There Are Hundreds Of These
Interview with Peggy MacGillivray and James T. Ritchie.
James T. Ritchie: Well, I got started because — eh, one day I had a class. I'm supposed to be a science teacher, you see, and if you teach certain girls science, you find it's very difficult, and they're not interested in in scientific explanations of why a blanket keeps you warm. They know it keeps you warm. They don't want to know anything about the conductivity of the air. So I says to them, "Well, tell me, what are you interested in?" Because I couldn't get their interest aroused. And — eh, of course, no answer. Then I says, "What do you do?" No answer. "What do you do during the holidays?" "We play." "Where?" "In the street." "What at?" And then they began to tell me about their games, you see. You see, there's so many of— of— there's these rhymes, they — they skip, you see, or they have a, a ball — they play with a ball or — or, there's — there's hundreds of counting out rhymes, you know, like (Recites:)
Eetle ottle, eetle ottle black bottle,
Eetle ottle out. [you know]
Shining on the mantel-piece,
Like a silver thrupenny piece,
Eetle ottle black bottle,
Eetle ottle out.
You see. There are hundreds of these. Isn't there, Peggy? Do you know any one?
Peggy MacGillivray: Well, eh, the one that's most popular in Ferrier Street [the primary school she attended] is the one about Mabel the Horse.
Ritchie: Right — oh, that's a good one.
Peggy MacGillivray:
Three white horses in a stable,
Pick one out and call it Mabel.
If it's Mabel, set the table.
Three white horses in a stable.
- Various Artists
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Singing in the Streets: Scottish Children's Songs
- London Bridge Time: 0:17
- My Girl's A Corker Time: 1:26
- I've A Sweetheart in America Time: 0:51
- There Are Hundreds Of These Time: 1:08
- The Night Was Dark Time: 0:23
- Harry Lauder and Mussolini Are Dead Time: 0:25
- As I Went Down To Windsor Time: 0:32
- Chinese Government / Interview Time: 1:21
- The Wind, The Wind Time: 1:59
- Poor Mary Sat A-Weeping Time: 0:59
- Here's A Poor Widow Time: 0:17
- Little Sally Walker Time: 0:28
- On The Mountain Time: 0:17
- All The Boys In London Time: 0:34
- The Big Ship Sails Time: 0:23
- In And Out The Windows Time: 1:12
- Up Against The Wall Time: 0:42
- I Paula Tay Paula Taska / Interview Time: 0:41
- Here Comes A Bluebird Time: 0:32
- My Father Bought The Little Coat Time: 0:15
- A Tisket A Tasket Time: 0:30
- In and Out The Dusty Bluebells Time: 0:31
- He's A Navvy Time: 1:24
- Mother, Mother, I Am Ill Time: 0:28
- PK Penny Packet / Mrs Mopp / Chicka Tony Time: 0:25
- One Two Three Alairy Time: 0:22
- Eevy Ivy Over / Interview Time: 0:34
- All The Way To London Town / Interview Time: 1:13
- Queen Elizabeth Lost Her Shoe Time: 0:23
- It Has To Come Out Quite Unconsciously Time: 0:38
- Down In The Valley Time: 0:49
- There's Usually An Argument Which One's Which Time: 1:14
- Jelly On The Plate Time: 0:36
- Cowboy Joe / Ippetty Soopitty Time: 0:13
- My Mother / My Little House Time: 0:51
- Eetle Ottle, Black Bottle Time: 0:17
- Flip Flop Time: 0:36
- One Two Three Four Five Time: 0:20
- My Name Is Sweet Jenny Time: 0:51
- I'm A Little Orphan Girl Time: 0:58
- Broken Hearted, I Wander Time: 0:58
- The Bonny Sailor Boy / Interview Time: 1:21
- When I Was Single Time: 1:10
- An Angel Said To Me Time: 0:15
- All That Shivers / Canaa's Shore / The Burning Deck Time: 0:45
- The World Must Be Coming To An End Time: 1:02
- Robert Burns Time: 0:12
- Put Him In The Bathtub Time: 0:28
- I'm Goin' Awa In The Train Time: 0:19
- Paddy Knight Time: 0:21
- When I Was Young Time: 0:31
- Chairlie / The Cotton Spinners / The 42nd Time: 2:02
- Goose, Ducks, Stones, Fires And Rain Time: 1:08
- Aunty Mary Had A Canary / Woe O'Hara Time: 0:46
- The Donkey / The Croft / The Policeman Time: 0:54
- Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? Time: 0:11
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