Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C360 returned 331 results.
Dead puppies!/ Dead, dead, dead puppies / Aren't much fun!
My puppy died / Late last fall / He's still lying in the hall!
Submitter comment:
The collector heard this when she was a child. It's a simple
song where the words are changed around to add to the song.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DOG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 04-00-1991
When I was young we used to sing this song when our parents
weren't around :
Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts
Mutilated monkey nuts
Chopped up birdy feet
French fried eyeballs floating in a pool of blood
Ooh I forgot my spoon.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CENTERLINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
My older brother taught me this song when I was very young. It
was very popular with kids my age:
Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Chopped up birdy feet
French fried eyeballs floating in a pool of blood
Oh I forgot my spoon.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
LITTLE DUCKY DUDDLE
MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS SONG WHEN SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.
SHE TAUGHT IT TO ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT THE SAME AGE.
"LITTLE DUCKY DUDDLE"
LITTLE DUCKY DUDDLE
WENT WADING IN A PUDDLE
WENT WADING IN A PUDDLE, QUITE SMALL.
HE SAID,"IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER,
HOW MUCH I SPLASH AND SPLATTER,
I'M ONLY A DUCKY AFTER ALL!"
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED AT PEASLEE SCHOOL,
CINCINNATI, OHIO. WE OFTEN SANG THIS SONG WHILE WALKING
IN THE RAIN. IT WAS ACCENTED WITH "QUACKING" SOUND
EFFECTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): DUCK, RAIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
HIGH STEPPING HORSES
MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS SONG WHEN SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.
"HIGH STEPPING HORSES"
HIGH STEPPING HORSES,
HIGH STEPPING HORSES
WHAT DO HIGH STEPPING HORSES SAY?
WHAT DO HIGH STEPPING HORSES SAY?
HEE-HAW! HEE-HAW! HEE-HAW! HEE-HAW!
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER DID NOT LIKE THIS SONG BECAUSE SHE LOVED HORSES AND
SHE KNEW THEY DID NOT SAY "HEE-HAW." SHE DID NOT TEACH IT TO HER
CHILDREN. IT WAS LEARNED AT PEASLEE SCHOOL IN CINCINNATI.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): ONOMATOPOEIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001946CA
Hello
H-E-L-L-O; hello-hello.
ummmm
H-E-L-L-O; hello-hello.
Well my name is Melanie.
hello-hello
I'm in the eighth grade.
hello-hello
I like to dance and shop.
hello-hello
And I'm a smart, smart Virgo.
hello-hello
ummmm
H-E-L-L-O hello-hello.
Submitter comment:
Melanie says that this song is used by girls to introduce
themselves to one another. The game is sung primarily by girls on
the playground or at lunch. It gives new girls a chance to let other
girls know their grade, interest, and names.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00001980S
Old Mary Mack Mack
All dressed in black black
With silver buttons buttons
All down her back back
She asked her mother mother
For fifty cents cents
To see the elephant jump the fence fence
He jumped so high high
He touched the sky sky
He never came back back
To the Fourth of July lie lie.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
Children's Version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it (saw it) you would even say it glows
(like a light bulb).
All of the other reindeer (reindeer) used to laugh and call
him names (like Pinocchio).
They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph) join in any
reindeer games (like Monopoly).
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say (ho ho ho),
Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my
sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him (loved him)
and they shouted out with glee (Whoopie)
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (reindeer),
you'll go down in history (like Columbus).
Submitter comment:
This song was sung to the regular tune of "Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer"; the sections in parentheses are sung as an after
thought, or even by a different group of children. There are many
deviations in this song where the words are added into the song.
For the game where she sung Monopoly I learned to sing like
Parcheesi, and for the person in history, I learned like George
Washington.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
"Miss Suzy Had A Steamboat"
Miss Suzy had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell/ Miss
Suzy went to heaven, the steamboat went to.../ Hello operator,
give me number nine/ And if you disconnect me I'll kick you
from.../Behind the refrigerator, there was a piece of glass, and
if you slip upon it, it'll break your little.../ Ask me no more
questions, tell me no more lies, Miss Suzy told me all of this the
day before she.../ Died her hair in purple, she died her hair in
pink, she died her hair in polka dots and washed it down the
sink.
Keyword(s): HELL
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
"Say Say O' Playmate
Say say o' playmate come out and play with me. / You and your
dolly three, climb up my apple tree. / Slide down my rainbow, into
my cellar door, / and we'll be jolly friends for ever more, more,
more, more, more.
So sorry playmate, I cannot play with you. / My dolly has
the flu, she spit up on her toe. / Ain't got no rainbow, ain't
got no cellar door. / But we'll be jolly friends for ever more,
more, more, more, more.
Submitter comment:
The first paragraph is the part the first child would sing
to the other child. Then the second child would reply to the
first paragraph with the answer. This was a hand clapping game
for children to play and also was used sometimes as a jump rope
chant.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
Keyword(s): O Little Playmate
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Peanut Song
I used to sing this song to my children as a lullaby.
"Found a peanut, found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now.
I just now found a peanut, found a peanut just now.
I cracked it open, cracked it open,
Cracked it open just now.
I just now cracked it open, cracked it open just now.
Found it rotten, found it rotten,
Found it rotten just now.
Just now found it rotten, found it rotten just now.
Ate it anyway, ate it anyway,
Ate it anyway just now.
I just now ate it anyway, ate it anyway just now.
Got sick, got sick,
Got sick just now.
Just now got sick, got sick just now.
Called the doctor, called the doctor,
Called the doctor just now.
I just now called the doctor, called the doctor just now.
Died anyway, died anyway,
Died anyway just now.
Just now died anyway,died anyway just now.
Called the preacher, called the preacher,
Called the preacher just now.
Just now called the preacher, called the preacher just now.
Went to heaven, went to heaven,
Went to heaven just now.
I just now went to heaven, went to heaven just now.
Played a harp, played a harp,
Played a harp just now.
I just now played a harp, played a harp just now.
Broke a string, broke a string,
Broke a string just now.
I just now broke a string, broke a string just now.
Went the other way, went the other way,
Went the other way just now.
I just now went the other way, went the other way just now.
Shovelled coal, shovelled coal,
Shovelled coal just now.
Just now shovelled coal, shovelled coal just now.
Burnt my finger, burnt my finger,
Burnt my finger just now.
Just now burnt my finger, burnt my finger just now."
Submitter comment:
The simple tune allows the use of almost any repeated phrase.
Substitutions or additions may be used to the meaning. Generally
plays as a camp song therefore allowing everyone to participate by
adding their own verse. Another version of the song that Grace
has heard replaces the lines "played a harp" and "broke a string"
with "met an angel" and "met St. Peter."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp in Caseville
Keyword(s): HELL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
Down by the ocean, down by the sea, Johnny broke a bottle and he
blamed it on me. I told mama; mama told papa; Johnny got a whippin'
so ha! ha! ha!
Submitter comment: Rhyme sung by children while playing a hand game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
Mother, Mother, may I go
Down to the corner to meet my beau?
No, my daughter you can't go
Down to the corner to meet your beau.
Father, Father, may I go
Down to the corner to meet my beau?
Yes, my daughter you can go
Down to the corner to meet your beau.
Tell your mother to hold her tongue.
She had a beau when she was young.
Submitter comment:
This is a tune for the piano that was taught to my mother by
her mother when she was ten years old.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Family relations
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1927
My hat it has three corners, Three corners has my hat, And if it had not three corners, It would not be my hat, In Auterbauch village, I lost my true heart, Without it I dare not go home, I've looked all around, I don't know where to start, I guess I'll just start at my home.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 09-00-1974
Ten Red Balloons
Ten red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and nine were there.
Nine red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and eight were there.
Eight red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and seven were there.
Seven red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and six were there.
Six red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and five were there.
Five red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and four were there.
Four red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and three were there.
Three red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and two were there.
Two red balloons waving in the air,
One went pop and one was there.
One red balloon waving in the air,
One went pop and none were there.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Sing-song
When my children were very young, I overheard my grandmother
reciting this little sing-song to them:
Eyes, Nose, Cheekie, Cheekie, Chin
Cheekie, Cheekie, Chin, Nose, Eyes
Submitter comment:
The sing-song was accompanied by pointing to the child's eyes,
nose, cheeks and chin. She said this was how they would easily
learn parts of their body.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Antistrophe
Date learned: 00001970S
FIVE LITTLE FISHES IN A ITTY BITTY PO0L.
A MOMMA FISH AND HER BABY FISHES TOO.
SWIM SAID THE MOMMA FISH. SWIM IF YOU CAN.
AND THEY SWAM AND THEY SWAM ALL OVER THE DAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Song
My Dad taught my brother and me the Hambone song. We would
make our own rhymes to go along with ones Dad taught us:
Hambone, Hambone have you heard?
Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird.
If that mockingbird don't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 08-00-1977
CHILDREN'S SONG
I'M A LITTLE T N T
I'M AS CUTE AS I CAN BE
I CAN SING AND I CAN DANCE
I WEAR RUFFLES ON MY _______
WHOOPS, BOYS, TAKE ANOTHER GUESS.
I WEAR RUFFLES ON MY DRESS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS AT GIRL'S SCOUT CAMP YEARS AGO.
Where learned: PEABODY COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 06-16-1972
I HAD A LITTLE CHICKEN WHO WOULDN'T LAY AN EGG
SO I RUBBED HOT WATER UP AND DOWN HER LEG.
THE LITTLE CHICKEN CRIED
AND THE LITTLE CHICKEN BEGGED
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Chicken ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Children's Song ; Egg ; Hard Boiled ; Kid ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 04-00-1972