Traditional ring games and hand clap games in Grenada can be found in other parts of the Caribbean, particularly Trinidad, while contemporary ring games and hand clapping games are much the same as the ones I grew up with in southern Ontario (for example, Miss Mary Mack).
In a Fine Castle (Ring Game)
In my young days, first half of the sixties, I recall that we were the fortunate one in the neighborhood to have a radio. The Beatles, Peter, Paul and Mary and the like are what I recall hearing. As school days began in the latter half of the sixties, cultural (local) music began to be a part of my life. The ring games, both those approved by the teachers and those scorned were of great interest. They were mainly mating games. I think they played an integral part in moulding the minds of the future adults. [In a Fine Castle was our] official class ring game: On person is picked as "It" and stands in the middle of the ring. The ring is formed by all classmates holding hands. Alternate bous [sic] and girls.
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It: In a fine castle (Well Carriacou still have none)
Ring: Do you hear my CeeCee Oh? (What on earth is a CCO) It: I love one of them. Ring: Which is the one do you love? It: I love Mary. (If brave you name the one you dote) Ring: What will you give to her? It: I will give her a diamond ring. (Well that was a real fantasy for me thinking that diamond was a metal like gold. Other more realistic offerings included, "Plate of Coocoo, Rice and peas etc. Food was the most popular) Ring: Go away Mary. Go and take your Diamond ring. Go and join your Cee Cee band. Source: Nick Cox (Carriacou)
bigdrumnation.org/games.htm |
This song is found in Grenada, Carriacou, Trinidad, Tobago, and other islands in the West Indies. It perhaps derives from the French song Ah! Mon beau château (www.mamalisa.com).
Instructions
The children hold hands and form 2 different circles. Group 1 in the 1st Circle sings the 1st verse. Group 2 sings the 2nd verse. They alternate verses. On We want ***, Group 1 chooses someone from the Group 2 (in the 2nd Circle). On the last verse the chosen person joins the 1st circle. The game continues until all the kids are in the 1st circle. Source: www.mamalisa.com
Instructions
The children hold hands and form 2 different circles. Group 1 in the 1st Circle sings the 1st verse. Group 2 sings the 2nd verse. They alternate verses. On We want ***, Group 1 chooses someone from the Group 2 (in the 2nd Circle). On the last verse the chosen person joins the 1st circle. The game continues until all the kids are in the 1st circle. Source: www.mamalisa.com
Lyrics
*Since the lyrics provided by Nick Cox were incomplete, I have used a variant from Trinidad below.
Group 1: In a fine castle,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Ours is the prettiest,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We want one of them,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Which of us do you want?
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We want [name of child in group 2],
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: What you going to give her?
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We'll give her a [name of something gross or undesireable]
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: That don't suit her!
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We will give her a [something valuable, wedding ring is common]
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Farewell [name of child in group 2],
Go on, take your wedding ring!
Variant: The rhyme is sung by two groups of children holding hands in two rings, with each group alternating verses. They get into haggling, all in rhyme, over which person they want from the other group, and what gift they will give her if s/he comes. That's where the children get to invent. There's much giggling over disgusting gifts that the group comes up with, with the other group responding in song, "That don't suit her, do you hear, my sissie-o?". When the supplicant group tires of it, they start offering appealing gifts until the other group agrees to send one of their number over, sings him or her a farewell, and the song starts again.
Source: Nalo, via www.mamalisa.com
*Since the lyrics provided by Nick Cox were incomplete, I have used a variant from Trinidad below.
Group 1: In a fine castle,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Ours is the prettiest,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We want one of them,
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Which of us do you want?
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We want [name of child in group 2],
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: What you going to give her?
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We'll give her a [name of something gross or undesireable]
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: That don't suit her!
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 1: We will give her a [something valuable, wedding ring is common]
Do you hear my CeeCee Oh?
Group 2: Farewell [name of child in group 2],
Go on, take your wedding ring!
Variant: The rhyme is sung by two groups of children holding hands in two rings, with each group alternating verses. They get into haggling, all in rhyme, over which person they want from the other group, and what gift they will give her if s/he comes. That's where the children get to invent. There's much giggling over disgusting gifts that the group comes up with, with the other group responding in song, "That don't suit her, do you hear, my sissie-o?". When the supplicant group tires of it, they start offering appealing gifts until the other group agrees to send one of their number over, sings him or her a farewell, and the song starts again.
Source: Nalo, via www.mamalisa.com
Four White Horses on the Table/You Don't Know Tomorrow (Hand Clapping Game/Stone Passing Game)
Lyrics (Hand Clapping Game)
Four white horses on the table
Pick them up and rub your navel
Pick pick pick and choose
Source: Tanyka Belgrave (Grenada), personal communication
A similar stone passing song exists on the recordings collected by Alan Lomax in 1962. From the liner notes: As in many other parts of the Caribbean, stone-passing games were once regularly played at wakes in Grenada, where they are known as “pound stone.” The players sit or kneel in a circle, passing stones from one to the other in time with the songs. The object of most stone games is to keep one’s movements tightly synchronized with the rhythm of the song so as to avoid having one’s hand pounded by one of the stones making their way around the circle.
You Don't Know Tomorrow (Stone Game)
Fire, Fire!
You don’t know tomorrow,
Fire, Fire!
Three white horses in the stable,
Get them out and cut the navel.
Four white horses on the table
Pick them up and rub your navel
Pick pick pick and choose
Source: Tanyka Belgrave (Grenada), personal communication
A similar stone passing song exists on the recordings collected by Alan Lomax in 1962. From the liner notes: As in many other parts of the Caribbean, stone-passing games were once regularly played at wakes in Grenada, where they are known as “pound stone.” The players sit or kneel in a circle, passing stones from one to the other in time with the songs. The object of most stone games is to keep one’s movements tightly synchronized with the rhythm of the song so as to avoid having one’s hand pounded by one of the stones making their way around the circle.
You Don't Know Tomorrow (Stone Game)
Fire, Fire!
You don’t know tomorrow,
Fire, Fire!
Three white horses in the stable,
Get them out and cut the navel.
Dolly Man Ryoko (Stone Game)
Lyrics
Dolly man, roko, tim bam,
Dolly man, do what all you don’t know.
Dolly man, roko, tim bam,
Dolly man, do what all you don’t know.
Performed by Lena McQueen (lead vocal), with Samuel McQueen, Irene McQueen, and Simpson Jeremiah (chorus).