The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WITCH

WITCH SHOULD BE PLAYED AT NIGHT WITH AT LEAST THREE OR
MORE CHILDREN. ONE CHILD IS CHOSEN AS THE WITCH, WHILE
THE OTHERS RUN AND HIDE SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE. AS THE WITCH
WAITS FOR THE CHLDREN TO HIDE, HE CHANTS:
ONE O'CLOCK, TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK ROCK
FOUR O'CLOCK, FIVE O'CLOCK, SIX O'CLOCK ROCK
SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK ROCK
TEN O'CLOCK, ELEVEN O'CLOCK, TWELVE O'CLOCK ROCK.
MOONLIGHT, STARBRIGHT, I HOPE TO SEE THE WITCH TONIGHT.
AFTER THE SONG, THE WITCH GOES OUT LOOKING FOR THE
CHILDREN. IF HE FINDS SOMEONE, THEN THAT PERSON BECOMES
A WITCH ALSO. THUS, THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE
CHILDREN ARE CAUGHT. WHEN THE LAST PERSON IS CAUGHT,
HOWEVER, HE AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES THE WITCH. ONE AGAIN
THE GAME IS PLAYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 09-15-1969