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THERE WAS A MAN UPON THE STAIRS,
GEE I WISH HE WASN'T THERE.
HE WASN'T THERE AGAIN TODAY,
GEE, I WISH HE'D GO AWAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER MANY YEARS AGO.

Data entry tech comment: YESTERDAY UPON THE STAIR, I SAW A MAN THAT WASN'T THERE.
HE WASN'T THERE AGAIN TODAY,
OH, HOW I WISH HE'D GO AWAY (THAT'S THE WAY I HEARD IT)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHIASMUS CONTRADICTIONS QUATRAIN ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; REPETITION METER: IAMB. RHYME: IMPERFECT, DOUBLE ; RHYME AABB ; SLANG CONTRADICTION ; WISH GHOSTS FEAR

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

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ONE LESS TEST

WHEN I SET MYSELF DOWN TO STUDY,
I PRAY THE LORD I DON'T GO NUTTY;
AND IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE,
THAT'S ONE LESS TEST I'LL HAVE TO TAKE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" ; PARODY: PRAYER TO GUARDIAN ANGEL ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

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CHILDREN'S RHYME

ROOSEVELT'S IN THE WHITEHOUSE
EATING AT THE TABLE;
LANDON'S IN THE POORHOUSE,
CLEANING OUT THE STABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALFRED LANDON, WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND LOST. ; FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

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

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK ENTRY

IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT MAKES A FRIEND
IT ISN'T LOOKS OR STYLE
JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN
THAT MAKES THEM SEEM WORTHWHILE.

ISN'T ANYTHING THEY SAY
OR ANYTHING THEY DO
BUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A FRIEND
I'VE FOUND IT ALL IN YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; PARADOX ; RHYME ABCB ABCB

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

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ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
TO A NICE KID, WHO ISN'T A SMOO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG SHMOO JERK DOPE

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

Date learned: 07-00-1964

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MY FATHER IS A BUTCHER,
MY MOTHER CUTS THE MEAT,
I'M JUST A LITTLE WINNIE (WEENIE)
RUNNING AROUND THE STREET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): WEENIE=FRANKFURTER HOTDOG

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

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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HERE IN DETROIT, AT HER HOME, MRS. SOSNOWSKI SAID THAT
ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE A MORNING DOVE WILL SIT IN ONE
OF HER BACKYARD TREES. IT COMES FOR THREE SUCCESSIVE
DAYS THEN DOESN'T SHOW UP AGAIN. ABOUT TWO WEEKS
AFTER THAT, A MEMBER OF HER FAMILY DIES AND THEN TWO
MORE FOLLOW. SHE SAID THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED
ABOUT THREE TIMES AND SHE KNOWS THAT WHEN SHE HEARS
THE SAD SOUND OF THE DOVE, SHE CAN EXPECT SOMEONE TO
DIE AND THEY DO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MOURNING DOVE

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RETURN OF THE DEAD

AROUND 1940 A WOMAN NAMED BESSIE SABOL DIED IN SOUTHWEST
DETROIT. MRS. HURLEY ASSISTED IN THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BURIAL
AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS ASKED TO STAY WITH THE DAUGHTER OF THE
WOMAN, WHO FEARED LIVING ALONE IN THE HOME. SEVERAL OTHERS
HAD STAYED WITH THE WOMAN, BUT HAD LEFT WITH STORIES OF A
GHOST IN THE HOME. MRS. HURLEY STAYED IN THE HOME FOR
2 DAYS. THE THIRD NIGHT LOUD BANGING AND CLANGING NOISES
WERE HEARD IN THE PANTRY, MRS. HURLEY WENT TO
INVESTIGATE AND SAW THE GHOST OF THE DEAD WOMAN CLEANING UP THE
MESS THAT THE DAUGHTER HAD LEFT IN THE PANTRY. THE POTS AND PANS
WERE SCATTERED ALL ABOUT. THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN KNOWN FOR
HER NEATNESS. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THE DAUGHTER THAT AS LONG
AS SHE KEPT THE PANTRY CLEAN, THE NOISES WOULD STOP. THEY
DID, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD SINCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): GHOST RETURNS TO DO HOUSEWORK

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Favorites
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 11-11-1974

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FOOTBALL CHEER

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, TD, YOU LOOK SO GOOD TO ME.

Submitter comment: THIS CHEER IS REPEATED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITH CLAPPING IN TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TOUCHDOWN=TD

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

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"EVERY DAY WE WOULD WALK DOWNTOWN TO TIEDKIES(IN TOLEDO, OHIO)
AND MEET
DAD WHERE WE'D BUY THE GROCERIES, LOOK AT THE ORGAN IN THE STORE, GO
THROUGH THE COFFEE DEPARTMENT AND SMELL ALL THE DIFFERENT SMELLS, AND
WATCH THE MAN PLAY THAT OLD ORGAN. PEOPLE WOULD NEVER THINK OF
WALKING THAT FAR NOW."

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SINCE BURNED DOWN. ; TIEDKIES WAS A DEPARTMENT & GROCERY STORE. IT HAS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 11-05-1972

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A BOTTLE OF INK

INK, /INK, A BOTTLE OF INK
THE CORK FELL OUT
AND YOU STINK.

Submitter comment: REPLY GIVEN BY A CHILD TO A PERSON HE IS ANGRY WITH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19793 GOULBURN

James Callow Keyword(s): RETORT INSULT BODY ODOR

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

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Content filter on this entry.

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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Ethnic Joke: Polish

WHAT DO YOU CALL FOUR-HUNDRED POLISH PARACHUTISTS? AIR-POLLUTION.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD on 12-2010

Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts

James Callow Keyword(s): SMELL BODY ODOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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Ethnic Joke: Polish

HOW DID THE POLAK BREAK HIS ARM? HE FELL OUT OF THE TREE RAKING
LEAVES.

Data entry tech comment:

updated by TRD on 12-2010

Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts

James Callow Keyword(s): DOING THINGS THE HARD WAY

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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RIDDLE

HOW CAN YOU KEEP A DOG FROM GOING MAD IN AUGUST?
SHOOT HIM IN JULY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DOG DAYS ; MONTHS (Q) (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00001960S

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Q: WHAT DOES A LADY DO SITTING DOWN, A MAN STANDING UP, AND A DOG ON
THREE LEGS?
A: SHAKE HANDS

Data entry tech comment: 2 MORE EXAMPLES ARE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; PART OF THE BODY (A) HANDS ; PERSONS (Q) AND DOG.

James Callow Keyword(s): URINATE, IS ONE'S FIRST THOUGHT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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RIDDLE

Q: WHO ALWAYS GOES TO BED WITH HIS SHOES ON?
A: A HORSE

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; WEARABLE (Q) ; WISDOM

James Callow Keyword(s): HORSESHOES

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT GOES AROUND ALL DAY GRUNTING WITHOUT BEING SICK,
AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING LOST ANYTHING?
A: A PIG.

Submitter comment: DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMAL (A) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITIONAL ; WISDOM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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Language: Rhyme

If wisdom's ways you'd willing seek

Five things observe with care;

Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,

And how, and when and where.

Submitter comment:

Found in autograph book from 1880's

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Language ; poem ; RHYME ; Signature ; Speak ; VERSE ; When ; Where ; Whom ; WISDOM

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

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