I don’t want to play in your yard

AKA Two Little Maids
First Published 1894
Writer/composer Philip Wingate and HW Petrie Roud RN16802

Music Hall Performers Julie Mackey, The Tiny Websters
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Schreiber, Dale ; USA : Indiana ; 1988
The Whiting Family ; USA ; nd		 

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:

"I don't want to play in your yard
I don't like you any more,
You'll be sorry when you see me,
Sliding down our cellar door;
You can't holler down our rain barrel,
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 thro' 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:

A Tin Pan Alley song popularised in the British Halls by performers Julie Mackey and The Tiny Websters. It has been collected from the singing of two traditional performers in the USA. The song retained a high level of popularity throughout the 20th century – it was recorded by dozens of performers, the biggest seller was probably the recording by Peggy Lee in 1958:

Sources: