, born January 20, 1972), better known by her stage name So Chan-whee ( ko, 소찬휘), is a South Korean singer, best known for her 2000 song, "Tears". Personal life Kim dated Roy of the '' Street Guns'' band (p ...

(소찬휘) (1996) * " Criminal" by Fiona Apple (1997) * "Hokus Pokus" by Insane Clown Posse (1997) * "Rip Rock" by

Canibus Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is an American rapper and actor. He initially gained fame in the 1990s for his ability to freestyle, and eventually released his debut album Can-I-Bus in 1998 ...

(1998) * "Illusion" by Destiny's Child (1998) * "Circus" (马戏团) by

David Tao David Tao (), born Tao Xuzhong () (born 11 July 1969), is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter. He is well known for creating a crossover genre of R&B and hard rock tunes which has now become his signature style and for hav ...

(陶喆) (1999)

2000s

* "Playboy" by

Red Wanting Blue Red Wanting Blue (also known as RWB) is a rock and roll band led by Scott Terry that formed in Athens, Ohio in 1996. In 1999 the band relocated its headquarters to Columbus, Ohio, the city Red Wanting Blue now calls home. RWB has been touring for ...

(2000) * "Migdalit" by

Nurit Hirsch Nurit Hirsh ( he, נורית הירש, b. Tel Aviv, August 13, 1942) is an Israeli composer, arranger and conductor who has written over a thousand Hebrew songs. Three of her most famous and widely known songs are '' Ba-Shanah ha-Ba'ah'' (''Next ...

(2002) * " Learn Chinese" by

MC Jin Jin Au-Yeung (; born June 4, 1982), known professionally as MC Jin, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and comedian of Chinese descent. Jin is notable for being the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label ...

(欧阳靖) (2003) * "Over There" by

Jonathan Coulton Jonathan William Coulton (born December 1, 1970), often called "JoCo" by fans, is an American folk/comedy singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans. Among his most popular songs are " Co ...

(2003) (lyrics) * "Act a Ass" by

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens Sr. (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. He is a founding member of the rap group The Click, and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 26 studio albums to date, ...

(2003) * "The Treasures of Ancient Egypt" by

The Backyardigans ''The Backyardigans'' is a computer-animated musical children's television series created by Janice Burgess. The series was written and recorded at Nickelodeon Animation Studio. It centers on five animal neighbors who imagine themselves on fantas ...

(2004) * "Lækker pt. 2 feat. L.O.C."

Nik & Jay Nik & Jay is a Danish hip-hop/pop duo made of Niclas Genckel Petersen (born 8 November 1980 in Herlev) and Jannik Brandt Thomsen (born 16 June 1981). Their #2 single ''Hot!'' won them Hit of the Year and Best New Artist at the Danish Music ...

(2004) * "Would You Be My Girlfriend (你愿意做我女友吗)" by The Flowers (花儿乐队) (2004) * "Naggin" by

Ying Yang Twins The Ying Yang Twins are an American hip hop duo consisting of Kaine (born Eric Jackson on December 16, 1978) and D-Roc (born Deongelo/D'Angelo Holmes on February 13, 1979). They are not twin brothers. They did the windows to the walls song. The ...

(2005) * "Toc Toc Toc" by

Lee Hyori Lee Hyo-ri (; born May 10, 1979) is a South Korean singer, record producer, activist, actress and television presenter. Dubbed as the "Nation's Fairy" during her '' Family Outing'' days, she debuted as a member of South Korean girl group Fin.K. ...

(이효리) (2007) * "Killer (杀手)" by Lin Junjie (林俊杰) (2007) * "Till You Come to Me" by Spencer Day (2009) * "¿Viva la Gloria? (Little Girl)" by Green Day (2009)

2010s

* "Space Girl" by

The Imagined Village The Imagined Village is a folk music project founded by Simon Emmerson of Afro Celt Sound System. It is intended to produce modern folk music that represented modern multiculturalism in the United Kingdom and as such, featured musicians from a ...

(2010) * " Take It Off" by Kesha (2010) * "Who's That? Broooown!" by

Das Racist Das Racist was an American alternative hip hop group based in Brooklyn, composed of MCs Heems and Kool A.D. and hype man Ashok Kondabolu (a.k.a. Dapwell or Dap). Known for their use of humor, academic references, foreign allusions, and unconven ...

(2010) * "Grunt Tube" by Blue Water White Death (2010) * "Spy (间谍)" by

Silence Wong Silence Wang (; born 17 September 1989) is a Chinese pop singer and songwriter. He made his debut with the album ''Slowly Understand'' () on 19 November 2010, and now he has published 10 albums. His songs range from hip hop and rap to contempo ...

(汪苏泷) (2010) * " Shotgun" by Limp Bizkit (2011) * "

Lipstick Lipstick is a cosmetic product used to apply coloration and texture to lips, often made of wax and oil. Different pigments are used to produce color, and minerals such as silica may be used to provide texture. The use of lipstick dates back t ...

" by

Orange Caramel Orange Caramel () is the first subgroup of South Korean girl group After School. The subgroup was formed in 2010 with the third generation After School members Nana, Raina, and Lizzy. As of December 2019, Orange Caramel only has one member u ...

(2012) * "ÆØÅ (Size Matters)" by Kollektivet (2012) * "I'm Not In Your Mind" by

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are an Australian rock band formed in 2010 in Melbourne, Victoria. The band's current lineup consists of Stu Mackenzie, Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Cook Craig, Joey Walker, Lucas Harwood and Michael Cavanagh. They a ...

(2014) * " Gloryhole" by Steel Panther (2014) * " Hypnotic" by

Zella Day Zella Day Kerr (born March 13, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician from Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. Day began recording music in her early teens, independently releasing her debut album, ''Powered by Love'', in 2009. Following ...

(2015) * "Back On The Train" by Phish (7/22/2015, Bend OR) * "Music to Watch Boys To" by Lana Del Rey (2015) * "Genghis Khan (Miike Snow song), Genghis Khan" by Miike Snow (2015) * "Bay of Pigs" by Civil War (band), Civil War (2015) * "We Appreciate Power" by Grimes (musician), Grimes (2018) * "Hide Out" (사라지는 꿈) by Sultan of the Disco (2018) * "I'm So Hot" by Momoland (2019)

2020s

* "Tantrum" by Ashnikko (2020) * "Mago (song), Mago" by GFriend (2020) * "Lovelife" by Benny Benassi feat. Jeremih (2020) * "Broke N****s" by City Girls feat. Yo Gotti (2020) * "Vermelho" by Gloria Groove (2022) * "Benny's Got A Gun" by BLK ODYSSY feat. Benny the Butcher and George Clinton (funk musician), George Clinton (2022)

Cartoons

* Felix the Cat: ''Arabiantics'' (1928) * Mickey Mouse: ''The Opry House'' (1929) * Mickey Mouse: ''The Karnival Kid'' (1929) * Mickey Mouse: ''The Chain Gang (1930 film), The Chain Gang'' (1930) * Mickey Mouse: ''Pioneer Days (1930 film), Pioneer Days'' (1930) * Mickey Mouse: ''Mickey Steps Out'' (1931) * ''Circus Capers'' (1930) * Betty Boop: ''Boop-Oop-a-Doop'' (1932) * Flip the Frog: ''Circus'' (1932) * ''Goofy Goat Antics'' (1933) * Mickey Mouse: ''The Band Concert'' (1935) * Mickey Mouse: ''Magician Mickey'' (1937) * Mickey Mouse: ''Clock Cleaners'' (1937) * Donald Duck: ''Self Control'' (1938) * Donald Duck: ''The Autograph Hound'' (1939) * ''Goofy and Wilbur'' (1939) * ''Goofy Groceries'' (1940) * Porky Pig: ''Ali-Baba Bound'' (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) * Woody Woodpecker: ''Roamin' Roman'' (1963) * ''Vincent (1982 film), Vincent'' (1982) * ''The Simpsons'' episode "Homer's Night Out" (1990) * ''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'' episode "Caterpillar Thriller" (2003, Japanese version only) * ''JoJo's Circus'' – used as the melody of the "Snake Dance" song (2003) * ''The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius'' episode "Beach Party Mummy" (2003) * ''

'' episode "Secret Mission" (2004) * ''Dave the Barbarian'' episode "Floral Derangement" (2004) * ''The Simpsons'' episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (2004) * ''King of the Hill'' episode "SerPunt" (2007) * "Super Fast!!" episode ''Little Einsteins'' (2007) * ''Bob's Burgers'' episode "Uncle Teddy (Bob's Burgers), Uncle Teddy" (2014) * ''Family Guy'' episode "Family Guy (season 16), Switch the Flip" (2018) * ''Disenchantment (TV series), Disenchantment'' (season 2) opening credits (2019) *''Big Mouth (American TV series), Big Mouth'' Season 5, Episode 1 (2021) *''Smiling Friends'' Season 1, Episode 3 (2022)

Computer games

From cartoons the song has been adapted to video games. It appears on following computer game, computer and video games: * ''Dark Tower (game), Dark Tower'' (1981 electronic game, bazaar) * ''Venture (video game), Venture'' (1981) * ''Oh Mummy'' (1984) * ''Bombo (video game), Bombo'' (1986) * ''Rick Dangerous'' (1989, Level 2 – Egypt) * ''Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire'' (1990, Katta's Tail Inn) * ''Spot: The Video Game, Spot: The Video Game!'' (1990, when adding a piece to the right) * ''Pyramid (video game), Pyramid'' and ''Pyramid II'' (1990, first level) * ''Lotus (computer games), 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 time zone) * ''Kirby Mass Attack'' (2011, "Desert Scorcher" and "Lifted Upward") * ''Rayman Origins'' (2011) Lums Notes Of Desert Of Dijridoos * ''Kirby and the Rainbow Curse'' (2015, "More Dig and Dash" (taken directly from Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, the anime) and "Evade Dig and Dash") * ''Cuphead'' (2017, Pyramid Peril) * ''Red Dead Redemption 2'' (2018)

Television

* Andy Bernard sings a variation with a sitar in the "Moroccan Christmas" episode of season 5 of ''The Office (U.S. TV series), The Office''. *Tom Ellis (actor), Tom Ellis as 'Lucifer (TV series), Lucifer' plays a part of 'The Streets of Cairo' on the piano in season 4 episode 5.

Film

* In Charles Lamont's 1932 short film ''War Babies (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. * In ''The Great Ziegfeld'' (1936), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Picture Oscar in 1937, the song is heard as the backdrop to the "Little Egypt" attraction on the Midway Plaisance, Midway of the

run by Billings, a character portrayed by Frank Morgan and loosely based on

. * 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

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 Obscenity, smutty. One variation, for example, is: There's a place in France Where the ladies wear no pants But the men don't care 'cause they don'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 prison, nick They hang you by your dick And put dirty pictures on the walls.

References

External links

"Streets of Cairo" sheet music
in the ''Levy Collection'', via Jscholarship * * {{authority control Traditional children's songs Stereotypes 1895 songs Songs written by James Thornton (songwriter) Riffs Songs about Asia

History

Travadja La Moukère

In popular culture

Music

1900s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Cartoons

Computer games

Television

Film

Children's culture

See also

References

External links