Round apples, round apples, by night and by day,
There stands a valley in yonder haze;
There stands poor Lizzie with a knife in her hand,
There’s no one dare touch her, or she’ll go mad;
Her cheeks were like roses, and now they’re like snow,
Poor Lizzie! poor Lizzie! you’re dying, I know,
We’ll wash you with milk, and we’ll dry [or roll] you with silk,
And we’ll write down your name with a gold pen and ink.
—New Galloway (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Boys and girls take hands and go round saying—
Round the green gravel
Grass grows green,
Many’s the lady fit to be seen,
Washed in milk and dried in silk.
The last pops down!
The last boy or girl to pop down has to tell who he (or she) is courting.—Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
Green Grass.
All the girls arrange themselves in a line, and one stands in front. The one in front sings—
Dis-a-dis-a green grass,
Dis-a-dis-a-dis;
Come all ye pretty fair maids,
And walk along wi’ us.
Will ye have a duck, my dear (pointing to one of the girls in the line),
Or will ye have a drake,
Or will ye have a young man
To answer for your sake?
The girl pointed to answers—