Goodbye (May)
Goodbye (May), while you’re away, / Send a letter, love…
Goodbye (May), while you’re away,
Send a letter, love,
Say you’re better, love,
Don’t forget your dear old (Nell)
(Call another girl in)
How to play
The first skipper leaves and calls the next one in by name.
Where this rhyme comes from
- Printed
- 1916
- Where
- London
We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1916, spelling and all. It is one of the London girls' chants Douglas lists alongside their skipping, clapping and ring games.
Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).
More rhymes like this
Call a friend inIn and outPrinted 1916Callings In and Callings OutCallings in and callings out--
I call (Rosie) in…Call a friend inPrinted 1916Down in the ValleyDown in the valley where the green grass grows,
Dear little (Lily) she grows like a rose…Call a friend inCountingJump With MeI like coffee, I like tea,
I like (person's name) to jump with me…Call a friend inRudePrinted 1916Light the Fire, BlacksmithLight the fire, blacksmith, show a pretty light,
In comes (Nellie), dressed in white…Call a friend inRudeKiss the Bin ManI’d rather scrub the dishes,
I’d rather scrub the floor…
I call (Rosie) in…Call a friend inPrinted 1916Down in the ValleyDown in the valley where the green grass grows,
Dear little (Lily) she grows like a rose…Call a friend inCountingJump With MeI like coffee, I like tea,
I like (person's name) to jump with me…Call a friend inRudePrinted 1916Light the Fire, BlacksmithLight the fire, blacksmith, show a pretty light,
In comes (Nellie), dressed in white…Call a friend inRudeKiss the Bin ManI’d rather scrub the dishes,
I’d rather scrub the floor…
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