FTX-199 - BELIEFS & CUSTOMS

THE GAMES WE PLAY -2-

Following the publication of "Lore & Language of Schoolchildren" here is Peter Opie's classic 1960 presentation on the historical and folklore background to the rhymes and games still played by children, as well as comment on their beliefs and customs. Some of the recordings were specially made by the producer, Sasha Moorsom, but others were by Damian Webb. This second album is concerned with annual customs kept up by children as well as their superstitious beliefs and rituals.

1. HERE'S TWO OR THREE JOLLY BOYS - 0.31

2. Time & fortune: ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH - 0.51

3. (continued) WE PINCH SOMEBODY - 0.56

4. The 12 o'clock rule: AS IT WAS APRIL FOOL'S DAY - 1.22

5. Historical; tying shoelaces: ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY - 1.22

6. (cont.) 12 o'clock: IF ANYBODY TRIES - 0.30

7. Cumberland & N.Yorks: MAY GOSLINGS PAST AND GONE - 0.30

8. (cont.) Sussex: FIRST OF MAY IS PINCH-BOTTOM DAY - 0.12

9. May 29th & nettling: WE DON'T GO TO SCHOOL - 0.53

10. Hampshire: Ash Wednesday: I LIVE AT HAWKLEY - 0.45

11. Yorkshire: WELL ON KISSING FRIDAY - 1.02

12. Liverpool Judas: THIS BURNING ON GOOD FRIDAY - 1.50

13. (cont.) Police: LAST YEAR I GOT CHASED - 1.07

14. Easter Rollings: FIRST OF ALL WE GET AN EGG - 2.31

15. "Jarping": WHEN I DUMP MINE - 2.31

16. Secular Easter: HOT CROSS BUNS - 0.39

17. Westmoreland Pace-egg Play: HERE'S 2 OR 3 JOLLY BOYS - 2.32

18. (cont.) Final Song: SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - 0.34

19. Begging rhymes: CHRISTMAS IS COMING - 0.35

20. Manchester May Day: WE'VE COME TO GREET YOU - 1.08

21. WELL WE GOT READY/ MOLLY DANCERS KICKING UP A ROW/ ALL ROUND THIS MERRY MAYPOLE - 1.54

22. "Chubbing" on Bonfire Night: ON GUY FAWKES DAY - 1.43

23. Mischief Night (Nov 4th: WELL I GOT A LONG PIECE OF STRING - 1.44

24. London St James "Grottas": PLEASE COULD YOU SPARE A PENNY - 1.46

25. Skipping: RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, GOOSBERRY JAM - 1.27

26. Divination: PRUNE STONES TELL YOU - 1.42

27. (cont.) WHEN YOU GET THE BUS TICKETS - 0.36

28. (cont.): I HAVE A BUS TICKET - 0.32

29. (cont.) Short term forecast: YOU PICK THE TICKET - 0.30

30. (cont.): ONE'S FOR SORROW - 0.27

31. (cont.) Love tokens: IF SOMEBODY'S COLLAR'S TURNED UP -1.25

32. (cont.) Stepney: THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT COLOURS - 0.21

33. (cont.) MY FRIEND TOLD ME - 0.45

34. Luck bringers: WHEN WE HAVE OUR EXAMS - 1.16

35. (cont.) WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR BIRTHDAY - 1.24

36. Coincidences: WHEN TWO PEOPLE ACCIDENTALLY SAY - 0.41

37. Luck Superstitions: WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AND YOU SEE A LADDER - 1.34

38. (cont.) In the North: BEFORE YOU GO UNDER A LADDER - 1.34

39. (cont.): IF YOU SEE A WHITE HORSE - 0.57

40. (cont.) Ambulances: I GO TO A SCHOOL IN POPLAR - 0.57

41. (cont.) Purley: WHEN YOU SEE AN AMBULANCE - 0.14

42. (cont.) 4-legged animal: I LIVE IN SHIFNAL - 0.27

43. (cont.) Oxford: WHEN YOU SEE AN AMBULANCE - 0.27

44. (cont.): FOR THE MAIL-VAN YOU SAY - 0.15

45. (cont.) Other encounters: LADYBIRD, LADYBIRD - 0.42

46. (cont.) WHEN YOU SEE A FEATHER - 1.25

47. (cont.) WHEN I FIND A WOODBINE CIGARETTE PACKET - 1.50

48. Local belief at Selbourne: THE WISHING STONE - 0.39

49. Wart treatment: WHEN YOU SEE A FUNERAL - 1.28

50. London Cypriot boy: MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER - 0.42

51. (cont.) I HAD A WART - 0.35

52. (cont.) Adding Saliva spittle: I HAD SINCE BIRTH - 0.45

53. (cont.) Welsh: fat bacon: I HAD A NUMBER OF WARTS - 1.52

54. (cont.) London: YOU PUT FOUR PEBBLES IN A MATCHBOX - 1.09

55. Summary: SOUND OF PLAYGROUND - 0.40

Recorded by Sasha Moorspom & Damian Webb 1960. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1975.