Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C860.740 returned 60 results.
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS WHENEVER HE SEES A CRACK IN THE PAVEMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.533 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 02-00-1975
BEGGER'S SONG
CHRISTMAS IS COMMING
THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT.
PLEASED TO PUT A PENNY.
IN A OLD MANS HAT
IF YOU NO PENNY.
A HA' PENNY WILL DO
IF YOU HAVE NO HA' PENNY.
THENGOD BLESS YOU.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. |
Date learned: 02-23-1979
CAUSING ILLNESS
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
WHEN RUNNING ON AND OFF THE FIELD, LIKE MANY OTHER BALL
PLAYERS, I WILL NOT STEP ON THE CHALKED LINES. THIS
STEMS FROM THE SAYING "STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU BREAK
YOUR MOTHER'S BACK".
Submitter comment: I SEE THIS AS BRINGING ME GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970'S
PROVERB
EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE
Submitter comment: SECOND GRADE TEACHER ALWAYS SAID THIS TO OUR CLASS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
GEORGIA SUPERSTITION
"WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD NEVER TO STEP ON THE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALK
OR STREETS. MY DADDY WOULD TELL US 'IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK,
YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK."
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001920S
FLORIDA HALLOWEEN CUSTOM
"WE WERE ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. WE DIDN'T GO
TRICK OR TREATING LIKE THEY DO NOW, BUT WE'D GO LOOK FOR HOT-STEAMS
ON THE COUNTRY ROADS. THEY WERE LIKE GHOSTS THAT WOULD STRETCH
ACROSS THE ROAD AND BLOCK THE WAY. IF THEY CAUGHT YOU, THEY'D
SUCK YOUR BREATH, AND TO PREVENT IT, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY MM
"ANGEL BRIGHT, LIFE IN DEATH
GET OFF THE ROAD, DON'T SUCK MY BREATH'. MM
WE BELIEVED IN HOT-STEAMS, BUT WE NEVER DID SEE ONE".
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED OF "HOT-STEAMS" FROM CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
IN FLORIDA. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT HOT-STEAMS
UNTIL SHE READ HARPER LEE'S "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD",
WHICH MENTIONED HOT-STEAMS WITH THE SAME RHYME.
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL WITH
SEVERAL FRIENDS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THIS LITTLE RHYME: STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU BREAK YOUR
MOTHER'S BACK., IS OFTEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER BY
SCHOOLCHILDREN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 09-10-1969
DON'T STEP ON A CRACK,
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS,
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S ASS. MM
DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STEP ON A CRACK;
BREAK THE DEVIL'S LEGS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TELEPHONE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
AN APPLE A DAY
KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
HEALTH BELIEF IN VERSE
WHISKEY AND BEER, HAVE NO FEAR.
BEER AND WHISKEY, IS QUITE RISKY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS SKEPTICAL AS TO THIS BELIEF.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
STEP ON A CRACK AND BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU STEP ON A LINE
YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SPINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD