In my 01 Jun 08 - 11:09 AM post to this thread I wondered "out loud" whether there might be any connection between Gigalo and this English folk song "Gently Johnny My Jingalo".

However, I think the likelihood of that connection is poor to none.

I've another theory to present:

There may be no way of ever finding out, but I wonder if the American children's rhyme/cheer "Gigalo" {"Jigalo"} might have come from the British {and other countries'?} children's handclap rhyme "High Low Jackalo" {"High Low Piccalo"}. And then I'm wondering if "High Low Jackalo" might have come from a commonly sung verse of the old American folk song "Old Joe Clark".

Here's the pertinent verse to "Old Joe Clark" that I'm referring to:

Old Joe Clark, the preacher's son,
Preached all over the plain,
The only text he ever knew
Was "high low jack and the game".

@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4411

**

So, according to my theory, both of these children's playground rhymes would have their source in a line which refers to a card game.

I know very little about cards. Can anyone tell me which game or games of cards "high low jack" or "high low jack and the game" refer to? .

I'd love to have feedback on this theory about that line from "Old Joe Clark" being a source for these children's rhymes.

Thanks.