THE PLAY-PARTY IN INDIANA - online book

Folk-Songs and Games with Descriptive Introduction, Notes, Sheeet music & Lyrics

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	72                          The Play-Party in Indiana.
	Needle's Eye.
	a. 1.    The needle's eye, that doth supply, The thread that runs so true, Many a beau have I let go 2.    Because I wanted you. I won't have you, Because I can't get you, Many a lass have I let pass, Because I wanted you. Miss Fannie Stewart, Brown Tp. b. One couple join hands high over their heads and form an arch. All of the other players form in line, each girl behind her partner and each person having both hands on the hips of the person in front of him. The long line then passes through the arch while the arch-makers sing 1. As soon as possible the ones who have passed under without breaking line circle around one of the arch-makers and join with those who have not been under the arch. All of the time, the persons who have just gone through or are under the arch, keep pulling forward, while those behind, fearful of being caught pull backward. The arch-makers secretly choose their symbols, silver or gold, ring or bracelet, cake or pie, apple or pear. Whenever they sing 2, the arch falls and encloses one of the players. He must choose between the symbols,52 and then leave the line to stand behind the arch-maker whose symbol he has chosen. The game continues until the players are divided into two separate groups. A tug of war ensues. 52 The game as played thirty years ago was a "kissing game." The person caught under the arch had to kiss the arch-maker whose symbol he haa chosen and then exchange places with him, the former becoming arch-maker and the latter filling in the gap in the line. Repeat from the beginning with the new arch-makers and continue repeating until each player has been caught at least once. My informant says further, that although "kissing games" were played more than any of the others, they were considered even then as being rather undignified.