The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POEM.

"MABLE, MABLE, SET THE TABLE,
DON'T FORGET THE SALT, VINEGAR, MUSTARD & PEPPER."

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

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VERSE

KISS ME CUTE,
KISS ME CUNNING,
KISS ME QUICK
MY DADDY'S COMING.

Where learned: LIBRARY

Keyword(s): COMMAND ; FEMININE RHYME ; HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; INITIAL ITERATION ; MEDIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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VERSE

WANT A PENNY?
GO ASK AUNT GENNY.

Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CONNECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.

Where learned: PARENTS

Keyword(s): FAMILY ; FEMININE RHYME ; QUESTION AND ANSWER STRUCTURE ; RHYME: AA

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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GOD BLESS THE MOON AND GOD BLESS ME.
GOD BLESS THE SOMEBODY I WANT TO SEE.
GOD BLESS THE MOON AND GOD BLESS ME.
AND GOD BLESS THE SOMEBODY I WANT TO SEE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AAAA

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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THE BEAR

FUZZY WUZZY WAS A BEAR,
FUZZY WUZZY HAD NO HAIR,
FUZZY WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY
WAS HE?

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; CHIASMUS: FUZZY WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: AABC ; SONG

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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THE FROG

THE FROG IS A FUNNY ANIMAL
WHEN HE WALK HE RUN ALMOST,
WHEN HE HOP HE JUMP ALMOST,
WHEN HE SIT HE STAND ALMOST,
HE HAS NO TAIL HARDLY.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; FINAL ITERATION ; HUMOR ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABBBC

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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THE FROG

WHAT A FUNNY LITTLE BIRD THE FROG ARE
HE AIN'T GOT NO HEAD HARDLY
AND HE AIN'T GOT NO TAIL EITHER.
WHEN HE HOP HE FLY ON WHAT HE AIN'T GOT ALMOST.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; HUMOR ; RHYME: ABCD

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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RENT

RUFAS, RASTUS, JOHNSON BROWN
WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE RENT COMES ROUND?

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HIS
CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): IMPERFECT RHYME ; RHYME: AA ; RIDICULE OF NAME

Date learned: 00001971 SPRING

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LYRICAL VERSE

OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT RAINS OR FREEZES,
LONG AS I HAVE MY PLASTIC JESUS,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
THUNDER ROAR AND LIGHTNING CRASH,
I WON'T FEAR; HE'S ON THE DASH,
TAKE HIM WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL FAR.

OH, I CAN DRIVE FROM COAST TO COAST,
LONG AS I HAVE MY HOLY GHOST,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
GOIN' NINETY I AIN'T WARY,
CAUSE I GOT MY VIRGIN MARY,
GUARANTEEIN' I WON'T GO TO HELL.

OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DARK AND SCARY,
LONG AS I HAVE MY VIRGIN MARY,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; SAILING CLUB PARTY

Keyword(s): BIBLICAL ; FEMININE RHYME ; IMPERFECT RHYME: FREEZES JESUS ; RELIGION ; RHYME: AABCCB ; SLANG FOR DASHBOARD CLIPPING ; STATUES USED AS AMULETS IN AUTOMOBILES ; TRAVEL

Date learned: 10-23-1971

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COMMON DENONINATOR

NO MATTER HOW HIGH AND GREAT THE THRONE
WHAT SITS ON THE SEAT IS THE SAME AS YOUR OWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM FOR BUTTOCKS ; HUMILITY ; OBSERVATION ; RHYME:AA

Date learned: 11-14-1968

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VERSE

WHEN YOU GO FISHING,
TAKE A LINE.
WHEN YOU GO KISSING,
TAKE YOUR TIME.

Where learned: LIBRARY

Keyword(s): ADVICE ; HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYMES ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABAB

Date learned: 09-22-1967

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GOOD NIGHT

GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT.
DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE.
IF THEY DO, PUT THEM IN A STEW
AND GET UP AND EAT THEM AT HALF PAST TWO.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Keyword(s): FOOD ; GORE ; INSECTS ; INTERNAL RHYME ( TWO PAIRS) ; RHYME: AABB

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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OH DEAR,
BREAD AND BEER,
I GOT MARRIED,
AND NOW YOU'RE HERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD ; RHYME: AABA

Date learned: 11-05-1967

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BUCKLE MY SHOE

1-2 BUCKLE MY SHOE.
3-4 SHUT THE DOOR.
5-6 PICK UP STICKS.
7-8 LAY THEM STRAIGHT.
9-10 A BIG FAT HEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUCKLE

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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BEFORE MEAL PRAYER

RUB-A-DUB, DUB,/THANKS FOR THE GRUB,/YEH GOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): CHEER

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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BEWARE OF BOYS WHOSE EYES ARE BLUE,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND ASK FOR TWO.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF GREEN,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER BE SEEN.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF BLACK,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER COME BACK.
YOU WILL KNOW ALL KINDS OF JOYS,
IF YOU WILL ONLY BEWARE OF BOYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ADVICE ; COLOR OF EYES AS BASIS OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ; COUPLETS

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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WANT A NICKLE?
GO EAT A PICKLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CATCH RHYME ; FEMININE RHYME ; RHYME: AA

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MY PRIME I USED TO GET IT ALL THE TIME,
NOW THAT I AM OLD AND GETTING GRAY I ONLY GET IT ONCE A DAY.

Submitter comment: THIS LITTLE VERSE WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO HAD LIVED FOR
MANY YEARS IN THE THUMB AREA. HE HAD HEARD THIS WHEN HE WORKED FOR
A LUMBER COMPANY IN THAT AREA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC, LYRICAL DEALS WITH EMOTIONS NOT STORY

SNEEZE ON MONDAY, SNEEZE FOR DANGER;
SNEEZE ON TUESDAY, KISS A STRANGER;
SNEEZE ON WEDNESDAY, SNEEZE FOR A LETTER;
SNEEZE ON THURSDAY, SOMETHING BETTER;
SNEEZE ON FRIDAY, SNEEZE FOR SORROW;
SNEEZE ON SATURDAY, SEE LOVE TOMORROW.

Submitter comment: I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL VERSE. IT IS A CHAIN TALE
BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT IS TOLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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