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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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THERE IS A SAYING THAT SAYS "IF THE DOG DOESN'T BITE THEN
YOU DON'T NEED A LEASH." THIS MEANS THAT IF SOMETHING ISN'T
REALLY A THREAT THEN YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT. AN EXAMPLE
WOULD BE ONE GIRL SAYING IT TO ANOTHER GIRL WHO THINKS THAT
HER BOYFRIEND IS CHEATING ON HER WHEN REALLY HE ISN'T.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 02-20-1983

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THE FADE

IN THIS GAME, THE DRIVER OF THE CAR PULLS NEXT TO
SOMEONE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, PACING HIM AND THEN
PULLING AHEAD. AS HE DOES SO, HE GOES THROUGH THE
MOTIONS OF TURNING TOWARDS THE CAR NEXT TO HIM, AS IF
HE DOESN'T SEE HIM BY PASSING HIS HANDS OVER THE TOP
OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND LEANING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS
THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR. THE CAR CONTINUES AHEAD
IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT GIVES THE FALSE CONCEPTION OF
TURNING. THE USUAL RESULT IS THE UNWARY DRIVER STOPPING
QUICKLY OR SWERVING IN ORDER TO
AVOID A NON-EXISTENT COLLECSION.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 00001967 SUMMER

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WISHBONE

WHEN TWO MAKE A WISH ON A WISHBONE,
THE ONE WHO GETS THE BIGGER END WILL GET MARRIED FIRST.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE
REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD IN ALABAMA.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1971

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COLOR TAG

A PERSON IS IT. HE LOOKS AROUND THE AREA THE
PLAYERS ARE SITTING (IN) AS FAR AS HE CAN SEE.
HE DECIDES ON SOME OBJECT IN VIEW AND SAYS TO THE
OTHERS, "I'M THINKING OF A COLOR AND IT'S (WHATEVER COLOR
THE OBJECT IS)." THE OTHER PLAYERS TAKE TURNS
TRYING TO GUESS WHAT OBJECT IN VIEW IT IS. THE
FIRST TO DO SO, WAS "IT" NEXT TIME. IF EVERYONE
GAVE (UP) THEN THE PERSON WHO WAS IT HAD ANOTHER
TURN.

Submitter comment: PLAYED BY THE KIDS ON MY BLOCK WHEN I WAS 6-9 YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AGE OF PLAYERS

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

Date learned: 04-00-1967

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GAME TAUNT

YOU, USUALLY A BOY, HOLLARS OUT THE WINDOW AT
SOME GIRLS, "HEY, PICK A NUMBER FROM ONE TO TEN."
SHE PICKS A NUMBER. YOU COME BACK WITH "YOU LOSE,
TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): NUDITY ; TRICK

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

Date learned: 00001961-1963

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I SPY

ONE CHILD: I SPY
THE OTHERS: WHAT DO YOU SPY?
ONE CHILD: I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE,
SOMETHING THAT IS (A COLOR).
THE OTHER CHILDREN TRY TO GUESS THE OBJECT UNTIL
SOMEONE GUESSES WHAT IT IS. THEN, THIS PERSON GETS
A TURN TO SPY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN HER GRADE SCHOOL DAYS IN
NORTHWEST DETROIT (MICHIGAN).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIALOGUE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.538

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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WORD GAME

THIS TRICK IS PLAYED ON AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON. HE
IS TOLD TO REACH EACH LINE IN THE FIRST COLUMN
AND SAY "TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN" AFTER EACH. THEN
HE IS TOLD TO READ THE FIRST COLUMN BACKWARDS AND
HE SAYS, "LOOK HOW MANY TIMES I MADE THIS SILLY
ASS SAY 'TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.'"
TRAIN TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
SAY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
ASS TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
SILLY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
THIS TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
MADE TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
I TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
TIMES TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
MANY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
HOW TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
LOOK TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN

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

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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DUCK-DUCK-GOOSE

THE GAME BEGINS WITH THE PLAYERS SITTING DOWN IN A
CIRCLE. ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN AS "IT." "IT" WALKS
AROUND THE CIRCLE TAPPING THE PLAYERS ON THE HEAD AND
HE SAYS "DUCK, DUCK" UNTIL HE DECIDES TO TAP A PLAYER
AND SAY "GOOSE." THIS PLAYER THEN HAS TO TRY TO
CATCH "IT." IF "IT" RUNS AROUND THE CIRCLE TWICE
AND IS ABLE TO SIT DOWN IN THE EMPTY SPACE, THEN
THE PLAYER THAT HE CHOSE IS "IT." IF "IT" GETS
TAGGED, THEN HE REMAINS IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW ; ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting

Date learned: 12-02-1970

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TAKING SIDES

WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, THE
CHILD WILL BE A BOY, IF ON HER LEFT IT WILL BE A GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-05-1969

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MY FATHER OWNS...

THIS IS A GAME WHERE THE PERSON WHO IS IT STARTS
BY SAYING "MY FATHER OWNS A (NAME) STORE AND IN THIS
STORE THERE IS A PARTICULAR ITEM WHICH I AM THINKING
OF AND IT BEGINS WITH THE LETTER ---." IF THEY GUESS
WHAT IT IS, THEY TRY TO BEAT THE "IT" TO A LINE.
THE FIRST ONE TO THE LINE IS THE NEW "IT."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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BLUEBIRD

EVERYONE JOINS HANDS AND ONE PERSON IS JOHNNY. HE
WOULD GO IN AND OUT BETWEEN THE OTHER PEOPLE'S
ARMS. EVERYONE WOULD SING:
BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD, IN AND OUT MY WINDOW. (REPEAT TWICE).
OH, JOHNNU, I AM TIRED.
HERE JOHNNY WOULD STOP AT THE PERSON HE IS NEAREST
TO AND TAP THE PERSON ON THE SHOULDER. EVERYONE SINGS:
TAKE A LITTLE GIRL AND TAP HER ON THE SHOULDER.
(REPEAT THE ABOVE LINE TWICE MORE)
OH, JOHNNU, I AM TIRED.
THEN THE PERSON WHO WAS PICKED WOULD FOLLOW AND KEEP
GOING TILL THERE WAS ONE LEFT AND THAT PERSON WOULD
BE JOHNNY IN THE NEXT GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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DOCTOR, DOCTOR

SIX PEOPLE PLAY GAME. ALL BUT ONE GET ALL TANGLED
UP WITH THEIR ARMS AND LEGS. THE SIXTH PERSON IS
THE DOCTOR. AFTER THE OTHER FIVE ARE TANGLED, THEY
CALL, "DOCTOR, DOCTOR." HE COMES AND TRIES TO
UNTANGLE THE PEOPLE. HE HAS BEEN HIDING WHILE
THE PEOPLE WERE TANGLING THEMSELVES UP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics

Date learned: 04-04-1970

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HAND CLAPPING GAME

HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED: TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH
OTHER:
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGTHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER; LEFT HAND TO RIGHT
AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
I WILL INDICATE WHEN THE HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS
COMPLETED BY BRACKETING THE CORRESPONDING LINES.
1. (BRACKET) I ASKED MY MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS
2. (BRACKET) TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENCE.
3. (BRACKET) HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE REACHED THE SKY.
4. (BRACKET) AND NEVER CAME BACK 'TILL THE 4TH OF JULY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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HAND CLAPPING GAME

HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED: TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH
OTHER:
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGTHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER; LEFT HAND TO RIGHT
AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
THIS HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS COMPLETED ONCE FOR EACH
TWO LINES OF THE RHYME:
PEAS PORRIDGE HOT
PEAS PORRIDGE COLD
PEAS PORRIDGE IN THE POT
NINE DAYS OLD.
SOME LIKE IT HOT,
SOME LIKE IT COLD,
SOME LIKE IT IN THE POT,
NINE DAYS OLD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS GAME IN GRADE SCHOOL ON
DETROIT'S EAST SIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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RACING, CHASING GAME

DUM, DUM DODO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN,
I CAN RUN FASTER THAN (INSERT A NAME) (CAN)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

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

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HAND-CLAPPING GAME

HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED:
TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH OTHER.
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER.
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER.
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGETHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER, LEFT HAND TO
RIGHT AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
THIS HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS COMPLETED ONCE FOR EACH
LINE OF THE RHYME.
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEACHES
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEARS
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME FIFTY CENTS
TO WALK ME UP THE STAIRS.
I GAVE HIM BACK THE PEACHES
I GAVE HIM BACK THE PEARS
I HAVE (GAVE) HIM BACK THE FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PEACHES
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PEARS,
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS GAME IN GRADE SCHOOL IN
NORTHWEST DETROIT (MICHIGAN).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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A POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM.

BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.
THE FAMILY GATHERS, CELEBRATES.
8:00 P.M. FOOD IS BROUGHT OUT
BUT NO MEAT IS SERVED, ONLY
FISH AND MACARONI, THIS IS THE
FASTING TIME. 9:00 P.M. SANTA
CLAUS ARRIVES BRINGING GIFTS
FOR ALL THE CHILDREN. AT 10:30 P.M.
CAROLS ARE SUNG. 11:30 P.M.
MIDNIGHT MASS. 1:00 A.M. PASSING
OUT OF WAFER, THEN MEAT IS BROUGHT OUT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS PRACTICED BY CONNIE'S IN-LAWS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

James Callow Keyword(s): MACARONI

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve

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NIGHT GAME

AT NIGHT, THEY WOULD GO OUT IN GROUPS OF THREE
AND RING THE DOORBELLS OF OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES.
AS THEY ARE GOING TO THE DOOR, THE OTHER TWO WOULD
PROP THEIR CHINS UP ON THE WINDOWLEDGE AND SHINE
FLASHLIGHTS UNDER THEIR CHINS TO SCARE THE COUPLES
BEFORE RUNNING AWAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS BUDDIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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COLLEGE

THIS GAME IS PLAYED BY FORMING A CIRCLE WITH THE BOYS
SITTING ON CHAIRS. GIRLS THEN SIT ON THE BOY'S LAPS
AND PROCEED TO MAKE OUT. IF THE BOYS LIKES THE
GIRL, THEN HE FAILS HER AND SHE REMAINS TO SIT ON
HIS LAP. IF HE PASSES HER, THEN HE GIVES HER TO THE
BOY SITTING CLOSEST TO HIM, THAT HAS ALSO PASSED HIS
GIRL. THE GAME CONTINUES TO ANY LENGTH.

Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport

Date learned: 11-07-1967

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SPIN THE BOTTLE

THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS SITTING
AROUND TOGETHER IN A CIRCLE. THE FIRST PERSON SPINS
A BOTTLE AND WHOEVER HAS THE BOTTLE POINTING TO HIM
THEN THE FIRST PERSON MUST THEN PROCEED TO KISS THIS
PERSON. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT TO THIS GAME.

Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport

Date learned: 11-07-1967

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