Poor Mary

"Poor Mary" or "Poor Jenny" is an English language nursery rhyme and singing game. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 1377.

Lyrics

Lyrics vary considerably for this song. Over a hundred known variations have been collected in Britain since the 1880s, not least in the use of the names, including Jenny, Mary and Sally. Common modern versions include:

The game

One child of the group is chosen to be "Jenny" or "Mary" etc., and has to kneel in the middle of a circle, usually with head in hands. The other children join their hands and walk around the other child singing the first verse. The child in the centre then carries out the actions of the following verses, most importantly choosing a partner.

The tune

The tune is widely known in Europe, and forms the first section of the folk dance tune "La Bourrée des Galvachers" from Burgundy, France. The melody was also used by Dmitri Shostakovich in his first Piano Concerto, op.35.