ID: 77
Date: 1920s - 1990
Title: Girl Guides
Gender: Female 
Classification: Parody, skipping 
Rhyme: 

We are the Girl Guides dressed in blue, 
These are the things that we can do. 
Salute to the captain, bow to the Queen, 
Pulling up your skirt so your underwear is seen!

(NZ, 1980s)

--

We are the Girl Guides dressed in blue,
These are the things that we must do.
Salute to the captain,
Bow to the Queen,
And show our knickers to the football team. 

(Whangarei, 1970s; Christchurch, 1990s)

--

I'm a Girl Guide, dressed in blue,
These are the things that I must do.
Salute to the King,
Bow to the Queen,
And turn my back to the Irish Queen. 

(NZ ex South Africa, 1960s)

--

I'm a movie star dressed in blue,
These are the things I must do.
Curtsey to the mayor,
Hop to the Queen,
Show my undies to the rugby team.

(Blenheim, 1990s)

--

I'm a little Girl Guide (Dutch girl), 
Dressed in blue,
Here are the things I like to do.
Salute to the Captain, bow to the Queen,
Turn my back on the naughty King, (King George?)
I can do the tap dance,
I can do the split,
I can do the polka, just like this.

(Palmerston North, 1960s)

--

I'm a Girl Guide, dressed in blue,
These are the things that I must do.
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
Turn right around and count sixteen. 
1,2,3..

(Hawera, 1940s; Auckland, 2006)

--

I'm a Girl Guide, dressed in blue,
These are the things that I must do.
Salute to the Captain,
Bow to the Queen,
(Never) turn your back on the Union Jack.

(Kerikeri, 1950s)

--

I am a Girl Guide dressed in blue,
These are the actions I can do.
Stand at ease, bend my knees,
Salute to the King, bow to the Queen,
Never turn my back on the Union Jack,
Under the archway, 1, 2, 3, pepper.

(1920s-1950s (Sutton-Smith, 1959:81))

--
 
Background Info: Opie, 1997:218-222, discusses variations of this rhyme. Variants include turning of the back on the gipsy queen, the washing machine, the German submarine and Hitler.
Also inclusion of other colours in rhyme variants:

I am a Girl Guide dressed in red,
These are the times I go to bed,
1,2,3..

I am a Girl Guide dressed in brown.
These are the days I go to town,
Monday, Tuesday..

I am a Girl Guide dressed in black,
I went to the factory and got the sack.
I went to the station and missed the train.
I went to school and got the cane.
How many whacks did you get?
1, 2, 3..
(Kent, 1934)

==

Comment in Factor, 1988:188, regarding the swings between fantasy and reality in children's play rhymes.

==

Variations in Turner,1978:18. include:

I am a girl guide, dressed in blue,
These are the actions I must do.
Stand at ease, bend your knees,
Salute to the King, bow to the Queen,
Turn your back on the Union Jack.
How many years will you stay in gaol?

(Adelaide, 1957)

==

Turner,1969:28 variation:

I am a Boy Scout dressed in brown,
See how many times I can touch the ground.
(Sydney, 1958)

==
 
Keywords: bawdy, patriotic, royalty 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 6 
Incidence: 10