El patio de mi casa

folk song / traditional

Lyrics - Spanish

(Folk song from Spain)

El patio de mi casa es particular,
Cuando llueve se moja como los demás.

Agáchate y vuélvete a agachar
Que los agachaditos no saben bailar.

Hache, i, jota, ka, ele, elle, eme, a,
Que si tú no me quieres otra niña me querrá.

Hache, i, jota, ka, ele, elle, eme, a,
Que si tú no me quieres otro niño tendré yo.

Chocolate molinillo,
Corre, corre, que te pillo
Estirar, estirar que el demoño* va a pasar.

*Optional: Change “demoño” to “otro.”

English Translation - The courtyard of my house

The courtyard of my house is special,
When it rains, it gets wet as the others do.

Bend down and bend down again
The little ones who bend down don’t know how to dance.

H, I, J, K, L, LL, M, A,
If you don’t love me another girl will love me.

H, I, J, K, L, LL, M, O,
If you don’t love me, another boy I will have.

Chocolate grinder,
Run, run or I’ll catch you,
Stretch, stretch for the devil must pass by. (source)

Game

Version 1: Students stand in a circle holding hands.
A
ms. 1-8 – Circle right.
ms. 9 “Agachate” – Stop walking, bend down (or squat)
ms. 10 – Stand up.
ms. 11-16 – Repeat 9-10 three times.
B
ms. 17-24 – Left hand star
(repeat) ms. 25-32 – Right hand star
C
ms. 33 “chocolate” – hold hands, move forward, raise hands
ms. 40 “estirar” – move backwards, stretching arms out
(Game modified from this source.)

Version 2: Students stand in a circle holding hands with one student standing in the center.
A
ms. 1-8 – Circle right.
ms. 9 “Agachate” – Stop walking, bend down (or squat)
ms. 10 – Stand up.
ms. 11-16 – Repeat 9-10 three times.
B & C
Students stand still while person in the middle, with hands on hips, stands in front of each student in the circle, one at a time until the song ends. The person who is facing the center person at the end becomes the new center person.
(Game modified from this source.)