I posted this on another thread:

Thread #30159   Message #385463
Posted By: Joe Offer
30-Jan-01 - 02:01 AM
Thread Name: Irish Kid's Songs
Subject: ADD; Five O'Clock Is Striking ^^

FIVE O'CLOCK IS STRIKING

And five o'clock is striking, Mother may I go out?
My true love is a-waiting for me without.
First he brought me apples, then he brought me pears,
And then he gave me sixpence to kiss him on the stairs.
I would not take his apples, I would not take his pears,
I gave him back his sixpence when he kissed me on the stairs.

Source: "Cut the Loaf: Irish Children's Songs," Carmel O Boyle, Mercier Press, 1986.

@Irish @kids
filename[ FIVOCLOK
JRO
Apr01 ^^

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I got an email response today:

Very similar to the rhyme "9 o'clock is striking..." dated 1943 on your site, was my great-grandmother's song that went like this:

"8 o'clock is striking
mother may I go out
for my beau is waiting
waiting to take me out

first he gave me peaches
then he gave me pears
and then he gave me 50 cents
to kiss him on the stairs!

Six generations of us sing this song. I've never seen it in print, but I'm certain that your 1943 version comes from the same southern NJ. ( Salem Co.) roots.
Thank you.
Carol

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I can't find the 1943 song the writer says is posted here. Can anyone find it? I'm looking for other lyrics and other sources of this song. Can anyone help?

-Joe-