The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BLUE BIRD

THE CHILDREN PLAYING WOULD JOIN HANDS, FORMING A CIRCLE.
ONE CHILD WOULD REMAIN OUT OF THE CIRCLE AND AS THE
SONG WAS SUNG, HE WOULD WEAVE IN AND OUT OF THE CIRCLE.
AS THE THIRD VERSE WAS SUNG, "TAKE A LITTLE GIRL AND TAP
HER ON THE SHOULDER," HE WOULD TAP SOMEONE ON THE
SHOULDER AND THAT PERSON WOULD LEAVE THE CIRCLE, THE
EMPTY SPACE WOULD BE FILLED AND THE SONG WOULD START
OVER THIS TIME WITH THE TWO PEOPLE WEAVING IN AND
OUT OF THE CIRCLE UNTIL THE THIRD VERSE, WHERE THE
SECOND ONE WOULD TAP SOMEONE ON THE SHOULDER, AND SO
ON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 12-03-1967