Malcolm: I think http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cowellbib:2:./temp/~ammem_qVEP:: is a permanent reference. Got this from Jinny Jenkins search at Keywords. Your "source unknown" midi is as I've usually heard it. I believe from the singing of Jean Ritchie. As expected, she sings it a bit more gently than many others. Closest to Masato's #2.

Likely it's a bit more standardized in the mountains and separately so in New England. At least for the common, easy verses - green, blue, red, etc.

Note that black = back verse. Localizes it as to race some but still a widely sung verse.

Lomax (Blue Ridge Muntain Music, Atlantic) records a nice version from Estil C. Ball in Virginia & discusses the game nature: Such courting duets were popular at country suppers...as a way to break the ice between a pair of timid lovers. In English versions the color symbolism... [relates to magical association]... but in most American varsionsthe list of colors mearly serves as a framework for improvising impudent or downright silly rhymes. He includes 'purple; it's the color of a turkle' (not turtle) which is a local name for a turtle dove.

It thus becomes an excellent game song - here, alternating question & answer & also verses between man & woman.

I've also found it excellent with a carfull of kids as a game. Either I'd sing a color and each kid in turn would have to answer or else as round robin with each kid making its own verse in turn (this is kinder as you start with the more knowing kids to give the less-knowing time to make something up.) Of course, "Jenny-Jenkins-for-blood" is having the kids, in turn, asking and I have to answer them all.

You can tell I'm an old hand at this & long ago worked out a legit English rhyme for orange. Just to have on tap. Obviously, I'd never reveal it to the kids. I don't know now --- I may be the only person who knows it.

It's an excellent