ID: 1003
Date: 1900s - 2000
Title: Ickle ockle
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Counting-out 
Rhyme: 

Ickle, ockle, black bockle,
Fishes in the sea. 
If you want a pretty maid,
Please choose me.

(Hokitika, 1960s)

--

Ickle, ockle, black, (blue) bottle,
Ickle, ockle, out.
O. U. T. spells out,
And out you shall go.

(Christchurch, 1950s; Auckland, 1960s; Auckland, 1990s)

--

Ible oble chocolate bobble,
Ible oble out.
If you eat the chocolate bobble,
You may step out.

(NZ ex UK, 1990s)

--

Ibble bobble black bobble,
Ibble obble out.
Turn the dirty dish wash,
Inside out.
First you turn it inside,
Then you turn it out.
Ibble obble black bobble,
Ibble obble out.

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Ickle, ockle, blue bottle,
Ickle, ockle, out,
If you come to my house,
I will kick (boot) you right out.

(Auckland, 1950s; New Lynn, 1960s; Auckland, 1970s; NZ, 1970s; Manurewa, 1970s;  Northland, 2000)

--

Black bottle, you are out.

(Gore, 2002)

--

Ickle ockle black bottle,
Ickle ockle out.

(Tauranga, 2000; Auckland, 1980s; Wellington, 1990s)

--

Ickle ockle black bottle,
Ickle ockle snout.
Keep away from my house.
I will boot you out.

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Ickle, ockle, black bottle,
Ickle, ockle out.
Turn the dirty dishcloth,
Inside out.  

(Palmerston, 1910)

--

Ibble obble black bobble,
Ibble obble out,
With a dirty dishcloth,
Torn in two,
Out goes you.
Y. O. U.

(NZ ex UK, 1960s)

--
 
Background Info: Used as either counting out or to choose a partner or leader in a game. Players each hold fists out while leader counts around the circle. When both fists are 'out' then player steps back until all but one have been eliminated.

==

Also referred to as dipping rhymes by Opie, 1984:32-35.

==

Noted by Sutton Smith, 1959:63, as being used in Otago 1900. One of the three most common counting-out rhymes used in NZ before 1900. The other two were Eenie, meenie and Onery, twoery..

==

Variation in Turner, 1969:13:

Eetle ottle black bottle,
Eetle ottle out.

(Melbourne, 1945)

Ibble abble black bubble,
Ibble abble out.

(Melbourne, 1967)

==
 
Keywords: nonsense 
Location: Various NZ, UK 
Group size: 5 
Incidence: 19