The leaders of the two groups take turns in singing the verse, at the same time marching forward during the first line of the verse, and back again to their places during the second line, illustrating the action that is then to be taken by all. The verse is then sung by both groups while advancing toward each other and retreating, performing the movements indicated by the leaders. The movements illustrated by the leaders may be anything suitable to an army of men, the words describing the movement being substituted for the line, "marched up the hill," thus:
The King of France with forty thousand men Waved his flag and then marched down again.
The following variations are suggested, each of which indicates the movements to go with it:
Gave a salute, etc.
Beat his drum, etc.
Blew his horn, etc.
Drew his sword, etc.
Aimed his gun, etc.
Fired his gun, etc.
Shouldered arms, etc.
Pranced on his horse, etc.
It is scarcely necessary to say that a real flag and drum add much to the martial spirit of the game, and if each soldier can have a stick or wand over his shoulder for a gun, the esprit de corps will be proportionately enhanced.
LONDON BRIDGE
London bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down,
My fair lady!
Build it up with iron bars,
Iron bars, iron bars,
Build it up with iron bars,
My fair lady!
Iron bars will bend and break,
Bend and break, bend and break,
Iron bars will bend and break,
My fair lady!
Build it up with gold and silver, etc.
Gold and silver will be stolen away, etc.
Get a man to watch all night, etc.
Suppose the man should fall asleep? etc.
Put a pipe into his mouth, etc.
Suppose the pipe should fall and break, etc.
Get a dog to bark all night, etc.
Suppose the dog should meet a bone? etc.
Get a cock to crow all night, etc.
Here's a prisoner I have got, etc.
What's the prisoner done to you? etc.
Stole my hat and lost my keys, etc.
A hundred pounds will set him free, etc.
A hundred pounds he has not got, etc.
Off to prison he must go, etc.