“All these rhymes are usually performed in the course of games which require the children to form rings or chains, or when they are playing ball (Alery [‘One two three O’Leary’] and Queenie-i-o) or ‘Fivestones’, called ‘Jacks’ (Sonsy Ann).
The ring and chain games nearly always have their music; they are sung to simple tunes which often repeat themselves, varying however just as the texts do.

Sometimes the game is a proper drama. There is good use of mime when Old Roger rises from the dead to defend his apples. A dialogue of interpellation and retort makes up the whole text of Jenny Jones and Three gipsies riding.” — Hugh Shields, 1971