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YOU HAVE AS MUCH GRACE AS A WOUNDED BUFFALO.

Submitter comment: USED TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE AS BEING A KLUTZ {CLUMSY}.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 00001960S LATE

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QUESTION: WHAT'S YELLOW AND WEARS A MASK?
ANSWER: A LONE LEMON.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): THE LONE RANGER

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-23-1972

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QUESTION: HOW DO YOU HIDE A ELEPHANT IN A CHERRY TREE? ANSWER:
PAINT HIS TOE NAILS RED.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-23-1972

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QUESTION: WHAT'S GREEN AND DANGEROUS? ANSWER: A FROG WITH A
GRENADE.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-23-1972

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IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, SOMEONE IS COMING WITH HOLES IN THEIR
BRITCHES.

Submitter comment: MRS. HAMPTON CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE SHE GOT IT FROM BUT SHE'S
KNOWN IT A LONG TIME. JUST SOMETHING SAID WHEN YOUR NOSE ITCHES.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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IF YOU DROP CANDY OR ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD ON THE GROUND, IF YOU
HOLD IT UP TO THE SKY (TO GOD) AND KISS IT, THEN THE GERMS WILL
BE GONE.

Submitter comment: KEITH HEARD THIS (AND DID IT IN PENNSYLVANIA) AND I HEARD AND DID
THE SAME THING IN MY CHILDHOOD IN DETROIT.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): DISINFECT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-21-1972

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FOR GOOD LUCK FOR A YEAR, A GOOD LUCKING PERSON, MAN OR WOMAN
1MUST RING THE DOORBELL ON NEW YEARS EVE OR DAY.

Submitter comment: I KNOW OF MANY FAMILIES BESIDES THE LOCKHARTS WHO BELIEVE IN THIS

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): GOOD LOOKING? HANDSOME?

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42

Date learned: 01-01-1972

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JESUS WEPT, MOSES CREPT, PETER FELL DOWN THE FRONT STEP.

Submitter comment: A SIMPLE SAYING USED AT TIMES AS A MOCK PRAYER, OR JUST SAID AT
TIMES TO BE FUNNY.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BIBLICAL

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

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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TO CURE CHICKEN POX, AFTER DARK GO TO THE CHICKEN HOUSE, LAY DOWN
AND LET A BLACK HEN FLY OVER YOU.

Submitter comment: MRS. HAMPTON WAS TOLD THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT DID NOT BELIEVE
IT.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-11-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE ON QUEMOY?
A: BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KILL YOURSELF JUMPING OUT OF A CAVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): QUEMOY: ISLAND OFF THE CHINA COAST

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- W4OO

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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RIDDLE {SICK HUMOR}

QUESTION: WHY DO THEY BOIL WATER WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A BABY?
ANSWER: SO IF IT DIES, THEY CAN MAKE SOUP.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; TORONTO

James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001971 (SUMMER)

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT DID HELEN KELLER SAY WHEN SHE FELL DOWN THE CLIFF?
A: NOTHING. HELEN KELLER CANNOT SPEAK.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Keyword(s): cliff ; Distasteful ; Helen Keller ; JOKE ; MUTE

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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Proverb

MAY YOUR LUCK BE AS LONG AS A RABBIT'S EARS, SORROW AS SHORT AS HIS TAIL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 02-22-2011 by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Ear ; EARS ; LUCK ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Rabbit ; SORROW ; Tail ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): WISH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.3

Date learned: 06-09-1944

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VERSE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

BEANS, BEANS, THE MUSICAL FRUIT, THE MORE YOU EAT THE MORE YOU TOOT,
THE MORE YOU TOOT, THE BETTER YOU FEEL, SO EAT BEANS AT EVERY MEAL.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: TOOT FOR FART ; RHYME: AABB ; SCATALOGICAL

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

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HELEN KELLER AND THE WARREN
COMMISSION? A: HELEN KELLER KNOWS BRAILLE.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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RETORT

WHEN SOMEONE HAS CALLED YOU A DIRTY OR A NASTY NAME, YOU ARE TO
RETORT WITH "I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I?"

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, MY YOUNGER SISTER, SAYS THIS IS A VERY GOOD WAY TO
KEEP BIG MOUTHS AWAY BECAUSE THIS RETORT HAS A CIRCULAR MOTION
TO IT, AND YOU COULD KEEP SAYING IT ALL DAY.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER ; SLANG: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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TANGLE TALK

HOLD ON TO THE END OF YOUR TONGUE AND SAY "I WAS RAISED IN A
SHIPYARD" THREE TIMES.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS MY 14 YEAR OLD SISTER WHO SAYS THIS TANGLETALK IS
GOING AROUND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): TONGUE HOLDER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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GRAFFITI

LEON TROTSKY IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN HAMTRAMYCK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW WHO LEON TROTSKY WAS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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VERSE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY STARTED
WHEN UNCLE FESTER FARTED.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE RETARDED,
THE AADDAMS FAMILY.
RE RETARDED, THE ADDAMS FAMILY.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A PARODY OF THE THEME SONG OF A TV PROGRAM THAT WAS POPULAR
SOME YEARS AGO.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SCATALOGICAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery

Date learned: 09-20-72

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