Father, Give Me the Key

Girl skipping.--"Father, give me the key." / Father.--"Go to your mother."…

ChantsLong rope

Girl skipping.--"Father, give me the key."
Father.--"Go to your mother."
Girl jumping in opposite direction.--"Mother, give me the key."
Mother.--"Go to your father."

How to play

They make a girl skip back and forth the long way of the rope, using this dialogue.

Where this rhyme comes from

Printed: 1898
Where: London

We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1898, spelling and all. The book marks it as a skipping rhyme.

Source: Alice Bertha Gomme, The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland, vol. II (London: David Nutt, 1898), 'Skipping', pp. 200–204. Rhymes collected by Miss Chase (public domain).

More rhymes like this

ChantsPrinted 1898Cups and SaucersCups and saucers,
Plates and dishes…ChantsPrinted 1898Andy Pandy, Sugardy CandyAndy Pandy,
Sugardy candy…ChantsPrinted 1898My Mother SaidMy mother said
That the rope must go…ChantsCountingc. 570 ADGāo Mò (The End of Gao)高末！
Gāo mò…ChantsPrinted 1898Dancing Dolly (1898)Dancing Dolly had no sense,
For to fiddle for eighteenpence…ChantsPrinted 1898Up and Down the City Wall (The Eagle)Up and down the city wall,
In and out "The Eagle,"…