Lords and Ladies
Lords and Ladies, / Children, too…
Lords and Ladies,
Children, too,
This young lady will dance for you,
She is going to turn around,
She is going to touch the ground
She’s going to boogie woogie,
Till her drawers fall down.
She never went to college
She never went to school,
And now she’s back,
She is a nasty fool.
How to play
Do the actions as they are sung.
Where this rhyme comes from
We haven't found a dated record of it yet. The 'turn around, touch the ground' actions go back to an older skipping formula ('Lady, lady ... touch the ground, turn around') that Douglas recorded in London in 1916.
Sources: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (1916), p.66 (related formula).
Do you know an older version, or where this rhyme comes from? Teachers can tell us with the feedback button below.
Older and newer versions
The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.
Lady, lady, pick it up…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…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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