The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THIS GAME IS USUALLY PLAYED BY A NUMBER OF CHILDREN--
AT LEAST FOUR AND NOT MORE THAN SIX. ONE PERSON TAKES
THE PART OF THE MOTHER'S CHILDREN. THIS IS SAID
BY THE MOTHER AS THE CHILDREN ARE LINED UP: KC I THINK SHE MEANS "THE PART OF THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER."
I'M GOING DOWNTOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE
AND I WON'T BE BACK 'TIL SATURDAY NIGHT.
I'LL WHIP YOU BLACK, I'LL WHIP YOU BLUE,
ESPECIALLY YOU, MY DAUGHTER SUE.
THIS IS SAID AS THE CHILDREN ARE LINED UP.. THE MOTHER
POINTS TO TO AT "SUE" IS "IT." ONE CHILD HAS PREVIOUSLY
BEEN SELECTED AS THE "WITCH." AND AS SOON AS THE
MOTHER LEAVES, THE WITCH COMES IN AND STEALS SUE.
THE MOTHER RETURNS, ASKS "WHERE IS SUE?" THE OTHERS
SAY THAT SHE HAS BEEN GRABBED BY THE WITCH. THEN THE
MOTHER REPEATS THE RHYME, SOMEONE ELSE IS SUE, AND
THE PROCESS REPEATS UNTIL NO CHILD IS LEFT. THEN
THE MOTHER GOES TO THE WITCH'S HOME, KNOCKS, SAYS
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER SUE?" THEN THE WITCH REPLIES
"SHE CAME HERE, I GAVE HER MILK AND COOKIES AND
SENT HER DOWN BANANA PEEL STREET." THE MOTHER GOES
DOWN BANANA PEEL STREET, FALLS ALL OVER THE PEELS,
AND RETURNS TO THE WITCH'S HOUSE, STILL WITHOUT SUE.
THE WITCH KEEPS SENDING THE WOMAN DOWN SUCH STREETS
AS "GARBAGE STREET," "GUM DROP STREET," AND "FIRE
STREET." ANYHOW, THE MOTHER FINALLY ASKS TO GO INTO
THE WITCH'S HOME. THE WITCH SAYS, "NO, YOUR SHOES
ARE TOO DIRTY." THE MOTHER SAYS, "I'LL TAKE THEM
OFF." THE WITCH SAYS, "YOUR SOCKS ARE TOO DIRTY."
THE MOTHER SAYS, "I'LL TAKE THEM OFF." THE WITCH SAYS,
"YOUR FEET ARE TOO DIRTY." THE MOTHER SAYS, "I'LL
CUT THEM OFF." THE WITCH SAYS, "YOU'LL GET BLOOD ON
MY RUGS." THE MOTHER SAYS, "I'LL BANDAGE THEM." THE
WITCH SAYS, "THEN YOU MAY COME IN."
THE MOTHER ENTERS THE IMAGINARY HOUSE AND SEES A
PIANO. SHE ASKS THE WITCH IF SHE CAN PLAY IT. (FOR
THE PIANO, ALL THE MISSING CHILDREN HOLD THEIR HANDS
IN A ROW.) AS THE MOTHER TOUCHES EACH HAND, THE
CHILD CRIES, "MOTHER, MOTHER." THEN THE MOTHER
SMASHES THE WITCH OVER THE HEAD, THE CHILDREN RUSH
OUT FROM INSIDE THE IMAGINARY PIANO AND THE GAME ENDS
HAPPILLY.

Submitter comment: MRS. KANPP PLAYED THIS GAME IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH SHE
CANNOT REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS OF THE GAME, SHE FEELS
THAT THE ABOVE IS A FAIRLY ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE
WORDS AND GESTURES USED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-04-1964