Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for AUNT returned 70 results.
Retort
I know you are, but what am I?
Submitter comment:
This retort was used by a child whenever another child called him a name e.g. brat, or pimple face. It can be used over and over again for any name at all. I learned this retort years ago from neighborhood children in SW Detroit.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
If brains were explosive, you couldn't blow your nose!
Submitter comment:
Heard at work.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Meaning?
Keyword(s): Brains ; COMEBACK ; Explosive ; INSULT ; NOSE ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You're not proud, you're thoroughly convinced.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Two cards merged: identical submissions, different informants. Both informants are listed here.
James Callow comment:
Sense? Circumstance? Both cards the same except for informant?
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; PRIDE ; Proud ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Language
after a twenty minute argument with his cousin, Jim hollored this parting statement: "Make like a tree and leave!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Leave-Talking?
Better-Taunt?
Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): Leave ; Leave Talking ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; TAUNT ; Tree ; WORDPLAY
Subject headings: | -- SPEECH -- Formula |
Language
Taunt:
Make like a tree and leave.
Submitter comment:
Informant Used in School.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Keyword(s): Leave ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; TAUNT ; Tree ; WORDPLAY
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Taunt
Drop Dead!
Go play sea hunt in the toilet!
Submitter comment:
Can't remember.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
T?
Keyword(s): Dead ; Drop ; Expression ; INSULT ; INSULT ; Play ; SEA ; TAUNT ; Term ; Toilet
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Taunt
Poet;
When somebody says something that rhymes, you say to them:
"You're a poet and don't know it, but your feet show it, because they are Longfellows."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): LONGFELLOW ; POET ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SLANG ; TAUNT
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Verse
You want a penny? Go kiss Jack Benny.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Verse?
Where learned: HONORS HOUSE
Keyword(s): Jack Benny ; KISS ; MONEY ; Penny ; RHYME ; Saying ; SLANG ; TAUNT ; VERSE
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Verse?
Keyword(s): Language ; NAMES ; RETORT ; RHYME ; Sticks ; STONES ; TAUNT ; Tease ; VERSE
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Taunt
Fatty, fatty, two by four. Can't get through the bathroom door. So he did it on the floor.
Submitter comment:
Friends
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Orignal BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BATHROOM ; Bowels ; Door ; Fat ; Fatty ; Floor ; INSULT ; JOKE ; Large ; RHYME ; SIZE ; TAUNT ; URINATE ; WEIGHT
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Taunt
I'll throw you in the butter!
Submitter comment:
From his father
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
?
Where learned: McDonald
Keyword(s): Butter ; Saying ; TAUNT ; THREAT ; Throw
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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 |
THE SPIRIT OF ROBERT. E. LEE
THE GHOST OF ROBERT E. LEE HAUNTS ROOM 307 IN CONFEDERATE
HALL, PEABODY COLLEGE, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
YOU MUST WHEN RIDING IN A CAR, HOLD YOUR BREATH WHILE
PASSING A CEMETERY, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE HAUNTED BY
THE DEAD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): BREATH ; CEMETERY ; GRAVEYARD ; HAUNTED ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
TOUGH TILLY---MEANS A COWARD OR CRYBABY (USED IN
TAUNTING MANNER).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Cry Baby ; Nickname ; SLANG ; TAUNT ; Tease ; Tough
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 06-00-1971
MILITARY CHANT
SQUADRON "C" AND SQUADRON "A" (ECHO)
GOING HAND IN HAND ALL THE WAY. (ECHO)
SQUADRON "A" WAS A WOMEN'S AIR FORCE SQUADRON.
Data entry tech comment:
Keypunched by R.J.Miller 11/82
Updated by TRD 01/12
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHANUTE AIR FORCE BASE ; RANTOUL
Keyword(s): CHANT ; March ; MILITARY ; RHYME ; TAUNT
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- War cries |
Date learned: 08-00-1966
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
YOU BELONG IN A ZOO,
WITH THE LIONS AND TIGERS,
AND THE MONKEYS LIKE YOU.
Submitter comment:
SUNG AS A SECOND VERSE TO HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; TAUNT ; VERSE
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 11-09-1968
FARMER BILL'S WILL
THE C.Y.O. BOY'S CAMP IS LOCATED AT PT. SANILAC, MICHIGAN.
MURPHY'S CREEK RUNS THROUGH THE CAMP AND AT ONE POINT, THERE IS A
LARGE SARCOPHAGUS SHAPED STONE IN THE MIDDLE. ON IT ARE A NUMBER OF
SCRAMBLED LETTERS AND NUMBERS. IT IS SAID THAT THIS IS BILL MURPHY'S
GRAVE. HE HAD OWNED AND FARMED THE LAND AT ONE TIME, IF ANY OF THE
CAMPERS STAYED OUT AT NIGHT ON A MOONLESS EVENING, THEY COULD SEE THE
COFFIN LID OPENED. IN THE DISTANCE
A SINGLE FIGURE COULD BE OUTLINED.
IT WAS OLD BILL PLOWING HIS FIELDS. I LEARNED THIS WHEN AT CAMP,
BUT NEVER SAW BILL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Port Sanilac
Keyword(s): Bill ; FARMER ; GHOST ; Haunt ; Legend ; Tale ; Will
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
GHOST BELIEF
THE REASON FOR GHOSTS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE DIE A VIOLENT DEATH
THEY DO
NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE DIED, SO THEY GO ABOUT DOING ALL THE
THINGS THEY DID WHEN ALIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO PUT THEM TO REST, IS
TO TELL A GHOST THAT IT IS DEAD.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME WHEN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GHOST ; Haunt ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-26-1970
MAGIC
IN MEXICO IT IS POSSIBLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD IF YOU USE A
OUIJA TABLE. IT IS EASIER FOR SOME PEOPLE TO DO THIS THAN OTHERS.
YOU PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THE TABLE AND THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD WILL
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU, AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AND VERY OFTEN
TELL YOU OF FUTURE EVENTS. THEY DO THIS BY MOVING
YOUR HANDS ON THE TABLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ANSWER OR INFORMATION
IS SPELLED OUT FOR YOU. PEOPLE WHO ARE LONELY USE THESE TABLES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Haunt ; Ouija ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 02-04-1968