Skip to My Lou lyrics — traditional American dance song
Skip to My Lou is a traditional song, dating back to America’s frontier period. Since musical instruments were frowned upon, the dancers had to create their own music by clapping and singing.
Couples would dance around a lone male who sang — lost my partner, what’ll I do. — At the appropriate point in the lyrics, he would — steal — the partner of a dancing man as he sang — I’ll find another one prettier than you. — The displaced man would take his place in the circle.
— Lou — is apparently a corruption of — loo, — the Scottish word for love.
Lyrics (Common Version)
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Cows in the cornfield,
What’ll I do?
Cows in the cornfield,
What’ll I do?
Cows in the cornfield,
What’ll I do?
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
There’s a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
There’s a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
There’s a little red wagon,
Paint it blue
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’
Alternate Lyrics
Lost my partner,
What’ll I do?
Lost my partner,
What’ll I do?
Lost my partner,
What’ll I do?
Skip to the lou, my darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
I’ll get another one
Prettier than you,
I’ll get another one
Prettier than you,
I’ll get another one
Prettier than you,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
Can’t get a red bird,
Jay bird’ll do,
Can’t get a red bird,
Jay bird’ll do,
Can’t get a red bird,
Jay bird’ll do,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk,
Shoo, fly, shoo,
Skip to my Lou, the darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
Cat’s in the cream jar,
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
Cat’s in the cream jar,
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
Cat’s in the cream jar,
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
Skip to my Lou, the darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
Off to Texas,
Two by two,
Off to Texas,
Two by two,
Off to Texas,
Two by two,
Skip to my Lou, the darlin’.
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,
Skip to the Lou, my darlin’.
