The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHILE TRACING HIS INDEX FINGER ON MY WIFE'S PALM, THEN
PULLING AT HER FINGERS ONE-BY-ONE, HER GRANDFATHER WOULD
SAY:
MOLLY, MOLLY GRITZE
GEBT DAIN VAS
GEBT DAIN VAS
GEBT DAIN VAS
DEISEN SWEITZER KATZE RAUSE.
MOLLY, MOLLY, MOLLY GRITZIE;
GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS
THROW IT TO THE CATS'N-MOUSE'N-ROUSE'N.

Submitter comment: MY WIFE TOLD IT TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE INFANTS, BUT SAID IT AS HER MIND, AS A CHILD, TRANSLATED IT: WE'RE NOT SURE OF THE GERMAN OR ITS REAL MEANING.

Where learned: GERMAN ; GRANDFATHER

Date learned: 00001950'S

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