The American versions had one player, as the "Punchinello," at center of a ring of children. There are numerous versions.
It appeared, in what may be a poorly translated form in American music school books as:
Ho, look at me!Below is a simple version I learned from a child in 2001.
Punchinello, funny fellow.
Ho, look at me!
Punchinello, funny do.
The children form a circle. One child in center of this ring is the "Punchinello."A Baltimore version of this American singing game was collected from 20th century Baltimore, MD. Baltimore has its own Little Italy. According to Carey, the Baltimore version of the game was called "Punch and Netta." I suppose one could speculate that meant it could have derived from American Baltimore children misunderstanding another version of the name, "Pulcinella," as "Punch 'n Nella."The children sing:
What can you do,Now the "Punchinello" does an action--hopping on one foot, jumping jacks, clapping, spinning around, etc.
Punchinello, funny fellow?
What can you do,
Punchinello, funny fellow?The children in the ring copy whatever action that "Punchinello" is doing, while singing:
We can do that too,All the children put their hands on their hips and shake their heads, speaking aloud:
Punchinello, funny fellow,
We can do it, too,
Punchinello, funny fellow!"Punchinello, funny fellow!"Another "Punchinello" is picked and the game repeats.
copyright 2011, 2016 Myth Woodling
Sources:
George Gibson Carey, Maryland Folklore, 1989.
Bessie Jones and Bess Lomax Hawes,
Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage, 1987
Melanie & Mike, Words to the Wise,
Take Our Word For It, 1995-2003
http://www.takeourword.com/TOW132/page2.html
Punchinello, Music Resource, Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez
Elementary School, 3000 South Lawndale Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60623,
http://www.ortiz.cps.k12.il.us/musicweb/punchinello.htm