Square Dance Calls as done by Glenn F. Pease
as transcribed by Arthur S. Pease, July, 1999


The following versions of old time square dance calls are as called by Glenn Pease of Orford, New Hampshire, who called changes from the 1920s to the 1970s in the Baker and Connecticut River valleys of N.H. and Vermont. The specific words are from several sources: transcribed from a tape of Glenn calling in Warren, N.H., in the 1970s, notes on calls which Dad dictated to Ma in the early 1980s and my own memories of his calls, as well as the memories of my brother, Gerald Pease and of Pat McIssac, who led the band which Dad called with for almost thirty years.

          COMIN' 'ROUND THE MOUNTAIN
          FAIREST GAL IN TOWN
          FIRST TWO LADIES CROSS OVER
          HINKY DINKY PARLEZ VOUS
          HONOLULU BABY
          JUST BECAUSE
          LADY OF THE LAKE:
          MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
          MY LITTLE GAL
          RED RIVER GAL
          WABASH CANNONBALL
          JINGLE BELLS


COMIN' 'ROUND THE MOUNTAIN
    Tune: Comin' 'Round the Mountain

  Eight hands around, . . . back the other way

  Two head couple right and left, Two side couple swing,
    Swing them 'round the mountain, Swing them home.
  Two side couple right and left, Two head couple swing,
    Swing them 'round the mountain, Swing them home.
  Allemande left your corner, Allemande right your own,
    Swing that lady on your right, Swing her up, swing her down,
  Promenade all around the town.

  (Repeat again with Heads leading, and then twice with sides leading so Ladies are home)


FAIREST GAL IN TOWN

  Eight hands around, . . . back the other way
  The other way, other way, other way back you go
  And you all swing on your corner, You swing her up and down,
  You swing your own little partner, The fairest gal in town.

  And you do-si-do your corner, Your corner do-si-do,
    You do-si-do your partner, Your partner do-si-do.
  And you allemande left your corner, Your corners allemande all,
    You allemande right your partner, The fairest in the hall.
  Now you all swing on your corner, You swing her up and down.
    And you take that pretty corner maid, And you promenade the town.

  (Repeat the last section three more times so the Ladies are home)


FIRST TWO LADIES CROSS OVER   (AKA 'Life on the ocean Wave')

  Eight hands around, . . . back the other way

  The first two ladies cross over, and by the gentleman stand
    The two side ladies cross over, and do a I command
  Pay honor to your partner, salute your corners all
    Swing your corner lady and promenade the hall
  Promenade around, twice around
      [Repeat with ladies until all are with original partner]

  The first two gents cross over, and by the ladies stand
    The two side gents cross over, and do a I command
  Pay honor to your partner, salute your corners all
    Swing your corner lady and promenade the hall
  Promenade around, twice around
      [Repeat with gents until all are with original partner]


HINKY DINKY PARLEZ VOUS
    Tune: Mademoiselle From Armentieres
    [the active man always takes with him to each new couple the lady he just
      swung. At the end of the dance, all couples will be back together.]

  Eight around, eight hands around, eight around,
  The other way back, the other way 'round,
  Hurry up boys, you'll never get 'round,
  Hinky dinky parlez vous!

  First couple to the right, you circle four around,
    You swing the opposite lady, you swing her 'round and 'round,
  And you fling her away with a great big smile,
    Bring her back and swing her awhile,
  Hinky dinky parlez vous!

  Then you lead on to the next, circle four around,
    You swing the opposite lady, you swing her 'round and 'round,
  And you fling her away with a great big smile,
    Bring her back and swing her awhile,
  Hinky dinky parlez vous!

  Then you lead on to the last, circle four around,
    You swing the opposite lady, you swing her 'round and 'round,
  And you fling her away with a great big smile,
    Bring her back and swing her awhile,
  Hinky dinky parlez vous!

  Now you all swing your partner, you swing her 'round and 'round,
  You all promenade, promenade once around,
    The right foot up, and the left foot down,
    Hurry up boys, you'll never get ''round,
  Hinky dinky parlez vous!

  [repeat for couples two, three and four]


HONOLULU BABY

  Eight hands around, ............
  The other way, other way 'round, the other way, the other way back
 
  First couple to the right, You circle four around,
    Break and swing like the Spanish cavalerro,
  And when you are done, Go back where you begun,
    You all swing your Honolulu Baby

  Then lead on to the next, You circle four around,
    Swing with the other fellows lady,
  And when you are done, Go back where you begun,
    You all swing your Honolulu Baby
 
  Now lead on to the last, You circle four around,
    You all swing your opposite lady,
  And when you are done, Go back where you begun,
    You all swing your Honolulu Baby

  And everybody swing, everybody
  You all promenade twice around, twice around

     [repeat for couples two, three and four]


JUST BECAUSE
    Tune: Just Because
    [couples will end up back together at the end of the dance]

  Everybody bow to your partner, Bow to your corner as well
  And you allemande left and you grand right and left, Halfway around the ring
  You reverse her when you meet your partner, Its right and left back all the way
  When you are home, you all swing your own Because, just because!

  Oh, the first two ladies change over,And you chain them back home once more.
  And the two side maids do the ladies change, Chain'em across the floor.
  Then you allemande left on your corner, And you swing your partner just once around,
  And you take the corner maid and you all promenade, Because, just because!
    [ Repeat this part ]

  Then you do-si-do on your corner, And you do-si-do your own,
  Allemande left with the one on your left, Allemande right your own.
  Then you allemande left and you grand right and left, Halfway around the ring
  You take that maid and you all promenade, Because, just because!

  Oh, the first two ladies change over,And you chain them back home once more.
  And the two side maids do the ladies change, Chain'em across the floor.
  Then you allemande left on your corner, And you swing your partner just once around,
  And you take the corner maid and you all promenade, Because, just because!
    [ Repeat this part ]

  Then you do-si-do on your corner, And you do-si-do your own,
  Allemande left with the one on your left, Allemande right your own.
  Then you allemande left and you grand right and left, Halfway around the ring
  You take that maid and you all promenade, Because, just because!


LADY OF THE LAKE
  [a line dance, usually called by Glenn just before intermission]
    Couples stand opposite partner in 2 lines down the hall
    Beginning at the head, every other couple cross over - these are the active
    couples, who carry out the calls listed below. When an active couple gets
    to the foot of the line, they exchange places and become an inactive couple.

  Balance below and swing.
  (Actives) Swing your own in the center, leave mine alone..
  (Actives) Down you go, down you go, Come on back.
    [active couples hook arms and go down the center toward the end of the line]
  Ladies change. [with couple across the line] Change'em back.
  Half promenade. [with couple across the line]
  Change'em back with a half right and left.

    [repeat until first active couple is back to (or near) the head of the line]


MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
    Tune: Marching Through Georgia

  Eight hands around, . . . back the other way

  The first lady walk around the inside of the ring,
    Until you meet your partner and give him a great big swing.
  The other couples all join hands and march around the ring,
    As we go marching thru'Georgia.
  Hurrah, hurrah, go back the other way, Hurrah, hurrah, go back the other way,
  Back to your places all and everybody swing, While we go marching thru'; Georgia

      [Repeat until all have swung in the center]


MY LITTLE GAL

  First couple promenade, around the outside, Around the outside of the ring.
  You ladies change right down the center, Then you change them home again.
  And then you change the right hand couple, Then you change them home once more,
  You ladies change the left hand couple, Then you change them home again.
  Then, its all around that left hand lady, And you see-saw your own little doll, oh baby,
  Allemande left that left hand lady, Then its right and left grand,
  Until you meet your own partner, And you promenade her home,
  Then when you're home, You swing your own, swing your own little gal

      [continue until all four couples have promenaded the outside]


RED RIVER GAL

  Allemande left on your corner, And you grand right and left around the hall,
  Until you meet that gal from the valley, And you promenade home with that gal.

  First couple to the right and you balance, And you circle to the left, and to the right,
  And you swing with the gal from the valley, And you swing with your Red River gal.

  Then you lead to the next and you balance, And you circle to the left, and to the right,
  And you swing with the gal from the valley, And you swing with your Red River gal.

  And you lead to the last and you balance, And you circle to the left, and to the right,
  And you swing with the gal from the valley, And you swing with your Red River gal.

  Then you allemande left on your corner, And you grand right and left 'round the hall,
  'Till you meet that gal from the valley, And you promenade home with that gal.

    [repeat for couples two, three and four]


WABASH CANNONBALL
    Tune: Wabash Cannonball

  Eight hands around, . . . back the other way

  First couple lead to the right, Circle four hands around.
  The lady go round the lady, The gent go round the gent,
  The gent go round the lady, And the lady around the gent,
  Swing her when you meet her On the Wabash Cannonball.

  Then its on to the next one, Circle four hands around.
  The lady go round the lady, The gent go round the gent,
  The gent go round the lady, And the lady around the gent,
  Swing her when you meet her On the Wabash Cannonball.

  Now its on to the last, Circle four hands around.
  The lady go round the lady, The gent go round the gent,
  The gent go round the lady, And the lady around the gent,
  Swing her when you meet her On the Wabash Cannonball.

  Oh, you all swing your partner, Swing her up and down,
  Then you all promenade, Promenade twice around.

      [Repeat for couples two, three and four]


JINGLE BELLS
    Tune: Jingle Bells

    Eight hands around, . . . back the other way

  The two head couples right and left, While the two side couples swing,
  Right and left right back again, And hear those sleigh bells ring.
  The two side couples right and left, While the two head couples swing,
  Right and left right back to place, And hear those sleigh bells ring.
  All into the center and back, Honor to your own,
  Take that left hand corner, And promenade her home

      [Repeat until all are with original partner]