GREEN GRAVEL
"Green Gravel" was a singing game, collected in nearby Sporle, Norfolk in the late 1800's (The Traditional Games of England, Scotland and Ireland, Gomme). It was know as a funeral game, the green gravel and grass depicting a freshly dug grave.
The children would walk round in a ring singing the verse, and when the last line is sung, the child whose name is mentioned turn round, facing the outside of the ring, having his/her back to the centre. He/she continues to hold hands with the others, and dances round with them in that position. This is repeated until all the children have turned with their backs to the inside of the ring.
Green Gravel Lyric:
Green Gravel, green gravel, your grass is so green
The fairest young damsel that ever was seen;
O Mary, O Mary, your sweetheart is dead:
We've sent you a letter to turn back your head.
Nicky sings: Green Gravel
The children would walk round in a ring singing the verse, and when the last line is sung, the child whose name is mentioned turn round, facing the outside of the ring, having his/her back to the centre. He/she continues to hold hands with the others, and dances round with them in that position. This is repeated until all the children have turned with their backs to the inside of the ring.
Green Gravel Lyric:
Green Gravel, green gravel, your grass is so green
The fairest young damsel that ever was seen;
O Mary, O Mary, your sweetheart is dead:
We've sent you a letter to turn back your head.
Nicky sings: Green Gravel
NELSON'S BLOOD
A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
Oh a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
And we'll all hang on behind
And we'll roll the old chariots along
We'll roll the old chariots along
We'll roll the old chariots along
And we'll all hang on behind
Oh a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
And we'll all hang on behind
And we'll roll the old chariots along
We'll roll the old chariots along
We'll roll the old chariots along
And we'll all hang on behind