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Entertainment: Game

A method children use to select teams or "it" is for everyone to hold out both fists and someone counts off on each fist"one-potato, two-potato, three-potato, four. Five-potato, six-potato, seven-potato more." The first fist on which "more" lands must be put behind back. The winner (or loser) can either be the first or last person to have both fists behind his back.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Choose ; COUNTING ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Fists ; GAME ; POTATO

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Entertainment: Game

Variations of "one potato, two potato" method of choosing "it':

(Rhyme is chanted by one person as all the children stand in a circle with both fists in front, thums up. The person taps each fist in the circle of fists, not neglecting his own. I will indicate the words correcponding to the taps by partial underlining.)

One potato, two potao, three potato, four.

Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.

The first hit on more is put behind the back and the rhyme continues until only one fist remains, this person being "it.")

Submitter comment:

My mother learned this rhyme in her grammar school days in Detroit.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570.560, C300.021] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Toms, Alice G

Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; POTATO ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "IT":

To pick the "it" the people playing would gather together and someone would say: "Engine, Engine, number nine. Going down Chicago Line. If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" 

The person who "back" was said to is out and the rhyme is started over.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Pawlik, Jim

Keyword(s): BASEBALL GAME. ; CHILDREN ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Playground ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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Entertainment: Game

Method of Choosing "IT":

To choose an "it," all of the players put both feet in a  circle and let one person say; "engine, engine, number nine; going down Chicago Line; If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" The person could then respond Yes or No. The choice he picked is the number of feet more the count is advanced - (yes=3, no=no) and that person is excluded. This keeps up until only one is left.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from his buddies.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Turanski, Bob

Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Diversion ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Play

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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COUNTING OUT

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR;
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, ORE.
OUT GOES YOU.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT USED THIS RHYME WHILE A CHILD IN BALTIMORE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE

Keyword(s): Count ; COUNTING ; Eliminate ; Elimination ; GAME ; NUMBER ; POTATO ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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