Lyrics
(American folk song)
1. Goodbye, girls, I’m going to Boston, (repeat twice)
Early in the morning.
2. Clear the way, you’ll get run over (repeat twice)
Early in the morning.
Refrain
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom?
Won’t we look handsome* in the ballroom?
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom
Early in the morning.
*I added the “handsome” so the boys wouldn’t mind singing the song also.
Dance
Formation: Students stand in two lines with partners facing each other. For this version, the Form is:
Verse 1, Refrain, Verse 2, Refrain (repeat)
Verse 1
4 beats = Take 3 steps forward, clap both hands of partner (high five) on beat 4.
4 beats = Take 3 steps backward, clap on 4.
(repeat)
Refrain
4 beats = Lead couple sashay down (hold hands and side skip in between the lines of people while they clap)
4 beats = Lead couple sashay back up
4 beats = Lead couple sashay down again
4 beats = Lead couple ends up taking their places at the bottom of each line while the other students take a step toward the place where the lead couple used to be standing.
Verse 2 (variation)
8 beats = Partners R arm swing
8 beats = Partners L arm swing
See also
- Country: Northeastern states (U.S.)
- Subject: goodbye
- Form: AB
- Activities: dances
- Harmony: Orff arrangements / I IV V
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm:
/ 
- Scale: Mixolydian
- Source: Handy Play Party Book, Lynn Rohrbough, Co-operative Recreational Service, 1940
or purchase here (printables only)
- PDF of song with chords + Lesson ideas + Orff arrangement
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
