"Skip To My Lou" (video, information, and lyrics)

Bow tie music, September 27, 2019

1,977,228 views • Sep 27, 2019

Find this and other wonderful singing games in the book "Rise Sally Rise" by The New England Dancing Masters, found here: https://amidonmusic.com/product/rise-... "Rise Sally Rise, (formerly Jump Jim Joe): Great Singing Games for Children" This Book and CD were formerly titled Jump Jim Joe. [This is the] 2014 edition of the original 1992 collection of 21 of Peter and Mary Alice Amidon’s favorite traditional singing games from the US and British Isles....
**** Edited by Azizi Powell Latest edition - November 8, 2024 This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of children performing the singing game "Skip To My Lou". Information about this singing game is also included in this post along with two versions of that songs' lyrics. The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes. All copyrights remain with their owner. Thanks to the unknown composers and creators of this singing game. Thanks also to all of those who were associated with this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/late-19th-century-early-20th-century.html for the related 2019 pancocojams post entitled "Late 19th Century & Early 20th Century Examples Of The American Folk Song "Skip To My Lou".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/three-youtube-videos-of-children.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Three YouTube Videos Of Children Performing The Singing Game "Skip To My Lou" "
Also, click __ for the related pancocojams post entitled "Colloquial Meanings Of The Phrase "Fly In The Buttermilk". 
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Most pancocojams posts focus on music, dance, and other cultural indices from Black cultures throughout the world. However, pancocojams posts that focus on children's rhymes, singing games, and cheers may be exceptions to this statement.

Some of the children's rhymes, cheers, and singing games that are presented in this blog may have originally been composed or later revised by Black people. However, other examples of these recreational categories may be featured on this blog simply because some versions of these compositions have been (and may still be) chanted or sung and performed by Black people. Also, I showcase children's rhymes, singing games, and cheers on this pancocojams blog because I like them and want to preserve, study, and share them.**** INFORMATION ABOUT AND A LYRIC EXAMPLE OF "SKIP TO MY LOU" These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. 1. From https://www.musick8.com/html/current_tune.php?songorder=6&numbering=145
"Now mostly a children's song, this catchy nonsense tune started its history as a "play party" creation from the 1840s. It was an icebreaker of a game that continues to be popular to this day. As some of the lyrics imply, the game involves couples rhythmically walking around a single person (originally a male) who, at a certain point, grabs a partner as they pass by, leaving a new single player. The song continues as long as you want to play. These play party tunes were devised during a period when dancing was not considered a good thing, so these allowed recreation without official dancing."...
** 2. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_party_(United_States) ..."Play parties began in the 1830s in the United States as a route around strict religious practices banning dancing and the playing of musical instruments. The areas most influenced by the practice were the Southern and Midwestern parts of the United States. Folk songs, many of European and English origin, were used as means to give the attendants choreographed movements for each phrase. No instruments were played at the events, as they were banned by the religious movements of the area. Singing and clapping were used to convey each song. Because dancing was banned, the movements took on the quality of children's games. Though the performance of play parties dwindled in the 1950s, music educators use them as ways to incorporate music and dance in their classrooms.[1]

Some traditional examples of play-parties are: Skip to My Lou, Buffalo Gals, Bingo, Pop Goes the Weasel, Old Dan Tucker, Coffee Grows on White Oak Trees, and Shoot the Buffalo.".. -snip- These play party songs/ singing games survive in the United States thanks to school music teachers. Children don't self-initiate playing these singing games.

** 3. From https://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/skip-to-my-lou-history-and-lyrics "History and Lyrics Of "Skip To My Lou" from the MMF Songbook"

"History for 'Skip to My Lou'

"Skip to My Lou" was a popular partner stealing song and dance from the American frontier period. Couples would dance around a single male who sang "Lost my partner, what'll I do?" When the couples sang "I'll find another one prettier than you," the male would "steal" a new partner from a dancing male. The dancing man would take his place in the circle to sing "lost my partner, what'll I do?"

"Lou' seems to be a variation of 'loo,' which is the Scottish word for love.

Lyrics for 'Skip to My Lou'

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Cows in the cornfield, What'll I do? Cows in the cornfield, What'll I do? Cows in the cornfield, What'll I do? Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

There's a little red wagon, Paint it blue There's a little red wagon, Paint it blue There's a little red wagon, Paint it blue Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Alternate Lyrics for 'Skip to My Lou'

Lost my partner, What'll I do? Lost my partner, What'll I do? Lost my partner, What'll I do? Skip to my lou, my darlin'

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

I'll get another one Prettier than you, I'll get another one Prettier than you, I'll get another one Prettier than you, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do, Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do, Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Cat's in the cream jar, Ooh, ooh, ooh, Cat's in the cream jar, Ooh, ooh, ooh, Cat's in the cream jar, Ooh, ooh, ooh, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin

Off to Texas, Two by two, Off to Texas, Two by two, Off to Texas, Two by two, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin'."

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