Willie Wastle Lyrics
One child stands on a mound and dares everyone else to knock them off. This is the Scottish rhyme for the playground game of king of the castle.
Willie Wastle
I, Willie Wastle,
Stand on my castle,
And a' the dogs o' your toun,
Will no ding Willie Wastle doun.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/willie-wastle/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Chanted challenge
- Best for ages
- 5 to 10 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| I, Willie Wastle | Stand on a low mound or step with hands on hips. |
| Stand on my castle | Plant your feet firmly. |
| And a' the dogs o' your toun | Point at the other players. |
| Will no ding Willie Wastle doun | Cross your arms and stand tall. |
What Does Willie Wastle Mean?
The words are Scots. A' the dogs o' your toun means all the dogs of your town, and will no ding ... doun means will not knock down. So Willie boasts that nobody, not even every dog in town, can get him off his castle.
History and Origin
Robert Ford described the game in his early-1900s book of Scottish children's lore. One boy stood on a hillock or large boulder and shouted the challenge, while the others tried to move him. Whoever managed it took his place. English children play the same game as king of the castle.
Learning Activities
- Gentle version: play on a low cushion or step, with no pushing, and let players swap by answering a riddle.
- Scots words: learn toun, doun and ding.
- Your own castle: build a castle from cushions and let each child say the rhyme from the top.