Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C750.522 returned 86 results.
CHILDREN SONG
O JESSIE MACK, MACK, MACK, ALL DRESSED IN BLACK, BLACK, BLACK,
WITH SILVER BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS, ALL DOWN HIS BACK, BACK, BACK,
ASKED HIS MOTHER, MOTHER, MOTHER, FOR 15 CENTS, CENTS, CENTS
TO SEE THE ELEPHANT, ELEPHANT, ELEPHANT GO JUMP THE FENCE, FENCE,
FENCE, HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HIGH, HIGH, UP IN THE SKY, SKY, SKY,
THAT HE DIDN'T COME BACK, BACK, BACK TO THE 4TH OF JULY.
Submitter comment: WE SUNG THIS SONG WHILE PLAYING JUMP ROPE AND HAND PATTING GAMES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
HAND SLAPPING GAME
THE SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA, TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, SEE,
SEE, BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE, WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN
SEA, SEA, SEA, THE SAILOR WENT TO CHOP, CHOP, CHOP TO SEE WHAT HE
COULD CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, BUT ALL THAT HE COULD CHOP, CHOP, CHOP WAS
THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN CHOP, CHOP, CHOP. THE SAILOR WENT TO
COO-WASH-A-COO TO SEE WHAT HE COULD COO-WASH-A-COO, BUT ALL THAT HE
COULD COO-WASH-A-COO WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN COO-WASH-A-COO.
THE SAILOR WENT TO CHINA TO SEE WHAT HE COULD CHINA BUT ALL THAT HE
COULD CHINA WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN CHINA. THE SAILOR WENT TO
SEA, SEA, SEA, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP; COO-WASH-A-COO CHINA TO SEE WHAT
HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE; CHOP, CHOP, CHOP; COO-WASH-A-COO, CHINA BUT
ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, COO-WASH-A-COO,
CHINA WAS THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN SEA, SEA, SEA, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
COO-WASH-A-COO, CHINA.
Submitter comment:
TWO PEOPLE WOULD SLAP HANDS TOGETHER AND WHEN THEY WOULD SAY,
SEA, THEY WOULD STOP AND SALUTE; CHOP, THEY WOULD CHOP THEIR ARMS
COO-WASH-A-COO, THEY WOULD DO THE HULA; CHINA, DRAG THE WORD CHINA .
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.580 |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
HAND SLAPPING GAME
HAVE YOU EVER, EVER, EVER, IN YOUR LONG LEGGED LIFE SEEN A LONG
LEGGED SAILOR AND HIS LONG LEGGED WIFE? NO I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER,
IN MY LONG LEGGED LIFE SEEN A LONG LEGGED SAILOR AND HIS LONG
LEGGED WIFE. HAVE YOU EVER, EVER, EVER, IN YOUR SHORT LEGGED LIFE
SEEN A SHORT LEGGED SAILOR AND HIS SHORT LEGGED WIFE? NO
I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, IN MY SHORT LEGGED LIFE SEEN A SHORT LEGGED
SAILOR AND HIS SHORT LEGGED WIFE.
Submitter comment:
AFTER SAYING LONG LEGGED AND SHORT LEGGED YOU STOP, SLAPPING
HANDS AND SPREAD YOUR ARMS ACCORDINGLY TO EACH LENGTH.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
HAND-CLAP CHANT
OH MARY MAC, MAC, MAC
ALL DRESSED IN BLACK, BLACK, BLACK
WITH SILVER BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS
ALL DOWN HER BACK, BACK, BACK
SHE ASKED HER MOTHER, MOTHER, MOTHER
FOR FIFTEEN CENTS, CENTS, CENTS
TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS
JUMP THE FENCE, FENCE, FENCE
SHE JUMPED SO HIGH, HIGH, HIGH
SHE REACHED THE SKY, SKY, SKY
AND NEVER CAME BACK, BACK, BACK
TILL THE FOURTH OF JULY, LY, LY
SHE JUMPED SO LOW, LOW, LOW
SHE STUBBED HER TOE, TOE, TOE
AND THAT WAS THE END, END, END
OF THE ELEPHANT SHOW, SHOW, SHOW
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A HAND RHYTHMIC GAME WHERE YOU CLAP HANDS, THEN
CLAP ON YOUR TWO THIGHS TOGETHER. THEN YOU ALTERNATE
CLAPPING HANDS TOGETHER, THEN CLAP WITH THE RIGHT HAND
WITH THE SAME HAND OF YOUR PARTNER, THEN HANDS TOGETHER,
THEN LEFT HAND WITH PARTNER. CONTINUE TILL THE END OF
THE RHYME.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MARY MACK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
PAT-A-CAKE CHANT
PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE BAKER'S MAN
BAKE ME A CAKE AS FAST AS YOU CAN
YOU ROLL'EM AND YOU ROLL'EM AND YOU MARK IT WITH A "K" AND YOU
PUT IT IN THE OVEN FOR KELLY AND ME.
Submitter comment: WHILE CHANTING THIS CLAPPING IS CUSTOMARY ALONG WITH THE BEAT.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.360 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
"TROT, TROT TO BOSTON TO GET A LOAF OF BREAD.
TROT, TROT HOME AGAIN THE OLD GRAY HORSE IS DEAD."
THIS WAS SUNG WITH A BABY ON YOUR KNEES. YOU LIFTED
YOUR KNEES UP IN RHYTHM WITH THE VERSE. AT THE END
OF THE VERSE YOU LET THE BABY FALL BACKWARDS AND CATCH
HIM.
Where learned: NORTH DAKOTA ; LISBON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
Uno, Go See Action
Uno, go see action
Say a east, a west.
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.
I said, Mama, Mama, Mama again, I feel sick.
Doctor, Doctor,
QUICK, QUICK, QUICK!
Doctor, Doctor, will I die?
Close your eyes and count to five.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE
I'm alive.
Submitter comment: This is usually said while playing a hand clapping game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Zing Zing Zing
Zing, Zing, Zing like a washing machine.
You're gonna rock to the treetops all day long
Huffen and a puffen and a singing a song.
All the little birdies on Jay Bird Street
Love to hear the robin go Tweet, Tweet, Tweet.
Chorus: Rockin' Robin, tweet tweet, tweetl-eet.
Rockin Robin, tweet tweet, tweetl-eet.
Submitter comment: Sung while playing a clapping game.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Shame
Shame, Shame, Shame,
I don't want to go to Mexico, no more more more.
There's a big fat policeman at the door door door.
He'll grab you by the collar, make you pay a dollar.
I don't want to go to Mexico, no more more more.
Submitter comment: This is said in many clapping games.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Having a Baby
My mama is having a baby.
My daddy is going crazy.
If it's a girl, I'll give it a curl.
If it's a boy, I'll give it a toy.
If it's twins, I'll wrap it up in toilet tissue,
And throw it on the elevator.
First Floor, STOP.
Second Floor, STOP.
Third Floor, STOP.
Fourth Floor, STOP.
Fifth Floor, STOP.
Now lets clap till our hands get hot.
Submitter comment: This is a rhyme said while playing a clapping game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GAME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
African-American Children's hand clapping game
This game is played with a hand clap. The words to the game
must keep the beat of the clap. Rhythm is a very important
part in keeping the game going.
Hands up to eighty-five (clap clap)
gonna get (clap clap)
names of (clap clap)
(any fruit, color, city, state, people, anything selected.)
No hesitation (clap clap)
No demonstration (clap clap)
so let's go (clap clap)
starting with (say person's name). (clap clap)
ending with (say person's name) (clap clap)
So lets go! (clap clap)
Submitter comment:
The children are in a circle when playing this game and the
chosen topic is shouted out by each child as their turn comes
in the circle. I've watched my daughter and her friends play
games for hours. The children often add foot movement and hip
movements as they keep time with the rhythm of the game. Any
person causing a break in the timing is out of the game.
Players cannot duplicate objects or subject matters already
called by any other player in the game. If there is a
hesitation or pause by a players, loss for words or a wrong
topic called, that player is eliminated from the game. The
winner is the last person left in the circle. Each time a
person is out the caller of the game has the option to select
a new topic or keep the old one. Children most often use
fruit, colors and cities as the topic for this game.
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: 00-00-1989
Hand clapping rhyme played by African-American children
Zing Zing Zing like a washing machine.
Where gonna rock in the tree top all night long
Rocking and a bobbing and singing this song
All the little birdies on Jaybird street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rocking Robin, tweet tweet tweet
Rocking Robing tweet tweet tweet
Mama is in the kitchen stirring that rice,
Daddy is on the corner shooting that dice.
Brother is in jail, ringing that bell,
Sister is on the corner saying fruit cocktail.
Down by the river
Down by the sea
Johnny broke a bottle and blamed it on me
I told mama, mama told papa,
Johnny got a whipping so ha ha ha.
Rocking Robin tweet tweet tweet
Rocking Robin tweet tweet tweet.
Submitter comment:
This rhyme has elaborate hand claps that
accompany the rhyme.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| 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
Down down baby don't shake the roller coaster
Sweet sweet baby, I'll never let you go
Just because I kissed you, don't mean I love you
Shimmy shimmy co-co pop
Shimmy shimmy why
Shimmy shimmy co-co pop
Shimmy shimmy freeze. (freeze means to stop)
Submitter comment:
Hand claps accompany this rhyme and rhythm is very
important. You have to be well coordinated to play
these games.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| 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
Little Sally Walker walking down the street
Hey Hey she didn't know what to do
So, she jumped in front of me.
I said gone girl shake that thang, shake that thang
Shake that thang.
Gone girl shake that thang, shake that thang stop.
Submitter comment:
Hand claps accompany this rhyme and rhythm is very
important. Each rhyme has its own tempo that must
be maintained when said and clapped.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
James Callow Keyword(s): shake that thing
| 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
Elise is having a baby tidsy tada-way
Well how do you know? tidsy tada-way
Your boyfriend told me tidsy tada-way
Well he's so nosey.
We can do the up-sies up-sies up-sies
We can do the down-sies down-sies down-sies
We can do the freak the freak the freak.
Submitter comment:
Hand motions and claps accompany this rhyme
There is also a special little movement that
is done for up-sies up-sies up-sies and down-sies.
Rhythm is very important in performing this rhyme.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| 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
Ms Suzie had a baby,
she named him Tiny Tim.
She put him in the bathtub
to see is he could swim.
He drank up all the water,
and ate up all the soap.
He tried to eat the bathtub,
but it wouldn't go down his throat.
Ms. Suzie called the doctor,
Ms. Suzie called the nurse.
Ms. Suzie called the lady with the alligator purse.
The doctor said the measles,
the nurse said the mumps.
The lady with the alligator purse said pizza.
Ms. Suzie slapped the doctor,
Ms. Suzie punched the nurse
Ms. Suzie thanked the lady with the alligator purse.
Submitter comment:
Hand claps accompany this rhyme. Rhythm is a very
important part of the game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
Old Mary Mack
Old Mary Mack Mack Mack
All dressed in black black black
With silver buttons buttons buttons
All down her back back back
She asked her mother mother mother
For fifteen cents cents cents
To see the elephant elephant elephant
Jump the fence fence fence
He jumped so high high high
He touched the sky sky sky
And he never came back back back
Till the fourth of July.
Submitter comment:
This is the very first game I ever
remember playing with children in my
neighborhood. There are hand claps
that accompany this rhyme.
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
Where is thumpkin? Where is thumpkin?
(both hands are behind back)
Here I am! (bring out other thumb)
Here I am! (bring out other thumb)
How are you to day sir? (move one thumb as if speaking)
Very well and thank you. (move other thumb as if replying)
Run and hide (put one hand behind back)
Run and hide (put other hand behind back)
Where is pointer? Where is pointer?
(repeat above hand motions with pointer finger)
Here I am! Here I am! How are you today sir?
Very well and thank you. Run and hide, Run and hide.
Where is tall man? Where is tall man?
(repeat with middle finger)
Here I am! Here I am! How are you today sir?
Very well and thank you. Run and hide, Run and hide.
Where is ring finger? Where is ring finger?
(repeat with ring finger)
Here I am! Here I am! How are you today sir?
Very well and thank you. Run and hide, Run and hide.
Where is pinky? Where is pinky?
(repeat with pinky finger)
Here I am! Here I am! How are you today sir?
Very well and thank you. Run and hide, Run and hide.
Where's the whole family? Where's the whole family?
(repeat using all fingers)
Here we are! Here we are! How are you today sirs?
Very well and thank you. Run and hide, Run and hide.
Submitter comment:
I used to perform this miniature finger play for my
younger brothers and sister as well as other children
I babysat for. By using different tones of voice for
Each finger depending on size (thumb was a deep voice
and pinky was a squeaky, tiny voice) I could keep
very young children and babies entertained.
Sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001970S
"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
Children's Chant
This is often chanted by children who are clapping hands in a
patticake fashion with either one other person, or many children
sitting in a circle. Usually when two people engage in this
activity, they are sitting across from one another while clapping
hands. If a group of children is chanting and clapping hands,
they sit in a circle while clapping your right hand with the next
person's left hand. On the other side, you clap your left hand
with the individual's right hand. The song begins, Bo-bo-ski-at-
en-at-en/Ha-ha-ha-he-boom-boom-boom/Itty-bitty-atnot-bo-bo-ski-at-
en/Bo-bo-ski-at-en-at-en-POW!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1978