The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Entertainment: Game

London Bridge:

London Bridges falling down, falling down. London Bridges falling down, my fair lady. Take the key and lock her up, lock her up. Take the key and lock her up, my fair lady. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Everyone says the verse, two people hold each other's hands and walk around at Monday and when Sunday comes they put someone between them, swinging their arms back and forth and throwing the person away.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C730.360, C523] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Submission card located in a pile marked C750 Jump Rope Rhyme

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself

Keyword(s): Bridges ; CHILDREN ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; London ; Playground ; Rhymes

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Entertainment: Game

Method of Choosing IT:

To choose the "it" in a smae, the kids get together and someone would volunteer. Everyone eventually got chosen, and the ones that did not volunteer often enough were made "it" by mob rule. The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570, C570.500] crossde out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Playground

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Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "It":

This is a chant that the neighborhood kids used to choose the "it" in their games. It went: "1 potato, 2 potato, 3 potato, 4. 5 potato, 6 potato, 7 potato, or." The person who "or" fell on was out and the rhyme started again.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from his friends.

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

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Playground ; RHYME

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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

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

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Counting-out rhyme used by African American children

My mama and your mama were hanging out the clothes.
My mama socked your mama right straight in the nose.
What color was the blood? Answer y/n
N O spells no and you are out of this game.

Submitter comment:

This games is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
callers says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Keyword(s): African American ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection

Date learned: 00-00-1961

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COUNTING-OUT RHYME

BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM, IN A DISH. HOW MANY BUBBLE GUMS DO YOU WISH?
FIVE. F-I-V-E. AND YOU ARE NOT IT:

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): Choosing ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection

Date learned: 01-10-1973

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