"WALTZING MATILDA"

THE SONG "WALTZING MATILDA" IS ABOUT A WANDERER CARRYING HIS SACK ON
A STICK OVER HIS BACK. HE AFFECTIONALLY REFERS TO IT AS "MATILDA"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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DIRTY BILL

DIRTY BILL, DIRTY BILL, LIVED ON TOP OF A GARBAGE HILL,
NEVER WASHED AND NEVER WILL, HACK AND SPIT, DIRTY BILL!!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTERS

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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NARRATIVE SONG

ALL THE GIRLS WHO HAVEN'T ANY BEAUS,
WORK DOWNTOWN AT SHILLITOS
IN THE NIGHT THEY FIX THEIR HAIR
AND WALK AROUND ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE

Submitter comment: THIS WAS ANOTHER SONG WE SANG AT FAMILY PARTIES. THE ONLY PROBLEM
WITH IT WAS THAT MY GREAT-AUNT WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD REMEMBER
ALL THE WORDS. THIS SONG HAS A LITTLE LOCAL COLOR IN IT. SHILLITOS
IS THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE IN CINCINNATI. FOUNTAIN SQUARE IS
INDEED A GATHERING PLACE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

Date learned: 00001960S

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NARRATIVE SONG

DOCTOR, DOCTOR, CAN YOU TELL
WHAT WILL MAKE POOR (GAL'S NAME) WELL?
SHE IS SICK AND ABOUT TO DIE
AND THAT WOULD MAKE (HER BEAU'S NAME) CRY.

Submitter comment: MY GREAT-AUNT PLAYED THIS ON THE PIANO AT ALL THE FAMILY PARTIES
THAT THEY HAD AT THEIR HOUSE. ALL THE KIDS WOULD JOIN IN THE
SINGING. IN THIS SONG THE NAME OF A GIRL COUSIN WAS ALWAYS FILLED
IN THE FIRST BLANK AND THEN A BOY COUSIN'S NAME WAS CHOSEN FOR THE
SECOND BLANK. NATURALLY NO ONE WAS REALLY SICK. THE OBJECT OF
THE SONG IS RATHER OBVIOUS--JUST PAIRING OFF THE GIRLS AND THE
BOYS WHO WERE THERE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Date learned: 00001960S

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NARRATIVE SONG

OH DEAR MOTHER, PIN A ROSE ON ME.
THREE OLD MEN ARE AFTER ME.
TWO ARE BLIND AND THE OTHER CAN'T SEE.
OH DEAR MOTHER, PIN A ROSE ON ME.
(THIS IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF PETER, PETER PUMPKINEATER.)

Submitter comment: WHEN MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND I WERE YOUNGER MY GREAT AUNTS USED
TO THROW BIG PARTIES. THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE SONG THAT WE ALWAYS
SANG AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE PARTIES. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER TO US
THAT DISTINCTIONS WERE MADE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN WHO WERE BLIND AND
THE OTHER ONE THAT COULDN'T SEE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

Date learned: 00001960S

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PASSING GAS

YOUR MAMA IN THE KITCHEN, COOKING RICE,
YOUR DADDY IN THE FRONT ROOM, SHOOTING DICE.
THE KIDS UP-STAIRS PASSING GAS,
AND THE MONKEY IN THE WINDOW JUST SHOWING HIS ASS.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AGAIN RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE INFORMANT .

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-04-1977

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SONG

DOON PO SA AMIN, BAYAN NG SAN ROQUE. MAY NAGKATUWAAN, APAT NA PULUBI
NAGSAYAW ANG PILAY, NAGKANTA ANG PIPI, NANOOD ANG BULAG, NAKINING
ANG BINGI
TRANSLATION: FOUR BEGGARS IN THE TOWN OF SAN ROQUE HAD SOME FUN.
THE LAME DANCED, THE MUTE SANG, THE BLIND WATCHED, DEAF LISTENED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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BUMBLEBEE

I'M BRINGING HOME A BABY BUMBLEBEE,
WON'T MY MOMMY BE SO PROUD OF ME, CUZ,
I'M BRINGING HOME A BABY BUMBLEBEE, BUZZZZZZ
OUCH, HE STUNG ME}
I'M SQUISHING OUT A BABY BUMBLEBEE,
WON'T MY MOMMY BE SO PROUD OF ME, CUZ,
I'M SQUISHING OUT A BABY BUMBLEBEE, SQUISHA,
SQUISHA, SQUISHA, I GOT HIM BEFORE HE
GOT ME.
I'M BRINGING HOME A BABY DINOSAUR, WON'T
MY MOMMY FALL ON TO THE FLOOR, CUZ,
I'M BRINGING HOME A BABY DINOSAUR, GOBBLE,
GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE, OOPS HE ATE ME}

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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SCOTLAND'S BURNING

SCOTLAND'S BURNING, SCOTLAND'S BURNING,
LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT, DANGER, DANGER,
DANGER, DANGER, POUR ON WATER, POUR ON
WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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CAMPSONG GRASSHOPPERS THREE

GRASSHOPPERS THREE A-FIDDLING WENT, HEY, HO, NEVER BE STILL,
THEY PAID NO MONEY FOR THEIR RENT, BUT ALL DAY LONG WITH THEIR
ELBOWS BENT, THEY FIDDLED A TUNE CALLED RIL-LA-BY, RIL-LA-BY,
FIDDLED A TUNE CALLED RIL-LA-BY-RILL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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CAMPSONG DIKKI BIRD

HIGH IN A TREE A DIKKI BIRD
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
HIGH IN A TREE A DIKKI BIRD SAT.
BENEATH HIM SAT A FURRY BLACK
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
BENEATH HIM SAT A FURRY BLACK CAT.
HE SAID FOR DINNER I SHALL HAVE
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
HE SAID FOR DINNER I SHALL HAVE YOU.
THEN ALL AT ONCE THE DIKKI BIRD
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
THEN ALL AT ONCE THE DIKKI BIRD FLEW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): DELAYED COMPLETION ; NONSENSE REFRAIN

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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CAMPSONG AUSTRIAN

OH AN AUSTRIAN WENT YODELING ON A MOUNTAIN TOP HIGH
AND ALONG CAME A CUCKOO INTERRUPTING HIS CRY.
CHORUS: OLE A RAH KEE KEE.
AN AVALANCHE (SWISH)
GRIZZLY BEAR (GROWL)
SAINT BERNARD (PANT PANT)
JERSEY COW (SQUIRT SQUIRT)
PRETTY MAID (OH MY)
BETTER MAN (POW POW)
AMBULANCE (SIREN)
ROADRUNNER (BEEP BEEP)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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SONG

GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUIA, TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER, HID BEHIND
THE DOOR WITH A LOADED FORTYFOUR, AND THERE AIN'T NO TEACHER NO MORE

Submitter comment: THIS SONG WAS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
AS GRADESCHOOLERS WE SANG THIS SONG BEHIND OUR TEACHERS BACKS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

Date learned: 00001960S

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SONG

ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI, ALL COVERED WITH CHEESE
THERE SAT MY POOR MEATBALL, TIL SOMEBODY SNEEZED.
IT ROLLED OFF THE TABLE, AND ON TO THE FLOOR.
I SAW MY POOR MEATBALL ROLL RIGHT OUT THE DOOR.

Submitter comment: THIS SONG WAS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY.
AS GRADESCHOOLERS WE WOULD SIT AROUND WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS
AND SING THIS SONG IN HARMONY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001960S

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BLOOD ON THE RISERS

HE WAS JUST A ROOKIE TROOPER,
AND HE SURELY SHOOK WITH FRIGHT.
HE CHECKED OFF HIS EQUIPMENT,
AND MADE SURE HIS PACK WAS TIGHT.
HE HAD TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THOSE
AWFUL ENGINES ROAR.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) GORY, GORY WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE.
GORY, GORY WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE.
GORY, GORY WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY,
CRIED THE SERGEANT LOOKING UP?
OUR HERO FEEBLY ANSWERED, YES,
AND THEN THEY STOOD HIM UP.
HE JUMPED INTO THE ICY BLAST,
HIS STATIC LINE UNHOOKED.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
HE COUNTED LOUD, HE COUNTED LONG,
HE WAITED FOR THE SHOCK.
HE FELT THE WIND, HE FELT THE COLD,
HE FELT THE AWFUL DROP.
HE JERKED THE CORD, THE SILK SPILLED OUT,
AND WRAPPED AROUND HIS LEGS.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
THE RISERS SWUNG AROUND HIS NECK,
CONNECTORS CRACKED HIS DOME.
SUSPENSION LINES WERE TIED IN KNOTS,
AROUND HIS SKINNY BONES.
HIS CANOPY BECAME HIS SHROUD,
AND HE HURLED INTO THE EARTH.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
THE DAYS HE LIVED AND LOVED AND LAUGHED,
KEPT RUNNING THROUGH HIS MIND.
HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE GIRLS BACK HOME,
THE ONES HE LEFT BEHIND.
HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE MEDICS,
AND HE WONDERED WHAT THEY'D FIND.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
THE AMBULANCE WAS ON THE SPOT.
THE JEEPS WERE RUNNING WILD.
THE MEDICS JUMPED AND SCREAMED WITH GLEE,
AND ROLLED THEIR SLEEVES AND SMILED.
FOR IT HAD BEEN A WEEK OR SO
SINCE LAST A CHUTE HAD FAILED.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
HE HIT THE GROUND, THE SOUND WAS SPLAT.
HIS BLOOD WENT SPURTING HIGH.
HIS COMRADES THEN WERE HEARD TO SAY,
WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE.
HE LAY THERE ROLLING TO AND FRO,
IN THE WELTER OF HIS GORE.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS) MM
THERE WAS BLOOD UPON THE RISERS.
THERE WAS BRAIN UPON THE CHUTE.
INTESTINES WERE A'DANGLIN' FROM
THIS PARATROOPER'S BOOTS.
THEY PICKED HIM UP STILL IN THE CHUTE,
AND POURED HIM FROM HIS BOOTS.
AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. MM
(CHORUS)

Submitter comment: THIS IS A MARCHING CADENCE SUNG TO THE TUNE
OF "BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC." UNITED
STATES ARMY AIRBORNE SCHOOL IS A THREE-WEEK
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AT FORT BENNING,
GEORGIA. THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION
CONSIST OF GROUND AND TOWER TRAINING. THE
THIRD WEEK CONSISTS ENTIRELY OF SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETING FIVE PARACHUTE JUMPS FROM AN AIRCRAFT
IN FLIGHT. AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF
GROUND AND TOWER TRAINING, BUT PRIOR TO JUMP
WEEK, "BLOOD ON THE RISERS" RECORDINGS ARE
PLAYED ON LOUDSPEAKERS THROUGHOUT THE STUDENT
COMPANY AREA AS A FORM OF GOOD-NATURED INTIMIDATION
BY THE CADRE.
"RISERS" REFERS TO HEAVY NYLON STRAPS WHICH
EXTEND FROM THE PARACHUTE HARNESS TO THE SUSPENSION
LINES. "STATIC LINE" IS A CORD WHICH IS SNAPPED
TO A WIRE RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE INTERIOR OF
THE AIRCRAFT, AND WHICH OPENS THE CHUTE
AUTOMATICALLY AS THE JUMPER EXITS THE AIRCRAFT.
THE "COUNT" REFERS TO THE JUMPER'S SILENTLY
COUNTING TO FOUR AND AWAITING THE OPENING SHOCK
OF THE PARACHUTE, LETTING HIM KNOW THAT THE
PARACHUTE HAS DEPLOYED SAFELY. THE "CONNECTORS"
ARE HEAVY ALUMINUM CLIPS WHICH ATTACH THE RISERS
SECURELY TO THE PARACHUTE HARNESS AT CHEST LEVEL.
"SUSPENSION LINES" ARE THE SEVERAL NARROW NYLON
CORDS WHICH RUN FROM THE RISERS TO THE EDGE OF
THE PARACHUTE CANOPY.
THE SONG IS SUNG BY THE STUDENT COMPANY
AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY AS THE PARACHUTIST
WINGS ARE PINNED ON AFTER THE FIFTH QUALIFYING
JUMP.

Where learned: GEORGIA ; FORT BENNING

James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION (STANZA 3). ; MEDIAL ITERATION (STANZA 3).

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SONG NARRATIVE

ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI, ALL COVERED WITH CHEESE.
I LOST MY POOR MEATBALL, WHEN SOMEBODY SNEEZED.
IT ROLLED OFF THE TABLE AND ON TO THE FLOOR,
AND THEN MY POOR MEATBALL ROLLED OUT OF THE DOOR.
IT ROLLED IN THE GARDEN AND UNDER A BUSH,
AND NOW MY POOR MEATBALL IS NOTHING BUT MUSH.

Submitter comment: THIS IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY.

Date learned: 00001970S

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"THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK" MM
1. MM
COME ALL YOU YOUNG BOLD SHANTY BOYS, AND LIST WHILE I RELATE
THIS CONCERNING A YOUNG SHANTY BOY, AND HIS UNTIMELY FATE
CONCERNING A YOUNG SHANTY BOY SO MANLY, TRUE AND BRAVE
'TWAS ON THE JAM AT GERRIES ROCK, HE MET HIS WATERY GRAVE MM
2. MM
'TWAS ON ONE SUNDAY MORNING, AS YOU WILL QUICKLY HEAR
THE LOGS WERE PILED UP MOUNTAIN HIGH, WE COULD NOT KEEP THEM
CLEAR
OUR FOREMAN SAYS, "TURN OUT BRAVE BOYS, WITH HEARTS DEVOID OF
FEAR
WE'LL BREAK THE JAM AT GERRIES ROCK, AND FOR EDMORE TOWN WE'LL
STEER MM
3. MM
NOW SOME OF THEM WERE WILLING, WHILE OTHERS THEY WERE NOT
TO WORK ON JAMS ON SUNDAYS, THEY DID NOT THINK WE OUGHT
BUT FIVE OF OUR BRAVE CANADIAN BOYS, DID VOLUNTEER TO GO
TO BREAK THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK, WITH THEIR FOREMAN JACK
MONROE MM
4. MM
THEY HAD NOT ROLLED OFF MANY LOGS, 'TILL THEY HEARD A CLEAR
VOICE SAY
"I'D HAVE YOU BOYS BE ON YOUR WATCH, FOR THIS JAM WILL SOON
GIVE WAY"
THESE WORDS WERE SCARCELY SPOKEN TILL THE MASS DID BREAK AND GO
IT CARRIED OFF THOSE FIVE BRAVE BOYS, AND THEIR FOREMAN YOUNG
MONROE MM
5. MM
WHEN THE REST OF OUR BRAVE SHANTY BOYS, THE SAD NEWS CAME TO
HEAR
IN SEARCH OF THEIR DEAD COMRADES, TO THE RIVER THEY DREW NEAR
WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE BODIES, WHICH FLOATING DOWN DID GO
ALL CRUSHED AND BLEEDING BY THE BANK, WAS THAT OF YOUNG MONROE MM
6. MM
THEY DRAGGED HIM FROM HIS WATERY GRAVE, BRUSHED BACK HIS RAVEN
HAIR
THERE WAS ONE FAIR FORM AMONG THEM, WHOSE SAD CRIES RENT THE
AIR
THERE WAS ONE FAIR FORM AMONG THEM, A GIRL FROM SAGINAW TOWN
WHOSE MOANS AND CRIES AROSE TO THE SKIES FOR HER TRUE LOVE
WHO'D GONE DOWN MM
7. MM
FAIR CLARA WAS A NOBLE GIRL, THE RIVERMAN'S TRUE FRIEND
WHO WITH HER WIDOWED MOTHER, LIVED AT THE RIVER'S BEND
THE WAGES OF HER OWN TRUE LOVE, THE BOSS TO HER DID PAY
THE SHANTY BOYS MADE UP FOR HER, A GENEROUS PURSE NEXT DAY MM
8. MM
THEY BURIED HIM MID SORROWS DEEP, 'TWAS ON THE FIRST OF MAY
COME ALL YOU YOUNG SHANTY BOYS, AND FOR YOUR COMRADE PRAY
ENGRAVED UPON A HEMLOCK TREE WHICH, BY THE GRAVE DID GROW
WAS THE NAME AND DATE OF THIS SAD FATE, OF OUR SHANTY BOY
MONROE MM
9. MM
FAIR CLARA DID NOT LONG SURVIVE, HER HEART WAS FILLED WITH
GRIEF
AND SCARCELY SIX MONTHS AFTER, DEATH CAME TO HER RELIEF
AND WHEN THE TIME HAD PASSED AWAY AND SHE WAS CALLED TO GO
HER LAST REQUEST WAS GRANTED TO BE LAID BY YOUNG MONROE MM
10. MM
COME ALL YOU YOUNG BOLD SHANTY BOYS, I'D HAVE YOU CALL AND SEE
TWO GREEN MOUNDS BY THE RIVER SIDE, WHERE GROWS THE HEMLOCK
TREE
THE SHANTY BOYS CLEARED FOR THE SPOT, BUT THE LOVERS THEY LAY
LOW
THERE'S HANDSOME CLARA VERNON, AND HER TRUE LOVE JACK MONROE MM MM
THIS WAS A TRUE HAPPENING. MY GRANDFATHER KNEW OF IT AT THE
TIME IT HAPPENED. YEARS AGO, IN THE LUMBERING DAYS, WHEN A
TRAGEDY WOUULD HIT, SOME ONE USUALLY MADE UP A SONG ABOUT IT. MM
THE JAM, WHICH IS SANG OF IN THE SONG THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK,
WAS WHEN THE LOGS WHICH WERE BEING FLOATED DOWN THE RIVER,
WOUULD JAM UP. THE CAUSE OF THIS WOULD BE THAT ONE OR TWO
LOGS WOULD TURN SIDEWAYS, INSTEAD OF FLOATING END FIRST DOWN
THE RIVER. YOU SEE THE MEN WOULD CUT THESE LOGS IN THE WIN-
TER TIME, AND THEY WERE HAULED BY SLEIGH TO A RIVER AND PILED
ON THE BANK, AND THEN IN THE SPRING, WHEN THE ICE MELTED IN
THE RIVERS, AND THE WATER WAS HIGH, THE LOGS WERE DUMPED INTO
THE RIVER AND FLOATED DOWN STREAM TO A LUMBER MILL, WHERE THEY
WERE SAWED INTO LUMBER. I SAW THIS ALL HAPPEN WHEN I WAS A
CHILD AT MICHELSON, HERE IN ROSCOMMON COUNTY.

Submitter comment: IT IS INTERESTING THAT THIS INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT THIS
INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN AND THAT HER GRANDFATHER KNEW
IT. MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENT IN VERY SIMILAR
SONGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER LUMBERING AREAS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE

James Callow Keyword(s): LUMBERJACK ; SYMPATHETIC DEATH

Date learned: 00001930S

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OLD ARMY OR NAVY SONG FROM WORLD WAR I

YOU SING THIS SONG TO THE TUNE OF "YANKEE DOODLE"
MY FATHER AND I WENT OUT TO CAMP,
ALONG WITH CAPTAIN GOODMAN.
AND THERE WE SAW THE MEN AND BOYS,
AS THICK WITH HASTY PUDDING.
CO[ MY GRANDPA WOULD OFTEN SING THIS SONG TO HIS CHILDREN.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDPA WOULD OFTEN SING THIS SONG TO HIS CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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