Deprecated: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-search.inc.php on line 473

Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-item.inc.php on line 327
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 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT returned 2972 results.

prev | items
| next

URBAN BELIEF TALE

A KID ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD WAS GIVING HIS HAMSTER A SPONGE BATH. BUT
IT FELL IN THE WATER AND GOT COMPLETELY DRENCHED. HE DECIDED TO DRY
IT OFF BY PUTTING IT IN THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS. AND
IT EXPLODED.

Submitter comment: JULIE BELIEVED THIS STORY THE FIRST TIME SHE HEARD IT IN MIDLAND,
MICHIGAN IN 1976. WHEN SHE HEARD IT AGAIN SHE BEGAN TO WONDER ABOUT
THE TRUTH OF IT. SHE'S HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN, IN MIDLAND
AND AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. NOW SHE DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT,
SAYING THAT IT MIGHT BE TRUE BUT SHE THINKS IT'S JUST A STORY. WHEN
WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS MY SISTER, CAROL DURAND, MENTIONED HEARING
THE SAME STORY AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT INVOLVING A DUMB WOMAN FROM
GROSSE POINTE AND HER PET POODLE. SHE ALSO BELIEVED IT THE FIRST
TIME BUT AFTER HEARING IT FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE, QUESTIONED THE TRUTH
OF THE STORY.
MODERN FOLKLORE: MICROWAVE OVEN

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

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 00-00-1976

View just this record

JUMP-ROPE RHYME

I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL
AS PRETTY AS PRETTY CAN BE, BE, BE
AND ALL THE BOYS ON THE BASEBALL TEAM
GO CHASING AFTER ME, ME, ME
MY BOYFRIEND'S NAME IS TONY
HE COMES FROM THE LAND OF BALONEY
WITH A PICKLE ON HIS NOSE AND THREE BLACK TOES
THAT'S THE WAY MY STORY GOES, GOES, GOES
MY FATHER GAVE HIM PEACHES
MY MOTHER GAVE HIM PEARS, PEARS, PEARS
MY BROTHER GAVE HIM FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS, STAIRS, STAIRS

Submitter comment: JULIE LEARNED THIS IN EITHER MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA OR IN LEVERING,
MICHIGAN.
THREEFOLD REPETITION
FEMININE RHYMES: TONY, BALONEY
RHYME: AABB
RHYME: ABCB
SPONDEES

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

TAUNT

LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE
HANGING FROM A BULL'S TAIL
WHEN THE BULL BEGINS TO PEE
YOU WILL GET YOUR CUP OF TEA

Submitter comment: JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FATHER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
INSULT
RETORT
RHYME: ABCC
INTERNAL RHYME
URINE AS DRINK

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

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
Food Drink -- Drink from animal product

Date learned: CA00001966

View just this record

TAUNT

LIAR, LIAR, YOUR PANTS ARE ON FIRE
HANGING FROM A TELEPHONE WIRE

Submitter comment: SUSIE IS NOT SURE WHO SHE FIRST HEARD THIS FROM BUT THINKS IT WAS
PROBABLY ONE OF HER BROTHERS OR SISTERS.
INSULT
RETORT
RHYME: AA

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

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

Date learned: CA00001963

View just this record

TAUNT

LIAR, LIAR, YOUR PANTS ARE ON FIRE
YOUR NOSE IS AS LONG AS A TELEPHONE WIRE

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD, PERHAPS FROM MY FATHER OR OLDER BROTHERS
AND SISTERS. IT BECAME AN EFFECTIVE RETORT WHEN YOU WERE SO MAD YOU
COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY. IT REMINDED ME OF THE PUPPET
PINOCCHIO WHOSE NOSE GREW LONGER WITH EACH LIE HE TOLD.
INSULT
RETORT
RHYME: AA

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

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

Date learned: CA00001966

View just this record

HAND-CLAPPING RHYME

THE RHYME IS AS FOLLOWS:
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA, SEA, SEA
A SAILOR WENT TO CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
A SAILOR WENT TO KNEE, KNEE, KNEE
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD KNEE, KNEE, KNEE
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD KNEE, KNEE, KNEE
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE KNEE, KNEE, KNEE
A SAILOR WENT TO TOE, TOE, TOE
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD TOE, TOE, TOE
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD TOE, TOE, TOE
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE TOE, TOE, TOE
A SAILOR WENT TO SEE, CHOP, KNEE, TOE
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, CHOP, KNEE, TOE
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, CHOP, KNEE, TOE
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE SEE, CHOP, KNEE, TOE MM
TWO PEOPLE STAND OR SIT FACING EACH OTHER. FIRST EACH WOULD SLAP
THEIR HANDS ON THEIR KNEES PALMS DOWNWARD, THEN CLAP THEIR HANDS.
THEIR RIGHT HANDS WOULD MEET DIAGONALLY WITH PALMS TOGETHER. EACH
WOULD CLAP THEIR OWN HANDS THEN THEIR LEFT HANDS WOULD MEET. THIS
WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A GESTURE APPROPRIATE TO THE LINE OF THE VERSE.
THIS SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS IS REPEATED FOR EACH LINE OF THE RHYME. THE
GESTURE FOR THE FIRST VERSE IS TO SHADE THE EYES WITH ONE HAND THREE
TIMES IN A ROW, FOR THE SECOND VERSE ONE HAND MAKES A CHOPPING MOTION
THREE TIMES ON THE BENT ELBOW OF THE OTHER ARM, FOR THE THIRD VERSE
YOU TAP YOUR KNEE THREE TIMES, FOR THE FOURTH YOU TOUCH YOUR TOE
THREE TIMES AND FOR THE FIFTH YOU DO EACH OF THE FOUR ACTIONS ONCE
IN A ROW.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD AND USED IT TO PASS TIME. ONE VARIANT WAS
TO SPEED UP THE VERSES AND THE GESTURES WITH EACH VERSE. IF THERE
WERE MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE, YOU COULD ALL STAND OR SIT IN A CIRCLE.
INSTEAD OF CLAPPING RIGHT HANDS OR LEFT HANDS, YOU WOULD CLAP YOUR
RIGHT HAND WITH THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT AND AT THE SAME TIME CLAP
YOUR LEFT HAND WITH THE PERSON ON YOUR LEFT. MY SISTER'S ROOMMATE,
SUSIE HAKIM OF SOUTHFIELD INTRODUCED ME TO ANOTHER VERSE WHICH SHE
RECITED BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD VERSES OF MY VERSION. IT WAS
ACCOMPANIED BY HOLDING YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HIPS AND MOVING YOUR HIPS
FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE WORDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A SAILOR WENT TO SHE-BOP, SHE-BOP
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SHE-BOP, SHE-BOP
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SHE-BOP, SHE-BOP
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE SHE-BOP, SHE-BOP
SUSIE OMITTED THE FINAL VERSE.
FINAL ITERATION
THREEFOLD REPETITION

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

TAUNT

(GIRL'S NAME) AND (BOY'S NAME) SITTIN' IN A TREE
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE
THEN COMES (GIRL'S NAME) PUSHIN' A BABY CARRIAGE

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD. IT WAS USED TO TEASE THOSE WHO HAD REAL
OR SUPPOSED BOYFRIENDS OR GIRLFRIENDS. OFTEN IF A GIRL OR BOY HAD A
CLOSE FRIEND OF THE OPPOSITE SEX, TAUNTS SUCH AS THIS COULD HURT THE
RELATIONSHIP.
FEMININE RHYMES: MARRIAGE, CARRIAGE
RHYME: AABB

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

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.342
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.345
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech

Date learned: CA00001966

View just this record

JUMP-ROPE RHYME

DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS
THERE SAT (GIRL'S NAME) SWEET AS A ROSE
ALONG CAME (BOY'S NAME) AND KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE RECEIVE?
ONE, TWO, THREE, . . .

Submitter comment: SUSIE LEARNED THIS RHYME IN GRADE SCHOOL. IT WAS ONE OF HER
FAVORITES AND EVERYONE ELSE LIKED IT ALSO.

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

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

Date learned: CA00001965

View just this record

TAUNT

I SEE PARIS, I SEE FRANCE
I SEE (NAME'S) UNDERPANTS
ARE THEY RED, ARE THEY PINK?
I DON'T KNOW BUT THEY SURE DO STINK

Submitter comment: JULIE LEARNED THIS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. SHE ADMITS SHE
PROBABLY SAID IT ALTHOUGH HER PARENTS DIDN'T WANT HER TO. NOW SHE
THINKS IT IS CRUDE.
COLORS
COUNTRIES
OLFACTORY
REPETITION
INITIAL ITERATION: I SEE

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

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech

Date learned: CA00001966

View just this record

COUNTING-OUT RHYME

MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER
WERE OUT HANGING CLOTHES
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER
RIGHT IN THE NOSE
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD? MM
THOSE WHO WANTED TO PLAY WOULD STAND IN A CIRCLE AND HOLD OUT ONE
FIST IF THERE WERE MANY OR TWO IF THERE WERE ONLY A FEW. ONE PERSON
WOULD RECITE THE RHYME, TAPPING ONE FIST WITH HIS FIST FOR EACH
SYLLABLE AND MOVING AROUND THE CIRCLE. AFTER THE LAST LINE THE
PERSON WHOSE FIST WAS TAPPED LAST WOULD CHOOSE A COLOR . THAT
COLOR WOULD BE SPELLED OUT WITH ONE LETTER FOR EACH FIST. EITHER
THE LAST PERSON IS "IT" OR IS ELIMINATED AND THE RHYME REPEATED
UNTIL ONE PERSON IS LEFT TO BE "IT." SOMETIMES WE ADDED "MY MOTHER
TOLD ME TO PICK THE VERY BEST ONE" TO THE SPELLING OF THE COLOR,
BUT STILL DETERMINED "IT" IN THE SAME WAY.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN EITHER ENDWELL, NEW YORK OR SOLON, OHIO.
I ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT "HANGING CLOTHES" REFERRED TO HANGING WET
CLOTHES OUTSIDE ON A LINE TO DRY, THOUGH THE MEANING SEEMS VAGUE IN
THE RHYME. WE DELIGHTED IN THINKING OF ODD COLORS FOR THE BLOOD TO
BE. IT WAS ESPECIALLY FUN TO USE THIS WHEN PLAYING WITH THE NEIGHBOR
CHILDREN AND LAUGHING TOGETHER AT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE SITUATION
EVER OCCURRING.
INITIAL ITERATION: MY MOTHER
FINAL ITERATION: YOUR MOTHER
RHYME: ABABC

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

Content filter on this entry.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL FROM NORWAY,
WHO HUNG BY HER HEELS FROM THE DOORWAY.
SHE SAID TO HER MAN,
GET OFF THE DIVAN,
I THINK I'VE DISCOVERED ONE MORE WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

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

Date learned: 12-00-1973

View just this record

Content filter on this entry.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A COUPLE NAMED KELLY,
WHO LOVED TO DANCE BELLY TO BELLY.
BECAUSE IN THEIR HASTE,
THEY USED LIBRARY PASTE,
INSTEAD OF PETROLEUM JELLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

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

Date learned: 12-00-1973

View just this record

HOPAK (UKRAINIAN)

THIS IS A FESTIVAL DANCE, INVOLVING MANY STEPS. IT
IS FAST AND INVOLVES SQUATTING AND DANCING AT CERTAIN
TIMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

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

View just this record

JUMP-ROPE RHYME

JOHNNY OVER THE OCEAN
JOHNNY OVER THE SEA
JOHNNY BROKE A POP BOTTLE
AND BLAMED IT ONTO ME
I TOLD MA, MA TOLD PA
JOHNNY GOT A LICKIN'
AND A "HA, HA, HA}"
HOW MANY LICKIN'S DID HE GET?
ONE, TWO, THREE, . . .

Submitter comment: YOU JUMP ROPE TO THE RHYME AND KEEP JUMPING UNTIL YOU MISS, COUNTING
EACH JUMP TO TELL HOW MANY LICKIN'S JOHNNY GOT.

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

JUMP-ROPE RHYME

CINDERELLA, DRESSED IN YELLA
WENT UPSTAIRS TO KISS HER FELLA
BUT SHE MADE A MISTAKE
AND KISSED A SNAKE.
HOW MANY DOCTORS DID IT TAKE?
ONE, TWO, THREE,. . .

Submitter comment: JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM YOUNG FELLOW JUMP-ROPERS. YOU JUMP-ROPE TO
THE RHYTHM OF THIS RHYME AND AT THE END KEEP JUMPING AND COUNT EACH
JUMP UNTIL YOU MISS.

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE

ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE
GOING DOWN THE CHICAGO LINE
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK
WILL YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK?
MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO PICK THE VERY BEST ONE. MM
PEOPLE PLANNING TO PLAY A GAME WHICH REQUIRES SOMEONE TO BE "IT"
STAND IN A CIRCLE AND HOLD ONE FIST OUT. ONE PERSON IS SELECTED TO
RECITE THE RHYME. USUALLY STARTING WITH THE PERSON ON HIS RIGHT, HE
TAPS ONE FIST WITH HIS FIST ON EACH SYLLABLE OF THE WORDS IN THIS
RHYME. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DETERMINE WHO IS "IT." EITHER THE
PERSON WHOSE FIST IS TAPPED ON THE LAST SYLLABLE OF THE RHYME IS "IT"
OR THAT PERSON IS ELIMINATED AND THE RHYME IS REPEATED WITH THE
LAST PERSON ELIMINATED EACH TIME UNTIL ONLY ONE IS LEFT TO BE "IT."

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD BUT CANNOT PINPOINT THE EXACT PLACE OR
TIME. I REMEMBER USING IT QUITE FREQUENTLY TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD
BE "IT."

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

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

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

SUPERSTITION

HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN YOU GO PAST CEMETERIES OR SOMEONE, MAYBE YOU,
WILL DIE SOON.

Submitter comment: JULIE NEVER REALLY BELIEVED THIS BUT DID IT AS A CHILD. SHE LEARNED
THIS FROM OTHER CHILDREN PROBABLY IN LEVERING, MICHIGAN AND
ENCOUNTERED IT IN MIDLAND ALSO. I REMEMBER BEING TOLD TO HOLD MY
BREATH AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN DRIVING PAST A CEMETERY AS A
CHILD BUT NEVER KNEW ANY REASON WHY I WAS DOING IT.

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

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA00001968

View just this record

SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU'RE RIDING IN A CAR HOLD YOUR FEET UP WHEN YOU GO OVER
RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.

Submitter comment: THIS REFERS TO GIRLS OF COURSE. JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FRIENDS
IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN. IT WAS PRACTICED NOT SERIOUSLY BUT IN FUN.

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

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Bad luck
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA00001970

View just this record

RIDDLE QUESTION

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

AB C D GOLDFISH
BN NO GOLDFISH
O S A R AB
C M P N

Submitter comment:

THIS CAN BE TRANSLATED TO:
AB SEE THE GOLDFISH
BN, THERE IS NO GOLDFISH
OH YES THERE IS AB
SEE THEM PEEING

James Callow comment:

VARIATION: MNO GOLDFISH
CN[ HARTWIG, WILLIAM 720390
C1[ 260 ALAMEDA
C2[ YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO 44504
DNC[ 1,688
******************** C FILE 1 ********************

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

James Callow Keyword(s): SCATALOGICAL URINATION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001950S AND 00001960S

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top