RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for B returned 4320 results.

prev | items
| next

VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU,
MAY THE WIND BE ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK,
MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE,
AND THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS.
AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.

Submitter comment: PERHAPS THE MOST WIDELY QUOTED IRISH VERSE IN THE UNITED STATES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; INITIAL ITERATION ; PRAYER ; RHYME: ABCDEF NO RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 09-00-1968

View just this record

LOVE HER

I LOVE HER ON THE HILLSIDE
I LOVE HER ON THE LEVEL
IF I HAD HER IN MY ARMS
I WOULD LOVE HER LIKE THE DEVIL.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; FRIENDSHIP ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT ; WISH

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322

Date learned: 09-12-1965

View just this record

RIME

MOTHER MAY I GO OUT TO SWIM?
YES, MY DARLING DAUGHTER.
HANG YOUR CLOTHES ON A HICKORY LIMB
BUT DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): COMMAND ; DIALOGUE ; FAMILY ; FEMININE RHYME ; RHYME: ABAB

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

View just this record

FOLK VERSE

IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO BE PLEASANT
WHEN LIFE FLOATS ALONG LIKE A SONG,
BUT THE GIRL WORTH WHILE
IS THE GIRL THAT CAN SMILE,
WHEN HER TWO FRONT TEETH ARE GONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME - SONG GONE ; RHYME: ABCCB ; RHYME: ABCCD

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 00001950S

View just this record

BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY,
DROP A WHITE WASH IN MY EYE,
ME NO WORRY,
ME NO CRY,
ME JUST HAPPY COWS DON'T FLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; BABY TALK ; EUPHEMISM: WHITEWASH FOR BIRD DUNG ; RHYME: AABAA ; SUGGESTION COW DUNG

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

View just this record

VERSE

ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
COMING DOWN THE CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL LOBBY

Keyword(s): RAILROAD ; RHETORICAL QUESTION ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 10-01-1968

View just this record

I WISH

I WISH YOU JOY, I WISH YOU MIGHTY
I WISH HIS PAJAMAS CLOSE TO YOUR NIGHTIE
NOW DON'T GET MAD, DON'T GET RED
I MEAN ON THE CLOTHESLINE AND NOT IN BED.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): CLOTHES ; HUMOR ; PRETENDED OBSCENE ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 09-12-1965

View just this record

BOA CONSTRICTOR

I@M BEING SWALLOWED BY A BOA CONSTRICTOR %REPEAT 3 TIMES<
AND I DON'T LIKE IT VERY MUCH.
OH NO, OH NO, HE SWALLOWED MY TOE, HE SWALLOWED MY TOE.
OH GEE, OH GEE, HE'S UP TO MY KNEE, HE'S UP TO MY KNEE.
OH FIDDLE, OH FIDDLE, HE'S REACHING MY MIDDLE, HE'S REACHED
MY MIDDLE.
OH HECK, OH HECK, HE'S UP TO MY NECK, HE'S UP TO MY NECK.
OH DREAD, OH DREAD, HE SWALLOWED MY ( SWOOP )

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BOA CONSTRICTOR ; CHAIN TALE IN SONG - EATING OF OBJECTS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 03-00-1971

View just this record

THE BOSCO SONG ( CHILDREN'S SONG )

I HATE BOSCO
BOSCO'S BAD FOR ME
MY MOTHER PUTS IT IN MY MILK
AND TRIES TO POISON ME.

BUT I FOOLED MOMMA
I PUT IT IN HER TEA
NOW I DON'T HAVE A MOMMIE
TO TRY AND POISON ME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BOSCO

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 03-02-1972

View just this record

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

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 03-00-1971

View just this record

BUCKLE MY SHOE

RAIN, RAIN, FALLING ON THE GROUND
RAIN, RAIN, FALLING ALL AROUND.
WE KNOW A GAME TO PLAY ON A VERY RAINY DAY.

1,2, BUCLKE MY SHOE
3,4, STOMP UPON THE FLOOR.
WE KNOW A GAME TO PLAY ON A VERY RAINY DAY

5,6, CLICK CLICK, CLICK,
7,8, STAKE, A STAKE, A STAKE
9,10, A BIG FAT HEN.
AND THAT IS ALL.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SINGS THIS WITH HER PLAYMATES. THEY LEARNED IT IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): BUCKLE MY SHOE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 08-11-1964

View just this record

BUTTERCUP

I'M A LITTLE BUTTERCUP
DEAR LITTLE BUTTERCUP
THOUGH I COULD NEVER TELL WHY
BUT STILL I'M CALLED BUTTERCUP
SWEET LITTLE BUTTERCUP
DEAR LITTLE BUTTERCUP, I.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SINGS THIS IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): BUTTERCUP

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 08-11-1964

View just this record

I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT

I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT SHORT AND STOUT,
HERE'S MY HANDLE, HERE'S MY SPOUT
WHEN I GET ALL STEAMED UP I JUST SHOUT
TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD OBJECT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 03-00-1968

View just this record

LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO

( SONG ) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.

( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG COME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 3 CHANCES,
( SUNG ) I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST, SCOOPIN'
UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD--AND--
IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I TELL YOU, I'LL TURN YOU INTO A GOON " .
BUT THE NEXT DAY--

(SUNG) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO WAS RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST,
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.
( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG CAME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 2 CHANCES, ETC.
BUT THE NEXT DAY--

( REPEATED, BUT NOW WITH ONLY 1 CHANCE )
( SPOKEN ) FOO-FOO BLEW HIS CHANCES, SO THE FAIRY TURNED HIM INTO A
GOON, AND
NARRATOR 1 " DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MORAL IS?"
NARRATOR 2 " I SURE DO, "
( TOGETHER IN UNISON ) " HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW. "

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SANG THIS SONG FOR ME BY HERSELF, BUT IT ACTUALLY SHOULD
BE DONE WITH TWO PEOPLE, ONE ACTING AS NARRATOR AND THE OTHER AS
THE GOOD FAIRY. THE TUNE SHOULD BE SUNG TO THIS MELODY:
" G-G-G-A-B ( REST ) B ( REST ) - A-G-A-B-G-D
GGG-A-B-B-A-G-A-B-G " ( GUITAR NOTES )

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BRUNVAND C30 ; CANTE FABLE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG CANTE FABLE ; THE RABBIT THAT WAS CHANGED INTO A GOON

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: 12-02-1971

View just this record

LITTLE TEDDY BEAR SONG

MY LITTLE TEDDY BEAR
SITTING IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR,
HE FELL DOWN AND HE BUMPED HIS HEAD.
WOOF WOOF WOOF MY TEDDY SAID.

Where learned: CAMP DEARBORN

Keyword(s): ANIMAL SOUND ; TOY TEDDY BEAR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

SCOTTISH GHOST BELIEF

IF YOU SEE THE BANCHI [BANSHEE] YOU WILL DIE.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A GHOST IN SCOTLAND THAT IS FEARED BY THE PEOPLE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BANSHEE

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 04-01-1971

View just this record

BELIEF CONCERNING DEATH

UKRANIANS BELIEVE THAT A PERSONS SPIRIT STAYS ON EARTH FOR
NINE DAYS AFTER DEATH. IT THEN TAKES THE SPIRIT FORTY DAYS TO GET TO
HEAVEN. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THIS BELIEF REPRESENTS
THE FORTY DAYS AFTER CHRIST'S DEATH, BEFORE HE AROSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): Christ ; DEATH ; NUMBER ; RELIGION ; SYMBOLISM ; UKRAINIAN

Subject headings: 686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.40

Date learned: 03-26-1972

View just this record

BANSHE

IN IRELAND, EVERYONE IS AFRAID OF
THE BANSHE. THEY WERE FAIRY WOMEN AND WHEN ANY PERSON WAS NEAR
DEATH OR DYING THE BANSHE CAME AROUND THE HOUSE
CRYING THREE NIGHTS BEFORE THE PERSON DIED.

Data entry tech comment:

BANSHEE IS SPELLED IN GAELIC ON THE ORIGINAL CARD.

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BANSHEE ; IRELAND ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 11-18-1970

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE ARMENIAN SANTA CLAUS IS CALLED BUFFANA. IT IS A LEGEND
THAT AT CHRISTMAS TIME BUFFANA GOES THROUGH ALL THE STREETS OF
ARMENIA AND PASSES OUT PRESENTS TO ALL THE POOR CHILDREN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): Armenia ; Armenian ; Buffana ; GIFT GIVING ; holiday ; Legend ; Presents ; SANTA CLAUS ; ST. BEFANA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 02-26-1971

View just this record

ITALIAN REMEDY

WHEN A PERSON GETS A COUGH MOTHERS OFTEN FEEL THEY HAVE WORMS.
TAKE SEVEN OR NINE PIECES OF GARLIC AND MAKE A CHAIN AND WEAR IT
AROUND THE NECK. THIS WILL RID THE PERSON OF THE WORMS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): COUGH ; NUMBERS ; WORMS

Subject headings: 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 12-00-1969

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.