Hi Susan, My favorite version is the one from Bessie Jones. It's in the book, Step it Down, by Jones and Bess Lomax Hawes. (A great book, by the way -- everything in it is useful.) They encourage a strong rhythmic rendition with clapping on the off beats. Go in and out the window (3x) As we have come today I kneel because I love you (3x) As we have come today I measure my love to show you (3x) As we have come today Shake hands before I leave you (3x) As we have come today Set: One big circle, no partners. For the first verse only, hold hands high to form arches. For the other verses, drop hands and clap (on the off beats). One player is in the center with a piece of paper or handkerchief about the size of an envelope. Actions: Verse 1- Center play walk in time, out of the ring through one arch, back in through the next, and so forth Verse 2- Center player kneel in front of the person he or she has reached at the beginning of the verse (no choice allowed). Verse 3- To "measure love" hold the paper by diagonal corners to the chest of the, um, "victim," and raise and lower hands in time to the music, using a seesawing motion: first one corner up and then the other. Verse 4- The two shake hands, also in time to the music, and then exchange places. The new center person takes the "measure" with him or her, and the play goes on. Here's another version from a book of play party games by Ed Durlacher. It's called "Skip In and Out the Circle," and is less dramatic than the version above, but has the advantage of keeping everybody busy. His lyrics: Skip In and Out the Circle (3x) And TAKE that Girl Right There Oh Skip Around Each Other (3x) Now LEAVE that Girl Right There The dance directions: (Circle of partners) Face your partner, skip by one another, passing right shoulders, and then left shoulder with the next, and so forth. At the word "TAKE" all take two hands with whomever they face and skip around each other (if no one's there, go to the center and find someone there). Continue the skipping turn with this person until the word "LEAVE." Face each other and start again. Ed says, "This game is also called, "Go In and Out the Window," and has many variations. susan taylor wrote: > Hello dear ones, > Hope all is well with you and that not all are living in the hot and > humid depths of the former swamp which is now known as Washington DC > (and environs)! > > I was calling a family dance on saturday where one child requested "go > in and out the window." I don't know it and promised her I'd learn it > before we meet again, next friday. I looked in my play party book and > can certainly adapt what is there (woefully out of date -- getting down > upon bended knee and that sort of thing which is a little over the top > in my book for a mixed age group), but was hoping someone here had a > great version in their repertoire. She only specifically remembered > the all in a circel and one person dances in and out of arches part. > > Thanks in advance for this and for all the help and support ongoing, > Susan ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rkgkPB/UOnJAA/Zx0JAA/uAiolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> The J. Appleseed Society E-Mail Discussion Lists to nurture the growth of participatory art and cultural activities. The Traditional Dance Callers List: For participatory dance callers, teachers, leaders and interested friends. Subscribe by sending a blank e-mail message (no subject, no message) to: trad-dance-callers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: trad-dance-callers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/