The wonderful thing about children's folklore is its vibrancy and influence. It is also very cyclical and age dependent. In 2005 I video-taped three year six students at the Paddington home of one of the girls. Two of the girls Madison Lucas and Danielle Gonda went to the same school (Sceggs, Darlinghurst, in Sydney) and Claudia Moriz to Glenmore Road Public School, Darlinghurst, Sydney. This allowed some comparison of songs and clapping and opportunities for explanation and teaching of particular songs. I have left this material in the videos to show the folklore learning process.
Being year six this is usually the last year girls participate in playground games, especially singing and clapping games, as they become self-conscious and also
preoccupied with boys. All three of the girls were told of the background to the video session, what was expected and that it was being done at home (rather than school) so there would be no censorship of the more ribald material.
The series of videos provides a look inside the world of folklore and especially the influence of popular entertainment, in particular the internet, popular music and film.
The video session was focused on clapping rhymes and action songs and did not include elastics, skipping and other action games. Being Year Six the girls referred to such activities as being 'for the younger girls at school'
Introduction
3.19 MB
Introduction to this collection by Warren Fahey
So Macca Doras
3.02 MB
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A hand clapping out rhythm aimed at slapping your partners hands with the final count out.
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Clapping rhyme
See See my playmate
I cannot play with you
My sister's on the loo
Since 1982.
roll down my rainbow
In to the corridor
and we'll be friends for ever more more more
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We are the Can Can girls
We wear our hair in curls
We don't smoke or drink
(or that's what our parent's think)
we don't play with toys
we just kiss with boys
We are the Can Can girls
- Of 2005!
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My boyfriend gave me an apple
my boyfriend gave me a pair
My boyfriend gave me a kiss on the lips
and I threw him down the stairs
I threw him over London
I threw him over France
I threw him over the Harbour Bridge
and he lost his underpants
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The Backstreet Boys is a popular all-boy band and this song originated on an internet comedy site,
Which Backstreet Boy is gay?
tell me - who ain't saying that it's Ryan
Tell me - who ain't saying that it's Howie
Tell me - I never want to hear you say
Which Backstreet Boy is gay?
Now you can see him,
He's in women's clothes
The dog is cheating on me
We are on fire
His back perspires
Which one is that way
Which Backstreet Boy is gay?
Tell me who ain't saying that it's Ryan
Tell me who ain't saying that it's Howie
Tell me I never want to hear you say
Which Backstreet Boy is gay?
I never want to hear you say
Which backstreet Boy is gay/
- all right - we're all gay!