The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED ROVER

AN OLD AMERICAN GAME THAT MIGHT HAVE ORIGINATED LONG
AGO IS THE GAME, RED ROVER. THE CHILDREN PAIR OFF INTO
TWO TEAMS STANDING A DISTANCE APART, BUT FACE TO FACE.
ONE TEAM CALLS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM OVER BY
SINGING: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (NAME OF PERSON
TO BE CALLED) COME OVER." THE PERSON CALLED OVER MUST
RUN THROUGH THE LINE FORMED BY THE TEAM HOLDING AND
LOCKING ARMS. IF THEY BREAK THROUGH THE LINE, THEY
CAN TAKE BACK THE LOSING TEAM'S BEST MEMBERS AND IF
THEY DON'T THEY MUST REMAIN ON THE CALLING TEAM'S SIDE.
THE TEAM WITH ALL THE MEMBERS AT THE END WINS THE GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Date learned: NOT GIVEN