Only slightly different than that given above by masato sakurai, the following suggests a children's "Singing Game," where the children pantomine according to the first verses of the recitation, and (usually) the last verse is the signal for a lot of squealing, running around, grabbing/tagging, falling down and such (like some Catter parties I've heard about? - but with a more organized "pattern" to it.) Sometimes also involving "hiding" and "finding," like our games with GUEST(?)

My references for this kind of material are limited, but one source suggests a common pattern for such games consisting of:
ENTREATY or INVITATION
followed by a
THREAT or DECLARATION OF DISASTER
followed by
SIGNAL FOR ACTION

In the form given below, the "format" appears consistent with such a game. Specific text used is frequently quite variable.

Snail! Snail!

Snail, snail
Put out your horns
I'll give you bread
And barleycorns.

Snail, snail, shoot out your horns:
Father and mother are dead;
Brother and sister are in the back yard,
Begging for barley bread.

Snail! snail!
Come out of your hole,
Or else I'll beat you
As black as a coal.

An ancient incantation, versions of which have been found all over Europe, and also Russia and China.

John