“London Bridge” and “Ring Around the Rosie” had their day, too.

Nursery Rhyme for 5-Year-Olds¹

Dance around the Reader
No one really needs her
Slap her hands
Burn her lands
Listen to our Leader!

The Teacher’s very clever
But we can say “Whatever”
Slap her hands
(For) Fatherland
No homework now forever!

Neighbor’s got so sneaky
But we just got a peeky
Slap her face
Know your place
Give nothing to the freaky!

Post a little picture
Of those we know are Snitchers
Here’s a thought
[Girl’s name here]’s caught²
Hang the little witcher³

We are for the Flag now
We really have to brag how
Great we are
Show our scar
Zag and zig and Zag - POW!!!⁴

¹  From numerous video records with multiple variations, the first and final stanzas were almost always included; most commonly a clapping game with occasional dance or skip circles.

²  In some games, one of the participants is surprised by the choice and is at this point expelled from the circle or placed forcefully in the middle.

³ Some regional variants for older children substituted “bitcher.”

⁴ The rhyme ended when all the participants would suddenly fall over in a heap.