Spanish Lady

Not last night / But the night before…

Not last night
But the night before,
Twenty-four robbers
Came knocking at my door.
Went down stairs to let them in
And this is what I saw:

Spanish Lady, Spanish Lady
Doing high kicks

Spanish Lady, Spanish Lady
Taking a bow

Spanish Lady, Spanish Lady
That’s all for now

How to play

Two skippers in the rope together, doing the actions as they are sung, then out and the next two in.

Where this rhyme comes from

Sung in: UK, Ireland, Australia, US

'Not last night but the night before, twenty-four robbers came knocking at my door' is a widespread playground opening, and the 'Spanish lady' action verses are like the 'Teddy Bear' formula. We haven't found a dated record of it yet. It is not the Dublin street ballad 'The Spanish Lady'.

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.

ActionsPrinted 1916As I Was Walking Through the City (Spanish Lady)As I was walking through the City,
Half past eight o’clock at night…

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