The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
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The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
Our shoes are made of leather,
Our stockings are made of silk,
Our pinafores are made of calico,
As white as any milk.
Here we go around, around, around,
And we shall touch the ground.
—Barnes and London Streets (A. B. Gomme).
A ring is formed by the children joining hands. They walk round singing
the first four lines. They then dance round quickly and sit down
suddenly, or touch the ground with their clothes.
A version of this game from Liphook, Hants, almost identical in words,
has been sent by Miss Fowler, and another from Crockham Hill, Kent, by
Miss Chase.
Here’s a Soldier
Here’s a soldier left his lone [_qy._ alone],
Wants a wife and can’t get none.
Merrily go round and choose your own,
Choose a good one or else choose none;
Choose the worst or choose the best,
Or choose the very one you like best.
What’s your will, my dilcy dulcy officer?
What’s your will, my dilcy dulcy dee?
My will is to marry, my dilcy dulcy officer;
My will is to marry, my dilcy dulcy dee.
Come marry one of us, my dilcy dulcy officer;
Come marry one of us, my dilcy dulcy dee.
You’re all too old and ugly, my dilcy dulcy officer;
You’re all too old and ugly, my dilcy dulcy dee.
Thrice too good for you, sir, my dilcy dulcy officer;
Thrice too good for you, sir, my dilcy dulcy dee.
This couple got married, we wish them good joy,
Every year a girl and a boy,
And if that does not do, a hundred and two,
We hope the couple will kiss together.
—Annaverna, co. Louth (Miss R. Stephen).
(_b_) One child stands in the middle, the others dance round singing.
The one in the middle chooses another before the four last lines are
sung. Then the rest dance round singing these lines, and kiss each
other.
(_c_) It is evident that these words comprise two distinct games, which
have become mixed in some inexplicable fashion. The first six lines and
the last four are one game, a ring form, with the marriage formula and
blessing. The other portion of the game is a dialogue game, evidently
having had two lines of players, questions being asked and answers
given. It is, in fact, a part of the “Three Dukes” game. The first part
is a kiss-in-the-ring game, a version of “Here stands a Young Man,”
“Silly Old Man,” and “Sally Water.”
Hewley Puley
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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