In the US in the 1950s the "London Bridge" game was played pretty much as
described in earlier postings, but I recall some extra verses--after the
unlucky individual was trapped when the "bridge" fell, there was a stanza
on "Off to prison you must go... my fair lady," then "Take the key and
lock him/her up... my fair lady." There may have been more but my memory
fails at this early hour. Anyway the prisoner was not pummeled but merely
led away, still trapped by the arms of the kids forming the "bridge," and
removed from play to watch from the sidelines. As in "musical chairs,"
then, the number of players was gradually reduced one at a time until only
one, the winner I guess, was left.
The Norwegian verse is terrific; like something right out of Tolkien. We
should work to abolish the jejeune "London Bridge" words and teach the
kids the more dramatic verse... if they're still playing such games today,
that is. Probably not, alas.
John Parsons
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