More circle games J-L

Jane and Louisa

Jeremiah, blow the fire

Jinny go round and around

Jump little Annika

Kokoleoko

Lazy Mary

Let’s go walking

Lickety spry

Little bird hops down the street

Little bird, little bird, fly through my window

Little circle turning

Little hazelnut / Alunelu

Little lady from Baltimore

Little mouse be careful

Little swallow

Little Tommy Tattlemouse

Looby loo

Lucy Locket

Last updated: 4/10/2023 2:43 PM

These songs are nursery rhymes and other traditional songs compiled, illustrated and music arranged by Dany Rosevear.

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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

 

© Dany Rosevear 2013 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

·       you must give the original author credit

·       you may not use this work for commercial purposes

·       for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

·       any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

 


 

 

Jane and Louisa 🔊

 

 


A lovely waltz from Jamaica, possibly originally from the English Music Hall tradition. Instead ofJane and Louisa’ change the names for those of the two players outside the circle.

Children stand in a ring holding hands and swaying gently from side to side. Two children stand outside. 1. The two walk slowly in time to the music towards the ring. 2. They then walk as before but in opposite directions around the circle pretending to pluck a rose from each child. 3. Each then chooses a partner and waltzes in the ring. The partners then the new ones and the game continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jane and Louisa will soon come home, darlin’,

Soon come home, darlin’ soon come home,

Jane and Louisa will soon come home,

Into this beautiful garden.

 

How will you like me to pick a rose, darlin’,

Pick a rose, darlin’, pick a rose,

How will you like me to pick a rose,

Out in this beautiful garden.

 

How will you like me to waltz with you, darlin’

Waltz with you, darlin’, waltz with you,

How will you like me to waltz with you,

Into this beautiful garden.


 

 

Jeremiah, blow the fire 🔊

 

 


Learn to identify loud and soft with this rhyme from Ireland. It can be played as a circle game as below, just use the first line repeated, or as a baby or toddler play game: rock baby gently back and forth and then blow on the tummy to each puff, blow normally, gently and roughly.

 

Children walk round in a circle; they then stop and jump on each of the puffs, once on the spot, then into the middle and then out again. Move in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jeremiah, blow the fire, Puff! Puff! Puff!

Jeremiah, blow the fire, Puff! Puff! Puff!

First you blow it very gently,

Then you blow it rough!

Jeremiah, blow the fire, Puff! Puff! Puff!

 


 

 

Jinny go round and around 🔊

 

 


Move in a circle to a steady beat. The chorus is from Missouri and can be found in ‘Sing it yourself, 220 pentatonic American folk songs’, The first verse is from elsewhere! Add you own verses if the fancy takes you as I did.

Find out more about the adult versions at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=45531

 

Children walk round in a circle swinging arms; dip down and up for ‘Down in Rockingham’. Reverse directions each time a verse is sung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jinny go round and around and around,

Jinny go round and around and around,

Jinny go round and around and around,

Way down in Rockingham.

 

Where did you get your biscuits,

Where did you get your jam,

Where did you get your biscuits,

Way down in Rockingham.

 

Where did you get your ‘taters,

Where did you get your ham,

Where did you get your ‘taters,

Way down in Rockingham.

 


 

 

Jump little Annika 🔊

 

 


This Swedish circle game, ‘Lunka på’ is traditionally played at Midsummer festivities with adults and children dancing together round a pole.

Free translation by Dany Rosevear; ‘Hop mor Annika’ translates as ‘Jump mother’s Annika’.

 

1. Children move (walk, tiptoe, skip etc.) forward clockwise round the ring in pairs swinging arms back and forth in a steady manner. 2. Jump up and down either in place or skip round the circle and then take arm hook with partner and dance around clockwise. 3. Do the same as in 2. but dance counterclockwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Walking round, walking round,

We’ve a long, long way to go,

Walking round, walking round,

We’ve a long, long way to go.

 

Jump with Annika, jump with Annika,

Jump with little Annika,

Jump with Annika, jump with Annika,

Jump with little Annika!

 

Jump with Annika, jump with Annika,

See your children dancing,

Jump with Annika, jump with Annika,

See your children dancing.

 

Tiptoe round, tiptoe round…

Skipping round, skipping round…

Lunka på, Lunka på,

Vi har långan väg att gå.

Lunka på, Lunka på,

Vi har långan väg att gå.

 

Hopp mor Annika,

Hopp mor Annika,

Hopp min lilla Annika!

Hopp mor Annika,

Hopp mor Annika,

Hopp min lilla Annika!

 

Hopp mor Annika,

Hopp mor Annika,

Se din dotter dansar!


 

 

 

Kokoleoko 🔊

 

 


‘Kokoleoko’ is the West African equivalent of ‘Cock-a- doodle-doo’.

Older children might enjoy the wonderfully complicated clapping game at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPL_Ag9OC30

 

Make two circles, one inside the other with pairs facing. Develop a simple clapping routine of clapping own hands then partner’s right hand followed by the left hand.

At the end of each verse the outer and the inner circle both jump to the right to face a new partner. Continue the clapping pattern and movement until children are back with their original partner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kokoleoko mama, koleoko,

Kokoleoko chicken, crowing for day.

Kokoleoko mama, koleoko,

Kokoleoko chicken, crowing for day.

 

Aba mama, aba,

Aba chicken, crowing for day.

Aba mama, aba,

Aba chicken, crowing for day.


 

Lazy Mary will you get up 🔊

 

 


The Opies say it is not surprising this song does not appear in collections aimed at children as its morality is indefensible!

There are other versions of this song that end with ‘so early in the morning’ and ‘This cold and frosty morning’. The one below is similar to that recorded in the Opie’ book ‘The Singing Game’.

 

Make a ring; a mother and daughter stand in the centre, the daughter crouches with hands to cheek. The circle skips round them. Mother walks towards Mary as she sings and moves back when Mary replies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lazy Mary, will you get up,

Will you get up, will you get up?

Lazy Mary, will you get up,

Will you get up today?

 

No, dear Mother, I won't get up…

 

What will you give me if I get up…

 

A slice of bread and a cup of tea…

 

Then, dear Mother, I won't get up…

 

What will you give me if I get up…

 

A hunk of fat and roasted rat…

 

Then, dear Mother, I won't get up…

 

What will you give me if I get up…

 

A nice young man with rosy cheeks…

 

Then, dear Mother, I will get up…


 

 

Let’s go walking 🔊

 

 


A simple circle game where children can move round holding hands or move independently.

 

Move as the words suggest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Let’s go walking, walking, walking, walking,

Let’s go walking, walking, far, far away.

 

Let’s walk back now, back now, back now, back now,

Let’s walk back now, back now, back the same old way.

 

Then: hopping, skipping, marching, stamping etc.

 

Let’s go tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe,

Let’s tiptoe, tiptoe, then sit down on the floor.


 

 

Lickety spry 🔊

 

 


A partner game or in a circle with a larger group. By Deanna Hoermann from her wonderful collection: ‘Catch a song’.

 

Skip round with a partner or in a circle. On the last bar move high or low on the sung notes. Partners or named children turn can take turns to sing final words high or low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lickety spry, me oh my!

Make you choice now: low or high?

 

Lickety spry, me oh my!

Make you choice now: high or low?

 

Lickety spry, me oh my!

Here we go now: low, low, low.

 

Lickety spry, me oh my!

Here we go now: high, high, high.


 

 

 

Little bird hops down the street 🔊

 

 


Don’t forget the birds in the winter time when food is scarce: Make bird tables and seed balls to keep them going.

This song, Lata ptaszek po ulicy’ is a Polish version of ‘Ring o’ roses’. The tune is a Mazurka, one of Poland’s national dances. The arrangement is by Elizabeth Poston from ‘The children’s songbook’ 1961. The words are loosely translated by Dany Rosevear. (Find many more Polish singing games translated by myself on my home page.)

The dance in the video has a different tune but shows how the game is played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAbFiBZtY1s

 

The children make a circle holding hands and skip round singing, while one child (the little bird) hops round inside the ring with elbows flapping. On the last line this child chooses another to become the hungry bird, ready to play the game once more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little bird hops down the street,

Looking for some grains of wheat.

Hopping here and hopping there,

Will you have enough to eat?

Hopping here and hopping there,

Choose the one you’d like to greet.

Lata ptaszek po ulicy,

Szuka sobie ziarn pszenicy.

Ale ziarnek ani śladu.

Będzie ptaszek bez obiadu.


 

 

Little bird, little bird fly through my window 🔊

 

 


A circle game from South Carolina. It lends itself to free rythmic play or as an arch game with children passing through or as below. For subsequent verses children choose their favourite bird.

 

Children form a circle with joined hands held high to make windows. One child takes turns to fly in and out round the circle. At the end of the verse where the child stops is the next child to go in and out; this child chooses a bird to be and sing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little bird, little bird, fly through my window,

Little bird, little bird, fly through my window,

Little bird, little bird, fly through my window,

And buy molasses candy.

Fly through my window, my sugar lump,

Fly through my window, my

 

Children then choose a favourite bird e.g.

Bluebird / Robin / Magpie / Chickadee


 

 

 

Little circle turning 🔊

 

 


A circle game from Finland, Piiri pieni pyörii.

This translation is by Dany Rosevear.

 

Stand next to a partner in a circle.

Line 1&2: Children walk round holding hands. 3.&4. Wag finger x3, stamp x3.

Verse 2. As before then clap x3, tap foot x3. Verse 3. As before then turn to partner and shake right hand x3, then left hand x3. Verse 2. As before then stand still with a serious face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little circle turning,

Every child is turning,

Fingers wagging no, no, no,

Shoes are stomping, so, so, so.

 

Little circle turning,

Every child is turning,

Hands are clapping clip, clap, clap,

Shoes are tapping tip, tap, tap.

 

Little circle turning,

Every child is turning,

Shake hands with a ‘How d’you do?’

Then the other, shake it too.

 

Little circle turning,

Every child is turning,

Now they’re standing still you see,

Just like parents seriously.

 

Piiri pieni pyörii,

lapset siinä hyörii.

Sormet sanoo so so so,

kengän kannat ko ko ko.

 

Piiri pieni pyörii,

lapset siinä hyörii.

Kädet panee lip lap lap,

kengän kärjet kip kap kap.

 

Piiri pieni pyörii,

lapset siinä hyörii.

Toisiansa tervehtää,

sitten paikoillensa jää.

 

Piiri pieni pyörii,

lapset siinä hyörii.

Vakavina seisovat

Vallan niin kuin vanhemmat


 

 

Little hazelnut / Alunelu 🔊

 

 


A Romanian dance. Find out more about this delightful tune and dance here.

Translated freely by Dany Rosevear.

 

There are no classic movements to this dance but you can watch a class of children dancing to it beautifully here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little Hazelnut, come and join the dance,

Bring us all good luck as we sing entranced;

If you dance well you’ll grow strong quickly,

If you don’t dance you’ll stay the same!

 

Little Hazelnut, come and join the dance,

Bring us all good luck as we sing entranced;

Dance on this spot ‘til grass is a-growing,

Dance on this spot, dance fast not slow!

 

Alunelu, alunelu, hai la joc,

Să ne fie, să ne fie cu noroc!

Cine horă o să joace mare, mare se va face.

Cine no juca de fel va rămîne mititel.


 

 

 

Little lady from Baltimore 🔊

 

 


From the album of Canadian singer Alan Mills ‘More songs to grow on’ released 1954. Music educator Beatrice Landeck, compiled a book of American folk songs of the same name that included this one where it was described it as a Southern song.

The suggested dances were the Samba, Rhumba, Lindy and Ickaboga; except for the nonsense last verse were all familiar songs on the dancefloor at the time.

Enjoy as a song before dancing.

 

Children can invent ways to move to the music either in a circle or with a partner. One child makes up a movement then the others move with the initial child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I know a little lady from Baltimore,

Baltimore, Baltimore,

I know a little lady from Baltimore,

Let’s see what she can do.

Oh, she can do the samba,

I know she can,

I know she can,

Oh, she can do the samba,

Let’s see what she can do.

Now we can do the samba,

I know we can I know we can,

Oh, we can do the samba,

Let’s see what we can do.

 

I know a little fella from Baltimore,

Baltimore, Baltimore,

I know a little fella from Baltimore,

Let’s see what he can do.

Oh, he can play a guitar,

I know he can,

I know he can,

Oh, he can play a guitar,

Let’s see what he can do.

Now we can play the guitar…

 

I know an old fella from Baltimore…

Oh, he can play a cajon…


 

 

Little mouse be careful 🔊

 

 


A simple Hungarian children’s circle game for younger children. Can also be played as a hand play see video.

From ‘Springboards: ideas for music’ published 1982.

 

Children walk round in a circle holding hands. One child, the sleeping mouse, puts hands to cheek; the other, the cat, creeps round the outside of the circle. At the end of the song the children drop hands and the cat chases the mouse in and out of the circle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little mouse be careful,

Pussycat is creeping.

Quickly mousie run away!

Pussy wants a meal today.


 

 

Little swallow 🔊

 

 


A French-Canadian singing game ‘L’hirondelle’.

Find it in French with a more literal translation at:

https://archive.org/stream/negrofolksinging00port_0#page/32/mode/2up/search/l'hirondelle

 

The children make a circle holding hands and walk round singing, while one child (the swallow) walks round the outside holding a hand kerchief and drops it behind a chosen child. The handkerchief is picked up by that child who runs after the ‘swallow’, who attempts to get to the gap left in the circle before being caught by the pursuer. If caught, the chaser then becomes the new swallow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little swallow, fly to your nest.

Who goes there?

Fly a fly away now!

Little swallow, fly to your nest.

Fly a fly away!


 

 

Little Tommy Tattlemouse  🔊

 

 


A voice recognition game.

 

Children sit in a circle and one is chosen be the mouse who sits outside on a cushion (the house) with their back to the circle.

A beanbag is passed round the circle and, after the second “Someone’s calling” the child holding the beanbag sings, “Yes it’s me!” The mouse then has to guess who the child is and they then swap places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little Tommy Tattlemouse,

Lived in a little house,

Someone's calling, wait and see,

Someone's calling, '”Yes it's me!”

 


 

 

 

Looby loo 🔊

 

 


Learn to tell the difference between the left and right parts of the body.

Practice waving the appropriate hand in the air before playing the game.

Show children how to make an ‘L’ for left with their thumb and forefinger.

 

Sing the chorus between each verse.

 

 

 

 

 


Here we go Looby Loo,

Here we go Looby Light,

Here we go Looby Loo,

All on a Saturday night.

Skip round the circle holding hands.

 

You put your right hand in,

You put your right hand out,

You put your right hand in,

You shake it a little, a little,

And turn yourself about!

Drop hands and follow the instructions – the words will tell you what to do!

 

You put your left hand in...

 

You put your right / left leg in...

 

You put your right / left hip in...

 

You put your little head in...

 

You put your whole self in...

 


 

 

Lucy Locket 🔊

 

 


A classic circle game. Its Roud folk number is 19536. Find out more at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Locket

 

Children walk round in a circle holding hands. One child ‘Lucy’ skips round outside in the opposite direction holding a cloth pocket or bean bag. On ‘Dree, dree...’ ‘Lucy’ walks round the circle for as long as she likes then drops the pocket behind a child who picks it up and runs in the opposite direction to ‘Lucy’ The first to reach the empty space becomes the new ‘Lucy’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lucy Locket lost her pocket,

Kitty Fisher found it;

Not a penny was there in it,

But a ribbon round it.

 

Dree, dree, drop it, drop it,

Dree, dree, drop it, drop it...

 


 

 

Miss Sue / Go through your tiny window 🔊

 

 


A song from the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia.

This is a singing game from Tony Saletan’s ‘The Song Bag’ Unfortunately there were no instructions for the movements so I have added my own educated guesses.

This arrangement is by Dany Rosevear.

 

Stand in a circle holding hands high. One child stands outside.

Verse 1. This child weaves in and out of ‘windows’ round the circle. 2. Children lower hands so child has to bend knees to travel in and out of windows. 3. and 4. Raise hands and child moves into the circle and chooses a dance to perform, those in the circle clap a syncopated pattern. 5. The original child chooses another to continue the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Go through your tiny window, Miss Sue, Miss Sue.

Go through your tiny window, Miss Susiana Sue.

 

Now down your tiny window…

 

Heist your tiny window…

 

Now let me see your hustle…

 

Now choose your tiny window…

 

Go through your tiny window, dear John, dear John.

Go through your tiny window, my little Johnny Brown.

 


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