In all the land the girls and boys
Wherever they go they make a noise.

They play at cricket, tops and games,
With balls that carry various names;
They whirl the skipping rope, and drive
The hoop till it appears alive.

2. They thread the needle in the ring;
They play at tea and visiting;
Or woman poor from Sandyland,
whose talk is hard to understand.

Their lungs and limbs they freely use,
They never mope or have the blues;
And it is always half their joys
In all their play to make a noise.

3. They play at Hopscotch, marbles, dumps.
And Fly the garter; oh! what jumps!
From Tipcat quick away I fly
For fear they'll hit me in the eye.

In winter on the ice they go,
And keep the pot a-boiling so,
And tho' they shout and make a noise,
Somehow, _I like these girls and boys_.