ID: 752
Date: 1983 - 2005
Title: Down the Mississippi
Gender: Female 
Classification: Skipping, counting-out 
Rhyme: 

Down the Mississippi, 
Where the girls play baseball.
One o'clock,two o'clock, three o'clock,
You're out!

(Christchurch, 1990s)

--

Down the Mississippi, 
If you give a shout,
You're out.

(Christchurch, 1990s)

--

Down the Mississippi, 
Where girls play baseball.
Strike, strike 2, strike 3, 
You're out.

(NZ, 1990s)

--

Down the Mississippi, 
If you miss the rope you're out! 
You're in. (new skipper runs in)

(Tauranga, 2000)

--

Down the Mississippi,
Where the girls play baseball
One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock,
You're out. (counting-out)

(Porirua, 2000)

--

Down the river, Mississippi, 
Miss the loop, you're out, out, out.

(Springston, 1990s; Auckland, 1994; Opotiki, 2002; NZ ex UK, 1983; Wairoa, 2005)

--
 
Background Info: Can also be extended to other actions, such as hop to Mississippi, clap to Mississippi, twist to Mississippi.

==

See also Turner, 1978:15:

Down the Mississippi,
if you miss a loop you're out.
Down the Mississippi,
If you miss the boat,
You swim.

(Victoria, 1958-1973)

==

Bauer, 2002, Sect.68:2,  recorded versions of this skipping game in Kaitaia x 2, Whangarei, Auckland x 2, Thames, Hamilton, x 2, Hawkes Bay, with the explanation of the use of a long rope and a lot of onlookers chanting the rhyme and watching the skipper waiting for a trip (miss a loop). 

Hey Mississippi, if you miss a loop, you're out.
Hey Mississippi, if you miss the beat, you are out.
Round the Mississippi, one slip, and you're out, get out.

==
 
Keywords: American, 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 4 
Incidence: 10