Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-item.inc.php on line 328
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for ROYAL OAK returned 336 results.

prev | items
| next

GRANTING WISHES

ALLAH BUYUK

Submitter comment: THIS IS SAID TO ASK ALLAH TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. JAN'S GRAND-
FATHER WAS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE AND WOULD SAY THIS WHEN HE WAS LOOKING
FOR A PARKING SPACE NEAR THE DOOR OF A PARTICULAR PLACE. BECAUSE
OF THIS HIS GRANDCHILDREN PICKED IT UP AND SAY IT WHENEVER THEY ARE
WISHING FOR SOMETHING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-00-1981

View just this record

ACADEMIC FOLKLORE

SOME PEOPLE I WAS ATTENDING SCHOOL WITH AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIV.
WERE MEMBERS OF THE THETA CHI FRATERNITY. ONE OF THE MEMBERS
TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF THEIR RUSH MEMBERS THE YEAR
BEFORE. THE FRAT MEMBERS TOOK A PLEDGE AND BLIND FOLDED HIM AND
PUT HIM IN A CAR. THEY DROVE ALL THE WAY TO INDIANA WITH HIM AND
LEFT HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAN'S FIELD. THE GUY HAD NO IDEA WHERE
HE WAS BUT HE SAW A FARMHOUSE AND WENT UP TO IT. HE ASKED THE
FARMER WHERE HE WAS AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM. THE
FARMER GOT A BIG KICK OUT OF IT BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN A FRAT WHEN
HE WAS IN COLLEGE. THE FARMER SAID HE WOULD HELP THE GUY GET BACK
TO SCHOOL. HE HAD A PLANE FOR DUSTING CROPS AND HE FLEW THE GUY
BACK TO MT. PLEASANT IN THE PLANE. THE RUSH MEMBER MADE IT BACK
TO THE FRAT HOUSE BEFORE THE OTHER GUYS AND WAS WAITING THERE FOR
THEM. WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK HE SAID, "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?"

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO (1976) WHEN I WAS A LITTLE
SISTER TO THE THETA CHI FRATERNITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing

Date learned: 11-00-1981

View just this record

NICE GUYS FINISH LAST

Submitter comment: IN SPORTS TALK, YOU HAVE TO BE MEAN SOMETIMES TO WIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

"LOSE" IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

Submitter comment: ATHLETES MUST CONSIDER THE WORD LOSE BAD, AND BY STRIVING
TO WIN IT CAN BE ELIMINATED FROM THEIR VOCABULARY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

View just this record

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING

Submitter comment: WHEN YOU'RE TEAM IS LOSING, OR THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL
YOU MUST BEAR DOWN AND TRY ALL THAT MUCH HARDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00001980S

View just this record

IF YOU CROSS THE BATS IN THE DUGOUT, IT MEANS SOMEONE WILL
GET HURT.

Submitter comment: CROSSING THE BATS MEANS CRISS-CROSSING EITHER THE HANDLES
OR THE BARRELS OF THE BATS (NOT PASSING IN FRONT OF THEM).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports

Date learned: 00001970S

View just this record

IT IS BAD LUCK FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS TO PLACE THEIR EMPTY SHOES ON
THE GROUND BACKWARDS; THAT IS, PLACING THE RIGHT SHOE ON THE LEFT
AND THE LEFT SHOE ON THE RIGHT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS NOTED WHEN BASEBALL PLAYERS CHANGE FROM TENNIS SHOES
INTO THEIR SPIKES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports

Date learned: 00001970S

View just this record

PADIDDLE GAME

THE FIRST PERSON TO NOTICE A CAR THAT HAS ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT
WORKING GETS A KISS FROM WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME CAN ONLY BE PLAYED AT NIGHT WHEN CARS HAVE THEIR

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): QUICKNESS

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00001980S

View just this record

WHILE CHANTING "STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK",
SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ATTEMPT TO FORCE OTHERS TO STEP ON THE
CRACKS OF A SIDEWALK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

COUNTING-OUT PROCEDURE

TO DETERMINE WHO GETS TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WILL BAT OR FIELD
FIRST, A BAT IS TOSSED FROM ONE TEAM CAPTAIN TO ANOTHER.
HAND OVER HAND IS CONTINUED UNTIL NO MORE BAT REMAINS.
BESIDES HAND OVER HAND, OTHER MOVES INCLUDE TWO FINGERS
(WHEN THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE WHOLE HAND), FLAT
TOPS (PLACING THE PALM OF YOUR HAND OVER THE HANDLE), OR
EAGLE CLAWS (HOOKING THUMB AND FINGERS OF ONE HAND OVER
THE BAT HANDLE). WHOEVER MAKES THE LAST MOVE GETS FIRST
CHOICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport

Date learned: 00001980S

View just this record

COUNTING OUT RHYME

TO DETERMINE WHO IS IT FOR HIDE-N-SEEK, ALL PARTICIPANTS
STAND IN A CIRCLE AND PUT THEIR FISTS IN THE CENTER. THE COUNTER
TOUCHES EVERY FIST WHILE CHANTING,
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, MORE
WHOEVER'S FIST IS TOUCHED ON THE WORD "MORE" IS ELIMINATED,
AND THE WHOLE PROCESS IS REPEATED UNTIL ONLY ONE PLAYER
REMAINS, AND THEY ARE "IT".

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): HIDE AND SEEK

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

Date learned: 00-00-1965

View just this record

COUNTING OUT RHYME

TO DETERMINE WHO IS "IT", ALL PLAYERS PUT THEIR FISTS IN A CIRCLE.
A COUNTER RHYTHMICALLY TOUCHES EACH FIST WHILE CHANTING,
ENGINE, ENGINE, NUMBER 9,
ROLLING DOWN CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
YES OR NO? Y-E-S (OR N-O DEPENDING ON CHOICE)
SPELLS YES AND YOU ARE NOT IT.
THE PROCESS IS REPEATED UNTIL ONLY ONE PLAYER REMAINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

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

Date learned: 00-00-1965

View just this record

Content filter on this entry.

COUNTING-OUT RHYME

ALL PLAYERS PUT THEIR FISTS IN A CIRCLE TO DETERMINE WHO IS IT.
EENIE, MEENIE, MINIE, MOE
CATCH A TIGER (OR NIGGER) BY THE TOE
IF HE HOLLERS LET HIM GO
EENIE, MEENIE, MINIE, MOE
MY MOTHER SAID TO PICK THE VERY BEST ONE AND YOU ARE NOT IT.

Submitter comment:

AT FIRST, WE ALWAYS SAID "NIGGER". I DON'T THINK WE REALLY
KNEW WHAT IT MEANT OR THAT IT WAS A DEROGATORY TERM.
WHEN ONE OF THE PARENTS HEARD US SAY "NIGGER", THEY MADE
US USE "TIGER" FROM THEN ON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

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

Date learned: 00-00-1965

View just this record

RAIN CHARM

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY.

Submitter comment: I ALWAYS WONDERED IF THE RAINY DAY WAS LAST MONTH'S RAIN
"COMING AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY". IN THIS SENSE, I GUESS YOU
COULD SAY THAT I BELIEVED THE CHARM WORKED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

GAME VERSE

IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.
BUMPED HIS HEAD WHEN HE WENT TO BED
COULDN'T GET UP IN THE MORNING.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS ALWAYS DONE ON RAINY DAYS, AND WAS SUNG IN A
MOCKING KIND OF TUNE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

GAME VERSE

SPRING HAS SPRUNG,
THE GRASS HAS RIZ.
I WONDER WHERE THE FLOWERS IS

Submitter comment: WE ALWAYS SAID THIS ON THE FIRST SPRING-LIKE DAY AFTER A COLD
WINTER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME MY PARENTS TOLERATED BAD GRAMMAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.574.33
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.663
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

GAME VERSE

FUZZY WUZZY WAS A BEAR,
FUZZY WUZZY HAD NO HAIR.
FUZZY WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY, WAS HE?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

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

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

WEATHER VERSE

RED SKY AT NIGHT,
SAILORS' DELIGHT.
RED SKY IN THE MORNING,
SAILORS TAKE WARNING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

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

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

TONGUE TWISTER/RIDDLE (CATCH)

ROUND AND ROUND THE ROCK RAN THE RAGGED RIDER.
HOW MANY R'S IN THAT?
ANSWER: NONE - THERE ARE NO R'S IN "THAT".

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001950S

View just this record

WEATHER BELIEFS

WHEN THE SILVER UNDERSIDE OF A SILVER MAPLE LEAF SHOWS,
IT MEANS IT IS GOING TO RAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top