Childrens Skipping and Ball Games Songs and Others
These were usually sung by young girls and very rarely by boys as any who did were considered " cissys " .
For the skipping games a large heavy rope was needed and this was usually "borrowed " by some Father who worked in the Shipyard or some other workplace . They were a valued commodity and hard to come by ~ washing lines were no substitute . It was tied to a local Lampost and the girls would begin their game . Boys could join in provided they took their turn in "torning the rope ". In this context they would sing the songs as it was considered "OK" . Most of the songs here are from the recollections of South Shields author James Kirkup in his book "The Only Child " (Pergamon Press ) .
"My Fathers a Midnight Mechanic,
He works in the middens by night
And when he comes home in the morning
He`s covered with Turkish Delight"
Skipping game.
All in together girls,
Never mind the weather, girls !
There`s a lad around the corner,
Got his eye on Alice Horner
Skipping game.
I am a Girl Guide dressed in blue,
These are the actions I must do,
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
And turn my back ,
To the boy in green.
A wall game using two balls
Two little sausages,
Frying in the pan,
One went Pop,
And the other went Bang !
A wall game using two balls
Please Mrs. Bunny,
Is your Bunny coming out,
With his hand in his pocket,
And his shirt hanging out.
Skipping game.
Jelly on a plate,
Jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble wibble wobble,
Jelly on a plate.
Skipping or Ball Game
One, two, three O`Leary ,
I saw me Aunty Mary ,
Sitting on the Lavortory ,
Eating chocolate biscuits .
A "choosing" game using clenched fists that were knocked on top of another persons clenched fists .
Ickle , ockle , black bockle,
Fishes in the sea,
If you want a pretty maid,
Please chose me.
A double skipping rope game with actions ~ you had to be a very good skipper to do this one .
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Touch the ground ,
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Turn around ,
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Walk upstairs ,
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Say your prayers,
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Turn down the light,
Teddy bear , teddy bear ,
Say good night.
Pete i can remeber singing a song like that ,,,BUT not 55yrs ago....im not that mature yet .. 
