Elder and Bess Lomax Hawes, it is suggested that ring games are a children's precursor to adult courtship.

[citation needed] Arguably the most popular version of the song, Boney M.'s recording was originally the B-side to the group's number-one hit single "Rivers of Babylon" (1978).

Airplay for "Brown Girl in the Ring" resulted in a happy chart reversal, with the single re-entering the Top Ten, where it spent an additional nine weeks, peaking at number two in September.

[2] Liz Mitchell had previously recorded the song in 1975 with the group Malcolm's Locks, as the B-side of their single "Caribbean Rock".

[4] Following the successful sales of the compilation album Gold – 20 Super Hits, Frank Farian remixed "Brown Girl in the Ring" for a single release in April of 1993 with new lead vocals by Liz Mitchell.