The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GAME--RING PLAY

RING PLAY IS A GAME PLAYED BY BOTH SEXES AND ALL AGES. IT IS
MORE POPULAR AMONG THE YOUNGSTERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND
TWELVE. IN THIS GAME A LARGE "RING" OR CIRCLE IS FORMED BY THE
PARTICIPANTS. ONE PERSON IS PERMITTED IN THE RING AND THE OTHER
PARTICIPANTS SING A SONG. AS THE SONG IS ABOUT TO END THE PERSON
KICKS ONE OF THEIR LEGS TO THE SIDE (MORE TO THE FRONT) AND MOVE
THEIR HIPS FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN A DANCE. THIS DANCE IS PERFORMED
IN THE FRONT OF ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE RING, AND THIS
PERSON WHO WAS SELECTED MUST GO IN THE CIRCLE. THIS PROCESS
CONTINUES UNTIL EVERONE IN THE RING OR CIRCLE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GO IN THE RING AND "SHAKE" OR MOVE THEIR HIPS FROM SIDE TO
SIDE. A VARIETY OF SONGS ARE SUNG AND CLAPPING ACCOMPANIES
THE SINGING. AN EXAMPLE OF A RING PLAY SONG IS GIVEN BELOW; TL[ BROWN GIRL
THERE IS A BROWN GIRL IN THE RING, TRA-LA-LA-LA-LA
THERE IS A BROWN GIRL IN THE RING, TRAA-LA-LA-LA-LA
THERE IS A BROWN GIRL IN THE RING, TRA-LA-LA-LA-LAA
AND SHE LOOKS LIKE SUGAR (OR IS SWEET LIKE SUGAR) IN A PLUM, PLUM,
PLUM!!!
COME SHOW ME YOUR MOTION, TRA-LA-LA-LA-LA
COME SHOW ME YOUR MOTION, TRAA-LA-LA-LA-LA
COME SHOW ME YOUR MOTION, TRA-LA-LA-LA-LAA
AND SHE LOOKS LIKE SUGAR (OR SWEET LIKE SUGAR) IN A PLUM, PLUM,
PLUM!!!

Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU

Date learned: 00001970S