The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HAND-CLAP CHANT

OH MARY MAC, MAC, MAC
ALL DRESSED IN BLACK, BLACK, BLACK
WITH SILVER BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS
ALL DOWN HER BACK, BACK, BACK
SHE ASKED HER MOTHER, MOTHER, MOTHER
FOR FIFTEEN CENTS, CENTS, CENTS
TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS
JUMP THE FENCE, FENCE, FENCE
SHE JUMPED SO HIGH, HIGH, HIGH
SHE REACHED THE SKY, SKY, SKY
AND NEVER CAME BACK, BACK, BACK
TILL THE FOURTH OF JULY, LY, LY
SHE JUMPED SO LOW, LOW, LOW
SHE STUBBED HER TOE, TOE, TOE
AND THAT WAS THE END, END, END
OF THE ELEPHANT SHOW, SHOW, SHOW

Submitter comment: THIS IS A HAND RHYTHMIC GAME WHERE YOU CLAP HANDS, THEN
CLAP ON YOUR TWO THIGHS TOGETHER. THEN YOU ALTERNATE
CLAPPING HANDS TOGETHER, THEN CLAP WITH THE RIGHT HAND
WITH THE SAME HAND OF YOUR PARTNER, THEN HANDS TOGETHER,
THEN LEFT HAND WITH PARTNER. CONTINUE TILL THE END OF
THE RHYME.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MARY MACK