Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C750.500 returned 282 results.
EENIE MEENIE MIENIE MO, CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE
IF HE HOLLARS LET HIM GO, EENIE MEENIE MIENIE MO.
Submitter comment:
TOLD AS A RIDDLE IN A GAME TO DECIDE WHO WAS
"IT."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; friends ; PLAYING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 00001960S
OH SAY OH PLAYMATE,
COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME,
AND BRING YOUR DOLLY'S THREE,
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE,
SLIDE DOWN MY RAIN BARREL,
GO THROUGH MY CELLAR DOOR
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS,
FOREVER MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-24-1988
"Engine, engine, number nine
Going down Chicago line
If the train falls off the track,
Do you want your money back?"
An answer of yes or no is given, then it is spelled out.
You'd say "O-U-T spells out and you are not it."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
As a counting out rhyme, it can be used by itself or
added on to the end of another:
"My mother said to pick the very best one and
you are not it."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001975 ca.
"Bubblegum, bubblegum in a dish,
How many pieces do you wish?"
A number would be specified, and then spelled out--
"O-N-E spells out and you are not it."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001975 ca.
(Assuming there are 5 participating, but using any
amount of people)--"Five horses in a stable, one
jumps out." That person is no longer counted.
"Four horses in a stable, one jumps out."
Continuing on in the same fashion until one
person is left and is designated it."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
"Your mother, my, mother, live across the way,
1515 East Broadway. Every night, they have a fight,
And this is what they say:
Icka, Bocka, Soda cracker,
Does your mother chew tobacker?"
As a counting out rhyme, yes or no would be
chosen and then spelled out, such as "Y-E-S spells
yes and you are not it."
As a jumprope rhyme, "yes, no, yes, no" would be repeated
until you fell.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
While playing game where we would have to pick
a person for something this is one of the rhymes
we used to use to count out.
Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish,
How many pieces do you wish?
Then the person who the counter landed on picks a
number. Then the counter counts out the number of
people the person picked. Whoever the person lands
on can either be the person designated or be counted
out. If the person is counted out then the procedure
begins again until all people are eliminated and one
person is left. Then the last one is the designated
person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001970S
We used to use this rhyme for counting people
in order to pick for games. It goes as follows:
My mother and your mother were hanging up the clothes.
My mother punched your mother in the nose.
What color was the blood?
While saying this the counter points at each person's
feet. Then the person whose foot the counter landed on
had to pick a color. The counter spells out the
color, picked using a person's foot for each letter and
whoever the counter lands on last is the person chosen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001970'S
African-American Children's Game used to determine
Engine Engine number nine
going down Chicago line
if the train should jump the track
do you want your money back? (answer y/n)
Y E S spells yes and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
Each child must put one foot in a circle with all
toes touching together. The caller must touch each
shoe as the words to the song are sung. The last foot,
or person left in the circle is "it". Such games are
also known as "counting-out rhymes."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
My mama and your mama were hanging out the clothes.
My mama socked your mama right straight in the nose.
What color was the blood? Answer y/n
N O spells no and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This games is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
callers says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
Keyword(s): African American ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
Bubble gum, bubble gum in the dish
how many bubble gums do you wish? Answer, any number.
One, two, three, four and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This game is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
caller says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
A ball game played by African-American children
Lins-ee , clap-sies
twirl about
to back-sies
right hand
left hand
touch your knees
and your toes
and your heels
under we go
high-sies
low-sies
Submitter comment:
This game is played with a ball. The ball is thrown up
against a wall. We always played on the brick wall
homes in my neighborhood. As the ball is thrown and caught
each call is a command that must be done before the ball is
caught off of the wall. Example; Linsee is to throw the ball,
Clap-sies means to throw the ball on the wall and clap before
it is caught. Twirl about means to throw the ball on the wall
and twirl completely around before the ball is caught.
Back-sies means to turn your back and throw the ball on the wall.
This game continues on with the player performing each line
in the game. A missed catch constitutes giving the ball to
the next player. When your turn comes back around you begin
at the point you missed. Example, If you missed at left
hand, you begin the game at left hand. The first person to
get all the way through the game is the winner.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
A ball game played by African-American Children
Hello, hello, hello sir
how are you today sir?
fine sir
yes sir
Submitter comment:
This game is played by one or more players. The player(s)
bounces a ball to each word of the rhyme. When the word "sir"
is said the player must cross his/her leg over the ball.
Rhythm is very important in that the ball and the rhyme and
the leg crossing must all be together in timing. A missed
cross, or lost of control of the ball constitutes elimination
and turning the ball over to the next player.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
African-American children's jumping rope game
Dum Dee Dum Dee Doe Doe
catch me if you can
I can run faster than
(say the name of the person to chase you) can!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (jump out of the rope)
Submitter comment:
This game is played jumping rope. Two people are
turning the rope, one on each end. The person to be
chased says the above rhyme, then jumps out. The person
to tag runs in afterwards. Each one can only jump one
time in the rope. This is a fast chase game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960-61
A game played by African-American children
Look who's here Punchi-nella Punchi-nella
Look who's here Punchi-nella at the zoo
What can you do Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
What can you do Punchi-nella at the zoo?
We can do it too Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
We can do it too Punchi-nella at the zoo.
Submitter comment:
This game is played in a circle and there are hand
claps that accompany the words to the song. One
player (Punchi-nella) is in the center of the circle.
When Punchi-nella is asked "what can you do?", the
player responds by doing his/her own unique dance
in the center of the circle. When the other players
respond, "we can do it too" they imitate the dance
that Punchi-nella performed in the center of the
circle.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960-61
A rhyme used to pick the next player of a game.
She never went to college
She never went to school
But when she came back
She was an educated fool.
Submitter comment:
This game is used to pick the next person to be "it."
All players gather in a circle. One person is inside
the circle. This person covers their eyes with one hand and
points out a finger with the other hand as they spin around
in a circle. As the words to the above rhyme are sung a new
player is picked on the word "fool". Whoever the finger is
pointed at on the word "fool" takes the place of the person in
the center and becomes "it".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
A rhyme sung by African-American children
Lou Lou had an engine
The engine had a bell
Lou Lou went to heaven
The engine went to hello
Operator
Give me number nine
If you don't connect me
I beat your big
Behind
The refrigerator
There was a piece of glass
Lou Lou slipped upon it and
Cut her little
Ask
Me no more questions
I'll tell you no more lies
Lou Lou told me all of this
Just before she died.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Hand clapping rhyme played by African-American girls
Zing Zing Zing like a washing machine
I like coffee, I like tea.
I like the colored boy
and he likes me.
So step back white boy
you don't shine,
I'll get the colored boy
to beat your behind.
Last night, night before
I met my boyfriend at the candy store.
He bought me ice cream,
he bought me cake,
he brought me home with a belly ache.
Mama, Mama I feel sick.
Call the doctor quick quick quick.
Doctor Doctor shall I die?
Close your eyes and count to five.
One, Two, Three, Four Five. I'M ALIVE!
Submitter comment: This game is done with accompanying hand claps.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children at school
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
Hand clapping rhyme played by African-American Children
Let's get the rhythm of the head (shake head)
We've got the rhythm of the head (shake head)
Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp stomp)
We've got the rhythm of the feet (stomp stomp)
Let's get the rhythm of the hands (clap clap)
We've got the rhythm of the hands (clap clap)
Let's get the rhythm of the hooot dog (move hips)
We've got the rhythm of the hooot dog (move hips)
Now put them all together and what do you have?
Ding dong, stomp stomp, clap clap, swivel hips
Say all together HOT DIGGETY DOG!
Submitter comment: Hand claps accompany this rhyme
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1988