Black Socks
(source: "The World's Best Funny Songs", Esther J. Nelson, 1988; also in "The Worm Song and Other Tasty Tunes, Janet Wilson, 1993, and in "Campfire Activities", Girl Guides of Canada, 1993.)

Black socks, they never get dirty,

The longer you wear them the stronger they get!

Sometimes I think I should wash them

But something keeps telling me

No, no, not yet!

(not yet, not yet...)

Thanks very much to Arlene, who sent me this second verse to the song.

Knee socks, they never stay up,

The more that you wear them the downer they get.

Sometimes I think about anklets,

But something inside me says, "Oh no, not yet."

(not yet, not yet...)

Thanks very much to Diana J., who sent me this extra verse.

White socks, they always get dirty

The longer you wear them; the weaker they get

Sometimes, I think I shouldn't wash them

But something inside me says "Do it right now!"

(right now, right now...)

Thanks to Megan Burns, who sent me this extra verse.

Girl Scouts, they never are quiet

The longer you're near them, the louder they get

Sometimes I think about muzzles

But something inside me says, "don’t do it yet!"

Here's yet another version, sent to me by Carrie Arrington:

Black socks, they never get dirty,

The longer you wear them the blacker they get!

Sometimes, I think about laundry

But something inside me says don't do it yet!

Wow! I had no idea that this song had actions! Thanks very much to Shannon Mulvihill, who e-mailed them to me! (and strangely enough, Shannon had never heard of this song done in a round!)

Black (stomp left foot) socks (stomp right foot),

They never (left hand to left thigh) get dirty (right hand to right thigh)

The longer (left hand to right thigh) you wear them (right hand to left thigh)

The blacker (left hand to right shoulder) they get (right hand to left shoulder)...

(second half of the verse; repeat actions)

During the "Not yet, not yet", snap your fingers on both hands. As you repeat the song, sing it faster and faster.