The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 66

I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.

You can't see her, she's ill [then she's worse].

I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.

You can't see her, she's dead!

_Chorus._ There's red for the soldiers, Blue for the sailors, White for the angels [for the _baby_, Chirbury], And black for the mourners [of poor Jenny Jones].

-Berrington, Chirbury (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 577).

XIII. We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.

Poor Jenny Jones is washing, you can't see her.

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.

Poor Jenny Jones is drying, you can't see her.

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.

Poor Jenny Jones is starching, you can't see her.

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.

Poor Jenny Jones is ironing, you can't see her.

We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.

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

What shall we follow, in red, blue, or black?

Red's for the soldier, blue for the sailor, Black for the dead.

-Enborne School, Berks (Miss M. Kimber).

XIV. Come to see Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones; Come to see Miss Jenny Jones, And how is she to-day?

Miss Jenny Jones is washing, washing, washing, Miss Jenny Jones is washing, You can't see her to-day.

Farewell, ladies, ladies, ladies, and gentlemen too.

[Miss Jenny Jones is drying, starching, ironing, ill, worse, dying, and dead in turn. Then-]

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in, dress her in?

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in red?

Red's what the soldiers wear, The soldiers wear, the soldiers wear, Red's what the soldiers wear, And that won't do.

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in, dress her in?

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in blue?

Blue's what the sailors wear, Sailors wear, sailors wear; Blue's what the sailors wear, And that won't do.

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in, dress her in?

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in black?

Black's what the mourners wear, The mourners wear, the mourners wear; Black's what the mourners wear, And that won't do.

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in, dress her in?

What shall we dress her in, Dress her in white?

White's what the dead wear, The dead wear, the dead wear; White's what the dead wear, And that will do.

-Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).

XV. Come to see Jinny Jones, Jinny Jones Come to see Jinny Jones, And where is she now?

Jinny is washing, is washing, Jinny is washing, And you can't see her now.

Very well, very well, lady, lady, Very well, lady, That will do.

[Then follow-

(1) starching, (2) ironing, (3) dying, (4) dead.]

What shall we follow in, follow in?

What shall we follow in?

We'll follow in blue.

Blue is for sailors, for sailors, Blue is for sailors, And that won't do.

[_or_, You can't follow her so.]

[Then follow-

Red is for soldiers, White is for weddings, Yellow is for babies.]

Black is not deep enough, deep enough, That won't do.

What shall we follow in, follow in?

We'll follow her in c.r.a.pe, c.r.a.pe [p.r.o.nounced _cray-ape_].

You may follow her in c.r.a.pe, c.r.a.pe, You may follow her in c.r.a.pe, That will do.

-Deptford (Miss E. Chase).

XVI. I've come to see Georgina, Georgina, Georgina, I've come to see Georgina, how's she to-day?

She's upstairs washing, washing, washing, She's upstairs washing, and can't get away.

O very well, ladies, ladies, ladies, We'll come another day.

We've come to see Georgina, Georgina, Georgina, We've come to see Georgina, how's she to-day?

She's upstairs ironing, ironing, ironing, She's upstairs ironing, and can't get away.

[Then the two verses are repeated-

O very well, ladies.

We've come to see Georgina.