There was a Princess long ago

Sleeping Princess

Rules:

This is a singing game with actions.
Everyone forms a circle. One person is the princess and this person stands in the middle of the circle whilst the others hold hands and turn around her. They sing the following words and do these actions ….

There was a princess, – long ago, long ago long ago
There was a princess - long ago, long long ago.
(Princess stands in the middle)

She lived in a big high tower, big high tower, big high tower.
She lived in a big high tower - long, long ago.

(Circle lift arms up to show walls of the tower)

A witch came in to see here there, to see her there, to see her there.
A witch came in to see her there – long, long ago.

(One person leaves the circle and goes into the middle with the princess)

She pricked her little finger so, finger so, finger so.
She pricked her little finger so - long, long ago.

(Witch takes the princess hand and pricks it, then joins back into the circle.)

She fell asleep for a hundred years, hundred years, hundred years.
She fell asleep for a hundred years - long, long ago.

(Princess lies down and sleeps)

The trees grew all around her there, around her there, around her there.
The trees grew all around her there - long, long ago.

(Circle closes in on princess and hold arms up and other like branches)

A handsome prince came riding by, riding by, riding by.
A handsome prince came riding by - long, long ago.

(One person 'rides' around the outside of the circle)

He chopped the trees down one by one, one by one, one by one.
He chopped the trees down one by one - long, long ago.

(Prince chops through the trees and goes to princess)

He kissed her hand to wake her, wake her, wake her.
He kissed her hand to wake her – long, long ago.

(Prince kisses princess who gets up)

There was a happy wedding day, wedding day, wedding day.
There was a happy wedding day - long, long ago.

(Prince and princess dance in middle of circle)

Best way to choose the participants is to use a selection rhyme before play begins.