Song Video
Lyrics
Say, Say my playmate
Come out and play with me,
and bring your dolly three
climb up my apple tree.
Slide down my rain barrel,
slide down my cellar door,
and we'll be jolly friends,
forever more.
It was a sunny day,
she couldn't come out and play,
with tearful eyes I heard her say,.
So sorry playmate,
I cannot play with you,
my dolly's got the flu,
boo hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ain't got no rainbow,
Ain't got no cellar door,
But we'll be jolly friends,
Forever more.
Information About Say, Say My Playmate
Say, Say My Playmate may be done as a clapping game. The hands start out joined, closed, or with pinkies linked together, as with most clapping games, then the players put their right hands together, clap once, left hands together, clap twice.
To make it slightly harder, the players can add the step putting together both hands, and then the backs of both hands. To make it easier, for younger children or those who have trouble with "cross lateral" movement (reaching across their bodies), the players can clap hands right to left and then left to right, in place of the first two steps.
The sheet music, including the hand motions, can be found here.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
Shorter Version
Oh Johnny playmate
come out and play wiyh me
climb up my apple tree
slide down my rainbow
into my cellar door
and we'll be jolly friends
forever more more more!
Another Alternative
Oh little Playmate
come out and play with me
and bring your dollies three,
climb up my apple tree,
holler down my rainbarrel
slide down my cellar door
and we'll be jolly friends forever more.
No, no, no playmate, I cannot play with you
my dollies have the flu,
boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo,
ain't got no rain barrel,
ain't got no cellar door,
but we'll be jolly friends forever more.
A user suggested some spelling corrections:
Say, Say my playmate
Come out and play with me,
and bring your DOLLIES three
climb up my apple tree.
LOOK down my rain barrel,
slide down my cellar door,
and we'll be jolly friends,
forever more.
It was a sunny day,
she couldn't come out and play,
with tearful eyes I heard her say,.
So sorry playmate,
I cannot play with you,
my dolly's got the flu,
boo hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ain't got no RAIN BARREL,
Ain't got no cellar door,
But we'll be jolly friends,
Forever more.
There are a few changes in the lyrics for this one
Oh Playmate, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three.
Climb up my apple tree,
Look down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends forever more.
It was a rainy day, She couldn't come out to play,
With tearful eyes and tender sighs
I could hear her say:.
I'm sorry Playmate, I cannot play with you
My dollies have the flu,
Boo-hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.
Can't climb your rain barrel, [or: Ain't got no rain barrel]
Can't slide your cellar door [or: Ain't got no cellar door]
But we'll be jolly friends forever more.
A different take to one of the verses in the song:
It was a sunny day, she couldn't come out to play
With tears in her eyes I heard her sigh and then I heard her say,
'I'm sorry Playmate, I can't come out today
My dollie has the flu, boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo
Can't climb your rain barrel, slide down your cellar door,
But we'll be jolly friends forevermore.
This version has an introductory verse
There's a catchy little tune a floatin' through the air,
You hear it here and there,
They sing it ev'ry where
How it started, where it started
seems nobody knows.
But what's the diff'rence where it came from,
here's the way it goes.
Oh PLAYMATE, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three.
Climb up my apple tree,
Look down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends forever more.
It was a rainy day, She couldn't come out to play,
With tearful eyes and tender sighs
I could hear her say:.
I'm sorry Playmate, I cannot play with you
My dollies have the flu,
Boo-hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.
Can't climb your rain barrel, [or: Ain't got no rain barrel]
Can't slide your cellar door [or: Ain't got no cellar door]
But we'll be jolly friends forever more.
Similar to the original version
Say, say, oh playmate,
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree.
Shout down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more more more more more.
Say, say, oh playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly's got the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.
Ain't got no rain barrel
Ain't got no cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forever more more more more more.