Let's Have Ourselves A Play Party

-----After working in the hayfield all day, or attending to many chores around the house, or hoeing endless rows of corn, young folks of the last century wanted to have fun just like young folks want to have fun today. However, young people in many a 19th Century community were not allowed to dance. "Dancing's sinful," said the adults. The young folks asked, "Is it alright if we play some games?" This how the American invention called the "Play Party" evolved. It was a aquare dance or ring dance where music was not played. Instead, the "play" was accompanied by hand clapping and singing and was called a Play Party and NOT a dance. Some of the favorie songs included Skip to My Louand Get Along Home Cindy.

----Of course the adults were not fooled and some still refused to have anything to do with play parties and called them inventions of the devil.

You ought to see my Cindy,She lives way down South;

She's so sweet the honey bees Swarm around her mouth. (Cho.)

The first I seen my Cindy She was standing in the door.

Her shoes and stockings in her hand, Her feet all over the floor. Cho)

And so on and so on...

In addition to playful songs, songs as this old Pennslyvania "Deutsch" (not Dutch) song about the pioneer were sung. This song would apply to all of our sncestors who came across the mountains to find a new life in West Virginia.

When I First Came To This Land

When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a shack. I did what I could.

And I called my shack "Break my back"---

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a cow. I did what I could.

And I called my cow "no milk cow," and I called my shack "Break my back"---

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a duck. I did what I could.

And I called my duck "out of luck," and I called my "no milk cow," and I called my shack "Break my back"---

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a wife. I did what I could.

And I called my wife "run for your life," and i called my duck "out of luck," and I called my "no milk cow," and I called my shack "Break my back"---

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a son. I did what I could.

And I called my son "my work is done," and I called my wife "run for your life," and I called my duck "out of luck," and I called my "no milk cow," and I called my shack "Break my back"---

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.