The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

I'M A LITTLE DUTCH GIRL JUMP ROPE RHYME

I'M A LITTLE DUTCH GIRL DRESSED IN BLUE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO
SALUTE TO THE CAPTAIN (SALUTE TO PERSON HOLDING ONE END OF THE ROPE.)
CURTSY TO THE KING (TURN AROUND AND SALUTE TO THE OTHER ROPE-HOLDER)
AND TURN MY BACK ON THE MEAN OLD KING. (TURN AROUND ONCE MORE)

I'M A LITTLE DUTCH GIRL DRESSED IN RED.
THESE ARE THE THINGS MY MOTHER SAID.
DON'T WEAR LIPSTICK.
DON'T WEAR ROUGE.
DON'T WEAR MOMMY'S HIGH-HEELED SHOES.

I'M A LITTLE DUTCH GIRL DRESSED IN PINK.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I LIKE TO DRINK
BEER, WINE, TURPENTINE
THEN I TURN INTO FRANKENSTEIN.

Submitter comment: THE FIRST VERSE IS THE OLDEST ONE. THIS MIGHT HELP TO EXPLAIN WHY
IT HAS ACCOMPANYING GESTURES WHILE THE OTHERS DO NOT.
THE THIRD VERSE IS REALLY CONSIDERABLY LATER THAN THE SECOND ONE.
I REMEMBER SAYING THE SECOND VERSE MYSELF WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL
WHILE I DON'T REMEMBER HEARING THE THIRD ONE UNTIL JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO. THESE THREE VERSES ARE USUALLY SAID ONE AFTER THE OTHER IF THE
JUMPER CAN JUMP THAT LONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001960S