The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2) / With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.

by Alice Bertha Gomme

Willie, willie wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We are all fair maids, we shall all die!
Excepting little ——, and she’s the youngest here,
Turn your head towards the south, and she’s the one to bear,
The willie, willie wallflowers.

Or,

Oh! for shame, fie, for shame, turn yourself to the wall again—

—Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

XI.

Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We are all ladies, we must all die!
Excepting ——, who is the prettiest child.
Fie, for shame, fie, for shame, turn your back to the wall again.

—Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire (Miss Winfield)

XII.

Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We’re all ladies, and we shall all die!
Excepting [naming smallest child in ring],
She can hop, and she can skip, and she can play the organ!
Oh! for shame, fie, for shame,
Turn your back upon our game.