Playground revisited - actions?

Subject: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Hawker
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 03:58 PM

Hi,
I have been researching Children's singing games and have asked questions with reference to this before. I have found a lot of info from old threads also, but I now ask if anyone knows the movements or actions to the following:
King William Was King David's son
Cock Robin is dead and lays in his grave
There came 3 gypsies riding
The Roman Soildiers or The Irish Soldiers
There were 3 Jolly Sailor boys
Mrs Macaroni
Poor Mary Sat a-weeping
Hop Hop Hop

I have words and tunes and some movements for some, some are not how I rememeber and realise that like songs, these will vary with region and if they have crossed the pond. I look forward to whatever info anyone can give me, Thanks,
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Snuffy
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 07:55 PM

Lucy, I think you've got "Who killed Cock Robin?" and "Old Roger is dead and he lies in his grave" merged into one.

As I recall, there is only one action per verse in old Roger, but the (Student's Union) version of Cock Robin has an action to almost every word of verse and chorus.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 09:12 PM

Hey, Mousethief- looks like Hawker could use a look at that book of yours (I'll send him a PM to check out this thread- he has a great book!)
When I'm at school I'll check my resources too.

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Noreen
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 09:31 PM

King William Was King James's son,
King William Was King George's son,
Cock Robin is dead and lays in his grave,
There came 3 gypsies riding,
There were 2 Jolly Sailor boys
and
all the others except "The Roman Soildiers or The Irish Soldiers" can be found in The Singing Game by Iona and Peter Opie. Or have you already seen that? I have the book if you want any more detail.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Hawker
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 02:51 AM

Noreen, Have not yet been able to locate a copy of the Opie's book 'The singing game' Would love any help you can give.
This has become a bit of an obsession recently, and its amazing how the kids of today have altered words of our old favourites to make them relevant to their childhood!
How about the following also.......
Mary Maloga
Sister Jane and Brother Jim
Down in the meadow where nobody knows
Old Janie Jones
I'm a Little Dutch Girl (possibly a skipping song?
Tell Me Ma (as in the song, apparently it is a playground game, may be a reference to Charlie Chaplin!)

How about any that you played, my husband has a memory of plying a singing game to the song No, sir, No which he says a dinner lady from Northern England taught the children - any offers?

Snuffy,
yes, I think you are right, cock Robin and Old Roger are one and the same, lets have some actions then!

Animaterra,
Thanks, I'll look out for Mousetheif's input!
Cheers all!
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 05:49 AM

What about "The Big Ship sails on the alley alley o" and "In and out the dusty bluebells". I can remember the dances that go along with it, but I can't really demonstrate over the Web. Or can I.....?

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 06:05 AM

Lucy, ask your local branch library to order it for you? There's a lot in it, and while I'm happy to type in what you want, it could take some time.

I'll come back to this.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Help: Playground revisited - actions?
From: Hawker
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 01:22 PM

I am going to ask the Library next time I am in town, it just me being over eager as usual! I take it the Opie's book is out of print? Has anybody got a copy which they would like to part with for cash? Thanks Noreen, Your replies have been gratefully received.
Lyndi-Loo, Thanks, have got and use both of these, actions are decribable over the net - as follows:
WORDS to song in capitals
actions to song in lower case:

IN AND OUT THE DUSTY BLUEBELLS IN AND OUT THE DUSTY BLUEBELLS IN AND OUT THE DUSTY BLUEBELLS WONT YOU BE MY MASTER? standing in a circle, holding hands, raise hands up to make arches. One person, not in the circle weaves in and out of the archeswhilst this part of the song is sung. PITTER PATTER ON MY SHOULDER PITTER PATTER ON MY SHOULDER PITTER PATTER ON MY SHOULDER YES I'LL BE YOUR MASTER The person weaving through the arches pats the nearest person to them when this verse starts on the shoulder, they join onto the back of this person, one arm either side of their waist, ready to start the song again with the two people weaving, at pitter patter the next time, a third will join the line - and so forth until there is one person left, this is the leader next time.

Hope that helps anybody not sure how to explain. if you are good at Html, you can put it in different colours or italics, but I am lazy! Cheers, all, Lucy