Rig a Jig Jig

A lively action song often used for skipping or dancing, believed to have originated as a popular folk song in the 1800s, appearing in print in both England and the United States during that period. The song had a parallel existence as a college glee club song in the 19th century, with Yale University Quarterly reporting its use in 1860 and it being published as a song for Union College in 1868. In 1935, the Lomaxes recorded a version in Mississippi, indicating its presence in oral tradition. The 1940s saw the song gain new popularity as part of the square dance movement, and it has been a standard children's song, used for singing games where participants form a circle and one person chooses a partner to skip or dance with, making it a favorite in schools for generations.