A circle is formed. One player stands in the center. After singing the first four lines, all drop their hands. After this they imitate the motions suggested by the song. At the end of the verse they turn around several times, and then, joining hands, sing the chorus, standing still, for the last two lines. Then the one in the center chooses "one in," and returns herself to the circle. The game goes on as before.
Oats, peas, beans and barley grows,
Oats, peas, beans and barley grows,
Nor you nor I nor nobody knows,
How oats, peas, beans and barley grows,
Thus the farmer sows his seed, Thus he stands and takes his ease, Stamps his foot and clasps his hands, And turn around to view his lands.
A-waiting for a partner, A-waiting for a partner, So open the ring and choose one in, Make haste and choose your partner.
Now you're married you must obey.
You must be true to all you say.
You must be kind, you must be good,
And keep your wife in kindling wood.
MULBERRY BUSH
The players stand in a circle clasping hands, and circle round, singing the first verse. In the second and alternate verses, the action indicated by the lines is given in pantomime. In all verses the players spin around rapidly, each in her own place, on the repetition of the refrain, "So early in the morning."
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning!
This is the way we wash our clothes,
We wash our clothes, we wash our clothes,
This is the way we wash our clothes,
So early Monday morning.
This is the way we iron our clothes,
We iron our clothes, we iron our clothes,
This is the way we iron our clothes,
So early Tuesday morning.