OATS, PEAS, BEANS, AND BARLEY GROWS

Oats, peas, beans and barley grows
Oats, peas, beans and barley grows
You nor I nor anyone knows
Where oats, peas, beans, and barley grows

Thus the farmer sows his seed
Thus he stands and takes his ease
He stomps his feet and claps his hand
And turns around to view the land

I'm waiting for a pardner
I'm waiting for a pardner
So open the ring and choose me in
And kiss her as she enters in

You must be good, you must be kind
You must be good, you must be kind
You must be good, you must be kind
Take your kiss and walk away

Source:
Pansy Richardson, collected by Byron Arnold in Folksongs of Alabama (University, Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 1950), p. 135

Notes:
"This is a ring game. The child who is 'It' is in the center of the ring. All go through the motions as indicated in the song. The one in the middle chooses a partner."