Miss Jenny Jones

folk song / traditional

Version 1

Lyrics

(Folk song)

Refrain
We come to see Miss Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We come to see Miss Jenny Jones, and how is she today?

(Spoken) 1. She’s washing.

(Sung) We are so glad to hear it, to hear it, to hear it.
We are so glad to hear it, and how is she today? Refrain

(Spoken) 2. She’s ironing.

(Sung) We are so glad to hear it, to hear it, to hear it.
We are so glad to hear it, and how is she today? Refrain

(Spoken) 3. She’s sick.

(Sung) We are so glad (sad) to hear it, to hear it, to hear it.
We are so glad (sad) to hear it, and how is she today? Refrain

(Spoken) 4. She’s dead (gone).

Game

Formation: Students stand in a line (side to side); one student is designated the Leader. One student (“It”) stands facing all of the students in a line, playing the part of “Miss Jenny Jones.” Students could sing “It’s” name instead.

Ms. 1-2 = Leader walks forward toward It.
Ms. 3-4 = Leader and It shake hands.
Ms. 5-6 = Leader walks backward to the line.
Ms. 7-8 = Students clap 3 times (on the dotted quarter note beat).
Ms. 8b-9 = It pantomimes washing or ironing (or some other activity) while saying, “She’s ____” (and names the activity).
Ms. 10-11 = All students in the line walk forward.
Ms. 12-13 = Students imitate It’s motion.
Ms. 14-15 = Students walk backward to the line where they started.
Ms. 16-17 = Students clap 3 times (on the dotted quarter note beat).

Version 2

Lyrics

(Folk song)

Refrain 1
We come to see Miss Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We come to see Miss Jenny Jones, and how is she today?

1. Miss Jenny is a-washing, washing, washing,
Miss Jenny is a-washing, You can’t see her today.

Refrain 2
We are so glad (sad) to hear it, to hear it, to hear it.
We are so glad (sad) to hear it, and how is she today?

Refrain 1

2. Miss Jenny is a-sweeping, sweeping, sweeping,
Miss Jenny is a-sweeping, You can’t see her today.

Refrain 2

Refrain 1

3. Miss Jenny is a-sick in bed, sick in bed, sick in bed,
Miss Jenny is a-sick in bed, You can’t see her today.

Refrain 2

Refrain 1

(Spoken) 3. She’s dead (gone)!

Game

Formation: Students stand in a circle. One student is “Jenny Jones” or “It” and another one is the Mother. Those two students are standing in the center of the circle.

1-8 = Students hold hands and circle.
9-16 = It and Mother sing “Miss Jenny is ______…” They sing an activity while pantomiming the motion. The other students copy the motion and do it with them.
17-24 = Depending on whether the activity is positive or negative, the students sing “We are so glad” while they clap happily or “We are so sad” while they clap sadly. When It and Mother sing, “Miss Jenny is dead (gone),” the students run away. Mother catches one student, who becomes the new Mother.