Mulberry Bush
1.
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush;
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
And round the merry-ma-tanzie.
This is the way the ladies walk,
The ladies walk, the ladies walk;
This is the way the ladies walk,
And round the merry-ma-tanzie.
2.
She synes the dishes three times a-day,
Three times a-day, three times a-day;
She synes the dishes three times a-day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
She bakes the scones three times a-day,
Three times a-day, three times a-day;
She bakes the scones three times a-day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
She ranges the stules three times a-day,
Three times a-day, three times a-day;
She ranges the stules three times a-day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
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(1) Chambers (1847), 270, (1870), 134, a variant, in a
way, of "Merry-ma-Tanzie", q.v.; "only a kind of dance,
in which the girls first join hands in a circle, and
sing while moving around, to the tune of Nancy Dawson
[the first stanza above]. Stopping short, with a
curtsey at the conclusion, and disjoining hands, they
then begin, with skirts held daintily up behind, to walk
singly along, singing (the 2nd stanza).
At the last line they reunite, and again wheel round in
a ring, singing [the first stanza; then imitate the walk
of gentlemen, with a long stride; then the chorus again.
After this, "This is the way they wash the clothes,"
etc., and the chorus.]. They then represent ironing
clothes, baking bread, washing the house, and a number
of other familiar proceedings."
(2) Ibid. (1847), p. 271; (1870), 135; "a fragment of
this little ballet, as practised at Kilbarchan, in
Renfrewshire".
See Opies, Singing Game (1985), 286-92.
MS
oct97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!