The following transcriptions represent typical square dances as called at New Creek by John Welch and Harley Hogbin, and at Dunmore by Buck Carpenter and James Carpenter. Dashes (—) indicate beats of music between calls.
Transcription
of calls for a square dance by John Welch
New Creek, West Virginia May 5, 1978
(Audio excerpt: MP3)
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — the other way back in the Indian line, the ladies in front and the gents behind— — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — promenade — — — — — — — — every other couple out — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one more couple right over there, one more — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — right hand across and how do you do — — — — left one back — — two little ladies a right and left through, two men back to back, swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — now your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — — — — — to the next and a right hand across — — — — — — — — left one back — — — — two little ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back, swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — — — — — on to the next and a right hand across and howdy do — — — — left one back — — two ladies a right and left through and the two men back to back — — swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — — — — on to the next — — and a right hand across — — — — left one back — — — — — two little ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back — — swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — now your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — on to the next and a right hand across — — — left one back — — — — — two ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back, swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — — — on to the next and a right hand across — — — — — — left one back — — — two little ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back, swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — on to the next and a right hand across — — — — left one back — — — two little ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back, swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — — — — on to the next and a right hand across — — — — left one back — — — — two little ladies a right and left through, the two men back to back — — swing your opposite — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — circle four — — — — join hands in a great big ring — — circle left — — swing your corner — — — — — — — — swing your partner — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — promenade — — — — — promenade right off the floor that's all there is and there ain't no more — — —
Transcription
of calls for a square dance by Harley Hogbin
New Creek, West Virginia July 7, 1979
(Audio excerpt: MP3)
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — all the way around and halfway back, the ladies in the lead and the gents in back — — — — — — — — — — grab your partner, give her a swing — — — — — — — — promenade around that ring, take a little walk with that pretty little thing — — — — — — — — — — — — — — every other couple out — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — — on you go to the next — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing her way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — — on you go to the next — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — on you go to the next — — — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — now lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing her way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — on you go to the next — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing her way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — — on you go to the next — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing her way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing 'em around — — — — — — — — — — — circle four and on you go — — — — — — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also — — — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go — — — — now that corner lady swing, swing her way up and round and round — — — — — — — — — — — — one foot up and the other one down, right back home and swing around — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four there on the floor — — — — all join hands and make one ring and circle left with that pretty little thing — — — — — — — — — — now your corner lady swing — — — — — — — — — right back home and swing your own — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — promenade right off the floor, that's all she wrote there ain't no more — — — — thank you.
Transcription of calls for a square dance by Buck Carpenter
Dunmore, West Virginia November 19,
1977
(Audio excerpt of same evening, different
dance: MP3)
— — — let's get 'em on the floor, come on Wade let's go — — come on Westfall, let's go — — let's get a partner let's get 'em on the floor, get you a set and then no more — — — — — — — — — — — — — go children, don't be slow, twelve o'clock come, we got to go — — — give me two or three more and I'll go — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — open up and take two more, come on, Tim, and get a couple more — — — dance little children dance, all join hands and circle to the left — — — let's go back the same old track — — — now you're home let's settle down, couple up four all the way around — — — let's couple up four in the middle of the floor — — we need one more couple and the dance goes on — — let's go back that same old track — — give us one more couple boys — — — right hand across and howdy do — — give us one more couple, let's even it up — — left one back and shake that too — — — opposite lady give a little hug — — — — now your own the little brown jug, get your own and on you go and on to the next and couple up four — — let's get one more out there — — — — circle four 'til you get straight — — we're gonna get straightened up in just a minute — — let's go back that same old track and around that couple take a little peep — — back to the center and oh how sweet — — — back around and peep once more and back to the center and couple up four — — — couple up four in the middle of the floor and you swing mine and I'll swing yours — — — step right back and watch her grin, now right up and swing her again — — now right back and watch her smile, now right up and swing her awhile and get your own and on you go, on to the next and couple up four — — — — — — circle four, let's go back that same old track — — — — — — — lady round the lady and the gent also, lady round the lady and the gent also — — lady round the gent and the gent don't go, circle four in the middle of the floor — — — you swing mine and I'll swing yours — — — gimme back mine, I'll give you back yours — — — — — get your own and on you go and on to the next and couple up four — — — — let's go back that same old track — — — cage the bird the pretty little bird — — — that bird fly out, the crow fly in — — high, low, jack and game again, opposite lady give a little hug — — — — step right back and watch her grin, now right up and swing her again — — now right back and watch her smile, now right up and swing her awhile and get your own and on you go and on to the next and couple up four — — — — — — — — — circle four 'til you get straight — — — let's go back that same old track — — — now eight hands over, ladies bow, gents go under, hug 'em up tight boys, swing like thunder — — — — opposite lady give a little hug — — — now your own the little brown jug — — — — get your own and on you go and on to the next and couple up four — — — — let's go back that same old track, and around that couple take a little peep — — — — back to the center and swing when you meet — — — — back around and peep once more, back to the center and couple up four — — — — — couple up four in the middle of the floor and you swing mine and I'll swing yours — — — gimme back mine, I'll give you back yours — — — — get your own and on you go and on to the next and couple up four — — — — — let's go back that same old track — — now we're gonna mow that wheat, you go over — — mow that wheat — — now that clover, let's turn right around boys and do it all over — — — — circle four in the middle of the floor and you swing mine and I'll swing yours — — — — give me back mine, I'll give you back yours — — — — now you're home let's settle down and one big circle all the way around — — — move children, move, let's go back that same old track — — — — right hand to your partner, right and left all the way around, home by the right, back by the left, meet that little gal right and left — — — — — — when you meet her let's pass her by, gents you know that reason why— — let's pass her by — — — — keep right on a-movin'— — — — — — — — — — when you meet your partner let's turn and go the other way — — — — when you meet her let's turn and go the other way — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — let's promenade 'em all around the hall — — — — — — — — — — — — let's form a bridge right here and keep right on a-movin' — — — keep right on a-movin' — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children, don't be slow, twelve o'clock come we got to go — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — keep right on a-movin' — — — — — — — — let's promenade 'em all now boys around the hall, now swing 'em in — — are you all ready? now right back out and gone again — — — — let's promenade 'em all around the hall, let's get a partner for the next set — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Transcription of calls for a square dance
by James Carpenter
Dunmore, West Virginia November 19,1977
(Audio excerpt of same evening, different
dance: MP3)
— — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —— — — — get your partner and get her on the floor, we'll dance this set and three or four more, hurry children hurry — — — — — — a few more couples and the dance goes on, hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — open wide and take a few more, hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — all join hands and circle like a wheel the more you dance the better you feel — — — all the way around and halfway back the lady in the lead the gent in the track — — — — — — — home you are and settle down, every other couple out all the way around — — circle four — — — — — — — — — — — give us one more couple — — — — — — — — one more couple — — — — right hand over and how do you do — — — left hand back and how are you — — — opposite lady give a little hug — — — — now your own that little brown jug — — on you go and pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — — — — round that corner and take a little peek — — back to the center and oh how sweet — — — round that couple and peek once more and back to the center and couple up four and the same old four you swing my girl and I'll swing yours — — step right back and watch her smile and then right up and swing her awhile — — step right back and watch her grin and then right up and swing her again — — — — leave her alone and get your own — — — — on you go and pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — let's spread it out up this way a little bit — — — let's spread it out a little — — — let's go back that same old track — — — — cage that bird the pretty little bird — — bird hop out the crow hop in, high low jack and game again — — — break and swing that opposite lady — — — — — — now your own I don't mean maybe — — — — on you go and pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — — — — — — — — — — same old four, you swing my girl and I'll swing yours — — — gimme back mine, I'll give you back yours — — — — — — on you go and pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — — — — let's go back that same old track — — — — dive for an oyster — — — — step right back and get the clam — — — if you like sardines take a whole darn can and hold on tight and circle four when you get right — — — opposite lady with all your might — — — — now your own and hold her tight — — — on you go and you pick up two — — — — — — — — — — — — chase the possum, tree that squirrel, run that little girl round the world — — — — chase the possum, tree that coon, now that man around the moon — — — — — — — — — — opposite lady give a little hug — — now your own that little brown jug — — on you go and you pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — let's go back that same old track — — — — ladies do-si-do — — — — now gents you ought to know — — — — — — break and swing that opposite lady — — — — — — now your own I don't mean maybe — — — — — — — — — — — — circle four in the middle of the floor — — — — — — — — — right hand to your partner now and a quick change four — — — — — — — — catch your opposite lady when you go by — — — — — — — — — — now your own and make her cry — — — — — — — on you go and pick up two — — — — — — — — — — — — let's go back that same old track — — — — — — ladies butterfly — — — gents butterfly — — — — everybody butterfly — — — — — break and swing that opposite lady — — — — — — — — — now your own I don't mean maybe — — — — — — — — — — — on you go and pick up two and you call it four and four by four you waltz the floor — — — — right hand over and how do you do — — — — — left hand back and how are you — — — — — opposite lady give a little hug — — — — now your own that little brown jug — — — — circle up and fall in line the lady in the lead and the gent behind, one big circle to your left and keep on moving — — — — — — — — — — — — — — circle to your left and keep on moving, hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — let's go back that same old track — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — now keep in line and right hand to your partner and right and left all the way around — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — when you meet her pass her by — — — — — — you meet her now pass her by, — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — when and I guess you know the reason why — — — —keep right on a-movin — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — when you meet her, turn and go the other way — — — — — — — — — — — — when you meet her turn and go the other way — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — hurry children hurry — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — when you meet her now take her along — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — when you meet her, take her along — — — — — — — — — if you can find her, promenade her — — — — — — — — — — — — — — let's swing her in — — — — right back out and gone again — — — — get your partner for the next set — — — — — —