Beckwith. I come to see Jennie.

From Folk-games of Jamaica by Martha Warren Beckwith.

This is Roud 1047.

I COME TO SEE JENNIE

(vintage Jamaican photo)

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's gone to the river,
She's gone to the river,
She's gone to the river,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's washing some clothes.
She's washing some clothes.
She's washing some clothes,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's starching some clothes.
She's starching some clothes.
She's starching some clothes,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's ironing some clothes.
She's ironing some clothes.
She's ironing some clothes,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's sick, she's sick,
She's sick, she's sick,
She's sick, she's sick,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
I come to see Jennie,
And where is she now?

She's dead, she's dead,
She's dead, she's dead,
She's dead, she's dead,
And cannot be seen.

Good-by, good-by, good-by, good-by,
Good-by I come back again.

What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?

Bury her in red.

Red is for soldiers.
Red is for soldiers.
Red is for soldiers,
And that will not suit.

What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?

Bury her in blue.

Blue is for sailors.
Blue is for sailors.
Blue is for sailors,
And that will not suit.

What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?

Bury her in black.

Black is for mourners.
Black is for mourners.
Black is for mourners.
And that will not suit.

What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?
What shall we bury her in?

Bury her in white.

White is for the duppy.
White is for the duppy.
White is for the duppy,
And that will suit.

NOTES

One girl lies down, her face covered with a hat. In some sections, she is hidden with leaves. Half the players stnd in a line behind her, the others advance in line toward them singing the questions, to which the other players sing the answers. At the last line, the "duppy" rises and chases them, while the players scatter.

This is one of the most wide-spread of all folk-games. See Gomme I, 260; Maclagan (Argyleshire) 123: (Essex) Folk-lore Record 3, part 2, 171; Newell, 63, 245; Gardner (Michigan), JAFL 33, 104. Cf. "Janet Jo," Chambers, Popular Rhymes of Scotland, 1870, 140.