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KNOCK KNOCK JOKE

KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
SIXA
SIXA WHO?
SIXA ONE-HALF DOZEN OF ANOTHER.

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): SIX OF ONE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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RIDDLE

WHY SHOULDN'T YOU TELL A SECRET IN THE GARDEN?
BECAUSE THE CORN HAS EARS

Where learned: SHOPPING

Keyword(s): PUN ON ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE BODY ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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RIDDLE

A NICKLE AND DIME WERE ON THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
THE NICKLE ROLLED OFF. WHY DIDN'T THE DIME?
BECAUSE THE DIME HAD MORE CENTS

Where learned: SAINT LEONARD SCHOOL ; DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): MONEY ; PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-28-1965

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PENNIES IN THE FOUNTAIN.

IF YOU THROW A PENNY IN TO A FOUNTAIN
IT WILL BRING YOU WHATEVER YOU WISH FOR ON THE PENNY.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): MONEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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BELIEF(CUSTOM)

A CRUST OF BREAD AND PENNIES SHOULD BE HIDDEN IN THE
HOME ON NEW YEARS EVE SO THAT THE FAMILY WILL
HAVE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FOOD MONEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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GIVING SOMETHING SHARP

IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE SOMETHING SHARP LIKE A KNIFE
OR SCISSORS FOR A GIFT, THEY SHOULD GIVE YOU BACK A PENNY
SO THAT IT DOES NOT SEVER THE FRIENDSHIP.

Where learned: DETROIT ; DAYTON ; MM I

Keyword(s): MONEY

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 01-00-1970

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HAIR TODAY---BALD TOMORROW.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS YEARS BACK
PROBABLY AROUND THE LATE 1928S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; PARODY OF HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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BELIEF ABOUT CLEFT IN CHIN

IF YOU HAVE A CLEFT IN YOUR CHIN-
YOU ARE HONEST, CLEAN CUT, AND ALL AMERICAN.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; CLEAN CUT ; HONESTY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 02-20-1972

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FOLK VERSE

IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO BE PLEASANT
WHEN LIFE FLOATS ALONG LIKE A SONG,
BUT THE GIRL WORTH WHILE
IS THE GIRL THAT CAN SMILE,
WHEN HER TWO FRONT TEETH ARE GONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME - SONG GONE ; RHYME: ABCCB ; RHYME: ABCCD

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 00001950S

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CHILDREN'S SONG

A SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE;
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA, SEA, SEA

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION ; HOMOPHONES ; SONG ; SPONDEES

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

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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SPIRITS

IN ORDER FOR ONE TO KEEP SPIRITS OUT OF THEIR HOUSE HE OR SHE
SHOULD NAIL PENNIES ON THE FLOOR OF THE DOORWAY OR
HE OR SHE SHOULD WEAR PENNIES AROUND ONE'S NECK OR ANKLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COINS ; MONEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 02-10-1972

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HELEN

HELEN HAD A STEAMBOAT
STEAMBOAT HAD A BELL
HELEN PULLED THE WRONG CORD
AND BLOW US ALL TO HELLO OPERATOR,
GIVE ME NUMBER NINE
IF IT DOES NOT ANSWER
GIVE ME BACK MY DIME

Submitter comment: SUNG TO A TUNE BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF EXPLAINING.
I CANNOT THINK OF A FAMOUS SONG WITH THIS TUNE.

Data entry tech comment: EUPHEMISM FOR HELL IN LINE FOUR

Where learned: FERNDALE ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): RHYME: ABA ; TELEPHONE

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

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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GOOD LUCK: OBJECTS ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )

BIRTH STONES ARE LUCKY. YOU HAVE A GOOD LUCK CHARM FOR THE MONTH YOU
WERE BORN IN ALSO, JULY IS A CAT'S EYE.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BIRTHSTONE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1

Date learned: 11-10-1970

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JOHN C. WOBBLESQUAW

HE WAS MY FATHER,S GREAT, GREAT, GRANDFATHER ON HIS MOTHER,S SIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND.
HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND ACROSS THE STRAITS, AND HE USED TO LIKE TO SEE
HER, SO HE WOULD SWIM ACROSS THE STRAITS. HE SAW LITTLE WHITE STONES
ON THE LOWER PENINSULA SIDE AND HE USED TO TAKE THEM TO HER.
NOW HE WAS A STRONG FELLOW, BUT HE TIRED WITH ALL THE STONES WHILE
SWIMMING, SO HE USED TO DUMP THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRAITS.
THIS WAS A HOT ROMANCE, BUT HE COULDN,T GET ACROSS THE STRAITS WITH
SOME MORE STONES. THAT,S HOW HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND. BECAUSE IF YOU
GO THERE TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE WHITE STONES IN THE SAND.

 

or something like that.

Where learned: MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE NOW A HISTORIC PATH ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE OF LOVE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 00001968 FALL

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CUSTOMS (NEW YEAR)

IF AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT A MARRIED
COUPLE IS HOLDING CASH IN ONE HAND
AND A PICKLED HERRING IN THE OTHER HAND AND EACH TASTES OF THE
HERRING THEY WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED FROM THE FAMILY.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Keyword(s): MONEY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.1231
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water
BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42

Date learned: 09-30-1967

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CHRISTMAS

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE MOTHER OF THE HOUSEHOLD PLACES A FEW GRAINS
OF VARIOUS SEEDS, AND VARIOUS SILVER COINS INTO A LINEN NAPKIN,
PUTS THE BUNDLE ON THE TABLE, COVERS IT WITH SOME HAY, AND THEN
COVERS ALL WITH A TABLECLOTH (THIS PREVENTS STARVATION AND POORNESS
ALL YEAR).

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD ; MONEY ; SUPERSTITION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw

Date learned: 11-19-1967

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NEW YEAR'S DAY

HOLDING A SILVER DOLLAR IN YOUR HAND AND EATING A HERRING TO WELCOME
IN THE NEW YEAR, MEANS THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE BROKE OR HUNGRY.

Submitter comment: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE HERRING, THEN YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): COIN MONEY ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 00-00-1978

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FAMILY SUPERSTITION

FOR GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU MUST PLACE A QUATER OUTSIDE YOUR
FRONT DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.
THEN REMOVE IT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Submitter comment: THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR AS MANY GENERATIONS BACK
AS THEY KNOW OF

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): COIN MONEY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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PREGNANT WIVES

IN THE UKRAINE, DURING WW 1, MANY MEN LEFT THEIR WIVES AND
WENT TO AMERICA. THE WIVES WOULD BE SENT FOR WHEN THEY
COULD BE SUPPORTED. OCCASIONALLY, ONE OF THESE WIVES WOULD
GET PREGNANT. WHEN THE HUSBAND, WHOM MAY HAVE BEEN GONE
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, OFTEN FOUND HE ALSO HAD A FAMILY, THE
WOMEN DEVELOPED A STORY TO EXPLAIN THIS HAPPENING. THEY SAID
THAT AS A STORM TOOK PLACE, THE WIND BLEW UP UNDER HER DRESS
AND THEY BECAME PREGNANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): WORLD WAR ONE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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I WISH I HAD A NICKEL, I WISH I HAD A DIME, I WISH I HAD A SWEETHEART
WHO LOVED ME ALL THE TIME.

Submitter comment: SOMETIMES SAID WHILE JUMPING ROPE. EMOTIONAL YEARNING FOR LOVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): MONEY

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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