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SINGING, DANCING, AND CLAPPING GAME

PEPSI COLA, COCA COLA, ROYAL CROWN, YOU GOT TO HYPNOTIZE THEM,
BOOMERIZE THEM, KNOCK THEM DOWN. YOU KNOW THAT PEPSI COLA SHOT 'EM
DOWN. DR. PEPPER PICKED THEM UP AND NOW WE'RE DRINKING SEVEN-UP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CARBONATED BEVERAGES POP SOFT DRINKS ; NEOLOGISM: BOOMERIZE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.523

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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SINGING, DANCING AND CLAPPING GAME.

EENIE-MEENIE GYPSA-LEENIE, WHO SHOT AHMALEENIE? AHCHEE-KAHCHEE,
LIBERACE, I LOVE YOU. TOO-TOO. I SAW YOU WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND LAST
NIGHT. HOW DO YOU KNOW? I PEEKED THROUGH THE KEYHOLE, NOSY! WASH
THOSE DISHES, LAZY! JUMP OUT THE WINDOW, CRAZY! GIVE ME SOME CANDY
STINGEY! SO EENIE-MEENIE, GYPSA-LEENIE, WHO SHOT AHMALEENIE?
AHCHEE-KAHCHEE, LIBERACE, I LOVE YOU. TOO-TOO::

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): NONSENSE WORDS ; TELEVISION PERSONALITY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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JUMP-ROPE RHYME

LULU HAD AN ENGINE, THE ENGINE HAD A BELL
LULU WENT TO HEAVEN AND THE ENGINE WENT TO HELL-O
OPERATOR, GIVE ME NUMBER
IF YOU DON'T I'LL KICK YOUR BLACK BEHIND
THE REFRIGERATOR, THERE IS A PIECE OF GLASS
I HOPE YOU FALL AND CUT YOUR BIG, OLD --
ASK ME NO MORE QUESTIONS, I'LL TELL YOU NO MORE LIES
AND THAT'S HOW MARY AND HER STEAM BOAT DIED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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IF YOU ATTEND A FUNERAL WHILE PREGNANT YOUR BABY WILL BE
BORN OR GROW UP TO BE A VERY DARK COMPLEXTION PERSON.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING MY STAY IN DETROIT WITH PEOPLE WHO
LIVED THERE A LONG TIME.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF --THE TABOO OF ATTENDING A FUNERAL
WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT WILL AFFECT THE COLOR OF THE UNBORN. THIS
USUALLY APPLIES TO BLACK FOLK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPLECTION COMPLEXION ; NEGRO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: CA06171966

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NO-SPILL-SALT

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU DO THIS,
TAKE A HAND FULL OF SALT AND THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
THIS WILL REVERSE THE BAD LUCK AND GIVE YOU GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FOLKLORE FROM HER CHILDHOOD DAYS OF HER HOME TOWN.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS SYMPATHETIC MAGIC BECAUSE THERE IS A
PRIMITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPILLING AND THE THROWING THE SALT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHT LEFT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 00001930'S

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FRONT DOOR---PLEASE

IF YOU COME IN THE FRONT DOOR THEN YOU MUST LEAVE BY THE FRONT DOOR.
IF NOT THEN YOU WILL CAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSE
BAD LUCK FOR SURE.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER HOME TOWN DURING HER ADOLESCENT STAGE.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOME. THIS
PRACTICE KEEPS THE HOME SAFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ENTERING LEAVING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001930'S

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GRACE BEFORE MEALS

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT, PUT IT ON THE
TABLE AND I'LL GET ALL I WANT.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING MY STAY IN DETROIT WITH PEOPLE WHO
LIVED THERE A LONG TIME.
THIS VERSE HAS A PARODY AIR ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT CONTRADICTS ITSELF.
I SAY THIS BECAUSE WHEN ONE SAYS PRAYERS ONE WOULD HOPEFULLY BE
EXPRESSING THEIR GRATEFULNESS FOR THE MEALS, AND NOT HAVE AN
SELFISH OR GREEDY AND ANXIOUS ATTITUDE ABOUT EATING THE MEAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PSALM 23 PARODY

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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SHE'S--MARKED:

BURNING "S" ON THE FACE OF A FEMALE WAS TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS AN
AN ADULTERER. THE MARK COULD BE ALSO CUT ON HER FACE.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING HIS LATE ADOLESCENT STAGE IN HIS HOME TOWN.
THIS ITEM WAS TOLD TO HIM BY HIS ACQUAINTANCES WHEN HE VISITED IRELAND. THIS
TALE CAME ABOUT IN THE EARLY YEARS OF IRELAND'S BIRTH. THE SIGN WAS PUT ON THE
WOMAN'S FACE SO TO TELL "THE WORLD" OF HER SIN. I DIDN'T GET AN EXPLANATION WHY
THEY USED THE LETTER S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): BRANDING ; PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 00001930S

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CLIMBING

WHEN CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUCCESS,/ DON'T LET THE BOYS LOOK
UNDER YOUR DRESS.

Submitter comment: SHE REMEMBERED THIS ITEM FROM TIMES WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. BUT
IT WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER MOTHER AND NEIGHBORS USUALLY BY WORD
OF MOUTH. HER MOTHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER'S MOTHER BELIEVED
THAT OLD SAYINGS ARE WORTH REMEMBERING. THE INFORMANT REGARDS
THIS FOLK ITEM AS A PIECE OF GOLD FOR A GUIDE LINE OF LIFE'S
EXPERIENCE.
SHE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; VIRGINIA ; PHILADELPHIA ; RICHMOND

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 00-00-1935

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POLISH PRAYER

ZA TWE MAMO PRACE TROSKI BEDA PROSIE MATKI BOSKI BY CIE
OBDARZYLA ZDROWIEM JAK WOSNE VIECEJ POWIEM. TRANSLATION: FOR ALL
YOUR WORK AND WORRY, I BESEECH THE MOTHER OF GOD TO GIFT YOU
WITH HEALTH AND WHEN I GROW UP I'LL TELL YOU MORE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTIONAL SHIFT: GIFT AS VERB ; PIOUS GOOD WISHES

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.643
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20

Date learned: 11-07-1974

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POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE FAMILY ALWAYS SETS AN EXTRA PLACE AT THE TABLE FOR THE
CHRISTMAS MEAL IN CASE ANYONE COMES IN NEED OF FOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARITY HOSPITALITY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.

Date learned: 10-10-1974

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POLISH PROVERB

GOSC W DOMU; BOG W DOMU. TRANSLATION: GUEST IN THE HOUSE; GOD IN
THE HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; HOSPITALITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-10-1974

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FLY LEAF PROSE

IN CASE OF FIRE, THROW IN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BOOK ; FLY-LEAF INSCRIPTION

Subject headings: Z220

Date learned: CA00001968

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FLY LEAF PROSE

IF YOU ARE HUNGARY, EAT THIS BOOK; IT IS FULL OF BOLOGNA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNS ON PLACE NAMES

Subject headings: Z220

Date learned: CA00001968

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PRACTICAL JOKE

WHEN A NEW WORKER BEGINS TO CLEAN TOILETS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT
COBO HALL, HE IS ASKED REPEATEDLY BY THE OLDER WORKERS IF HE HAS
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH CARD. IF HE SAYS NO, WHICH HE ALMOST
CERTAINLY WILL, HE IS REPRIMANDED FOR NOT TELLING THE SUPERVISOR
AND RISKING A POSSIBLE FINE AGAINST THE COMPANY.

Submitter comment: THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED OF ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AT
LEAST SINCE I STARTED WORK THERE 3 1/2 YEARS AGO.I FOUND OUT FROM
OTHER WORKERS THAT THEY ALSO WERE ASKED THIS QUESTION. THE LONGEST
WORKING EMPLOYEE ASKED WAS A WORKER WITH 10 YEARS SENIORITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOAX PRACTICAL JOKE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1971

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COUNTING-OUT RHYME

MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING CLOTHES,
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE,
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD? (THE PERSON TO WHOM THE CALLER IS POINTING
NAMES A COLOR) EXAMPLE-BLUE
B-L-U-E SPELLS BLUE AND I WILL NOT PICK YOU.

Submitter comment: THIS COUNTING-OUT RHYME WAS A FAVORITE OF THE KIDS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE SELDOM WOULD A COLOR BE CHOSEN VERY OFTEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SPELLING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: CA00001961

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MNEMONIC DEVICE

MY VERY EDUCATED MOTHER JUST SERVED US NINE PICKLES.

Submitter comment: THIS SENTENCE HELPS TO REMEMBER THE PLANETS IN THE ORDER OF NEAREST
TO THE SUN TO FURTHEST FROM THE SUN
INFORMANT SAID HE LEARNED THE DEVICE FROM SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT
SCHOOL. HE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD IT TO HIM BUT SAID IT WAS USED
BY ALMOST EVERYONE IN HIS CLASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; NEPTUNE ; PLANETS: MERCURY, VENUS, EARTH, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, ; PLUTO ; URANUS

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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MNEMONIC DEVICE

H-O-M-E-S

Submitter comment: THE WORD HOMES HELPS TO REMEMBER THE GREAT LAKES
INFORMANT SAID HE LEARNED THE DEVICE FROM SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT
SCHOOL. HE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD IT TO HIM BUT SAID IT WAS USED
BY ALMOST EVERYONE IN HIS CLASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; LAKES: HURON, ONTARIO, MICHIGAN, ERIE, SUPERIOR

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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POLISH FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS

ON JANUARY 6, THE FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS, PRIESTS
VISIT THE HOMES OF POLISH CATHOLICS BEARING CHALK,
MYRRH, AND INCENSE. THEY BLESS THE HOUSE AND WRITE
THE NAMES OF THE THREE KINGS OVER THE DOORWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BALTHAZAR ; KASPAR ; MELCHIOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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MNEMONIC DEVICE

JOHN STEPHEN ULRICH NEEDS EVERY VITAMIN, MINERAL, PLUS MEAT

Submitter comment: THIS SENTENCE HELPS IN REMEMBERING THE PLANETS IN THE ORDER OF
LARGEST TO SMALLEST
INFORMANT SAID HE LEARNED THE DEVICE FROM SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT
SCHOOL. HE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD IT TO HIM BUT SAID IT WAS USED
BY ALMOST EVERYONE IN HIS CLASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): Earth ; JUPITER ; MARS ; MERCURY ; NEPTUNE ; PLANETS ; PLUTO ; SATURN ; URANUS ; VENUS

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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