To the tune of “Old Man River” – almost
Sitting in a circle, knee to knee.
Players begin singing:
Dum, dum
da da
da dum, dum
da da
da dum dum
da da
da dum dum
da da
da dum dum
da da
da dum dum
da da
da dum dum
da da
da dum dum, dum (the last – da dum, dum, dum – bringing the round to an end in a most un-old-man-river-like conclusion).
On the first round, the leader starts with the exemplary movement. Usually, it’s:
- tap your knees twice on DUM DUM
- then tap the knees of the person to your right, also twice on DA DA
- then tap your knees twice again whilst singing DA DUM DUM
- then tap the knees of the person to your left, also twice, also on DA DA
Repeat until the DA DUM, DUM, DUM which is accompanied by three taps of your own knees.
The next round, someone suggests a similarly symmetrical movement, such as:
- tap your shoulders twice
- tap the shoulders of the person to your right, twicely
- tap your shoulders again twice
- then on to the person on the left, in a twice-like manner
On and on until four different movements have been created.
As a finale, do all movements in sequence.
Better yet, listen to a new version, performed 8-26-05 by members of the UCLA Circle K club