marcella, I re-read your first post, and see that you're interested in the origins/history of the song.

Given its call & response, improvisational, and open-ended format, I think its of African American origin.

The use of that "let your right foot slip" verse also leads me to believe that All Around the Kitchen is of African American origin-or we took adopted it from elsewhere and made it our own.

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marcella, you wrote that you were in "far away England". For your information, many Mudcat members are from England and other nations besides the USA. The website is based in eastern Pennsylvania, about 6 hours from me by car. So I can also say that I'm in far away Pittsburgh, PA {granted not as far away as you are, but still more than a hop, skip, and jump. :O}

All this to say that one of the great things about the Internet is that distance doesn't make any difference.

Best wishes,

Ms. Azizi