Tracy Gilmer's List: Music Ed.

The rhyme was first noted in the United States in 1879 ^[3] as a children's rhyming game. It was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the number ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If caught the dropper was either kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart.^[2] An early noted version had the lyrics:

 

A-tisket a-tasket

 

A green and yellow basket

 

I wrote a letter to my love

 

And on the way I dropped it,

 

I dropped it,

 

I dropped it,

 

And on the way I dropped it.

 

A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.^[2]