The Animal Show

I went to the animal show, and what do you think I saw there? / The Elephant sneezed and fell on his knees…

ChantsLong rope

I went to the animal show, and what do you think I saw there?
The Elephant sneezed and fell on his knees,
And what became of the monkey--

(Keep saying monkey untill out).

How to play

Keep saying "monkey" until the skipper is out.

Where this rhyme comes from

Printed: 1916
Where: London

We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1916, spelling and all. The book marks it as a skipping rhyme.

The 1916 London form of our "Animal Fair".

Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).

Older and newer versions

The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.

In and outby 1898Animal FairI went to the animal fair,
The birds and beasts were there…

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