Anybody know source information or background information for this one? How about a tune?
-Joe Offer-

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Here's something from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Chickee Chickee Ma Craney Crow (Hawks and Chickens)

DESCRIPTION: "Chickee chickee ma craney crow, Went to the well to wash my big toe, When I got there one of my black-eyed chickens was gone, What time o' day is it, old witch?" The witch answers, and eventually is allowed to catch one of the chickens circling her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1903 (Newell)
KEYWORDS: witch playparty chickens
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Randolph 570, "Chickee Chickee Ma Craney Crow" (3 texts)
Roud #7661
File: R570

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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Also note this message:

Thread #39820   Message #569170
Posted By: kytrad
10-Oct-01 - 03:02 PM
Thread Name: Supernatural Ballads....??
Subject: RE: Supernatural Ballads....??

Guest-Nova Scotia's reference to, "Sharper than the thorn," reminded me of yet another of our family ones; we call it "The Devil's Nine Questions." And then there's also, "Still He Stood," the children's version of, "The False Knight on the Road."

There were games we played, too, tag games which had a beginning chant (no tune):

Chick-tumma-chick-tumma craney-crow,
Went to the well to wash her toe
When she got back, her blackeyed chicken was gone!
WHAT TIME IS IT, OLD WITCH?

Old Witch (tagger): SEVEN O'CLOCK!

This chanting by the group and answering by the witch keeps on until she yells, TWELVE O'CLOCK! when she chases and catches as many as she can, and takes them to her Den (circle on the ground)...last to be caught becomes Witch for the next round.