I like rain as much as the next girl, but I'm beginning to feel like the old lady from Scotland:
Tourist: How long has it been raining here anyway?!
Old Lady: Weeel, this week 'tas only rained since Sunda. An' last week 't only rained from Sunda to Saturda.
I know how she felt! That's about how long it's been raining here. I haven't been able to work on getting my garden beds ready for next spring, and I haven't been able to start putting together my banty coop yet, partly because I'm too scared to run the saw when the ground is wet, and let's face it, I can't exactly cut parts in the kitchen, can I?
So I've been doing other things.
When I posted the story of Jack o' Lantern, my family reminded me there are a bunch of traditional things that people never do or teach their kids anymore. That includes the little songs and fingerplays that I taught all of them as they grew, and that they now teach their kids or the kids they babysit.
What happened to all the magic that used to permeate childhood? What happened to fairies and dragons and magical coins and little creatures who hid in the sand and granted wishes? What happened to little old women who swallowed flies or spiders who climbed water spouts?
The emphasis lately seems to be on killing things or blowing up things or otherwise destroying things. But it wasn't always that way, and it doesn't have to be. I wouldn't presume to go into the psycho-social implications of today's images on today's children, but I will say this: Gentleness, laughter, and love, are never out of place or out of fashion.
The emphasis lately seems to be on killing things or blowing up things or otherwise destroying things. But it wasn't always that way, and it doesn't have to be. I wouldn't presume to go into the psycho-social implications of today's images on today's children, but I will say this: Gentleness, laughter, and love, are never out of place or out of fashion.
Some people may blame the loss of these old-fashioned images on the advent of television and computers and video games, but that's nonsense... we have all those things at our house, and we never forgot the magical things of childhood. Perhaps these things may bring back some of the wonder of your own young times. Perhaps you can use these things to amuse younger brothers and sisters or the children you babysit for. And perhaps if you have children of your own, you will pass these little things along to them, so that the magic and the wonder will not be forgotten.
Here are words and titles, and if you don't know the play that goes with some of them, you can always look them up online and chances are, you'll find a video for them to teach you, so you can teach others.
The Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly – but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a spider – it wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a bird – Absurd! She swallowed a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a cat – Think of that! She swallowed a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a dog – What a hog! She swallowed a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a horse... She's dead, of course!
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly – but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a spider – it wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a bird – Absurd! She swallowed a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a cat – Think of that! She swallowed a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a dog – What a hog! She swallowed a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... but I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die!
There was an old woman who swallowed a horse... She's dead, of course!
~~~~~
The House That Jack Built
This is the house that Jack built.
This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crowed in the morn that waked the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer who grew the corn that fed the cock that crowed in the morn that waked the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
And this.... Is Jack!
This is the house that Jack built.
This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crowed in the morn that waked the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer who grew the corn that fed the cock that crowed in the morn that waked the priest all shaven and shorn who married the man all tattered and torn who kissed the maiden all forlorn who milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that chased the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
And this.... Is Jack!
~~~~
Soldier, Soldier, Will You Marry Me?
Verse One:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you, for I have no shirt to put on.
So up she ran to her grandfather's chest
And found him a shirt of the very best.
She found him a shirt of the very, very best
And the soldier put it on.
Verse Two:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife, and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you, for I have no pants to put on.
(Continue as above)
Verse Three: The soldier needs stockings
Verse Four: The soldier needs boots
Verse Five: The soldier needs a tie
Verse Six: The soldier needs gloves
Verse Seven: The soldier needs a hat
Verse Eight:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you –
For I have a wife at home!
Here is a second version of the Soldier Song:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me now, with a hey, with a ho, with the sound of the drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I canna marry you, because I have no pants to put on!
So she ran to the shops as quick as she could run, with a hey, with a ho, with the sound of the drum.
She bought him a shirt of the very, very best – "Now here, my small man, put this on!"
The song continues the same way; this is just another version that I learned from my granny.
Verse One:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you, for I have no shirt to put on.
So up she ran to her grandfather's chest
And found him a shirt of the very best.
She found him a shirt of the very, very best
And the soldier put it on.
Verse Two:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife, and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you, for I have no pants to put on.
(Continue as above)
Verse Three: The soldier needs stockings
Verse Four: The soldier needs boots
Verse Five: The soldier needs a tie
Verse Six: The soldier needs gloves
Verse Seven: The soldier needs a hat
Verse Eight:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I cannot marry you –
For I have a wife at home!
Here is a second version of the Soldier Song:
Oh, Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me now, with a hey, with a ho, with the sound of the drum?
Oh, no, fair maid, I canna marry you, because I have no pants to put on!
So she ran to the shops as quick as she could run, with a hey, with a ho, with the sound of the drum.
She bought him a shirt of the very, very best – "Now here, my small man, put this on!"
The song continues the same way; this is just another version that I learned from my granny.
~~~
Skinna Marinki Dinki Dink
Skinna marinki dinki dink, Skinna marinki doo (pretend to strum a banjo)
I love you, I love you (hug yourself)
I love you in the morning (Make a big sun-shape above your head)
And in the afternoon (make a round shape in front of you)
I love you in the evening (make the shape at tummy-level)
And underneath the moon! (Swing the round shape up over your head)
Ooooh, skinna marinki dinki dink, Skinna marinki doo!
I love YOU, I DO!
Something in My Pocket
I've got something in my pocket (reach into a pocket)
It belongs across my face (pull one finger across your cheeks)
I keep it very close at hand (pat the pocket)
In a most convenient place.
I'm sure you couldn't guess it (shake your head)
If you guess a long, long while (reach to your pocket again)
So I'll take it out (take "something" out of your pocket)
And I'll put it on (make a smiley shape over your own face)
It's a great big happy smile!
Skinna marinki dinki dink, Skinna marinki doo (pretend to strum a banjo)
I love you, I love you (hug yourself)
I love you in the morning (Make a big sun-shape above your head)
And in the afternoon (make a round shape in front of you)
I love you in the evening (make the shape at tummy-level)
And underneath the moon! (Swing the round shape up over your head)
Ooooh, skinna marinki dinki dink, Skinna marinki doo!
I love YOU, I DO!
Something in My Pocket
I've got something in my pocket (reach into a pocket)
It belongs across my face (pull one finger across your cheeks)
I keep it very close at hand (pat the pocket)
In a most convenient place.
I'm sure you couldn't guess it (shake your head)
If you guess a long, long while (reach to your pocket again)
So I'll take it out (take "something" out of your pocket)
And I'll put it on (make a smiley shape over your own face)
It's a great big happy smile!
~~~
I hope these give you ideas for things to do with your younglings.
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