SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE
Permission to use words and music:—McLoughlin Bros. Arr. by J. W. Elliott
[MIDI] (sound file) [pdf] (music and lyrics)
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of Rye;
Four and twenty Blackbirds Bak'd in a Pie.
When the Pie was open'd,
The Birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish To set before a King.
DESCRIPTION
Formation;—Single circle formation facing counter clockwise (right) in close order formation. Hands are placed upon the shoulders of the pupil in front.
| 1st Verse | ||
| 1st Line;— | Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full ofRye; | |
| Interpretation;— | Starting with the inside foot (left) moving in lineof direction execute point step forward and step, left; right; left andright. During this movement, bend the trunk slightly to the left andright as the activity proceeds. Cues;—Point and step; point and step; point and step; point andstep. | |
| 2nd Line;— | Four and twenty Blackbirds | |
| Inter.;— | Turn the head to the left; step sideward, left andclose right to left and repeat. Cue;—Step and close; step and close. | |
Bak'd in a Pie. | ||
| Inter.;— | Turn the head to the right; step sideward, rightand close left to the right and repeat. Cue;—Step and close; step and close. | |
| 3rd Line;— | When the Pie was open'd, | |
| Inter.;— | Facing inward (left); clasp hands to the right andleft and starting with the right foot execute three steps backward.(Right; left; right and close left to the right.) Cues;—Step; step; step and close. | |
The Birds began to sing; | ||
| Inter.;— | Three chasse steps in line of direction. (To theright.) | |
| 4th Line;— | Wasn't that a dainty dish | |
| Inter.;— | Extend arms forward slightly flexed, clapping handsseven times, and step bend, left and right. (Step to the left; place theright toe behind the left heel, bending both knees slightly. During thismovement the head is turned to the left, the trunk bending slightly asthe knee bending occurs. (Counterlike as to movement of head and trunkwhen executed to the right.) | |
| To set before | a King? | |
| Inter.;— | Replace hands to hips; step sideward, left and close right toleft. | Bow and assume erect position. |
SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE (Continued)
Second Verse
J. W. Elliott
[MIDI] (sound file) [pdf] (music and lyrics)
The King was in the counting house,
Counting out his money;
The Queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey;
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes;
There came a little Dicky Bird,
And popp'd upon her nose.
DESCRIPTION
Formation;—Single circle facing inward with hands on hips.
| 1st Line;— | The King was in the counting house, | ||
| Interpretation;— | Starting with the left foot execute three stepsforward. (Left; right; left and close right to the left.) | ||
Counting out his money; | |||
| Inter.;— | Bend knees deeply and suit activity to the words,holding imaginary coins in the palm of the left hand, counting with theright hand. (Six counts.) | ||
| 2nd Line;— | The Queen was in the parlour, | ||
| Inter.;— | Stretch the knees, lower heels; facing to theright, start with the right foot, execute three chasse steps to theright, with arms raised sideward. | ||
Eating bread and honey; | |||
| Inter.;— | Hold imaginary plate in the left hand (palm up) andsuit activity to words, imitating eating with the right hand. (Sixcounts.) | ||
| 3rd Line;— | The maid was in | the garden, | |
| Inter.;— | Extend arms forward slightly flexed, clapping handsseven times, and step bend, left and right. (Step to the left, placeright toe behind the left heel, bending both knees slightly. During thismovement the head is turned to the left, the trunk bending slightly asthe knee bending occurs. (Counterlike as to movement of head and trunkwhen executed to the right.) | ||
| Hanging | out | the clothes; | |
| Inter.;— | Replace left foot; stretch the knees; bending trunk forward,downward grasping clothes with hands. | Stretching the trunk; raise arms forward upward to imaginaryclothesline. | Take clothespin out of mouth with right hand and pin clothes toline. |
| 4th Line;— | There came a little Dicky Bird, | ||
| Inter.;— | Replace hands to hips, execute four hopsforward. | ||
And popp'd | upon her nose. | ||
| Inter.;— | Clap hands, replacing same to hips, and executeone-quarter turn to the left by hopping. | Bow and assume erect position. | |