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Little Sally Walker
This is a game that little girls play. Girls stand
in a circle, all facing each other, with one girl in the
middle who is called Little Sally Walker. They all sing
this song together and shake their hips while Sally chooses
a partner to dance with and repeat the song again and chooses
another partner until everyone is chosen. This is the end of
the game.
They sing this song:
Little Sally Walker, walking down the street.
She didn't know what to do, so she jumped in front of me.
She said "Go on Girl shake that thing, shake that thing,
STOP!
Go on girl choose your partner, choose your partner, STOP!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): game, song
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
(sung to the tune of "Deck the Halls")
Deck the halls with gasoline.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Light a match and watch it gleam.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Watch the school burn down to ashes.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Aren't you glad we played with matches?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Submitter comment:
This song is an obvious favorite with the grade school
children during the holidays, especially the boys.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, humor, arson, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
While looking at a friend's scrap book I noticed
that they had pictures of their old pets, but
no current pictures of current pets. When I asked
why, the response was that if you took a picture of
your pet it would soon die afterwards. This was
said with conviction and firm belief. The reason
the belief was so strong was that this happened
to 4 of their pets after they took their picture.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001988 ca
Kim's family used to wax their cars, but every time they did,
whoever drove it after the waxing got into an auto accident.
This happened quite a few times. Kim's parents quit waxing
the cars and have not been in an accident since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PLYMOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
THE SHANTY BOY
"AS I WALKED OUT ONE EVENING, JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.
I CARELESSLY DID RAMBLE TILL I CAME TO SAGINAW TOWN.
I HEARD TWO GIRLS CONVERSING, AS SLOWLY I PASSED THEM BY;
ONE SAID SHE LOVED A FARMER'S SON, AND THE OTHER A SHANTY
BOY.
"THE ONE THAT LOVED THE FARMER'S SON, THESE WORDS I HEARD
HER SAY,
'THE REASON WHY I LOVE HIM IS AT HOME WITH ME HE'LL STAY;
HE'LL STAY AT HOME ALL WINTER, TO THE WOODS HE WILL NOT GO,
AND WHEN THE SPRINGTIME COMES AGAIN, HIS LANDS HE'LL
PLOW AND SOW.'
'I SHALL ALWAYS PRAISE MY SHANTY BOY WHO GOES TO THE
WOODS IN THE FALL,
HE IS BOTH STOUT AND HEARTY AND FIT TO STAND A SQUALL;
WITH PLEASURE I WILL GREET HIM IN THE SPRING WHEN
HE COMES DOWN.
HIS MONEY ON ME HE'LL SPEND IT FREE WHEN YOUR MOSSBACK
HE HAS NONE.'
HOW CAN YOU PRAISE YOUR SHANTY BOY WHO TO THE WOODS
DOES GO?
HE'S ORDERED OUT BEFORE DAYLIGHT TO FACE THE FROST AND SNOW,
WHILE HAPPY AND CONTENTED MY FARMER'S SON WILL LIE,
SOFT TALES OF LOVE HE'LL TELL TO ME WHILE THE STORMS
ARE BLOWING BY.'
'I NEVER CAN STAND THAT SOFT TALK,' THE OTHER GIRL DID SAY,
'THE MOST OF THEM THEY ARE SO GREEN THE COWS COULD EAT
THEM FOR HAY;
HOW EASY IT IS TO KNOW THEM WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN,
THE SMALL BOY SHOUTING AFTER THEM, "MOSSBACK, HOW COME
YOU DOWN?'
'WHAT I'VE SAID UNKIND OF YOUR SHANTY BOY, I DO NOT
MEAN IT SO,
AND IF EVER I MEET WITH ONE OF THEM ALONG WITH HIM
I'LL GO,
AND LEAVE MY MOSSBACK FARMERS' SON TO PLOUGH AND PLANT
HIS FARM.
WHILE MY SHANTY BOY SO BOLD AND FREE WILL SAVE ME FROM
ALL HARM.
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG COMES FROM NOT AN EDUCATED PERSON BUT FROM
THE HEART OF A LUMBERING CREW. IT FITS THE MENTALITY
OF THE AVERAGE LOGGING CREW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): LOGGING SONGS ; SHANTY BOY
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRASTED OCCUPATIONS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Date learned: 03-04-1990
THE BUZZARDS HAVE RETURNED TO HINCKLEY OHIO YEARLY ON
MARCH 15 FOR MANY YEARS, WHEN FROZEN CARCASSES FROM A
CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNITY HUNT BEGAN DEFROSTING AS SPRING
APPROACHED. PEOPLE WEARING BUZZARDS COSTUMES WAIT FOR
THE BUZZARDS WHO ROOST ON ROCKY LEDGES IN A NEARBY
LAKE. THIS USUALLY MARKS THE END OF THE WINTER SEASON.
THE CARCASSES ARE THERE EVERY YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): BIRDS ; DATE ; SEASONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 15 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 00001980S
This was an autograph in my mother's yearbook:
"2-4-6-8, Don't make love by the garden gate,
Love is blind, but the neighbors ain't."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; Wilkes Barre
James Callow Keyword(s): Assonantal rhyme
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06001958 ca.
Yo have mo front 'n Katie Ben.
Submitter comment:
You have more "gumption" than Katie Ben. The story goes back
to the 1940's in Saint Thomas when there was a problem with
the congregation of a Methodist church. Everyone was afraid
to talk about it, including the minister, even though all knew
a problem existed. Katie Ben, a child, got up in church and
spoke out or took the "front." The informant has no idea what
the problem was at the time but that is where this saying came
from.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
Keyword(s): 'n = than ; mo = more ; Yo = you
James Callow Keyword(s): Effrontery Boldness Audacity ; Personal name in proverb
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
Willing is a good man; Able is a better one.
Submitter comment:
Being willing to try to do something is good but being able to
do something is better.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
James Callow Keyword(s): NAMES ; PERSONIFICATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
Old Mary Mack Mack
All dressed in black black
With silver buttons buttons
All down her back back
She asked her mother mother
For fifty cents cents
To see the elephant jump the fence fence
He jumped so high high
He touched the sky sky
He never came back back
To the Fourth of July lie lie.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
People who suck on ice are sexually frustrated.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
Old Polish Belief
Children with red hair are cruel and mean, and have a bad
temper.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color |
Baby Belief
If a baby is born with open hands he/she will be generous.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1992
Baby Belief
If a baby has large ears, he will be a loving person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth |
Date learned: 03-00-1992
Fish And Milk
Before having a catfish dinner, I asked my mother if I could
have some milk to go with it. But my father interrupted and said
that if you've never had milk with fish before then it will kill
you.
Submitter comment:
My father had a very serious look on his face. I knew he was
wrong because they had served milk along with our lunches which
sometimes include fish as a main course.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): FOOD POISONING
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Old Mary Mack
There's a children's song entitled 'Old Mary Mack' and it goes
like this:
Old Mary Mack Mack Mack
All dressed in black black black
With silver buttons buttons buttons
All down her back back back
She went to the store store store
With fifteen cents cents cents.
Submitter comment: This was sort of one of those patty cake chants.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Children's songs
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Ten Red Balloons
Ten red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and nine were there.
Nine red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and eight were there.
Eight red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and seven were there.
Seven red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and six were there.
Six red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and five were there.
Five red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and four were there.
Four red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and three were there.
Three red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and two were there.
Two red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and one was there.
One red balloon waving in the air,
One went pop and none were there.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
In our family, if any two people say the exact same words at
the exact same time (or at least pretty close) a tagging fight
breaks out. One of the persons involved tries to be the first to
tag the other and say, "Owe me a coke!" or "Owe me a beer!" This
tag fight can get so involved that they may even chase each other
down the street. The tagging fight can also last a very long time
and can be exciting to watch.
James Callow comment:
See Cf. Hand, North Carolina, 447-454. See Puckett, Ohio, nos.
21886-21946, 22259, 22319. Despite the many examples in this great
collection, none of the verbal formulas and finger rituals match
the ones in our entry.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Speaking in unison
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967