Early Computer Lore (from Jennifer’s archive research):
Text 1
Title: This Old Man
Class: F220
Semester/ Year: Spring 1982
Contributor : Mark Vonderschmitt
This machine it played one
It pushed start and program run.
Chorus:
With a nick knack,
Paddy whack,
Give a dog a bone.
This old man came rolling home
It’s an IBM 360/85
This computer came alive.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played two
Overloaded the voltage to the CPU.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played three.
Designed its memory to one IC.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played four
Changed its logic from and to or.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played five,
Memorized data from the tape drive.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played six,
Told the CE what to fix.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played seven.
Printed out the “Road to Heaven.”
(Chorus)
This machine, it played eight,
Shipped itself to Rome airfreight.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played nine,
Told the pope it was divine.
(Chorus)
This machine, it played ten,
To sing all over, push START again.
(Chorus)
Context: Because the exact author of this song remains anonymous, we can only speculate on the purpose of the above song. However, the song was probably meant for entertainment, which can be deduced from the nursery rime tune that it is set to. The seemingly advanced computer words and abbreviations like CPU, IC, CE, and tape drive all verify that the song was written for the enjoyment of adults, and not children. The main performers and audience members of this song had to have been people who were familiar with computers and how they operate, because at the time no one else would have understood the computer language consistently seen in the piece. The paper where I found this song was written in 1982, so the song is at least 23 years old.