Miss Mary Mack

This song is an old clapping game of unknown origin. It is played by kids sitting in front of each other while clapping their hands in sync with the songs tune. It can also be used as a jump rope rhyme, but that is less common.

The song name is somtimes shortened to just Miss Mary Mac.

Merry Mack is believed to be the most common hand-clapping game in the English-speaking world. It is used from New Zealand to the U. S. There are many different variations to the rhyme. In some older variations fifty cents is actually fifteen cents. It's possible the change was made to speed up the rhyme, and because there isn't much you can buy for fifteen cents anymore.

While the actual origin is unclear, there are several theories. The song could be a reference to the USS Merrimack, which was an iron clad warship in the American Civil War, because it's outer hull was black with large silver-looking rivets. Another possible origin is also from the civil war. It's possible the song is in reference to a famous Union ship named Miss Mary Mack that was take over by the Confederate Army.