Skip To My Lou - Song Page
Background
This popular children's song has interesting beginnings. It was a popular "partner stealing dance" form the American frontier. A group of couples would dance in a circle holding hands with one boy in the middle, "lost my partner, what'll I do?". He would "find a partner prettier 'n you" and take the hand of a girl in the circle. Her partner would then go to the center of the circle. According to Wikipedia, the "lou" in the chorus comes from "loo", the Scottish word for love.
This energetic song can be used as a warmup as a circle dance, much as it was originally used. It can also be used with individuals skipping in place and singing along with the chorus, "skip, skip, skip to my lou." UNITS: This song is a great accompaniment to lessons on dancing and exercise and on American history. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THE SONG: ALICE BACKER - vocals and fiddle JEFFREY FRIEDBERG - vocals, banjo and guitar JOE ANGELORI - vocals and bass |
Video - Intro
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Lessons, Lyrics & More
"Skip To My Lou" - guitar lessonActivity Suggestions1. Children form circle - each has a partner
2. One child is in the middle of the circle 3. On the "find another one prettier 'n you" verse the child in the center takes the hand of someone in the circle and joins them. Their partner goes to the middle of the circle. Alternate Activity: During chorus, children skip in place and sing along. During the "flies in the buttermilk, shoo fly shoo" verse, children wave hands side to side, pretending to shoo flies. Children can sing along with other verses or tap tambourines. |
guitar chords
Another 2 chord masterpiece! Same chords as "Shoo Fly" but a little different pattern. Enjoy. LyricsChorus: Skip, skip, skip to my Lou
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou Skip, skip, skip to my Lou Skip to my Lou my darling Little red wagon, paint it blue Little red wagon, paint it blue Little red wagon, paint it blue Skip to my Lou my darling Chorus Lost my partner, what'll I do Lost my partner, what'll I do Lost my partner, what'll I do Skip to my Lou my darling Find another one prettier than you Find another one prettier than you Find another one prettier than you Skip to my Lou my darling Chorus Flies in the buttermilk, shoo fly shoo Flies in the buttermilk, shoo fly shoo Flies in the buttermilk, shoo fly shoo Skip to my Lou my darling Chorus |
