Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C200 returned 92 results.
The Burglar Brave and Bold
The burglar brave and bold
He went to rob a house
He climbed right in the window
As quiet as a mouse.
(At this point, the informant's memory broke down,
and she had to tell the rest of the story in prose,
until the final verse.)
The burglar hid under the bed when the old maid
who owned the house came in. She took out her teeth,
and removed her glass eye, and took the hair from off
her head. She locked the window and the door, but
forgot to look under the bed.
The burglar came out, and the old woman grabbed her
shotgun and pointed it at him and said:
Marry me sir or I'll blow off the top of your head.
The burglar looked around the room,
He looked for a place to scoot;
He looked at her teeth and her old glass eye,
And said, "For Heaven's sake shoot."
Submitter comment:
This was learned from my great uncle
Joseph O'Connor, who was born in St. Thomas, Canada.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Date learned: 00001950CA
Camp Song, Girl Scouts
This song is used as a grace
before each meal at camp.
Hark to the chimes
Come bow your heads
We thank the Lord
For this good bread.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Holly ; Holly
Date learned: 07-00-1983
Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven. The steamboat went to hell(o)
Operator connect me number nine, and if you disconnect me,
I'll kick you right behind the fridgerator, there laid a
piece of glass. Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her
little ass(k) me no more questions. Tell me no more lies.
Miss Susie told me all of this the day before she died
her hair all purple. She died her hair all pink. She died
her hair all polka dots, and washed it down the sink me
in the ocean, sink me in the sea, sink me in the toilet,
but please don't pee on me.
Submitter comment:
Sometimes this song is sung just by school aged children,
and at other times two girls will do an alternating, hand
clapping rhythm with each other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Hello Hell Ass Ask Dyed ; PEE=URINATE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001980S
I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For bringing home a baby bumble bee, OUCH HE BIT ME!!!!!
I'm mashing up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mashing up my baby bumble bee, Ugh, what a mess!!
I'm licking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For licking up my baby bumble bee, Ohh, I feel sick!!!
I'm puking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For puking up my baby bumble bee, Eew, what a mess!!
I'm mopping up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mopping up my baby bumble bee, there all clean.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur.
Won't my mommy hide behind the door.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur, OOPS, HE ATE ME!!!
Submitter comment:
This song is done with lots of hand motions and
pretend gestures.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; REFRAIN ; Teller killed in his own story.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
MY MOTHER'S UNCLE TAUGHT HER THIS SONG WHICH WAS SUNG ON BACK
PORCHES OR AT SOCIALS IN THE EVENINGS AFTER ALL THE CHORES WERE
DONE.
"THERE'S AN OLD APPLE TREE IN THE ORCHARD
THAT LIVES IN MY MEMORY
IT WAS PLANTED BY MY PAPPY--HE WAS HANDSOME, YOUNG AND HAPPY
WHEN HE PLANTED THE OLD APPLE TREE.
ONE NIGHT PAPPY TOOK SISTER NORTON OUT ON A JAMBOREE
WHEN THEY GOT BACK AT SUN-UP, BROTHER NORTON RAISED HIS GUN
UP
AND HE CHASED PAPPY OUT IN THE TREE.
WHEN THE NEIGHBORS CAME AFTER MY PAPPY
UP IN THE TREE WAS HE
THEY TOOK A ROPE AND STRUNG HIM BY THE NECK AND THEY HUNG
HIM ON A BRANCH OF THE OLD APPLE TREE.
SAY GOOD-BYE, SAY GOOD-BYE, SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE OLD APPLE
TREE
IF MY PAPPY HAD A KNOWED IT, HE'D BE SORRY THAT HE GROWED IT
CAUSE HE DIED ON THE OLD APPLE TREE."
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Date learned: 0001950S
MY MOTHER'S UNCLE TAUGHT HER THIS LITTLE BALLAD ABOUT A FARM
GIRL AND A TRAVELING SALESMAN:
"A FARMER'S DAUGHTER NAMED LOU'ELLER
WAS THE PRETTIEST GIRL FOR MILES AROUND.
BUT THAT POOR GIRL DINT HAVE NO FELLER
UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN SHE WENT TO TOWN.
SHE WENT DOWN TO THE VILLAGE DEPOT
TO WATCH THAT EVENIN' TRAIN COME IN
AND MET A DRUMMER FROM THE CITY WITH
TWO GOLD TEETH AND A WALKIN' CANE.
THEY WENT DOWN TO THE VILLAGE DRUGSTORE
AND AT THE COUNTER THEY DID SAT
HE FILLED HER FULL OF SASPARILLA
TILL SHE DINT KNOW WHERE SHE WAS AT.
ALAS! ALACK! FOR PORE LOUELLER
SHE STARTED SOMETHING SHE COULD NOT STOP
NOW EVER' TIME SHE GETS A NICKEL
SHE BLOWS IT IN ON SODY-POP.
AND IN THE EVENIN'S IN THE SUMMER
AT THE DEPOT DOOR SHE WAITS IN VAIN
AND ROLLS HER EYES AT EVER' DRUMMER
THAT GITS FROM OFF THAT EVENIN' TRAIN."
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): DRUMMER = SALESMAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C230 |
Date learned: 00001950S
THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"IN MY MID-TEENS, I WAS FINAGLED INTO TEACHING VACATION BIBLE
SCHOOL. WE THEN LIVED IN A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY EAST OF
CINCINNATI, OHIO. ONE OF THE RETIRED GENTLEMEN FROM OUR CHURCH
PICKED UP MY MOM, MY SIBLINGS, A COUPLE OF OTHER KIDS FROM DOWN
THE ROAD AND ME EVERY MORNING IN HIS OVERTURNED BATHTUB--THAT'S
WHAT HIS HUDSON MOTOR CAR LOOKED LIKE TO US.
ONCE AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, WE HAD OUR LITTLE LESSONS AND
CRAFTS FOR THE DAY; AND OF COURSE SONGS--MOST OF WHICH HAD
ACCOMPANYING HAND MOTIONS. THE ONLY ONE I REMEMBER IN ITS
ENTIRETY WAS THIS ONE--YOU'LL HAVE TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION SUPPLY
THE HAND MOTIONS:
"ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A LITTLE SLING
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT HE COULD PRAY AND SING.
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A RIPPLING BROOK
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT FIVE LITTLE STONES HE TOOK.
AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE SLING
AND THE SLING WENT ROUND AND ROUND
AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND
ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND
AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE AIR AND THE GIANT CAME
TUMBLING DOWN."
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER SOME THE HAND MOTIONS FROM WHEN MY MOM SANG THIS TO
ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. THEY ARE PANTOMIMES OF DAVID, THE SLING,
AND THE ACTION OF PICKING UP THE STONES IN THE FIRST STANZA. THE
SECOND STANZA FEATURES THE SWINGING ACTION OF THE SLING AND THE
MOTION OF FALLING LIKE THE GIANT.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): FINAGLE FENAGLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 00001950S
It was one of the gang called little Robert Ford
Who shot Jesse James on the sly.
It was Robert Ford, that dirty coward,
I wonder how he does feel.
He ate Jesse's bread and slept in Jesse's bed
And he put Jesse James in his grave.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
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
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
Miss Jenny Jones is washing; she's washing, she's washing my
shirts.
Miss Jenny Jones is washing, you cannot see her now.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, and how is she this day?
Miss Jenny Jones is ironing, she's ironing, she's ironing
my shirts.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones today, and how is she?
Miss Jenny Jones is sick, she is sick, she is sick in bed.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones today, and how is she?
Miss Jenny Jones is dying, she's dying, she's dying.
Miss Jenny Jones is dying; You cannot see her now.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
Miss Jenny Jones is stiff and dead, she's stiff and dead,
she lies stiff and dead in her grave.
Miss Jenny Jones is dead, dead, dead.
You cannot see her now.
Submitter comment:
My mother learned this from her mother. My grandmother told my
mother this story because she never liked to visit her friends.
The story was to let my mother know her friends would not be around
forever so she had better see them while she can.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 00001950S
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
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go,
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Biddle School
James Callow Keyword(s): dreaming
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Rhyme
The Ants
The ants go marching one by one: Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one by one, Hurrah! Hurrah!
Chorus:*
The ants go marching one by one, the little one stops to shoot his gun, and they all go marching down to the earth, to get out of the rain, Boom Boom Boom!
The ants go marching two by two...the little one stops to tie his shoe...
three by three...climb a tree
four by four...slam the door
five by five...do the jive
six by six...pick up sticks
even by seven...go to heaven
eight by eight...shut the gate
nine by nine...check the time
ten by ten...shout THE END!
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): Ants ; Children's Song ; COUNTING ; GAME ; MEMORY ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Entertainment: Song
Jogging Along
a joggin' along to make the girls stare, a coach with six horses drawn by an old mare.
Chorus:
Hi come along, Jim along Josie
Hi come along, Jim along Joe
I went to the market I went to the mall
To court a rich widow with nothing at all
I asked her to marry me one hot summer day, while out in the meadow a'rakin up hay.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): Balled ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Entertainment: Song
Girl Scout Song
She sailed away on a happy summer's day
on the back of a crocodile
You see, said she, he's as tame as he can be.
I'll float him down the Nile.
Well the croc winked his eye,
and she waved them all good-bye,
wearing a happy smile.
At the end of the ride,
the lady was inside,
And oh, the smile on the crocodile!
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): Campfire ; Crocodile ; Entertainment ; GIRL SCOUTS ; Lyric ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
CHILDREN'S CAMP SONG
CHORUS:
EDDIE CUCHIE CATCHIE CAMA TOSA ERA TOSA
NOMA SOMA CAMA WACKIE BROWN
FELL INTO THE WELL, FELL IN TO THE WELL
FELL INTO THE DEEP DARK WELL.
VERSES:
SUSIE JONES MILKING IN THE BARN SAW HIM FALL
AND RAN INSIDE TO TELL HER MA THAT (CHORUS)
SUSIE'S MA, MAKING CRACKLIN' BREAD
TOLD HER PA WHO HOBBLED INTO TOWN AND SAID THAT (CHORUS)
FROM THE TOWN, EVERYBODY CAME
WHAT A SHAME IT TOOK SO LONG TO SAY HIS NAME THAT(CHORUS)
AFTER SINGING THIS LAST CHORUS YOU SING "WHO?" AND REPEAT THE
CHORUS ONCE MORE AND THEN SAY "DROWNED"
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG IS SUNG AT CYO (CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION) CAMPS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Port Sanilac
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; CHANT ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 06-00-1975
A Song
Old lady Leary lit a lantern in the shed
And when the cow kicked over
She winked her eye and said
There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Submitter comment:
camping song collected from a Girl Scout leader
Data entry tech comment:
Informant name difficult to decipher; could be Jane Cashmier? Collector was from Massillon, Ohio. Possibly learned there.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
A Song
Old lady Leary lit a lantern in the shed
And when the cow kicked over
She winked her eye and said
There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Submitter comment:
camping song collected from a Girl Scout leader
Data entry tech comment:
Informant name difficult to decipher; could be Jane Cashmier? Collector was from Massillon, Ohio. Possibly learned there. (AMK 6-22-15)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Mandy
Mandy was a Bahama girl (2x's)
(Mandy oh Mandy, Mandy Mine. REFRAIN)
Dark Brown hair and eyes of blue,
love nobody else but you. REFRAIN
Met her on a Saturday night
Was the happiest night of my life. REFRAIN
Married her on Bahama sands
Put a wedding ring on her hand. REFRAIN
Mandy had a little baby
Had a baby just for me. REFRAIN
Baby made my Mandy cry
Cry so hard she was sure to die. REFRAIN
Buried her on Bahama sands
With her wedding ring on her hand. REFRAIN
Mandy was a wife to me
Now she's just a memory. REFRAIN
There's a teardrop in my eye
There to remain until I die. REFRAIN
Submitter comment:
Along with this song goes the belief that it should only be sung in darkness or at night or it will start to rain.
This song was learned at a Girl Scout Camp at age of fourteen.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Girl Scout Camp
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Entry filtered.