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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Keyword(s): GHOST ; Haunting

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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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

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TOUGH TILLY---MEANS A COWARD OR CRYBABY (USED IN
TAUNTING MANNER).

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON

Keyword(s): Cry Baby ; Nickname ; SLANG ; TAUNT ; Tease ; Tough

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group

Date learned: 06-00-1971

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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