Draw a bucket of water
For my only daughter,
One rack-a-shack-a-shack-a, two rack…, three…, four,
Let this old lady under,
Let this old man under,
Four in the sugar bowl, hop hop hop (repeat)
One, two, three, four!
Formation: Set of four (two couples). Partners face and join hands, one set of partners’ hands over the other.
A: Alternating hands, all four players “saw” quickly and lightly back and forth, four times per measure.
(“The bucket is empty and light as it goes down into the well.”)
B: Spoken rhythmically and not too fast, while the sawing motion is enlarged and exaggerated with elbows drawn far back, two times per measure. (“Now the bucket is full and heavy, hard to pull up.”)
C: The couple whose hands are on top raise one pair of joined hands and slip them over the head of the person on that side, bringing them to rest at the waist. Then the person on the other side is “popped under” in the same say. The remaining couple does the same, one person at a time. EAch set sings “old man” or “old lady” for a boy or girl as this basket figure is made.
D: Spoken four times. On “hop hop hop,” students take three small jumps on both feet, moving to the left (this takes practice!).
E: “One…” All drop hands.
“Two…” Look around for a new partner.
“Three…” Join hands with a new partner.
“Four…” Link up with another couple.
Extras for Plus Members
Song with chords (PDF)