The Donkey / The Croft

The Donkey / The Croft / The Policeman

Sung and spoken by Ewan MacColl.

Spoken: And, there were rounds, endless songs which
went on like this, (sings):

The higher up the mountain, the greener grows the grass,
The more the donkey wags its tail, the more it shows its —
Higher up the mountain, the greener grows the grass,
The more the donkey wags its tail, the more it shows its — (Etc.)

Spoken: In our street the — the policeman was looked
upon as the enemy of the children, and they had many
songs about him. Songs like (sings):

On the Croft, on the Croft,
Where we played pitch and toss,*
And the copper come and chased us away.
So I got a piece of lead, and I 'it 'im on the 'ead,
And the sly little beggar run away.

Spoken: And if a policeman was passing, and he was
far enough away to make it possible to sing the song
with safety, wed sing (sings):

If you want to know the time, ask a policeman.
He will tell you very sharp, with a smack across your —
ask a policeman.

Three more "squibs." Small pieces of wordplay. These challenge authority through the threat of a "rude" word or violence.

*A group gambling game in which tossed coins are matched.

Various Artists
- 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