The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CUMULATIVE VERSE

ON A HILL THERE WAS A TREE,
PRETTIEST TREE YOU EVER DID SEE
THE TREE WAS ON A HILL
AND GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND

ON THE TREE THERE WERE SOME LIMBS,
PRETTIEST LIMBS YOU EVER DID SEE.
THE LIMBS WERE ON THE TREE,
THE TREE WAS ON THE HILL,
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND.

ON THE LIMBS THERE WERE SOME TWIGS,
PRETTIEST TWIGS YOU EVER DID SEE,
THE LIMBS WERE ON THE TREE,
THE TREE WAS ON THE HILL,
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND.

CONTINUE WITH:
ON THE TWIGS THERE WERE SOME LEAVES
PRETTIEST LEAVES YOU EVER DID SEE.

AMONG THE LEAVES THERE WAS A NEST,
THE PRETTIEST NEST YOU EVER DID SEE.

IN THE NEXT THERE WERE SOME EGGS,
THE PRETTIEST EGGS YOU EVER DID SEE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Date learned: 11-13-1965

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DRINKING RHYME

THE FOLLOWING IS SUNG AS A TOAST TO SOME PERSON WHO MUST
THEN "CHUG" A BEER AS HIS RESPONSE. (USED IN WHALE'S TALES
GAME)
HERE'S TO (NAME), HE'S TRUE BLUE,
HE'S A DRUNKARD THROUGH AND THROUGH
HE'S AN ALKY, SO THEY SAY
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN, BUT HE WENT THE OTHER WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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COUNTING VERSE

ONE, TWO BUCKLE MY SHOE
THREE, FOUR SHUT THE DOOR
FIVE, SIX PICK UP STICKS
SEVEN, EIGHT LAY THEM STRAIGHT
NINE, TEN BIG FAT HEN.

Submitter comment: I REMEMBER THIS VERSE FROM MY CHILDHOOD, BUT CAN ONLY ASSOCIATE
IT WITH COUNTING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COUNTING OUT NUMBERS

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TEN LITTLE INDIANS

ONE LITTLE, TWO LITTLE, THREE LITTLE
INDIANS
FOUR LITTLE, FIVE LITTLE, SIX LITTLE
INDIANS
SEVEN LITTLE, EIGHT LITTLE, NINE LITTLE
INDIANS
TEN LITTLE INDIAN BOYS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): COUNTING OUT VERSE

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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