Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Lay returned 165 results.
Tongue Twister
Theopolis Thistledown, the successful Thistle Sifter,
In sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles,
Thrust three thousand thistles
Through the thick of his thumb
If, then, Theopolis Thistledown,
The successful thistle sifter,
In sifting a sieve of unsifted thistles,
Thrust these thousand thistles
Through the thick of his thumb,
See that though, in sifting a sieve of unsifted thistles,
Does not get the thistles stuck in thy tongue.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Already (tho shorter) typed as prose
Keyword(s): PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RHYME ; Thistle ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE ; WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Custom
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
When you fart if you don't call "Safeties," Everyone calls "Sluggers" and everyone gets to slug you.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F530] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BODILY FUNCTIONS ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Fart ; GAME ; Gas ; Play ; SAFETY ; Slugger ; tradition
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Verse in Formula
I was told to cheer up;
"Things could be worse"
So I cheered up,
And sure'nuff, things got worse.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Keyword(s): ; Cheer UP ; Formula ; Language ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RHYME ; VERSE ; Worse
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
EATING RED CLAY DIRT WILL DAMAGE THE BABY'S EYESIGHT AND
MAKE HIM DIRTY AT DELIVERY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BLIND ; Clay ; Consume ; Dirt ; Eat ; PREGNANCY ; Red
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-18-1973
IT IS A COMMON BELIEF AMONG GRAVEDIGGERS (OR WAS) THAT
A DEAD MAN'S "REST" WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE QUALITY OF
THE EARTH IN WHICH HE IS BURIED--THAT IF IT IS SOFT AND
CLAYLIKE, HE WILL NOT BE DISTURBED, BUT IF IT IS HARD
AND STONY, HIS GHOST WILL BE RESTLESS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AFTERLIFE ; BELIEF ; Clay ; GHOST ; GHOSTS ; Grave ; Gravedigger ; Haunt ; Peace ; QUALITY ; Rock ; Soil
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Riddle
WHY DID THE BOY PUT HIS CAR IN THE OVEN?
HE WANTED A HOT ROD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Boy ; Car ; Hot Rod ; JOKE ; Oven ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RIDDLE ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
Joke
WHAT DID ONE STRAWBERRY SAY TO THE OTHER?
IF YOU HADN'T BEEN SO SWEET WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN
IN THIS JAM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Jam ; JOKE ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; STRAWBERRY ; Sweet ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
Riddle
WHAT DID THE DOG SAY WHEN HE SAT ON THE SANDPAPER?
RUFF, RUFF (ROUGH, ROUGH).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): JOKE ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RIDDLE ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
GRAFFITTI
DOES THE NAME PAVLOV RING A BELL?
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Bell ; GRAFFITI ; Pavlov ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN
| Subject headings: | L700 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
Custom
You should never say "good luck" to an actor or actress on opening night - you always say "break a leg"
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): Actor ; ACTRESS ; Break a Leg ; CUSTOM ; GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; OMEN ; Opening Night ; Play ; Saying ; THEATER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Joke - Riddle
What's big and purple and travels under water?
Answer: Moby Grape
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): GAME ; Grape ; JOKE ; Melville ; Moby Dick ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RIDDLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Joke - Riddle
Whats green and sings?
Answer: Elvis Parsley
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): Elvis Presley ; Herb ; JOKE ; Parsley ; PLAY ON WORDS ; Pub ; RIDDLE ; Saying
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
CHILDREN'S SONG
PLAYMATE,
COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME.
AND BRING YOUR DOLLIES THREE.
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE.
SLIDE DOWN MY RAINBARREL.
HIDE IN MY CELLAR DOOR.
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS,
FOREVER MORE. MM
I'M SORRY PLAYMATE,
I CANNOT PLAY WITH YOU.
MY DOLLY HAS THE FLU.
BOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO.
AIN'T GOT NO RAINBARREL.
AINT GOT NO CELLAR DOOR.
BUT WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS,
FOREVER MORE!
Data entry tech comment:
Keypunched by R.J.Miller 11/82
Updated by TRD 01/12
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHANT ; Children's Song ; FRIENDS ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
Long Johns (long underwear)
Long underwear is worn the winter months under your clothes
to protect you from the cold.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; Cold ; Fashion ; Layers ; Warmth ; WINTER
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs |
AUTHORS AND TITLES
THE LION TAMER'S LAST FIGHT BY CLAUDE BAULS
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN ; PUNS ; WORDPLAY
James Callow Keyword(s): GONADS ; PUN ON BALLS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CA00001968
AUTHORS AND TITLES
THE SPOT ON THE WALL BY HU FLUNG DUNG
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A MYSTERY NOVEL BY A CHINESE AUTHOR
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN ; PUNS ; WORDPLAY
James Callow Keyword(s): PUNS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CA00001968
AUTHORS AND TITLES
THE YELLOW RIVER BY I. P. DALEY
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN ; PUNS ; WORDPLAY
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON PEE, MEANING URINATE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CA00001968
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
My mama and your mama were hanging out the clothes.
My mama socked your mama right straight in the nose.
What color was the blood? Answer y/n
N O spells no and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This games is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
callers says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
Keyword(s): African American ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
COUNTING-OUT RHYME
BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM, IN A DISH. HOW MANY BUBBLE GUMS DO YOU WISH?
FIVE. F-I-V-E. AND YOU ARE NOT IT:
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): Choosing ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-10-1973
IN THE THEATRE, IT IS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT A HAT
ON THE BED IN THE DRESSING ROOM ON OPENING NIGHT
WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE PLAY OR COMPANY.
Submitter comment:
MARY GOT FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): Actor ; Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; Play ; PREDICTION ; Stage ; SUPERSTITION ; THEATER
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN