The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

African-American children's jumping rope game

Dum Dee Dum Dee Doe Doe
catch me if you can
I can run faster than
(say the name of the person to chase you) can!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (jump out of the rope)

Submitter comment: This game is played jumping rope. Two people are
turning the rope, one on each end. The person to be
chased says the above rhyme, then jumps out. The person
to tag runs in afterwards. Each one can only jump one
time in the rope. This is a fast chase game.

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

Date learned: 00001960-61