Two Videos About The Total Eclipse On August 12, 2026 (with information about the astrological meanings of this eclipse, mundane astrology, & more)

The Last Time This Eclipse Came Around Was 2008 | Total Solar Eclipse in Leo

Lisa Salvatore Astrologer & Psychic, Aug 9, 2026
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This video's summary and its time stamps are given below in this post.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post departs from the usual content of this blog by showcasing two YouTube videos about the total eclipse on August 12, 2026.

This post also presents some general information about mundane astrology as well as information about the general meaning of the August 12, 2026 total eclipse.

The Addendum to this post presents a link to (and my comments about) a website that provides a calculator so that you can receive a free astrology natal (birth) chart.

The content of this post is presented for informational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the astrologers whose YouTube sites are showcased in this post. Thanks to all others who are quoted in this post and thanks to the website that provides the free calculator for natal (birth) astrology charts. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT MUNDANE ASTROLOGY

Both of these two astrologers showcased in this pancocojams post are mundane astrologers.

Here's information about mundane astrology
from AI Overview:

"Mundane astrology is an ancient branch of astrology that looks at the world, countries, and large groups of people instead of single persons. The word comes from mundus, the Latin word for world. It tracks how planets and stars shape politics, wars, economies, and natural events.

Origins and History

-It is the oldest form of astrology.

-It started over 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia.

-Early astrologers recorded basic omens like "if an eclipse happens, a king will die".

Personal birth charts came much later as a smaller offshoot of these macro views.

What It Studies

Nations and Cities: The rise, fall, and paths of countries or states.

Leaders and Governments: How rulers and laws interact with cosmic cycles.

Mass Events: Weather patterns, earthquakes, social movements, and public health."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #1: SUMMARY, TIME STAMPS, AND AND THE ASTROLOGER'S COMMENTS ABOUT MATERIAL SHE MEANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV-1bnvV2ak

"August 12th brings a total solar eclipse at 20° of Leo, and it is rare on almost every level. The moon fully covers the sun, fixed star Regulus sits right there alongside the South Node, and the path of totality crosses places that have gone generations without one: Iceland for the first time since 1954, and Spain since 1905. Mainland Europe has not seen totality since 2006. In this reading I walk through what makes this one different, the six planet fire activation behind it, the Saros family it belongs to and what that family was doing in 2008, and how it is likely to land for the fixed, air, water and earth signs. There are also a few journal prompts at the end to sit with before the 12th.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Total Solar Eclipse at 20° Leo 0:41 Overview of What to Expect 1:38 Astrology Chart Breakdown 5:54 Saturn Retrograde in Aries 6:39 The Perseid Meteor Shower 7:04 The Saros Cycle and 2008 10:33 Fixed Signs 11:17 Air Signs 11:40 Water Signs 12:07 Earth Signs 12:23 Tarot: The Sun and Strength 12:48 Where 20° Leo Falls for You 13:37 Journal Prompts -snip-
This astrologer skipped focusing in this video on the general impact that this eclipse may have on fire signs (meaning for individuals whose sun sign is in a fire element). Here are her comments from this video's discussion thread:

@LisaSalvatore, August 7, 2026
"Hi loves. My apologies for missing the fire signs; I've attached the reading below if you are a Leo, Aries, or Sagittarius:

For the fire signs, especially you, Leo:

Leo, this one's yours. The eclipse lands directly in your sign, so this isn't background noise; it's a personal reset on who you are and how boldly you're willing to show it. Whatever self you've been quietly editing down gets permission to come back out, loud.

Aries, your fellow fire sign is having its moment, and it lights something up in you too. Expect a fresh hit of courage, impulse, and "why am I waiting" energy. This eclipse dares you to act first and process later, which is very on brand for you.

Sagittarius, you feel this as a call toward truth. Something you've been dancing around, a belief, a direction, a bigger picture you've been avoiding naming, gets impossible to keep vague. This eclipse wants your honesty more than your optimism.

Across the board, fire signs, this is a "stop asking permission" eclipse. Less performing, more actually living out loud."
-snip-
Read the auto-generated transcript in the time stamp given above for information about the general impact that this eclipse may have on individuals whose sun sign is in another element besides fire.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- The King's Reckoning: What This Eclipse Triggers

Homegirl Astrology, Aug 7, 2026

"On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse lands in Leo, the sign of kings, big wigs, and anybody used to being the main character. And every single time the sun has gone dark in Leo before, somebody powerful has come crashing down. In this one I get into who's on the chopping block this time, what this eclipse is already stirring up in the world, and the light waiting on the other side of all the chaos.

CHAPTERS [TIMESTAMPS] 0:00 The pattern nobody warns you about 0:00 What this eclipse means 0:00 The one who's about to fall 0:00 It's about to come to blows 0:00 The good part 0:00 Where it hits your chart "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZRY1o2XBTQ

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EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE WEBSITE THAT EXPLAINS THE ASTROLOGICAL MEANING OF THIS PARTICULAR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

From: https://www.chani.com/blogs/what-you-need-to-know-about-augusts-solar-eclipse-in-leo-2026# "What You Need To Know About Agust's Solar Eclipse In Leo" by Chani
"When: August 12th, 2026, at 10:45 am PT

What: Solar South Node eclipse in Leo

Takeaway: This is the first eclipse to occur since the lunar nodes entered Aquarius and Leo in July. That means it’s part of a fresh series of eclipses in these two signs — and the first one near the releasing South Node in fiery Leo. Ready or not, here come major shake-ups and resets.

Time to check your ego at the door

A new chapter has officially begun. On August 12th, the solar eclipse in Leo ushers us into a story that will unfold over the next year and a half, now that the lunar nodes have entered Aquarius and Leo. As with any eclipse season, life is going to get a lot less subtle. These periods bring sudden surprises, accelerate timelines, and reveal things that have been swept under the rug. So buckle up.

This particular eclipse occurs near the South Node of the Moon (a point in space that represents shedding and release) in the bold sign of the lion (which is associated with self-expression and leadership), which means this is a moment for puncturing overinflated egos, dethroning corrupt tyrants, and stripping away any stage fright that blocks us from sharing our talents. If you’ve been idealizing certain icons, heroes, or role models, this eclipse will nudge them off their pedestals. And it will ask us all to confront the celebrity cultures and social media echo chambers that leave us feeling more isolated and less connected.

The weeks around this eclipse might feel a little louder than usual, featuring some dramatic falls from grace. And with a South Node eclipse in this flashy fire sign, whatever’s getting ditched or recycled won’t go quietly. But this process is necessary if we want to live more bravely and generously, even when it’s more comfortable to be cynical and judgmental.

We haven’t experienced an eclipse in Leo since January 2019, so if your diary entries, emails, or photos from that era feel relevant again, that’s no coincidence. But that eclipse occurred near the North Node, a point of hunger and increase — you have to rewind all the way back to February 2009 for the last South Node eclipse in Leo. If you were alive, online, or vaguely conscious during those eclipses, they could hold clues about the themes resurfacing now.

How to make the most of this solar eclipse

The days around this solar eclipse are ideal for lying low and tending to your nervous system, so underschedule yourself as much as possible. Let your emotions move through you without trying to make sense of them all — simply acknowledging these feelings can be healing on its own. Take notes in your diary or record a voice memo whenever insights come to you, but don’t rush to act on anything just yet. And take care of yourself. Now’s the perfect moment to journal, take a salt bath, or have a cathartic cry. Leo isn’t afraid of some melodrama, so by all means, let it all out. If you’re short on time, even a few quiet minutes of stretching or deep breathing between tasks can be soothing. As long as you’re doing something that helps you relax and reset, you’ve understood the assignment of this eclipse."...

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ADDENDUM- GET YOUR NATAL (BIRTH) CHART FOR FREE*

Click https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/calculate-birth-chart-horoscope-online/ to get your natal (birth) chart FOR FREE!

..."Birth Chart Calculator

[...]

• Planets in birth chart describe a certain process of what is happening - eg. Mars fights, Jupiter expands, Saturn limits
• Sign in which the planet is located determines how the planet is manifesting itself, for example Mars may manifest itself in a way Aries would behave (vigorously and irritably) or in the manner of Taurus (more slowly, gradually and consistently)
• Houses show special areas of everyday life, in which all this takes place. Location in a house shows whether, for example Mars manifests in relationships (7th house), employment (6th house), family (4th house) or elsewhere.

Hint:
Planets show us what is happening
Signs show us how it is happening
Houses show us where it is happening"
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DISCLAIMER
I have no affiliation with this website. I happened upon it about three months ago and used it to calculate my natal chart and the natal charts of my immediate family.

The chart that this site immediately calculated for my date of birth, time of birth, and geographic place of bitth is basically the same as the natal chart that an astrologer who I barely knew gave me as a gift 53 years ago upon the birth of my daughter.

Both of these charts - the one that was done by hand-without any computer-and the one that was done by a computer which has some additional small planets like Chiron and Ceres- are definitely me and they help me understand myself and my reactions to other people.

Other online sites-including the YouTube channels that are showcased in this video-may provide a link to a free natal (birth) chart. I'm highlighting this astro-seek website because I have seen for myself how easy to use that site's calculation feature is and how accurate its natal charts are.

Bottom line is that I definitely recommend those who are inclined to do so to get a natal chart and continue studying it to help you understand yourself and your interactions with people around you.

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information & Examples Of The "Old Witch Game" From William Wells Newell's 1884 Collection Of American Children's Songs And Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about and American versions of the "Old Witch Game" from William Wells Newell's 1884 book "Collection Of American Children's Games & Songs". A transcription of that book is now found online. 

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown creators of this game. Thanks to the collectors of this game and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click these links for these closely related pancocojams posts:

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/examples-of-old-motther-grey-childrens.html "Examples Of "Old Motther Grey" Children's Chasing Game (From England, The Caribbean, & The United States)"

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https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/chickama-chickama-craney-crow-singing.html "Examples Of "What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?", "I'm Going Downtown To Smoke My Pipe", & "Children Children" (Where Are You Going?) Games"

**
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/chickama-chickama-craney-crow-singing.html for the closely related 2023 pancocojams post entitled "Chickama, Chickama Craney Crow" singing & chasing games (information, lyrics, & play instructions)".

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to William Wells Newell for his research on American children's rhyme. Thanks to all those who are quoted in that 1884 publication and thanks to gutenberg.org for publishing a free transcription of that book online.

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AN EXCERPT OF WILLIAM WELLS NEWELL'S 1884 COLLECTION OF AMERICAN CHILDREN'S SONGS AND RHYMES 

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45762/45762-h/45762-h.htm#Page_194

"GAMES AND SONGS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN

COLLECTED AND COMPARED

BY

WILLIAM WELLS NEWELL

NEW YORK

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS

1884

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by

HARPER & BROTHERS,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

 

All rights reserved.

[…]

 

No. 154.

"Old Witch.

A.—Ten girls, a mother, a witch, and eight children—namely, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the eldest daughter Sue. The mother, preparing to go out, addresses her children:

 

Now all you children stay at home,

And be good girls while I am gone;

Let no one in[138]

Especially you, my daughter Sue,

Or else I'll beat you black and blue.[139]

The witch knocks at the door, and is refused entrance by the children. She beguiles them by promises to admit her, which they finally do. She then holds out her pipe (a bit of stick), which she carries between her teeth, saying to Sue, "Light my pipe!" Sue refusing, she makes the same demand to each child, in the order of the days of the week, in which they are ranged. All refuse till she reaches the last, who consents and touches her pipe, whereupon the witch seizes her hand, and drags her out of the house to her "den."

 

The mother then returns, counts the children, and Sue is questioned and punished. This is played over until each child is taken, Sue last.

 

When the mother has lost all her children, the witch calls, and invites her to dinner. Upon going to the witch's door, she finds a table set for the meal, and the witch asks her to order a dish to suit her taste. She does so, whereupon the witch produces Sunday, and lays her upon the table, with considerable assistance from Sunday.

 

A very amusing dialogue now ensues between the witch and the mother. The former urges the mother to eat, with many blandishments, and the mother (recognizing her child) declines, with such excuses as any ingenious child can devise.

 

The mother, upon pretence of inability to eat the food, calls for another dish, and, when the witch leaves the room, hurries the child from the table and places her behind the chair. When the witch returns, she says that she found the dish so good that she ate it all, and calls for another.

 

Each child is produced in turn, with the same result. When all are arranged behind their mother, she calls for another dish, and when the witch leaves the room to get it, runs home with all her children.

 

Hartford, Conn.

Our second version (B) is from the lips of a little girl in New York city. The persons represented are the same, except that a servant instead of one of the daughters is left to take care of the children. Scene, the doorsteps, or "stoop," of a New York dwelling-house.

 

Mother [sings]. Chickany, chickany, crany, crow.

Went to the well to wash her great toe,

And when she came back her chicken was dead.[140]

[To Servant]. I am going out, and let nobody come in.

[Exit. Enter presently, Witch.

 

 

Witch [to Servant]. Give me a match to light my pipe.

Servant. I haven't any.

Witch. Your kettle's boiling over.

Servant. No.

Witch. Your kettle is boiling over.

Servant [goes to look]. Witch seizes a child and carries her off. [Re-enter Mother.

Mother [to servant]. Where's my Monday?

Servant. Under the table.

Mother [calls]. Monday!

Servant. Up in the band-box![141]

Mother. How to get up?

Servant. Put two broken chairs on a broken table.

Mother. Suppose I should fall and break my neck?

Servant. Good enough for you.

Mother beats servant, but recovering from her loss, goes out again. Witch enters as before, and carries off successively all the children, and at last the servant. Witch then puts the children in a row, cooks them, and makes them into pies, naming them apple-pie, peach-pie, etc. Mother goes out to buy pies.

 

Mother [to Witch]. Have you any pies?

Witch. Yes, some very nice apple-pies, which you will like.

Mother [tastes]. This tastes like my Monday. [Re-animates Monday.] Monday,

who brought you here? [Beats her, and sends her home.]

The mother proceeds in the same manner, and brings to life the other children.

 

C.—The name of the witch in this variation is "Old Mother Cripsy-crops," and the game begins by playing No. 89. When the mother goes out, the children call after her, "Old mother, the kettle boils." She answers, "Take a spoon and stir it." "We haven't got any." "Buy one." "We have no money." "Borrow," says the mother. "People won't lend," reply the children.

 

The witch comes in, and entices Sunday away by fine promises. When the mother comes back, she inquires, "Where's my Sunday?" The children make some excuse, as, "Perhaps he has gone down cellar," etc. She tells Tuesday to take care of Monday, as she had previously placed Monday in charge of Sunday, and goes out again, when the same scene is repeated, until all the children have been carried off.

 

The mother now calls at the witch's house, and asks to be let in. The witch refuses, saying, "No, your shoes are too dirty." "But I will take off my shoes." "Your stockings are too dirty." "Then I will take off my stockings." "Your feet are too dirty." "I will cut off my feet." "That would make the carpet all bloody." "But I must see my children, and you have got them." "What should I know about your children? But if you like you may call to-morrow at twelve."

 

The mother departs, and as soon as she is gone the witch goes to the children and renames them all. One she calls Mustard, another Pepper, another Salt, another Vinegar, etc. Then she turns their faces to the wall, and tells them to give these names if they are asked who they are. The mother calls again at the house of the witch, and this time is admitted. She asks the children what their names are, and they all answer as they were instructed by the witch. She then asks the first child to let her feel his toe. He puts up his foot, and when the mother feels it she says, "This is my Sunday! let your big toe carry you home;" whereupon he runs off. The same process is gone through with all the other children.

 

D.—To the mother (this time present), in the midst of her children, approaches the witch, who comes limping, leaning on a cane. The dialogue is between mother and witch.

 

"There's old mother Hippletyhop; I wonder what she wants to-day?"

"I want one of your children."

"Which one do you want?"

The witch names any child of the row.

 

"What will you give her to eat?"

"Plum-cake" (a different delicacy for each child).

The witch carries off the child, and observes: "Walk as I do, or else I'll kill you." She takes the child home and kills her, then returns for another. When all are gone the mother goes out to look for her children. She goes to the witch's house, and finds all the children (presumed to be dead) against the wall, making the most horrible faces. She points to a child, and asks, "What did [Mary] die of?" "She died of sucking her thumbs" (naming the child's gesture). Suddenly all the children come to themselves, and cry out, "Oh, mother, we are not dead!"

 

Portsmouth, N. H.

 

E.—In a fifth version, which we have failed to obtain in full, the witch changed the children into birds; and the mother, in order to recover them, must guess the name of the bird. Colors, instead of birds, were also used to represent the children.

 

F.—We have already spoken of the old English game of "Honey-pots" as an imitation of "Weighing." This trait, however, as might be supposed from its insignificant character, is a mere fragment of the original. In London (as we learn from an informant of the laboring class, who remembers taking part in the amusement), a child as market-woman arranges the rest in a row to indicate honey-pots, each with its specific flavor. While she is busy at one end of the row, a thief comes in and steals a pot from the other end. This process is repeated, until all the pots are taken. The dealer then goes out to buy honey-pots, and recognizes her own by the flavor, so recovering the stolen goods.

 

This game without doubt is the most curious of our collection, both on account of its own quaintness, and because of the extraordinary relation in which it stands to the child's lore of Europe. We have, in a note, endeavored to show that our American versions give the most ancient and adequate representation now existing of a childish drama which has diverged into numerous branches, and of which almost every trait has set up for itself as an independent game. Several of these offshoots are centuries old, and exist in many European tongues; while, so far as appears, their original has best maintained itself in the childish tradition of the New World.

 

Among a great number of German forms, only one (from Suabia) nearly corresponds to ours, with the exception of a corrupted ending.

 

In this childish drama a mother has many children, who sleep. In her absence comes "Old Urschel" with her two daughters, the "Night-maidens" (a sort of fairies), who steal three children, and carry them off to their cave (hiding them behind their extended dresses). The mother visits Urschel's abode to complain of the theft, but the "Night-maidens," with deprecating gestures, deny any knowledge of the lost. The action is then repeated, the eldest daughter (who plays the same part as in our first version) being taken last.

 

When the mother's complaints are useless, she becomes a witch. The next day Urschel takes her stolen family for a walk. The mother comes up and pulls the dress of a child; by her magic art all feel it at the same time, and cry to Urschel, "Oh, mother, somebody is pulling my gown!" The latter replies, "It must be a dog." The mother then asks and obtains leave to join the party, but endeavors to bewitch (or disenchant) her children, who cry, "The Witch of London!" and scatter, but are captured by the latter and turned into witches.[142]

 

In Sweden the mother is called "Lady Sun." An old woman enters, propped on a cane, goes to Lady Sun's house and knocks. "Who is that knocking at my door?" "An old woman, halt and blind, asks the way to Lady Sun; is she at home?" "Yes." The old woman points out a child, and asks, "Dear Lady Sun, may I have a chicken?" She is refused at first, but by piteous entreaties obtains her wish, and returns, until all the "chickens" are carried off. "She was not so lame as she made believe," says Lady Sun, looking after her.

 

The antiquity of our game is sufficiently attested by the wide diffusion of many of its comparatively recent variations. We remark, further, that the idea of the child-eating demon, so prominently brought forward in our American versions, is a world-old nursery conception. The ancients were well acquainted with such feminine supernatural beings. "More fond of children than Gello," says Sappho, referring to an imaginary creature of the sort. The most ancient view of this passion for stealing children was, that it was prompted by the appetite. Tales of ogres and ogresses, who carried off and devoured young children, must have been as familiar in the Roman nursery as in our own.

 

The trait of limping, characteristic of "witches" in games, is equally ancient. That such demons are defective in one foot is expressed by the ancient Greek name "Empusa" (literally One-foot), to whom was attributed an ass's hoof, a representation which contributed to the mediæval idea of the devil. A child's game, in which a boy, armed with a knotted handkerchief, pursues his comrades, hopping on one foot, is known in France as "The Limping Devil."[143] This game existed also in ancient Greece.

 

The reanimation and recovery of the children, with which the American performance closes, is a familiar trait of ancient nursery tales.”

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of "Old Motther Grey" Children's Chasing Game (From England, The Caribbean, & The United States)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents the complete reprint (three comments as of August 10, 2026) of the  discussion thread that I started in May 2005 on the online Mudcat Folk Music Forum about the English language children's chasing game "Old Mother Gray". That game is also called  "Old Mother Grey" and similar titles.

This post also presents an AI Overview of the "Old Mother Grey" game that is the result of my query on August 10, 2026.

In addition, this pancocojams post presents the complete reprint of a  kodalycollection.org page about the game  "Old Mother Gray".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown creators of these rhymes and games. Thanks to the collectors of this game and thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
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Click these links for closely related pancocojams posts:

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/information-examples-of-old-witch-game.html "Information & Examples Of The "Old Witch Game" From William Wells Newell's 1884 Collection Of American Children's Songs And Rhymes"

**
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/connections-between-british-caribbean.html for the closely related 2017 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of "What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?", "I'm Going Downtown To Smoke My Pipe", & "Children Children" (Where Are You Going?) Games"

**
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/chickama-chickama-craney-crow-singing.html for the closely related 2023 pancocojams post entitled "Chickama, Chickama Craney Crow" singing & chasing games (information, lyrics, & play instructions)".

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A REPRINT OF MUDCAT DISCUSSION THREAD ABOUT "OLD MOTHER GREY" CHASING GAME (May 9, 2005 -August 9, 2026) 

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81014&messages=3

Subject: ADD: Game song: Old Mother Grey

From: Azizi

Date: 09 May 05 - 10:17 AM

"In my research on continuity and change in children's rhymes I learned about this very old British children's game song:

 

OLD MOTHER GREY

 

Old Mother Grey, may we go out to play?

Mother Gray: 'No, it's raining'.

Children: "No, it isn't, the sun is shining

Mother Grey: "All right, you may go out to play'.

 

[The children rush off, and play around, perhaps moving out of sight.]

 

Old Mother Grey calls: "Children, it's dinner time!"

Children: 'Coming mother.'

Mother: 'Where have you been?'

Children: 'We've been to London to see the Queen.'

Mother: 'What did she give you?'

Children: 'A loaf of bread as big our head, a piece if cheese as big as our knees, a lump of jelly as big as our belly, and a teeny weeny six pence."

Mother: "Where's my share?

Children: 'Up in the air.'

Mother; 'How shall I get it?'

Children; 'Stand on a chair.

Mother; 'And if I fall?'

Children all laugh and shout out: "We don't care."

 

[Old Mother Grey runs after them, and whoever she catches becomes the next 'Mother'.]

 

Source: Source: Iona and Peter Opie: "Children's Games in Street and Playground"; [Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1969; pp. 307-308

 -snip-

Here's a variant from the Caribbean:

WE DON'T CARE

Children, children

Yes, Mama.                

Where yo' been to?

Granmama.

What she give yo'?

Two apples.

Where yo' put them?

On the shelf.

How will yo' get them?

Stand on a chair.

 

[As the "children" answer "Mama" they creep closer and closer to her until finally "Mama" turns and chases them"].

Source: Grace Hallworth: "Down By The River: Afro-Caribbean Rhymes, Games and Songs for Children" [New York Scholastic Inc, 1996]

 -snip-

I also have heard this variant from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania {1998}:

CHILDREN CHILDREN

Children, Children

Yes, Teacher.

Where have you been?

To Grandmom's.

What did she give you?

Bread and cheese.

Where's my share?

Up in the air.

How can I reach it?

Stand on the chair.

Suppose I fall?

We don't care.

Ha, Ha, Ha. Class is dismissed.

London Bridge is falling down,    {Sing the "London Bridge" tune}alling down falling down,

London Bridge is falling down.

 

Back to detention. {Teacher's voice}

-snip-

And two days ago I found a variant of this rhyme called "Club Fist" in a book that Hallowfox sent me {Thanks, Hallowfox}!!

CLUB FOOT

Call:                What you got there?

Response        Club fist

Call                Where's my share?

Response        Rat's got it.

Call                Where's the rat?

Response        Cat's got it.

Call                Where's the cat?

Response        Rope hung him.

Call                Where's the rope?

Response        Fire burnt it.

Call                Where's the fire?

Response        Water quenched it.

Call                Where's the water

Response        Ox drunk it.

Call                Where's the ox?

Response        Dead and buried by the old church steeple,

                      And whoever cracks a smile will get a hard pinch

 

[anyone who laughs gets pinched]

 

Source: "Did You Feed My Cow?", Margaret Taylor Burroughs

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I'm wondering if any of these game songs are familiar to anyone or if you know of any game songs that are similar to them.

Thanks."
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August 10, 2026- Read my recollections in the comment section of this pancocojams post about the "We Don't Care" example of this game that I heard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1998.  

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Subject: RE: Game song: Old Mother Grey

From: GUEST

Date: 09 Aug 26 - 09:44 AM

"Grandma Gray, can we go out to play know my children, not today, we won't get our clothes dirty, take 3 little legs and go to play my children, my children. I call you, we can't hear you my children, my children, I call you. We can if I get my coat, Will you come? No, if I get my hat with you, come no, if I get my switch, Will you come no"

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Subject: RE: Game song: Old Mother Grey

From: Robert B. Waltz

Date: 09 Aug 26 - 11:11 AM

"Roud #12730. Often "Granny Gray" or "Grandmother Gray"; sometimes "Mother May I Go Out to Play." Known from all parts of the British Isles, Ireland, and the United States. The Ballad Index titles is "Grandmother Gray," but the TBI has nothing on this song beyond what is in the Roud Index.

https://kodalycollection.org/song.cfm?id=1237&title=Old%20Mother%20Gray"

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AI Overview

" "Old Mother Grey" (sometimes spelled Gray) is an old traditional British children's playground game and dialogue song where children ask to go out to play, return from "London to see the Queen," share a rhyming exchange about dinner time, and end with a tag game chase.

How the Game is Played

The Request: Children ask, "Old Mother Grey, may we go out to play?"

The Weather Debate: Mother Grey says it is raining; the children claim the sun is shining until she lets them go.

Dinner Time: Mother Grey calls out that it is dinner time.

The Dialogue: Children recite a cumulative rhyming dialogue ("We've been to London to see the Queen..." giving absurd sizes of bread, cheese, and jelly).

The Chase: When Mother Grey asks for her share ("Up in the air... stand on a chair"), the children yell "We don't care!" and run. Mother Grey chases them, and whoever she catches becomes the next "Mother".

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REPRINT FROM KODALY COLLECTION ORG. SONG "OLD MOTHER GRAY" 

https://kodalycollection.org/song.cfm?id=1237&title=Old%20Mother%20Gray

"OLD MOTHER GRAY

Source -Library of Congress AFS 3635 B4

Collected by Herbert Halpert"

[Lyrics from sheet music]

"Old Mother Gray can we go out to play?

I won’t go near the riverside to chase the geese away.

-Transcribed by Gail Needleman


Suggested game directions:

Formation: Children stand in a line and face a child chosen to be “Old Mother Gray”

Action: Children sing the song two or three times, and the mother responds with spoken answers (no, not yet, maybe, not today).  On the next repetition, the mother responds “yes!” The children “run” towards the mother’s side as she tags (or catches) one of the children. The child caught becomes the new “Old Mother Gray” who now stands on the other side and the game repeats.”…
-end of quote-
This page continues with a section called “Rhyme Analysis” and a section called "Rhythm Set”.

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Links To Pancocojams Posts On African American Trail Ride Line Dances

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update-August 9, 2026

This post presents links to all of the pancocojams posts that have been published about African American trail ride dances.*

Additional links will be added to the top of this list when they are published on this blog. 

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post.
-snip-
In the context of this pancocojams post, the type of "trail ride line dancing" that I'm referring to is African line dancing that is done in a follow the leader, single file (vertical line that moves in a cirular direction.
, 
This list doesn't include pancocojams posts on African American line dancing that is  sis done in horizontal lines which is either a trail ride version of an older or a current African American line dance or was specifically composed for African American trail ride line dancers*. 

*Examples of songs that were specifically composed for African American trail ride line dancers are the Southern Soul hits 803Fresh's  "Boots On The Ground" and Tonio Armani featuring Jeter Jones'  "Country Girl"

Click the African American line dances tag below to find pancocojams posts on that subject.

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A LIST OF PANCOCOJAMS POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT

Examples Of African American Single File Line Dances (also known as "Circle Line Dances" & "Trail Ride Versions")

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/examples-of-african-american-single.html

August 7, 2026

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Two Trail Ride Videos Of "K-Wang Wit it" (video & selected comments)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-trail-ride-version-of-k-wang-wit-it.html

 August 6, 2026

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"The K-Wang" ("K-Wang Wit It") Dance: Is It An African American Line Dance, A (Follow The Leader) Trail Ride Dance, A Stand Alone "Move Your Shoulder" Dance, Or All Of These?

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-k-wang-k-wang-wit-it-dance-is-it.html

 August 4, 2026

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Line Dancing With Terressa's Video Of The Trail Ride Line Dance "Follow Me" by Aly-Us (video & comments)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/line-dancing-with-terressas-version-of.html

August 2, 2026

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"Follow Me" by Aly-Us: African American (Single File/Circle Line Dance Videos from 2012, 2019, and 2024)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/follow-me-by-aly-us-african-american.html

August 1, 2026

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Video Examples Of Trail Ride Line Dancing (With Comments & Information About African American Trail Rides)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/comments-from-discussion-threads-of.html

August 26, 2025

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What Are "Trail Ride" Line Dances & How Are They Different From Some Other African American ("Soul") Line Dances?

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/what-are-trail-ride-line-dances-how-are.html

August 26, 2025

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Kenny J Shares Soul Line Dance History In A 2025 Online Interview

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/kenny-j-shares-soul-line-dance-history.html

August 24, 2025

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Popping Fans & Blowing Whistles In "Boots On The Ground" And "Follow Me" Soul Line Dance Videos

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/popping-fans-blowing-whistles-in-soul.html

February 18, 2025

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"Follow Me" And "Trailride Sailing" - Two Examples Of Soul Line Dancing In Circle Formations (With A Video Of A Hora & A Video Of A Freylekhs Circle Dances)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/follow-me-and-trail-ride-sailing-two.html

February 14, 2025

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