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MY DEAR, DO YOU KNOW,
HOW A LONG TIME AGO,
TWO POOR LITTLE CHILDREN,
WHOSE NAMES I DON'T KNOW,
WERE STOLEN AWAY
ON A FINE SUMMER'S DAY,
AND LEFT IN THE WOODS,
AS I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY.
AND WHEN IT WAS NIGHT,
SO SAD WAS THEIR PLIGHT,
THE SUN IT WENT DOWN,
AND THE MOON GAVE NO LIGHT;
THEY SOBBED AND THEY SIGHED,
AND THEY BITTERLY CRIED,
AND THE POOR LITTLE THINGS,
THEY LAY DOWN AND DIED.
AND WHEN THEY WERE DEAD,
THE ROBINS, SO RED,
BOUGHT STRAWBERRY LEAVES, (BROUGHT?)
AND OVER THEM SPREAD.
AND ALL THE DAY LONG
THEY SANG THEM THIS SONG:
"POOR BABES IN THE WOODS,
POOR BABES IN THE WOODS,
AND DON'T YOU REMEMBER,
THE BABES IN THE WOODS."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEATH ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; MONOLOGUE REPETITIION ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABA CCDC

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

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OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM,
OOEY GOOEY LIKED TO SQUIRM,
OOEY GOOEY CROSSED THE RAILROAD TRACK.
O-O-EY, G-O-O-EY!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOR, FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE UNDERSTATEMENT ; RAILROAD DEATH ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, MASCULINE, AABC

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

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THE CLOCK OF LIFE IS WOUND BUT ONCE,
AND NO MAN HAS THE POWER
TO TELL JUST WHERE THE HANDS WILL STOP,
AT LATE OR EARLY HOUR.
TO LOSE ONE'S WEALTH, IS SAD INDEED,
TO LOSE ONE'S HEALTH IS MORE;
TO LOSE ONE'S SOUL IS SUCH A LOSS,
AS NO MAN CAN RESTORE.
THE PRESENT ONLY IS OUR OWN,
LIVE, LOVE, TOIL WITH A WILL--
PLACE NO FAITH IN "TOMORROW" FOR
THE CLOCK MAY THEN BE STILL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ADVICE, PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: IAMBIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCA ; SYMBOL METONYMY RELIGION TIME

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

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IF I DIE, BURY ME,
HANG MY BONES ON A CHERRY TREE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): COUPLET ; INSTRUCTIONS ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IT'S NOT THE COUGH
THAT CARRIES YOU OFF.
IT'S THE COFFIN
THEY CARRY YOU OFF IN.

Submitter comment: HEARD AND SAID WHEN YOUNG, 1915-1920.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): DEATH ; HUMOR TANGLETALK PUN ; IAMBIC-DACTYLIC, FEMININE RHYME, WORD PLAY, REPETITION ; OBSERVATION, TONGUETWISTER ; QUATRAIN SURPRISE ENDING CONTRAST ; RHYME: AABB

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

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LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RAILROAD,
WITH AN ENGINEER THAT'S BRAVE.
WE MUST MAKE THE RUN SUCCESSFUL,
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.

Submitter comment: RECITED

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: TROCHAIC-IAMBIC ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT, ABCA ; SIMILE ADVICE PREPARATION FOR DEATH

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

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WHEN YOU ARE OLD AND ABOUT TO DIE,
CALL ME UP SO I CAN CRY.
(TELEPHONE NUMBER).

Where learned: SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX IRONY COUPLET ; AUTOGRAPH VERSE? ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH OLD AGE FRIENDSHIP ; RHYME: MASCULINE

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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HERE LIES THE BODY OF SOLOMON PEASE.
UNDER THE DAISIES, UNDER THE TREES.
BUT PEASE ISN'T HERE, ONLY THE POD.
PEASE SHELLED OUT AND WENT HOME TO GOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEATH PUN ; EPITAPH RHYME: COUPLETS ; VEGETABLES: PEAS METAPHOR SLANG

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

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VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

MATHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THE BED THAT I LIE ON!
ALL FOUR CORNERS ROUND ABOUT,
WHEN I GET IN, WHEN I GET OUT.
FOUR CORNERS TO MY BED,
FOUR ANGELS ROUND MY HEAD;
ONE TO WATCH AND ONE TO PRAY,
AND TWO TO BEAR MY SOUL AWAY.

Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): DEATH PIOUS SLEEPING BIBLICAL ; PIOUS ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AABB

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

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WHEN YOUR HAIR HAS TURNED TO SILVER,
AND LIFE'S PATH NO MORE YOU TROD.
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN,
IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF GOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH SALVATION NAME MAGIC RHYME: ABCB

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

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AUTOGRAPH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)

FALSE TEETH, ROUGE, AND BORROWED HAIR/ MAY GIVE TO AGE A YOUTHFUL
AIRE./ BUT WHEN DEATH COMES TO CALL US HENCE/ THERE IS AN END OF
ALL PRETENCE.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): MAKEUP WIG ; RHYME DEATH ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Cynical insight

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)

WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING,/ AND ON EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD,
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN,/ IN THE ANNALS OF GOD.

Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK

Keyword(s): DEATH HEAVEN ; METONYMY: NAME ; RELIGION QUATRAIN ; RHYME ABCB ; SALVATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection

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UNDERTAKER (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)

ROSES ARE RED/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE
MY FATHER IS AN UNDERTAKER/ AND HE'LL GET YOU.

Where learned: SCRAPBOOK

Keyword(s): PARODY ; PLANTS FLOWERS ; QUATRAIN DEATH ; RHYME: ABCB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

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WISECRACKS, GAGS, SILLY STORIES, INSULTS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)

ASHES TO ASHES,/ DUST TO DUST,/ IF BOYS DON'T GET YOU,/HALFWITS
MUST.

Submitter comment: FROM INFORMANT'S JUNIOR HIGH AUTUGRAPH BOOK 1929-1933

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW ; 15116 ; 107 PARK LANE DR

Keyword(s): DEATH ; ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB

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

Date learned: 00001929-1933

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AUTOGRAPH VERSE

WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING
AND THE EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD;
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN
IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF GOD.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CHARM ; PIOUS ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; RHYME ABCB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection

Date learned: 10-08-1967

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WHEN YOUR HAIR HAS TURNED TO SILVER,
AND LIFE'S PATH NO MORE YOU TROD.
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN,
IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF GOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH SALVATION NAME MAGIC ; RHYME: ABCB

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

Date learned: 10-24-1972

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PROVERB

DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION

James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH ; OBSERVATION ; THREATS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE WORMS CRAWL IN

YOU SHOULD NEVER LAUGH AS THE HEARSE GOES BY
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
THEY'LL PUT YOU IN A WOODEN BOX
AND COVER YOU UP WITH DIRT AND ROCKS.

ALL GOES FINE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK
AND THEN THE COFFIN BEGINS TO LEAK.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.
YOUR INSIDES TURN A SLIMY GREEN
AND PUSS FLOWS OUT JUST LIKE WHIPPED CREAM.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRADE SCHOOL ; SAGINAW

Keyword(s): DECAY OF BODY AFTER DEATH ; GORE, GOTHIC HORROR ; PINOCHLE, A CARD GAME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Death
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children
BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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Song: Parody

FOUND A PEANUT
FOUND A PEANUT
FOUND A PEANUT JUST NOW
JUST NOW I FOUND A PEANUT
FOUND A PEANUT JUST NOW.

CRACKED IT OPEN
CRACKED IT OPEN
CRACKED IT OPEN JUST NOW
JUST NOW CRACKED IT OPEN
CRACKED IT OPEN JUST NOW.

FOUND IT ROTTEN
FOUND IT ROTTEN
FOUND IT ROTTEN JUST NOW
JUST NOW FOUND IT ROTTEN
FOUND IT ROTTEN JUST NOW.

ATE IT ANYWAY
ATE IT ANYWAY
ATE IT ANYWAY JUST NOW
JUST NOW I ATE IT ANYWAY
ATE IT ANYWAY JUST NOW

GOT SICK
GOT SICK
GOT SICK JUST NOW
JUST NOW I GOT SICK
GOT SICK JUST NOW.

CALLED A DOCTOR
CALLED A DOCTOR
CALLED A DOCTOR JUST NOW
JUST NOW I CALLED A DOCTOR
CALLED A DOCTOR JUST NOW.

SAID I WOULDN'T DIE
SAID I WOULDN'T DIE
SAID I WOULD'T DIE JUST NOW
JUST NOW HE SAID I WOULDN'T DIE
SAID I WOULDN'T DIE JUST NOW.

DIED ANYWAY
DIED ANYWAY
DIED ANYWAY JUST NOW
JUST NOW I DIED
DIED ANYWAY JUST NOW.

WENT TO HEAVEN
WENT TO HEAVEN
WENT TO HEAVEN JUST NOW
JUST NOW I WENT TO HEAVEN
WENT TO HEAVEN JUST NOW.

PLAYED THE HARP
PLAYED THE HARP
PLAYED THE HARP JUST NOW
JUST NOW I PLAYED THE HARP
PLAYED THE HARP JUST NOW.

BROKE A STRING
BROKE A STRING
BROKE A STRING JUST NOW
JUST NOW I BROKE A STRING
BROKE A STRING JUST NOW.

WENT DOWN
WENT DOWN
WENT DOWN JUST NOW
JUST NOW I WENT DOWN
WENT DOWN JUST NOW

SHOVELED COAL
SHOVELED COAL
SHOVELED COAL JUST NOW
JUST NOW I SHOVELED COAL
SHOVELED COAL JUST NOW.

BURNT MY FINGER
BURNT MY FINGER
BURNT MY FINGER JUST NOW
JUST NOW I BURNT MY FINGER
BURNT MY FINGER JUST NOW.
THE END

Data entry tech comment:

PROBABLY TO THE TUNE OF " MY DARLING CLEMENTINE "

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; STERLING

Keyword(s): CHIASMUS ; COAL ; DEATH ; Doctors ; FOOD ; HARP ; HEAVEN ; HELL ; MUSIC ; NUT ; Peanut ; REPETITION ; SATIRE ; SHOVELING

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

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THAT THE SUN SHINES ON,
HAPPY IS THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN FALLS ON.

Submitter comment: MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Keyword(s): DEATH ; WEATHER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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