The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE WAS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
WHEN I WAS YOUNG CALLED "RED ROVER." THE GROUP WAS
DIVIDED IN HALF, SO THAT THE TWO SMALLER GROUPS
WOULD STAND, HANDS LINKED, FACING EACH OTHER, SOME
DISTANCE APART. ONE GROUP WOULD BEGIN BY CALLING
"RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (CALL A NAME) COME OVER."
THEN THAT PERSON FROM THE OTHER GROUP HAD TO RUN ACROSS
AND TRY TO BREAK THROUGH THEIR LINKED HANDS. IF HE
SUCCEEDED, HE WOULD BRING SOMEONE BACK WITH HIM TO HIS
OWN SIDE. IF HE FAILED, HE HAD TO STAY THERE. THE
OBJECT WAS TO GET EVERYONE ON YOUR SIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: NOT GIVEN