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THERE WAS A GIRL YOU COULD TICKLE,
BY POKING HER RIBS WITH A PICKLE.
AT A CHURCH FAIR ONE DAY,
THEY MADE THE BOYS PAY,
BY CHARGING A NICKEL A TICKLE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER UNCLE, WHO WAS A MINISTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; HUMOR CHILDREN MONEY ; METER: TROCHAIC ; METONYMY ; RHYME: FEMININE, INTERNAL, AABBA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

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NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
A BAG OF CANDY AT MY FEET.
IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE,
YOU'LL KNOW I DIED OF A STOMACH ACHE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY ON A CHILDREN'S PRAYER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: HOW DOES A POLLACK SPELL FARM ?
A: E I E I O

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN FROM "OLD MC DONALD HAD A FARM," A CHILDREN'S SONG

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 06-00-1972

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BETTER THAN SPANKING

IN THAILAND, MANY PARENTS FEEL THAT INSTEAD OF SPANKING THEIR
CHILDREN, A MORE EFFECTIVE PUNISHMENT FOR A SERIOUS MATTER IS TO
MAKE THE CHILD LIE UNDER THE BED FOR A WHILE.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARENTS CHILDREN PUNISHMENT

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

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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Language

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY/ COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY/ LITTLE JOHNNIE WANTS
TO PLAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD / Updated on 01-13-2011

Where learned: EAST DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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NO TITLE SUPPLIED

DAD: I SURE WISH YOU'D STOP REACHING FOR
THINGS. DON'T YOU HAVE A TONGUE.
SON: YES, BUT MY ARM IS LONGER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): ABSURD ; CHILDREN ; DIOLOGUE ; EATING ; HUMOR ; PARENTS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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MOMMY, MOMMY

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

MOMMY, MOMMY, WHY CAN'T I WEAR DRESSES LIKE OTHER CHILDREN?
SHUT UP, RALPH

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE REMEMBERS
THIS FROM HIS CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSURD ; CHILDREN ; DIOLOGUE ; DRESS ; HOMOSEXUALITY ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; TRANSVESTISM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 00-00-1971

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DESERTED CHILD

THERE WAS A PREGNANT WOMAN. WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN HER HUSBAND
DIED. SHE BLAMED THE BABY AND LOCKED HIM UP IN THE ATTIC. THE
CHILD WAS ALWAYS BY THE WINDOW AND USED TO WATCH THE FIRE-ENGINES
PASS BY. THE WOMAN NEVER OPENED THE DOOR TO THE ATTIC AND EVEN
FED HIM THROUGH THE DOOR. ONE DAY THE WOMAN HAD COMPANY AND
FORGOT TO LOCK THE DOOR. THE BOY WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD AT THIS
TIME AND HE ESCAPED FROM THE ATTIC AND HOPPED DOWN THE STREET
LIKE A KANGAROO AND SCREAMED WRRRRRRR... JUST LIKE A FIRE-ENGINE.
THIS IS TRUE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A GIRLFRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): STRANGE CHILDREN

James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNMENT CONFINEMENT ; ISOLATION ; SOLITUDE

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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THE HARE THAT RAN AWAY

THIS ANCIENT STORY IS ONE OF A SERIES ABOUT THE WISE
BUDDHA IN HIS SUCCESSIVE ANIMAL INCARNATIONS. THE
STORY MAY BEGIN WITHOUT REFERENCE TO BUDDHA:
ONCE THERE WAS A WISE LION WHO DID MUCH TO HELP
HIS FELLOW CREATURES AND HE FOUND THERE WAS MUCH TO
BE DONE. FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS
HARE...."

Submitter comment: AN OLD EAST INDIAN FOLKTALE ABOUT A HARE THAT THOUGHT
THE SKY WAS FALLING DOWN, BECAUSE A PIECE OF FRUIT
HIT HIM ON THE HEAD. HE CAUSED COMMOTION AMONG
ALL THE ANIMALS AND THEY BEGAN TO BELIEVE THAT THE
SKY WAS FALLING, TOO. A LION CONVINCED HIM HE WAS
WRONG BY SHOWING THE HARE HOW IT REALLY HAPPENED.
THEN EVERYTHING IN THE WOODS RETURNED BACK TO
NORMAL.

Where learned: HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): HENNY-PENNY CHILDREN'S STORY.

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

Date learned: 10-22-1972

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BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF

THE NUMBER OF WRINKLES IN THE FOREHEAD SHOWS HOW
MANY KIDS YOU WILL HAVE.

Submitter comment: GRANDMOTHER PASSED THIS SAYING.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): CHILDREN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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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

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Wedding Custom

At a shower for a bride-elect, she wil have the same number of children as ribbons broken.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Break ; Bridal ; Bride ; Broken ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Offspring ; Predict ; Ribbons ; Shower ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity

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LADYBUGS

WHEN ONE FINDS A LADYBUG ON ONE'S CLOTHING, ONE IS SUPPOSED
TO RELEASE THE BUG IN THE AIR (IT WILL FLY) AND SAY:
LADYBUG, LADYBUG,
FLY AWAY HOME,
YOUR HOUSE IN ON FIRE,
AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE ALL ALONE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BURN.

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

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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THE TROUBLE WITH BEING A PARENT IS THAT BY THE TIME
YOU ARE EXPERIENCED, YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED.

Where learned: RESIDENCE

Keyword(s): CHILDREN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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OLD SAYING

THE WAY YOU RAISE 'EM, THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET 'EM.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FATHER TOLD HIM THIS AND HIS GRANDFATHER TOLD
HIS FATHER THIS. IT'S AN OLD SAYING THAT'S BEEN PASSED
DOWN IN THE FAMILY.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 20254 MACKAY

Keyword(s): CHILDREN PARENTS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 03-05-1971

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WHEN A LITTLE GIRL WHISTLES, THE DEVIL DANCES.

Submitter comment: THIS SAYING WAS USED FREQUENTLY BY THE INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 17225 TEPPERT

Keyword(s): HELL MUSIC CHILDREN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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Belief: Children's Song

Step on a Crack-break mother's back

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] is crossed out. C860.740 replaces it.

The words Bad Luck are written across the top of the submission card, and subsequently crossed out.

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

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

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Belief: Children's Song

DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.

Submitter comment:

IS AN OLD CHILDHOOD SAYING THAT THIS INFORMANT REMINDED ME OF.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500

Date learned: 03-30-1968

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Belief: Children's Song

STEP ON A LINE,
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP ON A HOLE,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SUGAR BOWL.

Submitter comment:

CHILDREN SING THIS SONG WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Domestic ; GAME ; Hole ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; Sugar ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 01-21-1968

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Belief: Children's Song

STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK THE DEVIL'S BACK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AA ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 11-19-1969

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