EVIDENTLY THIS IS A POPULAR SAYING IN CHILLICOTHE, OHIO,
WHERE THE INFORMANT IS FROM, AMONG BLACK PEOPLE. THE
BLACK PEOPLE THERE ARE EXTREMELY LIGHT COMPLECTED AND
MOST OF THEM PASS AS WHITE. SO THE "GETTING BACK" REFERRED
TO IN THE ABOVE SAYING ROUGHLY MEANS ACT WHITE, OR MARRY
SOMEONE WHO IS WHITE, ETC. SO THAT YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED
WHITE INSTEAD OF BLACK. INFORMANT SAID MOST PEOPLE IN
CHILLICOTHE ARE BLACK, BUT PASS AS WHITE (I.E., MOST
PEOPLE HAVE BLACK BLOOD IN THEM, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE
EXTREMELY LIGHT--SO THEY ALSO MUST HAVE WHITE BLOOD
IN THEM).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; RACE ; RHYME

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 01-00-1971

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VERSE

DOWN TO THE PRESS THE PUWICE GOES (QUINCE?)
AND'S PRESSED TILL OUT THE CIDER FLOWS
IT FLOWS INTO THE CIDER TANKS
MONSTROUS FELLOWS ALL IN RANKS. MM
THEN THEY THE BARRELS WITH CIDER FILL
AND FREIGHT TRAINS TAKE IT FROM THE MILL
THEY FREIGHT IT TO SOME DISTANT TOWN
WHERE OLD TOPERS DRINK IT DOWN.

Where learned: FAMILY JOURNAL

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; HUMOR ; RHYME DOUBLE ; RHYME: AABBCCDD

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink C855.443

Date learned: 11-08-1969

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A SWARM OF BEES IN MAY
IS WORTH A LOAD OF HAY;
A SWARM OF BEES IN JUNE,
IS WORTH A SILVER SPOON.
A SWARM OF BEES IN JULY,
ISN'T WORTH A FLY.

Submitter comment: ANOTHER OLD SAYING OF HIS FATHER, CLOSELY LINKED TO THE
TIME WHEN BEES PRODUCE THE MOST HONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COUPLET ; HONEY ; INCOME ; MONTHS OF YEAR ; OBSERVATION ; PREDICTION

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 03-10-1968

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OLD MOTHER HUBBARD

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
WENT TO THE CUPBOARD
TO GET HER POOR DAUGHTER A DRESS,
BUT WHEN SHE GOT THERE
THE CUPBOARD WAS BARE,
AND SO WAS HER DAUGHTER, I GUESS.

Data entry tech comment: PARODY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COUPLET ; NURSERY RHYME PARODY ; OBSCENE ; SURPRISE ENDING

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse

Date learned: 00001960S LATE

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THIS IS MY RIFLE, THIS IS MY GUN,
THIS IF FOR FIGHTING, THIS IS FOR FUN.

Submitter comment:

THIS VERSE HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN I CAN REMEMBER. IT IS
SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN A BOOT CAMP DURING WORLD WAR II,
WHEN A SGT. GOT P.O'D AT A BOOT (BUCK PRIVATE) FOR CALLING
HIS RIFLE A GUN. TO TEACH THE BOOT A LESSON, THE SGT. MADE
HIM WALK AROUND CAMP WITH NO PANTS ON, HIS RIFLE IN ONE HAND,
HIS PENIS IN THE OTHER RECITING THE ABOVE VERSE.

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; METONOMY ; MNEMONIC ; OBSCENE ; SEX ; WEAPONS

James Callow Keyword(s): ANGER ANGRY ; SERGEANT

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.549
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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