Lyrics:
Once there lived side by side, two little maids,
Used to dress just alike, hair down in braids,
Blue ging'am pinafores, stockings of red,
Little sun bonnets tied on each pretty head.
When school was over secrets they'd tell,
Whispering arm in arm, down by the well,
One day a quarrel came, hot tears were shed:
“You can't play in our yard,” but the other said:
chorus:
I don't want to play in your yard,
I don't like you anymore,
You'll be sorry when you see me,
Sliding down our cellar door,
You can't holler down our rainbarrel,
You can't climb our apple tree,
I don't want to play in your yard,
If you won't be good to me.
Next day two little maids each other miss,
Quarrels are soon made up, sealed with a kiss,
Then hand in hand again, happy they go.
Friends all through life to be, they love each other so.
Soon school days pass away, sorrows and bliss
but love remembers yet, quarrels and kiss,
In sweet dreams of childhood, we hear the cry:
“You can't play in our yard,” and the old reply:
The lyrics were inspiration for by Saxie Dowell's 1940 song Playmates: Lyrics:
Playmate, come out and play with me
Come bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree
Climb up my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be happy friends
For ever more
Playmate, I cannot play with you
My dollie has the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo
Can't climb your rain barrel
Can't slide your cellar door
But we'll be happy friends
Forever more