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The following skipping rhymes were found in an old scrap book. The original source appears to have been printed in the Weekend Section of a large chain Canadian newspaper.
Sing a Song of Skipping
By Jean Sproule Photos by Bert Beaver WEEKEND Staff Photographer THE VERSES little girls recite or sing as they skip rope reveal strange stories. Some of these stories are sentimental, some lighthearted and others downright tragic. The verses vary in different parts of Canada, having changed with the telling, but the majority finish the same way—with "Pepper" as the skipper urgently tries to find the answer to the question the verse asks. In "Pepper," the girls holding the ends of the rope turn it as fast as they can until the skipper misses. For example, there is the story of: Cinderella dressed in yellow Went upstairs to kiss her fellow; How many kisses did he give her?
The number of kisses Cinderella got depends on the lightfootedness of the skipper. The average girl in primary school has a repertoire of eight to 10 different verses. Many are handed down to her by her mother, others she learns from newcomers who have moved to where she lives. One verse, however, is popular from coast to coast; there are minor variations but the story is the same. This is the Vancouver version: Down in the valley where the green grass grows, There set Judy, as pretty as a rose. She sang and she sang and she sang so sweet, Along came a little boy and kissed her on the cheek. Oh Judy, you ought to be ashamed, Kissing a little boy and not knowing his name. Took her to the guard house and sat her on his knee, Asked her a question: "Will you marry me?" Yes, no, maybe so, yes, no, maybe so. Origins of the verses are difficult to find and often puzzle grown-ups. Anyone passing a school yard in London, Ont., and hearing young voices raised in chorus, might wonder about the source of this one: Lulu had a baby, his name was Sonny Jim, She put him in the bath tub to have a little swim; He drank ,all the water, he ate all the soap, Lulu called the doctor to see if there was hope. In came the doctor, in came the nurse, In came a lady with a big, fat purse. How many days did Sonny Jim live? One, two, three, four, five ... Another, also with a sad ending, undoubtedly gets rid of a few repressions in London: Johnny over the ocean, Johnny over the sea, Johnny broke the teapot and blamed it all on me. I told Ma, and Ma told Pa, Johnny got the licking, so, ha! ha! ha! Girls in the Maritimes seem to find inspiration for their skipping and verse-making in food. In Sackville, N.B., they say: Peel an orange round and round, Peel a banana upside down. If you skip to' twenty-four, You may have a turn once more. In Halifax, they have three favourites: Apples, oranges, peaches, plums, Jump right out when your birthday comes. January, February, March, etc.
Fudge, fudge, tell the judge, Mother had a baby; Oh, joy, it's a boy, And Daddy's nearly crazy. These rhymes came from another anonymous magazine clipping form the late 50s or early 60s. Nine o'clock a-striking Mother, may I go out? All the boys are waiting Just to get me out. First, to give me an apple, Second, to give me a pear, Third, to give me 50 cents To kiss me on the stairs. I don't want your apple, I don't want your pear, I don't want your 50 cents To kiss me on the stairs. To make the game more difficult, some of the verses direct the skipper to combine other actions with the skipping. Here are two examples, both from London: Jelly in the bowl, jelly in the bowl, Wiggle, waggle, wiggle, waggle, jelly in the bowl. Along the same line but a little more-complicated: I am a Girl Guide dressed in blue, Here are the actions I must do: Stand at attention, stand at ease, Bend my elbows, bend my knees, Salute to the captain, bow to the Queen, Turn my back to the dirty sub-marine. Girls in Western Canada like this type of skipping verse. In Edmonton, they recite the story, with actions, about: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, spell "goodnight." From North of Toronto - Unionville: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tie your shoe. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do. In Vancouver they like the story of The Spanish Dancers: Spanish dancers do the splits, splits, splits, Spanish dancers give a high kick, kick, kick, Spanish dancers turn around,'round, 'round, Spanish dancers touch the ground, ground, ground, Spanish dancers get out of town, town, town. The long winter months don't dim the girls' memories. They may forget the multiplication tables and the capital cities of all the countries of the world, but when the first breath of spring blows, they can start singing or reciting these verses as glibly as if they had just hung up their skipping ropes yesterday. Woodlands Junior School, in England, offers more skipping rhymes at: http://schoolsite.edex.net.uk/926/playgroundrhymes.html#skip
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