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ONE FOR THE MONEY,
TWO FOR THE SHOW,
THREE TO GET READY,
AND FOUR TO GO.

Data entry tech comment: COUNTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF A RACE OR GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; METER: IAMBIC ; NUMBERS, FUNCTION ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABAB

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY,
DROPPED SOME WHITE WASH IN MY EYE.
I'M NO BABY, I WON'T CRY.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT COWS DON'T FLY.

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: KNEW IT AS A LITTLE CHILD, WALLED LAKE, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WALLED LAKE

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; REFRAIN, OBSERVATION ; RHYME: AAAA ; RHYME: MASCULINE

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

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FISHY, FISHY, IN THE BROOK,
DADDY CAUGHT YOU ON THE HOOK.
MOMMY FRY YOU IN A PAN,
BABY EAT YOU LIKE A MAN.

Submitter comment: SAID TO HIS CHILDREN ON FRIDAYS.

Data entry tech comment: CATHOLIC CUSTOM TO EAT FISH ON FRIDAYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): METER: IAMBIC ; QUATRAIN SIMILE ; REFRAIN, BABY TALK ; RHYME: AABB ; RHYME: MASCULINE

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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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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HE LIT A MATCH,
TO CHECK HIS TANK.
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL HIM
SKINLESS FRANK.
BURMA SHAVE!

Data entry tech comment:

THESE SMALL, ONE LINE SIGNS, USED TO BE DISPLAYED AT INTERVALS
ALONG THE ROAD, SO THAT ONE COULD EASILY READ THEM WHILE
DRIVING ALONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

Keyword(s): ADVERTISING FOR MEN'S SHAVING PRODUCT ; ADVICE ; HUMOR, SATIRE ; METER: TROCHAIC ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCAD ; ROADSIDE ADVERTISING

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

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(BOY'S NAME) AND (GIRL'S NAME) SITTING IN A TREE,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G. (SPELLING)
FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE,
THEN COMES (NAME) WITH THE BABY CARRIAGE.

Submitter comment: I REMEMBER THIS FROM GRADESCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTI-CLIMAX HUMOR SYMBOL ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: TROCHAIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABB ; SEX, REFRAIN ; SPELLING RHYME

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE BOY STOOD ON THE BURNING DECK,
EATIN' GOOBERS BY THE PECK.
THEN THEY FOUND THE STEAM WAS HOT,
HE PUT THE GOOBERS IN THE POT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GOOBERS=PEANUTS ; HUMOR, FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: IAMBIC ; QUATRAIN MONOLOGUE ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABB ; SLANG PARODY EATING

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

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THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED BRIGHT,
WHOSE SPEED WAS MUCH FASTER THAN LIGHT.
SHE SET OUT ONE DAY,
IN A RELATIVE WAY,
AND RETURNED ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): HUMOR, FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; INDIRECTION LIMERICK ; METER: ANAPESTIC TETRAMETER ; QUATRAIN CONTRADICTIONS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABBA ; RIDICULE NONSENSE

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

Date learned: 11-12-1968

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THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM, WENT TO SEA IN A BOWL; IF THE BO; HAD BEEN STRONGER,

Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.

James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): ACCIDENT NONSENSE ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCC ; RHYME: FEMININE, REPETITION ; SATIRE UNDERSTATEMENT EPITAPH LAMENT

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

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A GOWN WITH A PARIS LABEL,
IS A THING TO SHOUT ABOUT,
IN FACT, IF I WERE ABLE,
I'D WEAR IT INSIDE OUT.

Submitter comment: JEFF HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): CLOTHES FASHION ; HUMOR OVERSTATEMENT OBSERVATION WISH ; IAMBIC METER ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT, ABAB ; SURPRISE ENDING QUATRAIN CONTRADICTION

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

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER,
AND SO DO PIGS AND SWINE;
RATS AND MICE DO HAVE THEIR CHOICE,
AND SO DO I HAVE MINE.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE

Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM PROVERBIAL RETORT ANIMALS ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB

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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LADY BUG, LADY BUG,
FLY AWAY HOME;
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE,
AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BURN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; QUATRAIN, MONOLOGUE ; REPETITION FIRE ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT

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

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NEVER INDULGE IN ONIONS, UNLESS YOUR LOVE EATS ONIONS TOO.
FOR YOUR SCENTED BREATH WILL BE THE DEATH
OF THE LOVE, HE BEARS, FOR YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD

Keyword(s): FOOD SEX ; MONOLOGUE INDIRECTION ADVICE ; QUATRAIN? ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, ABCA ; RHYME: INTERNAL, MASCULINE

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

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O ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, THY SHINING FACE
THAT SPEAKS THY MIGHTY POWER
IN MY POCKET, FIND A RESTING PLACE,
FOR I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
AMEN.

Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; INDIRECTION SATIRE MONEY ; METER: IAMBIC, ANAPESTIC ; MOCK-PIOUS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, ABAB

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TRUE FRIENDS ARE LIKE DIAMONDS--
PRECIOUS AND RARE.
FALSE ONES ARE LIKE LEAVES--
FOUND EVERYWHERE.

Submitter comment: THIS USED TO BE ONE OF MY PEN PALS (1957). THIS WAS
ONE OF HER CLEVER SAYINGS.

Data entry tech comment: OFTEN FOUND IN AUTOGRAPH BOOKS.

Where learned: Wyoming ; ROCK SPRINGS

Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP JEWELS ; METER: TROCHAIC ; QUATRAIN FUNCTION AUTOGRAPH VERSE ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTUMN LEAVES SCATTERED EVERYWHERE--AMA BARR

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TWO'S A COUPLE,
THREE'S A CROWD,
FOUR ON THE SIDEWALK,
IS NEVER ALLOWED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): METER: TROCHAIC ; REFRAIN NUMBERS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB ; VARIATION: FOUR'S TOO MANY, FIVE'S NOT ALLOWED.

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WE MUST, WE MUST,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.
THE BIGGER THE BETTER,
THE TIGHTER THE SWEATER,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANATOMY ; BOSOM BREAST ; FUNCTION GROWING UP ; MONOLOGUE SLANG DIALECT ; REFRAIN, QUATRAIN? ; RHYME: FEMININE, INTERNAL ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, AABBA

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

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WHEN I'M DEAD AND IN MY GRAVE,
NO MORE WHISKEY SHALL I CRAVE,
FOR ON MY TOMBSTONE SHALL BE WROTE,
MANY A QUART'S WENT DOWN MY THROAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; METER: ANAPESTIC DIMETER ; MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN EPITAPH EUPHEMISM ; POOR GRAMMAR ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABB

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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