Lyrics
(Folk tune from Sweden, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, adapted by Beth Thompson)
Little children go to play,
Carousel is running,
It will run till evening,
Little ones a nickel,
Big ones a dime.
Hurry up, hurry up!
If you want to be on time.
faster:
Ha, ha, ha,
Happy are we,
Riding on our horses,
Oh, so merrily. (repeat)
Circle Game
Info: In the early 20th century, this Swedish street game was introduced to the United States.
Formation: Divide the class into two equal sections. One group is the “carousel” with “horses.” The other half will be the riders.
- Ms. 1-7 = The “carousel / horse” students join hands and circle to the right.
- Students stop singing, and every “rider” finds a “horse” and stands next to the horse with one hand on one shoulder. “Riders” face right and “horses” continue facing the center of the circle with hands clasped with other horses.
- Ms. 8-11 = “Horses” circle to the right, and “riders” walk around the circle behind the horses. Optional: Since this part is faster, students can gallop.
See also
- Country: Sweden
- Activity: circle game
- Harmony: I, IV, V
- Meter: 4
- Scale: 5 tones
- Tones: msltd’
- Source: Every Child’s Folk Songs and Games, Bailey, Carolyn Sherwin, Milton Bradley Company, 1914
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
