Lady, Lady, Drop Your Handkerchief

Lady, lady, drop your handkerchief, / Lady, lady, pick it up…

ActionsLong rope

Lady, lady, drop your handkerchief,
Lady, lady, pick it up.

How to play

Suiting action to the words, still skipping.

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.

The 1898 form. By 1916 London children dropped a purse instead.

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).

Older and newer versions

The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.

ActionsPrinted 1916Lady, Lady, Drop Your PurseLady, lady, drop your purse,
Lady, lady, pick it up…Actionsafter 1902Teddy BearTeddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground…ActionsLords and LadiesLords and Ladies,
Children, too…ActionsChantsby 1916I Went Down TownI went down town I met miss Brown
miss brown brought a nicle so I bought a pickle…

Sent in by Anonymous

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