Here we go Loop de Loop

Here we go Loop de Loop (aka: "Looby Loo", "Loopty Loo", "Loop de Loo", or just "Dancing Looby") is a folk song and nursery rhyme for children.

Origin

A version of the folk song appeared as early as 1849 in James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps' Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales, as "Dancing Looby".¹ The song title eventually evolved into "Here We Go...: "Looby Loo", "Loopty Loo", "Loop de Loo", and "Loop de Loop".²³⁴⁵

Lyrics and melody

The following are original lyrics from Dancing Looby:

Now we dance looby, looby, looby,
Now we dance looby, looby, light.
Shake your right hand a little
And turn you round about.

Now we dance looby, looby, looby,
Shake your right hand a little,
Shake your left hand a little,
And turn you round about.

The song continues with the same lyrics adding "Shake your right foot a little", "Shake your left foot a little", and "Shake your head a little." Children start by dancing in a circle, then stop and shake the body part when the lyric is mentioned. They then turn slowly around and continue dancing in a circle.¹

This is a modern children's version:

$\header { tagline = ##f } global = { \key f \major \time 6/8 } sopranoVoice = \relative c' { \global \autoBeamOff f8 f f a4 f8 | c'2. | f,8 f f a4 f8 | g2. | \break f8 f f a4 f8 | c'2. | c8 d c bes a g | f2. \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { Here we go loo -- by loo here we go loo -- by light, here we go loo -- by loo, all on a Sa -- tur -- day night. } \score { \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "vibraphone" } \sopranoVoice \addlyrics \verse \layout { indent = 0 line-width = 110 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } \midi { \tempo 4=144 } }$

In popular culture

The chorus of Johnny Thunder's 1963 hit song "Loop de Loop" featuring The Bobbettes is taken almost in whole from this song. The name was used for a ragdoll character in Andy Pandy who was regularly introduced with the song.⁶

References

Halliwell-Phillipps, James Orchard (1849). Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales: A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England. John Russell Smith. p. 129.
Freeman, Laura (2011). Here We Go Looby Loo. Child's World. ISBN 9781609542917.
Johnson, Charles Spurgeon; Carter, Elmer Anderson (1933). "Lyrics". Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life. 11–12. National Urban League: 242.
Reid, Rob (1999). Family Storytime: 24 Creative Programs for All Ages. American Library Association. p. 65. ISBN 9780838907511.
LaRowe, Michelle (2010). A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists 100+ Lists to Save You Time, Money, and Sanity. Baker Publishing Group. p. 124. ISBN 9781441212450.
"Watch with Mother". televisionheaven.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.

[DL1849-1] Halliwell-Phillipps, James Orchard (1849). Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales: A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England. John Russell Smith. p. 129.

[2] Freeman, Laura (2011). Here We Go Looby Loo. Child's World. ISBN 9781609542917.

[3] Johnson, Charles Spurgeon; Carter, Elmer Anderson (1933). "Lyrics". Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life. 11–12. National Urban League: 242.

[4] Reid, Rob (1999). Family Storytime: 24 Creative Programs for All Ages. American Library Association. p. 65. ISBN 9780838907511.

[5] LaRowe, Michelle (2010). A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists 100+ Lists to Save You Time, Money, and Sanity. Baker Publishing Group. p. 124. ISBN 9781441212450.

[6] "Watch with Mother". televisionheaven.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.

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