The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT RHYME

BUBBLE GUM BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH. HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH?

Submitter comment: THIS IS RECITED WHEN TRYING TO DETERMINE WHO IS "IT" FOR A GAME.
THE PLAYER'S TOES ARE TAPPED IN RHYTHM WITH THE VERSE. WHOEVER'S
FOOT THE VERSE ENDS ON MUST RESPOND WITH A NUMBER. THE NUMBER IS
SPELLED OUT, WHILE TOES ARE TAPPED, FOLLOWED BY "AND YOU ARE NOT IT."
ELIMINATING ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Date learned: 02-00-1979