The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, ORE.

Submitter comment: ALL MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN A GAME HOLD OUT THEIR HANDS--
CLENCHED IN FISTS. ONE MEMBER TAKES HIS RIGHT FIST AND
WHILE SAYING THE RHYME, HITS EACH OTHER FIST IN TURN.
THE PERSON WHOSE FIST IS CALLED "ORE" REMOVES IT FROM
THE CIRCLE. WHEN BOTH FISTS OF ONE PERSON HAVE BEEN
ELIMINATED, HE PERSON IS OUT. THE LAST PERSON WITH
ONE FIST LEFT IS "IT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LEXINGTON

Date learned: 09-20-1969