Info
As with many folk songs, this song has many different versions. This version is adapted from the version I found in The Singing Game, by Iona & Peter Opie.
Lyrics
(Traditional chant)
Down in the jungle where nobody goes,
There’s a great big crocodile* washing his clothes,
With a rub-a-dub here and a rub-a-dub there,
That’s how he washes his clothes!
Refrain
Doo doo, doobie doobie doobie,
Doo doo, doobie doop doop,
Doo doo, doobie doobie doobie,
That’s how he washes his clothes!
*Add other animals.
Motions
Students stand in a circle of at least six people. Two people stand in the middle of the circle, standing back to back. They do actions of the lyrics while the other students sing. When they get to the third line (“rub-a-dub”), they rub their hands together leaning one direction, then on the other “rub-a-dub,” they rub their hands together leaning to the other side. On the refrain, the 2 students in the middle step forward to face one of the students in the outer circle. The students in the outer circle must mirror the motions the students in the center are doing. You could make it as simple as having them rub their hands as before, or they could make up motions.
See also
- Subjects: silly / crocodiles / washing clothes
- Activities: motions
- Form: AB
- Harmony: chords I, IV, V
- Meter: 4
- Similar tune: My Dog Rags
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
