The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 64

Poor Jenny is folding, folding, folding, Poor Jenny is folding, you can't see her to-day.

When can we see her?

At three o'clock. (Clock strikes three.)

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?

Poor Jenny is ironing, ironing, ironing, Poor Jenny is ironing, you can't see her to-day.

When can we see her?

At four o'clock. (Clock strikes four.)

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?

Poor Jenny is poorly, poorly, poorly, Poor Jenny is poorly, you can't see her to-day.

When can we see her?

At five o'clock. (Clock strikes five.)

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?

Poor Jenny is dying, dying, dying, Poor Jenny is dying, you can't see her to-day.

When shall we see her?

(Come) at six o'clock. (Clock strikes six.)

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?

Poor Jenny is dead, dead, dead, Poor Jenny is dead, you can't see her to-day.

What colour will you have for the funeral for poor Jenny Jones?

Red?

Red is for the soldiers, soldiers, soldiers, Red is for the soldiers, and that won't do.

Blue?

Blue is for the sailors, sailors, sailors, Blue is for the sailors, and that won't do.

Pink?

Pink is for the babies, babies, babies, Pink is for the babies, and that won't do.

White?

White is for a wedding, a wedding, a wedding, White is for a wedding, and that won't do.

Black?

Black is for the mourners, mourners, mourners, Black is for the mourners, and that will do.

Poor Jenny Jones is dead, dead, dead, Poor Jenny Jones is dead, and lies in her grave.

-Southampton (from nursemaid of Mrs. W. R. Ca.r.s.e).

VIII. We've come to see Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, We've come to see Jenny Jones, is she at home?

Jenny Jones is scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing, Jenny Jones is scrubbing, you can't see her now.

[Then follow verses asking alternately "Is she at home?" in the same words as the first verse, and answering that she is

(1) was.h.i.+ng, (2) ill, (3) dying, (4) dead;

all of them in the same form as the second verse. Then the verses continue with-]

Jenny Jones is dead, she is dead, she is dead, Jenny Jones is dead, you can't see her now.

We'll come to the funeral, funeral, funeral, We'll come to the funeral, and how shall we dress?

You can come in yellow, in yellow, in yellow, You can come in yellow, that's how you can dress.

Yellow's for jealousy, jealousy, jealousy, Yellow's for jealousy, so _that_ won't do.

You can come in green, in green, in green, You can come in green, that's how you can dress.

Green's forsaken, forsaken, forsaken, Green's forsaken, so _that_ won't do.

You can come in white, in white, in white, You can come in white, that's how you can dress.

White's for weddings, weddings, weddings, White's for weddings, so _that_ won't do.

You can come in black, in black, in black, You can come in black, that's how you can dress.

Black is for funerals, funerals, funerals, Black is for funerals, so black will do.

-Colchester (from Miss G. M. Frances, Colchester, through Miss Morris).

IX. We've come to see Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, We've come to see Jenny Jones. How is she now?

Jenny is was.h.i.+ng, was.h.i.+ng, was.h.i.+ng, Jenny is was.h.i.+ng, you can't see her now.

[Then follow the alternate question and answer; the questions in the same words as the first verse, and the answers in the same form as the second verse, stating that Jenny is

(1) folding, (2) starching, (3) ironing, (4) ill, (5) dying, (6) dead;

then the verses proceed with-]

May we come to the funeral?

Yes.