Transcribed Lyrics Sung by Informant
Oh playmate, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree
Chuck down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we’ll be jolly friends
Forever more
Say, Say, oh playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly’s got the flu
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo
Ain’t got no rain barrel
Ain’t got no cellar door
But we’ll be jolly friends
Forever more, more, more, more, more
Context
Informant recalls that she learned this song from fellow classmates at recess during her elementary school years in North Dakota. She would sing this song with friends and classmates, and also alone, “if I were doing chores or whatever” she mused. “I don’t really know to interpret the song…it’s just a little jingle about friendship I guess…I think the melody’s the more important part of it.”
My Analysis
I agree with the informant that the melody is very strong and catchy, and probably the reason why the song’s remained a part of the German-Russian North Dakotan folklore. It reminds me a lot of songs I would sing on the playground as a kid, which I think speaks to the universality of childhood songs, even if the melodies and lyrical content are different across cultures.