Four White Horses
This is a traditional Caribbean song. In one interpretation, it's about four white horses traveling on a river in a boat or on a barge. It's going to rain the next day, so they'd better come back up river to where it's safe in the shallow bay.
Four White Horses
Hand Clapping Rhyme
Four white horses, on the river,
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow,
Up tomorrow is a rainy day.
Come on up to the shallow bay,
Shallow bay is a ripe banana,
Up tomorrow is a rainy day.
Notes
Alternate lyrics:
Four white horses on a rainbow,
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow*
Up tomorrow is a rainy day,
Come on down to the shadow play,
Shadow play is a ripe banana,
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow.
*"Up tomorrow" may have originally been "hope tomorrow". There are versions with it as "for tomorrow".
Game Instructions
A Four Player Game
Four kids stand in a cross. Two kids face each other on one line of the cross, while the others face each other on the other line of the cross. One pair claps high in the air and the other pair claps low down. Then they switch.
Clapping Instructions:
On the First 4 Lines: Clap partner's hands, clap your hands, clap partner's hands, clap your hands.
On the 5th line: Go to the side partner - clap side partner's hands, clap your hands.
On the 6th Line: Go to the other side partner - clap side partner's hands, clap your hands.
Comments
Check out Mama Lisa's World Blog to see some Four White Horses YouTube videos and share what you know about this song!
Thanks to Lila for contributing this song (that she learned in music class) and for singing it for us!
Thanks!
Thanks!
