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Language: Rhyme

Ridicule Rhyme:

Tattle Tale, Tattle Tale
Hang your britches on a nail,
Hang them high, hang them low,
Hang them in a picture show.
Hang them 'till your fanny shows.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BRITCHES ; Entertainment ; Fanny ; Hang ; High ; Language ; Low ; Nail ; Picture Show ; rat ; RHYME ; RIDICULE ; Tattle Tale

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

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Ghost Tale

In Chapel Hill, TN, There is a ghost that roams next to the railroad. All you can see is his light as he flashes it up and down the tracks. It is supposedly a lineman who had fallen off the train many years before. When he fell he lost his head. Now he roams the track swinging the light looking for his head.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Wray, Debbie

Keyword(s): Beheaded ; DECAPITATION ; GHOST ; HEAD ; Lineman ; RAILROAD ; Story ; SUPERNATURAL ; Tale ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

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Legend

Legend of Davey Crockett:

The West was a rich source of tall tales of a man such as Davey Crockett, the country boy/indian fighter elected to Congress. In washington, he told tall tales about his Western days"...killed himself a bear when he was only three."

Tales such as these have become legends.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Furtwengler, Marsha

Keyword(s): Bear ; Congress ; Davey Crockett ; INDIAN ; Legend ; TALL TALE ; Wild West

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend

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Celestial Body Legend

Idea of looking for the "man" in the moon.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Furtwengler, Jan

Keyword(s): ASTROLOGY ; ASTRONOMY ; CELESTIAL ; Legend ; Man ; MOON ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Moon

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Prose Narrative Tale

Prose Narrative Tale:

Folktale of New England -- The Gingerbread Man.

Children's story of a runaway cookie including repeated theme: "rubn, run, as fast as you can. Can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread man."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Bookhouse Volume One

Keyword(s): CATCH ; CHILDREN ; Cookie ; Fast ; Gingerbread ; Gingerbread Man ; Legend ; Narrative ; New England ; Prose ; REGIONAL ; Run ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale

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BABIES ARE FOUND UNDER THE CABBAGE LEAVES IN THE GARDEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE

Keyword(s): Babies ; BABY ; Cabbage ; GARDEN ; Tale

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Human Life
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Birth

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A SNAKE WON'T DIE UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN. THEY'LL SQUIRM
AND SQUIRM UNTIL SUN GOES DOWN, THEN THEY DIE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Hoy, Linda ; CORNERSVILLE

Keyword(s): Die ; Snake ; Sundown ; Tale ; Time of day

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)

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WHENEVER A GROUP OF CATS GATHER IN A GRAVEYARD ON THE
NIGHT OF THE NEW MOON, THEY ARE INHABITED FOR THAT NIGHT
BY THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD. THEY WILL CONVERSE (LOUDLY)
ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT IN THE MORNING THEY WILL BE "ONLY"
CATS AGAIN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE ; Whitehorn, David

Keyword(s): Cats ; Dead ; GHOST ; GRAVEYARD ; Inhabit ; MOON ; New Moon ; SPIRIT ; Tale

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 10-14-1973

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IF A CAT HAS A CROSS-SHAPED MARK ON ITS FOREHEAD, IT IS
DESCENDED FROM THE LITTER WHICH WAS BORN AT THE NATIVITY
OF CHRIST.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE ; Travillian, Annie Mae

Keyword(s): Born ; CAT ; Cross ; Descendant ; Fur ; Litter ; Mark ; Nativity ; SIGN ; Tale

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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"WOODS' KIDS"

WHEN CERTAIN UNFAVORABLE HAPPENINGS OCCUR WITHIN THE
ROSSER HOME, THE WOODS' KIDS ALWAYS TAKE THE BLAME. THESE
SMALL CREATURES INHABIT THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON ; Rosser, Alan

Keyword(s): Blame ; FAMILY ; Fanciful ; Invisible ; Legend ; Tale ; TRICKSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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There once was a professor who was very abrasive in dealing with the students. IOne day he even told one student to go to hell. Well, the student went to Dr. Payne and told him about it..."why he even told me to go to hell!" Dr. Payne replied: "well, if I were you, I wouldn't do it."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Windrow, John

Keyword(s): HELL ; JOKE ; Professor ; Student ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

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Prose Narrative - Weather

When the moon is a half cresent, it's going to rain because the moon is going to tip up and spill the rain out of the corners.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Morris, Jim

Keyword(s): MOON ; Narrative ; Prose ; Rain ; TALL TALE ; WEATHER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire

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FARMER BILL'S WILL

THE C.Y.O. BOY'S CAMP IS LOCATED AT PT. SANILAC, MICHIGAN.
MURPHY'S CREEK RUNS THROUGH THE CAMP AND AT ONE POINT, THERE IS A
LARGE SARCOPHAGUS SHAPED STONE IN THE MIDDLE. ON IT ARE A NUMBER OF
SCRAMBLED LETTERS AND NUMBERS. IT IS SAID THAT THIS IS BILL MURPHY'S
GRAVE. HE HAD OWNED AND FARMED THE LAND AT ONE TIME, IF ANY OF THE
CAMPERS STAYED OUT AT NIGHT ON A MOONLESS EVENING, THEY COULD SEE THE
COFFIN LID OPENED. IN THE DISTANCE
A SINGLE FIGURE COULD BE OUTLINED.
IT WAS OLD BILL PLOWING HIS FIELDS. I LEARNED THIS WHEN AT CAMP,
BUT NEVER SAW BILL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Port Sanilac

Keyword(s): Bill ; FARMER ; GHOST ; Haunt ; Legend ; Tale ; Will

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

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GHOST IN WHITE

A WOMAN IN WHITE ROAMS THE WOODS OF BELLE ISLE PARK NEAR DOWNTOWN
DETROIT WITH A HOOK-HANDED FRIEND. THIS STORY HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR YEARS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEWSPAPER ; DETROIT FREE PRESS

Keyword(s): Belle Isle ; GHOST ; Haunting ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; Undead

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed

Date learned: 08-27-1968

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HOT STEAM

A "HOT STEAM" IS SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T
GET TO HEAVEN, JUST WALLOWS AROUND
ON LONESOME ROADS AN' IF YOU WALK THROUGH ONE, WHEN YOU DIE YOU'LL
BE ONE TOO AN' YOU'LL GO AROUND AT
NIGHT SUCKING PEOPLE'S BREATH. YOU
CAN'T KEEP FROM PASSING THROUGH ONE. SOMETIMES THEY STRETCH ALL
THE WAY ACROSS THE ROAD, BUT IF YOU HAFTA GO THROUGH ONE YOU SAY:
ANGEL-BRIGHT, LIFE-IN-DEATH; GET
OFF THE ROAD, DON'T SUCK MY BREATH."
THIS KEEPS THEM FROM WRAPPING AROUND YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ALABAMA ; "To Kill a Mockingbird" ; Lee, Harper

Keyword(s): GHOST ; LITERATURE ; Quote ; Soul ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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BOOGIEMAN BELIEF

WHEN I WAS A KID MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME THAT OLD UNCLE
GEORGE WAS THIS GHOST THAT LIVED IN THE BASEMENT AND
THAT HE WOULD COME UP AT NIGHT AND EAT ME ALIVE IF I WAS BAD.
(I USED TO HAVE A PICTURE IN MY MIND
OF EXACTLY WHAT UNCLE GEORGE LOOKED
LIKE. HE WAS EXTREMELY OLD AND DUMB, LIKE JETHRO.)

Submitter comment:

JETHRO IS A MUSCLE BOUND HILLBILLY OF A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW CALLED
THE "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Turner, Ross

Keyword(s): Boogieman ; CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; Legend ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; THREAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN IT WAS A POPULAR PRACTICE TO PUT
YOUR TOOTH WHICH HAD FALLEN OUT UNDER YOUR PILLOW. WE BELIEVED
THAT THE FAIRY GODMOTHER TOOK IT AND REPLACED IT, USUALLY WITH
A DIME OR QUARTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Exchange ; Faerie ; Fairy ; Fairytale ; MONEY ; Reward ; SUPERSTITION ; Tooth ; Toothfairy

James Callow Keyword(s): Toothfairy

Subject headings: Daily Life
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SLEEP BELIEF

IF YOU CAN NOT GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THE SAND
MAN WILL COME AND PUT SAND IN YOUR EYES TO MAKE YOU SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU MAY FIND A GRITTY DEPOSIT IN THE CORNER OF
YOUR EYE. THIS IS SOME OF THE SAND HE USED TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MRS FRANCIS MCFALL

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; ETIOLOGY ; Lore ; Sandman ; SLEEP ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale

James Callow Keyword(s): ETIOLOGY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping

Date learned: 02-19-1968

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SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS

SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
 

Submitter comment:

"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."

MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979

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VEGETABLES BELIEF

EAT VEGETABLES AND YOU WILL SLEEP LESS BUT WILL FEEL BETTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consume ; CUSTOM ; Eat ; Old Wives Tale ; SLEEP ; SUPERSTITION ; VEGETABLE

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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