Round and Round, Up and Down, Out and In

Round and Round, Up and Down, Out and In Songbook

“All these rhymes are usually performed in the course of games which require the children to form rings or chains, or when they are playing ball (Alery ['One two three O’Leary'] and Queenie-i-o) or ‘Fivestones’, called ‘Jacks’ (Sonsy Ann). 

The ring and chain games nearly always have their music; they are sung to simple tunes which often repeat themselves, varying however just as the texts do. 

Sometimes the game is a proper drama. There is good use of mime when Old Roger rises from the dead to defend his apples. A dialogue of interpellation and retort makes up the whole text of Jenny Jones and Three gipsies riding.” — Hugh Shields, 1971

Listen and find out more about each item in the Song Pages below or enjoy the Playlist.

Round and Round, Up and Down, Out and In Playlist