Page:Singing games.djvu/11

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FORTY DUCKS ARE RIDING.

This game has been completely changed by New York children, who play it in this style—

A child stands in the center of a ring which circles round and round singing, instead of "Forty dukes"—

$\relative g' { \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t \key g \major \time 6/8 {\autoBeamOff g g8 g4 b8 | d4. g,4 b8 | a4 a8 a4 b8 | a4 fis8 d4. | \break g4 g8 g4 b8 | d4. g,4 b8 | a4 a8 b4 a8 | g4.~ g4. |\break g8 g8 g8 g4 b8 | d4 b8 g4 b8 | a4 a8 a4 b8 | a4 fis8 d4. | \break g8 g8 g8 g4 b8 | d4 b8 g4 b8 | a4 a8 b4 a8 | g4.~ g4. | \bar "||" } } \addlyrics { "\"For" -- ty ducks are | rid -- ing, My | dil -- sey dul -- sey of -- fi -- cer; | For -- ty ducks are | rid -- ing, My | dil -- sey dul -- sey | day. __ | Which of the lot do | you like best? Do | you like best, do | you like best? | Which of the lot do | you like best, My | dil -- sey dul -- sey "day?\"" __ | }$

Child in the center says:

"You are all too ugly."

Those in the ring say:

"We're not so ugly as you are."

The one in the center selects a partner, when the rest sing:

"Open the gates and let the bride out,
Let the bride out, let the bride out;
Open the gates and let the bride out,
My dilsey dulsy day."

The couple pass under lifted hands, march round outside the ring, and enter again to the words:

"Open the gates and let the bride in,
Let the bride in, let the bride in;
Open the gates and let the bride in,
My dilsey dulsy day."

Then the one who was center joins the players in the ring, and the other takes her turn in choosing a partner.

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