This game song shares some of the same lyrics as "A Tisket, A Tasket". The game is also played the same way. It's a Drop the Handkerchief game.

Notes

As far as we can tell, this song no longer sung in England. If you are familiar with it, please email me to let us know. Thanks! Mama Lisa

Game Instructions

The kids make a circle. One kid goes around the outside of the circle holding a handkerchief. At the end of the song s/he drops it behind one of the kids in the circle and runs around the ring. The kid behind who the handkerchief was dropped has to pick it up and chase the 1st kid. If he catches the 1st kid before the 1st kid reaches his empty space in the circle, the 1st kid must go around again with the handkerchief. Otherwise, the 2nd kid is the one to go around with the handkerchief, starting the game all over again.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

This song can be found in "English Folk-rhymes: A Collection of Traditional Verses" by G. F. Northall (1892) and also "The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland" by Alice Bertha Gomme (1894).