The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
General
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
The tune of most versions is the same. It is pretty and plaintive, and
accords with the idea of mourning and grief. The Rev. W. D. Sweeting
says the tune in Northants seems to be lost. The game is sung to a sort
of monotone.
Northall gives a version from Warwickshire similar to several given
here, and Mr. Newell (_Games and Songs of American Children_) gives a
version and tune which is similar to that of Hurstmonceux, Surrey.
See “Green Grass.”
[13] At Wenlock they add to the chorus:
O _Alice_! your true love will send you a letter to turn round
your head!
And she can turn the handlestick.
[14] Another version from Forfarshire gives “Green, green, grivers,”
and “Pull the cradle string” for “Dance the Hielan’ Fling,” and
one from Nairn is “Turn your back to the wall again.”
Warney
I’m the wee mouse in the hole in the wa’,
I’m come out to catch you a’.
One of the players starts with clasped hands to catch another. When this
is done they join hands—each one, on being caught, going into the number
to form a chain. If the chain breaks no one can be caught.—Laurieston
School, Kirkcudbright (J. Lawson).
See “Stag,” “Whiddy.”
Way-Zaltin
A sort of horse-game, in which two boys stand back to back with their
arms interlaced; each then alternately bends forward, and so raises the
other on his back with his legs in the air. This term, too, is sometimes
used for see-sawing.—Elworthy’s _West Somerset Words_. Barnes (_Dorset
Glossary_) calls this game “Wayzalt.” Holloway (_Dict. Prov._) says, in
Hants the game is called “Weighing.”
See “Weigh the Butter.”
We are the Rovers
[Music]
—Bath (A. B. Gomme).
[Music]
—Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss Edith Hollis).
[Music]
—Wrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball).
I. We are coming to take your land,
We are the rovers!
We are coming to take your land,
[Though you] are the guardian soldiers!
We don’t care for your men nor you,
[Though you] are the rovers!
We don’t care for your men nor you,
For we are the guardian soldiers!
We will send our dogs to bite,
We are the rovers!
We will send our dogs to bite,
Though you are the guardian soldiers!
We don’t care for your dogs nor you,
Though you’re the rovers!
We don’t care for your dogs nor you,
For we are the guardian soldiers!
Will you have a glass of wine?
We are the rovers!
Will you have a glass of wine?
For respect of guardian soldiers!
A glass of wine won’t serve us all,
Though you’re the rovers!
A glass of wine won’t serve us all,
For we are the guardian soldiers!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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