Skip to My Lou
USA
HISTORY AND SONG NOTES
Skip to My Lou is an American folksong, believed to have originated in the 1840s. It originated as a partner dance, or as a square dance, where the partners keep switching throughout the song.
In addition to the lyrics above, there are several historical verses that are associated with this song. Instead of the “fly’s in the buttermilk” lines, you can try any of the below. And, the children may enjoy coming up with their own verses!
Other verses:
There's a little red wagon, paint it blue…
I lost my partner, what'll I do?…
Can't get a red bird, jay bird'll do…
Cat's in the cream jar, ooh, ooh, ooh…
Off to Texas, two by two….
Cows in the pasture two by two!…
Movement and Partner Dance
Skip to My Lou can be used as a circle game for younger children, where the children and teachers stand and move together in a circle or in a line. Older children may enjoy trying a simple partner dance, holding hands and dancing or swinging arms with a partner during the first half of the song (during “skip, skip, skip to my lou…), leaving their partner on “fly’s in the buttermilk,” and using the second park of the song to find a new partner.
AUDIO RECORDING FOR LISTENING, SINGING ALONG, AND LEARNING:
You’ll notice that in the recording below Skip to My Lou is paired with another American favorite Old Brass Wagon. These songs share the same harmonic structure, and can be sung together. Young children will not be able to sing two overlapping songs independently as you hear in this recording without considerable practice and teacher help; however, listening to overlapping songs or songs with different vocal parts is one way that we first introduce children to the concept of harmony.