jump-rope rhyme

treeseed commented on the word jump-rope rhyme

A jump-rope rhyme, or skipping rhyme (occasionally skipping-rope rhyme), is a rhyme chanted by children while jumping rope/skipping. Such rhymes have been recorded in all cultures where jump rope is played. Examples of English-language rhymes have been found going back to at least the 17th century. Like most folklore, jump-rope rhymes tend be found in many different variations.

_Wikipedia

Here is one from my playground in 1962 Ohio.

My mother, your mother

Live across the street

1819 Alligator Street

Every night they have a fight

And this is what they say

Boys are rotten

Just like cotton

Girls are dandy

Just like candy

and out goes Y-O-U! (You run out and another jumper comes in.)

This is also a clapping game.

February 18, 2008