Draw a Pail of Water (known in the USA as “Draw a bucket of water”) is an traditional nursery rhyme that first appeared published in “The Nursery Rhymes of England: Obtained Principally from Oral Tradition” by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps in 1843.
There is also a simple game associated with the song, the instructions are described below:
Game Instructions
Chiildren stand in a row holding hands. A child who is the leader sits in front of them. Another pair of children hold their hands lifted up in the air to form an arch. The leader will walk under the arch followed by all the other children, all while singing the song. The last child from the group will be captured by the two children forming an arch.
The process is repeated, the song is sung again until all the children are captured by the two forming the arch.
“Draw a Pail of Water” Lyrics
Draw a pail of water,
For my lady’s daughter;
My father’s a king, and my mother’s a queen,
My two little sisters are dressed in green,
Stamping grass and parsley,
Marigold leaves and daisies.
One rush! two rush!
Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.
Draw a Bucket of Water Lyrics
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the first old lady pops under.
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the second old lady pops under.
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the third old lady pops under.
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the fourth old lady pops under.
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And we all pop out!