Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C523 returned 85 results.
"Cross down when Billy was one, he learned to suck his thumb,
Thumb yellow, thumb yellow, half past one.
Cross down when Billy was two, he learned to tie his shoe,
Shoe yellow, shoe yellow, half past two. Cross down" etc.
--when Billy was three, he learned to climb a tree.
--when Billy was four, he learned to shut the door.
--when Billy was five, he learned to do a dive.
--when Billy was six, he learned to pick up sticks.
--when Billy was seven, he learned to pray to heaven.
--when Billy was eight, he learned to shut the gate.
--when Billy was nine, he learned to draw a line.
--when Billy was ten, he learned to pluck a hen.
Submitter comment: This is a song with clapping done by two people.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE ; CHAIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00001977 ca.
"Oh, say, say, my playmate, come out and play with me,
Climb up my apple tree, slide down my rain barrel,
Right through my cellar door, and we'll be jolly friends,
Forever more."
"So sorry playmate, I cannot play with you,
My dolly has the flu, boo hoo hoo hoo hoo."
Submitter comment: Sung and clapped by two people
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00001977 ca.
See, See My Playmate
See, see my playmate.
Come out and play with me, and bring your dollies, three.
Climb up my apple tree. Slide down my rain barrel.
Into my cellar door. And we'll be jolly friends,
Forevermore.
So sorry playmate.
Can't come out and play with you.
My dollies got the flu. Oh boo hoo hoo hoo hoo.
Ain't got no rain barrel. Don't got no cellar door.
We can't be jolly friends, forevermore.
Submitter comment:
This songs were sung, usually by two girls, who would
at the same time clap their hands together once and
then hit right hands, clap, then left hands, then clap again
continuing that pattern throughout the entire song.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Hands up to Eighty-five
This is a singing and clapping game where the object is not to
hesitate. You pick a topic such as cars, colors, or names that
start with "R". It goes like this: Hands up to eighty-five going
to get names of cars.. no hesitation, no dimitration so let's go.
The first person says a car, then the second and so on, all the
time the clapping in rhythm. If you don't say a car in time you
are out, the game goes on until one person is left.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001970S
Puncha Nella
This is a singing and dancing game where the object is to do
exactly what the person who is "it" is doing if they pick you. It
goes like this: look who's here Puncha Nella, Puncha Nella... look
who's here Puncha Nella at the zoo. Oh, choose your partner Puncha
Nella, Puncha Nella... choose your partner Puncha Nella at the
zoo. (the game is set in a circle where everyone is holding hands
and Puncha Nella is in the middle. At this point shehe jumps in
front of the person who they choose.) What can you do Puncha
Nella, Puncha Nella...what can you do Puncha Nella at the zoo.(at
this point puncha does anything shehe wants usually a dance and
the person they are standing in front of has to do it also) we can
do it too Puncha Nella, Puncha Nella... we can do it too Puncha
Nella at the zoo. (if the person does it right they are the next
Puncha Nella; if not then Puncha Nella moves on to someone else.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic |
Date learned: 00001970S
Childern (Children's) Game (River Rat)
Lay a small rug in the middle of the room for a river. Or draw two
chalk lines on the floor to mark the sides of the river. Choose
one person to be the watcher. Have everyone line up on one side of
the river. Start the music and have everyone march across the
river. Stop the music. Anyone standing in the river is the river
rat. He steps out of the line and watches for other river rats who
get caught in the river. Boys and girls can play this game,
preferably ages 5 to 10.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; Alberton
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
Red Light Green Light
This was a children's game in which one chosen person would
close his/her eyes and say "Red light green light" several times
while simultaneously spinning around. While the chosen person
would spin and say this the other participants would run around in
circles around the chosen person. And when the chosen person
opened his/her eyes, whoever was still moving would be put out of
the game.
Submitter comment: This seemed to be a very fun game at the time.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): GAMES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Game
To make going to the store a little more exciting, my friends
and I would play a game called Step on a Crack. The object was to
avoid all cracks in the sidewalk. If any one stepped on a crack
then everyone else would say, "You stepped on a crack and you break
your mother's back.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA,
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE,
AND ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE,
WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA, SEA, SEA.
Submitter comment: MADE MOTIONS WITH HANDS.
James Callow comment: SUNG
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 09-30-1971
PUNCHANELLA
LOOK WHO'S HERE, PUNCHANELLA, PUNCHANELLA
LOOK WHO'S HERE PUNCHANELLA BY THE SEA.
WHAT CAN YOU DO, PUNCHANELLA, PUNCHANELLA,
WHAT CAN YOU DO, PUNCHANELLA BY THE SEA.
I CAN DO THE PUNCHANELLA, PUNCHANELLA,
I CAN DO THE JERK, PUNCHANELLA BY THE SEA.
WE CAN DO IT TOO, PUNCHAELLA, PUNCHANELLA,
WE CAN DO IT TOO, PUNCHANELLA, BY THE SEA.
CHOOSE YOUR PARTNER, PUNCHANELLA, PUNCHANELLA,
CHOOSE YOUR PARTNER PUNCHANELLA BY THE SEA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 09-30-1971
A GROUP OF CHLDREN WALK IN A HORIZONTAL LINE WITH
ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER SAYING:
LEFT, LEFT, LEFT BY-GOLLY, I LEFT,
I LEFT MY WIFE WITH 42 KIDS ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION.
WITH NOTHING BUT GINERBREAD LEFT, LEFT.
FIRST THEY HIRED ME, THEN THEY FIRED ME,
THEN BY-GOLLY, I LEFT.
EACH TIME THE WORD "LEFT" IS SAID EACH PERSON IS ON
THEIR LEFT FOOT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE BY INFORMANT AS A CHLD ABOUT 35 YEARS
AGO IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 03-20-1972
STATUES
A GROUP OF CHILDREN DANCE AROUND THE ROOM TO FAST
AND LIVELY MUSIC. WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, THEY
STAND PERFECTLY STILL. ANYONE WHO MOVES IS OUT.
THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ONE PLAYER IS LEFT. HE
IS DECLARED THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 06-00-1965
RING AROUND A ROSY
PICK A PACK OF POSY
ASHES, ASHES
WE ALL FALL DOWN.
TO PLAY: CHILDREN HOLD HANDS IN CIRCLE, SINGING THE
VERSE ABOVE. THEY MOVE SLOWLY IN A CIRCLE AND FALL DOWN
AT THE LAST LINE.
Submitter comment: HEARD IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER ; 08-00-1964
RING AROUND THE ROSEY,
POCKET FULL OF POSIES,
ASHES, ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
RING AROUND THE ROSEY,
A POCKET FULL OF POSEY,
ASHES, ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MCKEESPORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
RING AROUND THE ROSIE: RED FACE ON PEOPLE WHO HAD
PLAGUE.
POCKET FULL OF POSIES.
ASHES, ASHES: BODIES BURNED.
WE ALL FALL DOWN: PEOPLE WHO WERE STRICKEN WITH
DISEASE AND DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
KOKEY-POKEY
YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND IN,
YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OUT.
YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND IN AND SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT.
YOU DO THE HOKEY-POKEY AND TURN YOURSLEF AROUND
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS SINGING THIS IN GROUPS WHILE
DOING THE GESTURES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
TURGELI TIVELI (LITTLE GEORGE)
ONE PLAYER IS "LITTLE GEORGE," EVERYONE ELSE--GO
AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND SING. IN THE SECOND PART,
"GEORGE" COMPLETES SOME MOVEMENT AND EVERYONE
SINGING, DOES THE SAME. REPEATING THE WORDS, "JUS
VAIKAI TAIP DARY-KIT, KAIP TIVELIS DARO," ALL
THE CHILDREN DO THE SAME MOTION. NEXT, ANOTHER
CHILD GOES INTO THE MIDDLE.
Submitter comment:
"YOU CHILDREN, DO THE SAME THING THAT LITTLE GEORGE
IS DOING." (LITERAL TRANSLATION).
THIS IS SIMILAR TO FOLLOW THE LEADER, ONLY WE GO
AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND SING.
A VERY GOOD GAME FOR LITTLE KIDS, AGAIN NO ONE
KNOWS WHO WROTE IT.
Where learned: LITHUANIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 03-27-1972
SEJAU RUTOZ (PLANTING "RUTA")
THE CHILDREN STAND IN CIRCLES BY FOURS. (FOUR TO A
CIRCLE). EVERYONE'S HANDS ARE ON THEIR HIPS.
SINGING, "SEJAU RUTAZ," THEY HOPPING, PUT OUT THEIR
RIGHT FOOT IN FRONT WITH TOES POINTED.
SEJAU META--THEY DO THE SAME THING WITH THEIR LEFT
FOOT. "SEJAU LELIJELE"--THEY REPEAT THE SAME MOVEMENTS
TWICE (RIGHT, LEFT AND AGAIN RIGHT, LEFT).
SINGING THE WORDS "SEJAU SANO" THE CHILDREN,
STANDING, CLAP TWO TIMES WITH THEIR HANDS. "JAUNAS DIENAS
KAIP ZALIOZ RUTELE"--THEY TURN TO THE RIGHT AND WALK
SIX STEPS. THEIR HANDS ARE HELD IN THE CENTER.
REPEATING "SEJAU SANO JAUNAS DIENAS KAIP ZALIG
RUTELE," THEY REPEAT THE CLAPPING, 6 STEPS TO THE LEFT
THIS TIME.
THIS IS A CHLDREN'S SONG-DANCE GAME. GRADE SCHOOL
STUDENTS DANCE THIS FROM AROUND THE FIRST OR SECOND
GRADE. "RUTA" IS THE LITHUANIAN FLOWER. THE SONG
DOES, THAT THEY PLANTED A "RUTA," THEY PLANTED A "META"
(A MINT SMELLING PLANT, ALSO FOUND ONLY IN LITHUANIA),
THEY PLANTED THEIR YOUNG DAYS, JUST LIKE THEY DID THE
"RUTA."
THEN IT DOES ON HOW THE FLOWERS (RUTA & META) GREW
AND THAT THEIR YOUNG DAYS GREW JUST LIKE THEM (THE
PLANTS). THEN HOW THE FLOWERS (REALLY PLANTS) GOT
TALLER AND BLOSSOMED OUT INTO BEAUTIFUL PLANTS,
AND SO DID THEIR YOUNG LIVES.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A FAVORITE AMONG THE LITTLE KIDS.
Where learned: LITHUANIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 03-27-1972
RING AROUND THE ROSEY
DURING THE ERA OF THE BUBONIC PLAGUE, CHILDREN SANG:
RING AROUND THE ROSEY,
POCKET FULL OF POSIES,
ATCHOO, ATCHOO,
ALL FALL DOWN.
THE RING WAS THE RASH THAT SIGNALLED THE PLAGUE. THE
POSIES WERE USED TO KILL THE SMELL FROM THE DEAD
BODIES. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT VICTIMS SNEEZED
BEFORE THEY SUCCUMBED TO THE DISEASE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN