Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CUSTOM
PLACES OF BUSINESS USUALLY SAVE THE FIRST DOLLAR THEY HAVE MADE AS A
BUSINESS. THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK. THIS PRACTICE IS DONE IN
MANY STORES
Where learned: NOT INCLUDED
Keyword(s): BUSINESS MONEY GOOD LUCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: NOT INCLUDED
MARKET DAY IN KERRY
AT THE MARKET IN KERRY, WHEN TWO FARMERS EXCHANGE BUSINESS
THEY BARGAIN A LOT. THE FARMER WHO IS BUYING THE CATTLE TENDS
TO FIND ALL KINDS OF FAULTS WITH THE CATTLE. THE GAME IS TO FIND
WEAKNESSES IN THE OTHER MAN'S CRAFT IN RAISING CATTLE.
THE MORE "BITING" THE FARMER IS THE BETTER CATTLE_MAN HE IS.
WHEN ALL THE INSULTS ARE OVER AND THE OWNER OF THE CATTLE KNOWS
THAT "HIS MAN" IS INTERESTED,
HE GETS REALLY TOUGH AS REGARDS PRICES.
HE NEVER LOOKS AT THE BUYER IN THE FACE, BUT AWAY FROM HIM AND
SOME OTHER INTERESTING THINGS THAT HE IMAGINES HE SEES.
THE LESS HE LOOKS AT THE BUYER, THE MORE ANXIOUS HE IS TO SELL, AND
THE BUYER KNOWS THIS. BARGAINING CAN GO ON FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.
WHEN THE DEAL IS CLOSED AND THE MONEY IS PAID, THE SELLER ALWAYS
GIVES BACK A LITTLE PER CENT OF THE PRICE FOR GOOD LUCK AND
FRIENDSHIP. THEN BOTH MEN GO INTO A PUB FOR A COUPLE OF DRINKS AND
A MAN_TO_MAN CHAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK, FRIENDSHIP BUSINESS ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
CLEAN SWEEP
WHEN A NAVAL SHIP IS COMING INTO PORT AFTER A MISSION, A BROOM IS
TIED TO THE MAST OF THE SHIP TO SIGNIFY THAT THEY HAD A CLEAN SWEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NAVY BROOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
PLANTING BELIEF
WHEN YOU WANT TO PLANT A ROSE BUSH FROM ONE OF ITS STEMS, CUT THE
STEM WITH FIVE LEAVES SHOWING; THEN PLANT THE STEM WITH ONLY TWO OF
THE LEAVES ABOVE GROUND AND THE ROSE BUSH WILL TAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBER ; PLANTING CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04-04-1972
JINGLE BELL SONG
JINGLE BELLS SANTA SMELLS
RUDOLF RAN AWAY
OLD ST. NICK HURRY QUICK
AND GET SOME BAN TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BAN, A DEODORANT FOR BODY ODOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FI22 |
THE WORMS CRAWL IN
YOU SHOULD NEVER LAUGH AS THE HEARSE GOES BY
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
THEY'LL PUT YOU IN A WOODEN BOX
AND COVER YOU UP WITH DIRT AND ROCKS.
ALL GOES FINE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK
AND THEN THE COFFIN BEGINS TO LEAK.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.
YOUR INSIDES TURN A SLIMY GREEN
AND PUSS FLOWS OUT JUST LIKE WHIPPED CREAM.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRADE SCHOOL ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): DECAY OF BODY AFTER DEATH ; GORE, GOTHIC HORROR ; PINOCHLE, A CARD GAME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Death Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
Entry filtered.
SOCIAL REUNION: THE SOUSE FAMILY
DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK; DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK,
DRUNK LAST NIGHT, DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE,
GONNA GET DRUNK TONIGHT LIKE I NEVER GOT DRUNK BEFORE;
FOR WHEN I'M DRUNK I'M AS HAPPY AS CAN BE,
FOR I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOUSE FAMILY;
AND THE SOUSE FAMILY IS THE BEST FAMILY;
THAT EVERY CAME OVER FROM OLD GERMANY.
THERE'S THE HIGHLAND DUTCH, AND THE LOW LAND DUTCH,
AND THE ROTTERDAM DUTCH, AND THE GODDAMN DUTCH,
CHORUS: SINGING; GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS, ONE KEG OF BEER FOR THE FOUR
CHORUS: OF US.
OH, GLORY BE TO GOD THAT THERE ARE NO MORE OF US,
FOR ONE OF US COULD DRINK IT ALONE, DAMN NEAR.
OH, WHAT'S THAT SMELL ON THE EVENING BREEZE,
IT'S THE GODDAMN DUTCH EATING LIMBERGER CHEESE.
CHORUS:
OH, THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS IS A HELL OF A PLACE TO BE,
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SHADE IS A HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE;
THERE ISN'T ANY WATER, AND THERE ISN'T GRASS,
JUST A LOT OF CACTUS TO PRICK YOU IN THE....... CHORUS.
Where learned: SAILING CLUB PARTY ; SUNG AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): ASS ; DRINKING SONG ; ELLIPSIS ; LIMBURGER CHEESE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Date learned: 10-23-1971
CHILDREN'S SONG
DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW? DO THEY WOBBLE TO AND FRO?
CAN YOU TIE THEM IN A KNOT? CAN YOU TIE THEM
IN A BOW? CAN YOU THROW THEM OVER YOUR
SHOULDER LIKE A CONTINENTAL SOLDIER?
DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW?
Where learned: TELEPHONE
Keyword(s): EARS ; HYPERBOLE ; STRUCTURE: QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
CHILDREN'S SONGS
CHORUS: FUZZY WUZZY WAS A GUY.
LOOKED LIKE A HAWK WITH AN EAGLE'S EYE.
FOOLING PEOPLE WAS HIS NAME.
FUZZY WUZZY WAS THE OLD GUY'S NAME.
1ST VERSE: OLD KING COLE WAS A MERRY OLD SOLE.
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON A TELEPHONE POLE.
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON A TELEPHONE POLE.
ONE FOOT SLIPPED; THE OTHER ONE FELL.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN HE WENT TO HELL.
CHORUS
2ND VERSE: FUZZY WUZZY HAD BIG FEET.
SPREAD ALL OVER MARKET STREET.
MARKET STREET WAS MADE OF GLASS
FUZZY WUZZY FELL DOWN AND BROKE HIS . . .
CHORUS
3RD VERSE: WAY DOWN YONDER WHERE THE GRASS GROWS GREEN.
FROG JUMPED INTO A SEWING MACHINE.
SEWING MACHINE WAS GOING SO FAST
NINETY-NINE STICHES UP HIS . . .
CHORUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): CACOGRAPHY: SOLE FOR SOUL ; ELLIPSIS ; EUPHEMISM FOR ASS ; METONYMY: SOUL OR SOLE FOR ENTIRE PERSON, BODY, ETC.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
Entry filtered.
CHILDREN'S SONG
DID YOU EVER TAKE A WALK ON A HOT SUMMER DAY
DOWN BY THE RIVER JUST TO PASS THE TIME AWAY?
PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKET AND YOUR
POCKETS IN YOUR PANTS, AND WATCH THE LITTLE
FISHEES DO THE HOOTCHIE-HOOTCHIE DANCE.
OH AN OLD CROW FLEW IN A COUNTRY STORE
AND HE PTTTT ON THE COUNTER AND HE PTTTT ON THE
FLOOR, AND HE PTTTT IN THE COFFEE AND HE PTTTT IN
THE TEA. AND IF I HADNA' RUN, HE'D A PTTTT ON ME.
IF FROGS HAD WINGS AND TOADS HAD HAIR
AUTOMOBILES COULD FLY IN THE AIR. IF PUMPKINS
GREW ON WATERMELON VINES, YOU OUGHTA HAVE
SNOW IN THE SUMMERTIME.
PTTTT-DA-DEE-YA-DA-PTTT-DING
Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BIRD DUNG ; LUBBERLAND ; MARVELS ; ONOMATOPOEIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C360 SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
ADAM SONG
CHORUS
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
THE S STANDS FOR SIGMA, THE P FOR P-I, PI.
AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU, OR GAZE INTO THE SKY.
YOU WILL SEE THAT NAUGHT IS WRITTEN, BUT THE NAME OF SIGMA PI.
ADAM WAS THE FIRST MAN TO WEAR A SIG PI PIN,
NOAH WAS THE SECOND, THEY HAD TO LET HIM IN,
MOSES WAS THE THIRD ONE, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN,
WHEN JULIUS CAESAR CAME ALONG, THEY PLEDGED THE SON OF A GUN.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U. OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE'D BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO U OF D., HE THOUGHT HE'D JOIN A FRAT,
HE THOUGHT HE'D TAKE A LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AT.
BECAUSE HE WAS A FELLOW WE KNEW HE': BE ALL RIGHT,
THE COLORS THAT HE WORE NEXT DAY WERE LAVENDER AND WHITE.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED UP TO HEAVEN TO SEE WHO ALL WAS THERE,
HE FOUND A BUNCH A-HANGING AROUND THE FOOT OF THE GOLDEN STAIRS,
SOME WERE SMOKING CIGARETTES, THEY ALL WERE FEELING HIGH,
THEY ALL WERE DAMN GOOD FRIENDS OF HIS, THEY ALL WERE SIGMA PI'S.
CHORUS
HE RAMBLED DOWN TO HADES TO SEE THE POOR LOST SOULS,
HE FOUND A BUNCH OF THETA XI'S A-ROASTING ON THE COALS,
FOR THE TEKES AMD THEATA TAUS THE SIZZLE HAD BEGUN,
WHILE SIGMA PI'S IN VELVET CHAIRS WERE WATCHING ALL THE FUN.
CHORUS
THEN IN CAME OLD BEELZEBUB, OF HELL HE WAS THE KING;
AND ALL THE LITTLE IMPS CAME IN AND THEY BEGAN TO SING.
THEY SAW THE GANG GIVE HIM A GRIP, AND THEN THEY HEARD THE CRY.
THAT HE'S A CHARTER MENBER AND A DAMN GOOD SIGMA PI.
CHORUS
NOW DON'T BE DISCONCERTED IF YOU MISS THE NARROW PATH.
OR IF YOU FLUNK YOUR MORALS LIKE YOU USED TO FLUNK YOUR MATH,
AND DON'T BE DISCONCERTED WHEN YOU HEAR THE FUNERAL KNELL,
FOR WE HAVE A STRONG ALUMNI IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF HELL.
CHORUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL FIGURES ; FRATERNITY SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
LIGHT TREE
WHAT TREE CAN YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND?
A PALM TREE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): BODY PART PLANT STRENGTH ; CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-12-1967
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
BEN HUR
BEN HUR WHO ?
BEN HUR AN HOUR WAITING FOR YOU TO COME.
Where learned: LIVING ROOM
Keyword(s): BOOK TITLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-03-1967
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
PECAN
PECAN WHO?
PECAN SOMEBODY YOUR OWN SIZE.
Where learned: LIVING ROOM
Keyword(s): BULLY NUT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-03-1967
RUSSIAN RIDDLE
WHAT TWO BROTHERS LIVE ACROSS A
BRIDGE FROM EACH OTHER BUT NEVER MEET?
TWO EYES.
Where learned: RUSSIA ; MOSCOW
Keyword(s): BODY PARTS ; FAMILY METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1905
WITH WHAT TWO ANIMALS DO YOU ALWAYS GO TO BED?
YOUR TWO CALVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): BODY PARTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
DON AMECHE
DON AMECHE WHO?
I'LL BE DON AMECHE ( DOWN TO MEET YA ) IN THE CAB HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MOVIE PERSONALITY ; SONG TITLE: DARKTOWN STRUTTERS BALL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
HOLLANDER JOKE
HEAR ABOUT THE MAN IN FLORIDA WHO WANTED FLAMINGOES
IN FRONT OF HIS HOTEL?
HE PAINTED SOME HOLLANDERS PINK AND PLANTED
THEM IN HIS FRONT YARD.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; RATHSKELLER
Keyword(s): BIRDS ; DUTCH ; ETHNIC
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-10-1967