About the '99 Bottles' song.

I have always wondered, what happens when someone singing that song reaches the number 97. Doesn't that make the verse one syllable too long for the rythm to be maintained?

(I'm not sure I expressed my question correctly. I hope you understand what I mean. Feel free to correct any language mistakes above.)

What's the '99 Bottles' song?

Are you talking about Ten Green Bottles?

The syllables before the word bottles are squeezed or stretched as required into the three beats of the music:

97 - nine-ty-sen
77 - sen-ty-sen
5 - fi-i-ive

I assume you are referring to the traditional reverse counting song 99 Bottles of Beer that is popular in both the United States and Canada. If so, when someone singing that song reaches the number 97 it doesn't make the verse one syllable too long for the rhythm to be maintained.

Cross-posted with 5jj

5jj said:

The syllables before the word bottles are squeezed or stretched as required into the three beats of the music:

97 - nine-ty-sen
77 - sen-ty-sen
5 - fi-i-ive

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But isn't that cheating?

I really don't think that those who sing that song worry about that much. Not that I would know.

99bottles said:

But isn't that cheating?

Click to expand...

No!

The primary purpose of that song is to keep kids occupied on long journeys (whilst also managing to drive other people in the vehicle absolutely mad). No one singing it gives two hoots about the number of syllables in each line.