The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT RHYME

MEMBERS OF A GROUP HOLD OUT BOTH HANDS, FISTS CLENCHED. A
LEADER, WITH FIST CLENCHED, TAPS EACH MEMBER'S HANDS WHILE
SINGING OR SAYING THE FOLLOWING DITTY. EACH HAND IS TAPPED
ONCE FOR EACH WORD, AS IN EENY, MEENY, MINNY, MO.
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, OR.
THE MEMBER WHO IS TAPPED ON THE WORD "OR" IS ELIMINATED.
HE HOLDS THE FIST THAT WAS TAPPED BEHIND HIS BACK. IF
BOTH FISTS ARE TAPPED HIS IS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. THE
LAST PERSON WITH A FIST REMAINING IS THE LEADER. THE
PROCESS IS USUALLY USED TO CHOOSE A LEADER FOR A GAME,
A TEAM CAPTAIN, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Date learned: 03-02-1970