The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT

ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE, COMING DOWN THE RAILROAD LINE,
WHICH COLOR DO YOU CHOOSE, GREEN--G-R-E-E-N, YOU ARE NOT IT.

Submitter comment: THIS RHYME IS SAID AMONG MANY CHILDREN PLAYING TAG. ONE
PERSON RECITES THIS RHYME AND WHILE DOING SO, HE POINTS TO
A DIFFERENT PERSON ACCODING TO THE RHYTHM OF HE TUNE.
THE PERSON HE POINTS TO AT THE END OF THE TUNE IS LEFT
OUT OF THE CHOOSING FOR WHO WILL BE IT. THIS SYSTEM
CONTINUES UNTIL ONE PERSON IS LEFT WHO IS CHOSEN TO BE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT