Draw a bucket of waterFour children cross hands. The first pair holds hands outstretched and the second pair joins hands over the first pair. The pairs pull, seesawing in a rhythmical movement against each other in time to the music.
For my neighbor's daughter;
One in a rush;
Two in a rush;
First old man (lady) pops under.We all fall out!
Each time at the end of a stanza, one child "pops under" the joined hands crossed in front--without letting go of the hands. Thus, they change the position. First there is one child in the center, then two children, then three children. When the last child pops under the interlocking arms, they will have formed a "bucket."
All four children turn clockwise in a circle and sing the stanza for a fifth time. Then they speak the line: "We all fall out!"
This traditional singing game is from the African American traditions of the Gullah people of the Georgia Sea Islands. Different versions of this game have been collected from the late 18th century.
Below is another variant:
Draw Me A Bucket Of WaterDraw me a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter
We got none [one, two, three, four] in the bunch
We’re all [three, two, one] out the bunch
You go under, sister Sally.
Frog in the bucket and I can’t get him out
Frog in the bucket and I can’t get him out
Frog in the bucket and I can’t get him out.
Frog in the bucket and I can’t get him out.--from Elementary School Music, Draw Me a Bucket of Water (Frog in a Bucket)
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