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RAH, RAH, REE,
KICK HIM IN THE KNEE;
RAH, RAH, RASS,
KICK HIM IN THE...

Submitter comment: WHEN ASKED BY THE INSTRUCTOR IF THIS ITEM WAS A CHEER, THE COLLECTOR
SAID IT WAS.

Data entry tech comment: I LEARNED A VARIANT OF THIS CHEER AT ST. ELIZABETH'S GRADE SCHOOL IN
DETROIT IN THE LATE 1960'S:
RAH RAH REE
KICK 'EM IN THE KNEE;
RAH RAH RASS
KICK 'EM IN THE...OTHER KNEE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ELLIPSIS ; HUMOR ; NONSENSE WORDS ; REPETITION ; SPORTS ; SURPRISE ENDING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 11-20-1968

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ANIMAL RHYME

THE ELEPHANT IS A PRETTY BIRD,
IT FLITS FROM BOUGH TO BOUGH.
IT BUILDS ITS NEST IN A RHUBARB TREE
AND WHISTLES LIKE A COW.

Where learned: ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; RHYME: ABCB

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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THE BROLGA

THE BROLGA OR AUSTRALIAN CRANE
HOLDS DANCING ORGIES ON THE PLAIN;
AND STUDENTS OF THE RUSSIAN BALLET
HAVE CREPT IN CROWDS ACROSS THE MALLEE
FAR BEYOND THE DESERT GRASSES
TO WHERE THE BROLGA HOLDS ITS CLASSES;
AND MANY A MOTIF FOR THE LEG
HAS EMANATED FROM AN EGG.
BUT CERTAIN PURISTS DO NOT CARE
FOR SUCH TECHNIQUE AND PRUDES DECLARE
SPECIFIC MOVEMENTS OF THE BROLGA
UNACADEMIC, IF NOT VOLGA.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ASSONANCE ; DANCE ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444

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THE ECHIDNA

THE MALE ECHIDNA WITH ITS MATE
SURVIVES THE MOST PRECARIOUS STATE;
HE ROLLS HER, HAIR AND SPINES AND ALL
INTO AN EENZY-WEENZY BALL--
AND BURIES HER; AND IN THIS WAY
PROVIDES AGAINST A RAINY DAY.
BUT, LIKE AS NOT, THIS SAME ECHIDNA
FORGETS JUST IF, OR WHERE, HE'S HID NA.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB ; SLANG

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442

Date learned: CA10001968

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THE MARSUPIAL MOLE

LIKE MILTON, THE MARSUPIAL MOLE
PURSUES HIS OWN UNWORLDLY GOAL.
SIGHTLESS HE SLEEPS WITHIN THE EARTH
REMOVED FROM MADNESS AND FROM MIRTH.
AS DAYS AND NIGHTS AND SEASONS PASS
OVER THE CHANGING DESERT GRASS
HE FLOATS UPON HIS SECRET STREAMS
OF MARVELLOUS MARSUPIAL DREAMS,
AND MIXES WITH CELESTIAL BREEDS
MORE SUITED TO HIS AIMS AND NEEDS--
CONSORTING WITH (UPON THE WHOLE)
A BETTER TYPE OF LADY MOLE.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.44I

Date learned: CA10001968

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Entry filtered.

THE KOALA

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THE NATIVE BEAR IS SMALL OF STATURE
AND SPECIALLY ENDOWED BY NATURE
WITH MEANS EXCLUSIVELY EQQUIPPED ( EQUIPPED )
TO LIVE ON LEAVES OF EUCALYPT.
IT'S ( ITS ) VISCERA, THOUGH, DOUBTLESS CLEAN,
MUST NEEDS BE VERY, VERY GREEN.
AND THEREFORE WE REVEAL THIS FACT
(TOLD SOTTO VOCE AND WITH TACT)
IT'S UPHILL WORK TO GET KOALA
STAINS OFF CARPETS IN YOUR PARLOUR.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB ; SCATOLOGICAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442

Date learned: CA10001968

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THE DOVES

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW PANE
THE DOVES ARE MATING ONCE AGAIN
THEY BOW, THEY BILL, THEY FLAP, THEY FLUTTER
FROM ROOF TO RAIL, FROM GATE TO GUTTER.
THEY PECK AND PREEN AND SCRATCH AND SCATTER,
MAKING THE MOST INFERNAL CHATTER--
A COURSE OF CONDUCT OPPORTUNE,
NO DOUBT, TO SUCH A MONTH AS JUNE.
AND YET, I MUST CONFESS I FIND
SUCH BEDLAM (TO THE TEMPERATE MIND),
WHEN EMPHASISED WITHOUT ABATEMENT,
MERELY BECOMES AN OVER-STATEMENT.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; ONOMATOPAEIA ; PHONETIC INTENSIVE: FLAP, FLUTTER ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444

Date learned: CA10001968

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MY FIRST EXPERIENCE

THE SKY WAS DARK, THE MOON WAS HIGH,
WE WERE ALONE, JUST HER AND I.
HER HAIR WAS SO SOFT, HER EYES SKY BLUE,
I KNEW JUST WHAT I HAD TO DO.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW, BUT I DID MY BEST.
I RAN MY FINGERS DOWN HER SPINE
I PUT MY HAND AGAINST HER BREAST.
I'LL NEVER FORGET MY BEATING HEART,
AS SHE SLOWLY SPREAD HER LEGS APART.
NOW ITS ( IT'S ) DONE--ITS ( IT'S ) OVER NOW
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE MILKING A COW.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ANTICLIMAX ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; SURPRISE ENDING

James Callow Keyword(s): PRETENDED OBSCENE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.660

Date learned: 09-30-1970

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MY PARENTS

ONCE IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WAS THIS ONE KID WHO
ASKED HIS FATHER IF HE COULD MARRY THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.
HIS FATHER SAID NO AND TOLD HIM THAT THAT GIRL WAS
REALLY HIS DAUGHTER AND TO MARRY HIS SISTER WOULD
NEVER DO. HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM ASIDE LATER AND TOLD
HIM NOT TO WORRY AND THAT HE COULD MARRY THAT GIRL
BECAUSE HE WASN'T REALLY HIS SON.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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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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MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION,
DIVISION IS AS BAD,
THE RULE OF THREE DOTH PUZZLE ME,
AND PRACTICE DRIVES ME MAD.

Submitter comment: WRITTEN IN HER MOTHER'S ARITHMETIC BOOK FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO
DATED 1957.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DIALOGUE ; HUMOR ; MATHEMATICS ; QUATRAIN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wisecracks, Gags, Silly Insults

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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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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Entry filtered.

THE THALIDOMYDE BABY

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE THALYDOMIDE BABY WHO WAS BORN WITH NO ARMS,
TWO LONG LONG LEGS AND BUCK TEETH? HIS PARENTS KEPT HIM IN THE
GARAGE AND USED HIM AS A RAKE.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM PHYLLIS CLEMENS, MARYGROVE COLLEGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CRUEL HUMOR, SICK HUMOR

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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SICK JOKE

"CAN TOM COME OUT AND PLAY BASEBALL?""YOU KNOW THAT TOM DOESN'T HAVE
ANY ARMS OR LEGS." "THAT'S ALRIGHT, WE'LL USE HIM FOR THIRD BASE."

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN HE WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL IN DEARBORN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DIALOGUE, CRUEL HUMOR, SICK HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 04-08-1965

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LEGEND

THE INFORMANT, MY FATHER, RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO BUFFALO, NEW YORK
AND WHILE AT THE SUPPER TABLE RELATED THIS INCIDENT WHICH I TOOK TO
TO BE TRUE. MY FATHER, HAVING TIME ON HIS HANDS IN BUFFALO, WENT FOR
A WALK. HE OBSERVED A SIGN INDICATING THAT A DANCE WAS BEING HELD
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR DEAF PEOPLE. HE ENTERED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
PURCHASED A NUMBER OF TICKETS. HE APPROACHED A GIRL AND THROUGH A
SERIES OF GESTURES (WHICH HE DEMONSTRATED FOR US) MANAGED TO
COMMUNICATE TO HER THAT HE DESIRED TO DANCE. THEY DANCED SEVERAL
DANCES IN COMPLETE SILENCE, WHEREUPON A YOUNG MAN WALKED UP
TO THE GIRL AND ASKED HER IF SHE WERE READY TO LEAVE. SHE TURNED
HER FACE AWAY FROM MY FATHER AND REMARKED, "I WILL BE WITH YOU AS
SOON AS I GET RID OF THIS DAMN DUMMY."

Data entry tech comment:

ANOTHER CARD TELLS THE SAME STORY, SOURCE FROM JACKIE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RUDE, SICK HUMOR, CRUEL HUMOR

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed

Date learned: 00-00-1947

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AFRICAN TRIBE TALE

A CERTAIN BIOLOGY PROFESSOR WAS DELIVERING A LECTURE AT MICHIGAN
STATE ON A TRIBE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION WAS
THE ABNORMALLY LARGE "PRIVATES" OF THIS TRIBE. TWO PRUDISH SORORITY
GIRLS EMBARRASSED BY THE CRUDE LECTURE ABRUPTLY LEFT THEIR SEATS
AND STARTED FOR THE DOOR. THE PROFESSOR STOPPED THEM WITH THIS
COMMENT, "WHAT'S YOUR RUSH GIRLS, THE
BOAT DOESN'T LEAVE UNTIL MORNING."

Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME AS ACTUAL FACT IN 1960.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA

Keyword(s): CLASSROOM HUMOR ; COLLEGE PROFESSOR LEGEND

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL

WHEN YOU ARE BATHING IN A TUB
THINK OF ME BETWEEN EACH RUB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOROUS REQU&ST ; RHYMING COUPLET

James Callow Keyword(s): BATHTUB VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 10-15-1926

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

DON'T GO TO LONDON, DON'T GO TO FRANCE
STAY HERE IN MISSOURI AND GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE.

Where learned: MISSOURI, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): COUNTRY ; HUMOROUR ADVICE ; RHYMING COUPLET

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 11-05-1967

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AUTOGRAPH

I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU SWELL
IF I HAD A PEANUT
I'D GIVE YOU THE SHELL)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PALMER PARK

Keyword(s): FOOD ; HUMOROUS INSULT ; RHYME: ABCDC ; RIDICULE OF LOVE

James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 06-03-1959

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK JINGLE

I LOVE, I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU I DO;
BUT DON'T GET EXCITED
I LOVE MONKEY'S T6O)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): FALSE LOVE ; HUMOROUS INSULT ; RHYME: AABA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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