<P> The song became internationally known when it was recorded by the group Boney M. in 1978 . Originally it was the B - side of their hit "Rivers of Babylon", but became a hit in its own right . </P> <P> The song had previously been recorded by the group Malcolm's Locks, leading to a dispute over royalties . The song had also been recorded in 1972 by the musician Exuma . </P> <P> Boys and girls play ring games in many parts of the world, especially during their pre-teen years . In There's a Brown Girl in the Ring, an anthology of Eastern Caribbean song games by Alan Lomax, J.D. Elder and Bess Lomax Hawes, it is suggested that ring games are a children's precursor to adult courtship . </P> <P> Players form a ring by holding hands, then one girl or boy goes into the middle of the ring and starts skipping or walking around to the song . The girl or boy is then asked, "Show me your motion". At this point the child in the center does his or her favorite dance . If asked "Show me your partner", he or she picks a friend to join him or her in the circle . It has been played for many centuries in all of Jamaica . </P>

Lyrics to brown girl in the ring meaning