Youth Activity Archive

Paired with a movement game of circled partners.

This song is paired with a movement game. Everyone picks a partner and stands face-to-face in two circles. Outside circle bows, then inside circle bows. Partners shake right hands, then left hands. Skip in place (or in circles) during “la la.” At the end, bow again and steps one place to their left to switch partners. Repeat the song with new partners.

Sheet Music

• See pg. 32 of The Brownie Book for the notes to sing.

Recordings

• None available. Similar to the original tune of Viljen I Veta

Lyrics

How d’ye do my partner, <Outside circle bows>
How d’ye do today; <Inside circle bows>
Will you dance in the circle, <Partners shake right hands>
I will show you the way. <Partners shake left hands>
(Repeat with chorus la la for skip.) <Skip in place (or in circles)>
<bow again and step left to switch partners, then repeat>

History

The melody is based on the Swedish folk tune “Viljen I veta huru bönderna göra” (Do you want to know how the farmers do). It was traditionally a pantomime game where children acted out different tasks, similar to “The Mulberry Bush.”

In 1907, educator Mari R. Hofer adapted the melody into the “How D’ye Do My Partner” version we know today. She stripped away the complex “farmer” pantomime and turned it into a simple lesson on etiquette (bowing and handshaking).

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