Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE MYTH OF THE YELLING WOMAN
DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, A SPANISH SHIP,
RICHLY LADEN WITH RICHES, WAS BESET BY ENGLISH PIRATES, WHO KILLED
EVERY PERSON ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE CAPTURE, EXCEPT A
BEAUTIFUL LADY, A PASSENGER ON THE SHIP, WHO WAS BROUGHT ASHORE
AT NIGHT AND BRUTALLY MURDERED AT A LEDGE OF THE ROCKS. AS THE
FISHERMEN WHO LIVED NEAR WERE AWAY IN THEIR BOATS, THE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN, WHO WERE STARTLED FROM THEIR SLEEP BY HER PIERCING SHRIEKS
DARED NOT ATTEMPT A RESCUE. TAKING HER A LITTLE WAY FROM SHORE IN
THEIR BOAT, THE PIRATES FLUNG HER INTO THE SEA AND AS SHE CAME TO
THE SURFACE AND GRABBED FOR THE BOAT, THEY WHACKED AT HER HANDS
WITH CUTLASSES. SHE WAS HEARD TO CRY, LORD, SAVE ME} MERCY} O,
LORD, JESUS, SAVE ME} THE NEXT DAY THE PEOPLE FOUND HER MURDERED
MANGLED BODY ON THE ROCKS AND PREPARED IT FOR BURIAL. IT WAS
INTERRED WHERE IT WAS FOUND, BUT, ALTHOUGH IT WAS LAID IN THE EARTH
WITH CHRISTIAN FORMS, FOR ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS THE VICTIM'S
CRIES AND APPEALS WERE REPEATED, ON EACH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CRIME,
WITH SUCH DISTINCTNESS AS TO SCARE ALL WHO HEARD THEM AND MOST OF
THE CITIZENS OF THAT COMMUNITY CLAIMED TO HEAR THE CRIES AT ONE
TIME OR ANOTHER.
Submitter comment:
MRS. ORESTE SAID THAT SHE HEARD ABOUT THIS MYTH FROM HER AUNT WHO
HEARD IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE. SHE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE TALE ABOUT
THIRTY YEARS AGO AND CLAIMS THAT ANOTHER ONE OF HER RELATIVES
ACTUALLY HEARD THE SHRIEKS OF THE WOMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND HAVEN
Keyword(s): VIOLENT DEATH
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Myth PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-00-1963
BABY JOKE
WHAT'S RED AND WHITE AND SITS IN THE CORNER?
A BABY TEETHING ON RAZOR BLADES.
WHAT'S BLUE AND WHITE AND SITS IN THE CORNER?
THE SAME BABY A MONTH LATER.
THIS ITEM WAS COLLECTED WITH MANY SIMILAR ITEMS THROUGH
NUMEROUS MEETINGS AT VARIOUS BARS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001970S ; 03-00-1980
BABY JOKE
WHAT'S RED AND WHITE AND HANGS FROM THE TELEPHONE WIRES?
A BABY THAT GOT CAUGHT IN A SNOW BLOWER.
WHAT'S BLUE AND WHITE AND HANGS FROM THE TELEPHONE WIRES?
THE SAME BABY A MONTH LATER.
THIS ITEM WAS COLLECTED WITH MANY SIMILAR ITEMS THROUGH
NUMEROUS MEETINGS AT VARIOUS BARS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001970S ; 03-00-1980
WHEN YOU SEE A HEARSE GO BY
YOU WILL BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
THEY WRAP YOU UP IN A CLEAN WHITE SHEET
AND THROW YOU IN A HOLE ABOUT SIX FEET DEEP.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT.
THE ANTS PLAY PINOCHLE ON YOUR SNOUT.
YOUR STOMACH TURNS A MOLDY GREEN
AND PUS COMES OUT LIKE A DAIRY QUEEN.
YOUR EYES POP OUT. YOUR TEETH DECAY.
AND THAT'S THE END OF A WONDERFUL DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMONT
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00-00-1978 ; 11-00-1987
(sung to a funeral dirge)
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
(spoken in a hushed and fearful tone)
When you see a hearse go by
You may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And drop you down a couple of feet.
(sung)
They eat out your eyes
They eat out your nose
They eat out the dirt that's between your toes.
Submitter comment:
When I hummed the melody of the dirge in this song and
asked Elinor if she had learned a children's song with
this same tune, she knew exactly the one I was referring
to, and repeated the one that I had learned, word for word.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): Death, Burial, Decomposition, Gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
"Great Green Gobs"
(sung to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare")
Great green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Dirty little birdies' feet
French fried eyeballs lying in a pool of blood,
And I forgot my spoon!
Submitter comment:
This "classic" children's parody of the "The Old Gray Mare"
was learned by Terry in Ohio during the 50's. It is still
being sung in much the same manner by children in the Detroit
area, as well as children in the Chicago area. Probably
versions of it are sung throughout the United States.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): mock horror, cannibalism, humor, gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
"Everybody hates me, nobody likes me,
I'm gonna eat some worms.
Great big fat ones, real little skinny ones,
Little itty bitty ones, I'm gonna eat some worms.
Bite their heads off, suck their juice up,
Throw their skins away,
That will teach those nasty worms,
Not to run away."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
"Mutilated monkey's meat,
Roasty, toasty birdie's feet,
All wrapped up in guts and blood,
And me without my spoon."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00001963 ca.
"I'm bringin' home a baby bumble bee,
Won't my mommy be surprised at me,
I'm bringin' home a baby bumble bee.
Ouch, it stung me!
I'm smooshin' up my baby bumble bee,
Won't my mommy be surprised at me,
I'm smooshin' up my baby bumble bee.
Yuck, what a mess!
I'm lickin' up my baby bumble bee,
Won't my mommy be surprised at me,
I'm lickin' up my baby bumble bee.
Eew, that was horrible!
I'm throwin' up my baby bumble bee,
Won't my mommy be surprised at me,
I'm throwin' up my baby bumble bee.
Submitter comment: This is a song with gestures.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE ; Nausea
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001977 ca.
MURDER PROSE
DOWN SOUTH IN LOUISIANA, THERE WERE THESE TWO CHICKS SPENDING THE
NIGHT
TOGETHER. YOU SEE, ONE OF THE GIRLS' PARENTS RE GONE FOR THE WE
WEEKEND AND SO THE GIRLS WERE STAYING TOGETHER SO THE ONE WOULDN'T BE
ALONE. ANYWAY, IT WAS GETTING LATE AND THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR
BED, WHEN THE GIRL WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE HEARD SOMETHING DOWNSTAIRS
DOWNSTAIRS IN
THE KITCHEN. SO, SHE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. WELL, A LITTLE
WHILE LATER, THE GIRL UPSTAIRS HEARS THIS HORRIBLE SCREAM. SHE GOT
REALLY SCARED BY THIS, SO SCARED SHE DIDN'T EVEN GO DOWNSTAIRS
TO SEE WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. ALL SHE DID WAS GO INTO THE CLOSET AND HIDE. THIS
CLOSET WAS REAL SMALL WITH NO LIGHT. SHE KEPT ON HEARING THESE
STRANGE
NOISES LIKE A SCRAPING SOUND AND THEN A THUD. THIS WENT ON A GOOD
PART OF THE NIGHT. THESE NOISES SCARED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE FINALLY
FAINTED. THE NEXT MORNING THE GIRL WAS AWOKEN BY THE OTHER GIRLS'
PARENTS WHO HAD COME HOME FROM THEIR TRIP. THE PARENTS SAID, "WHAT HA
"WHAT HAPPENED
PENED HERE LAST NIGHT?" SHE TOLD THEM HER STORY ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED
. THEN THE GIRLS' PARENTS TOOK THE OTHER GIRL TO THE TOP OF THE
STAIRS
AND THERE WAS THE OTHER GIRL HALF WAY UP THE STAIRS, DEAD, WITH
HER LEGS CUT OFF. SHE WAS THE ONE CAUSING THE STRANGE NOISES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE HORROR
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
THERE WAS A GIRL IN COLLEGE WHO CLAIMED TO BE COMPLETELY
FEARLESS. HER ROOMMATE AND ALL HER FRIENDS PLAYED MANY
PRANKS TRYING TO FRIGHTEN HER. BUT SHE REMAINED BRAVE.
FINALLY, AS A LAST ATTEMPT TO SCARE HER, THEY STOLE AN
ARM FROM THE MED SCHOOL'S MORTUARY AND PUT IT IN HER
BED WHILE SHE WAS OUT.
WHEN THEY RETURNED THE NEXT DAY TO SEE HOW SHE FARED,
THEY FOUND HER SITTING ON HER BED, HER LONG, BLACK
HAIR TURNED WHITE, AND EATING THE ARM.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
CRY OF BABY
THERE WAS A BABYSITTER "SITTING" AT A LARGE HOUSE.
SHE WAS SITTING DOWNSTAIRS LISTENING TO THE RADIO WHEN
SHE HEARD THAT AN INSANE MAN HAD ESCAPED FROM THE
INSANE ASYLUM. SHE HEARD THE BABY CRY AND WENT
UPSTAIRS AND ROCKED IT TO SLEEP, THEN SHE WENT DOWN-
STAIRS. THE BABY STARTED TO CRY AGAIN, BUT STOPPED
SUDDENLY. SHE WENT UPSTAIRS AND SAW THE BABY'S HEAD
ROLLING AROUND IN THE CRIB AND A MAN IN THE ROCKING CHAIR
ROCKING THE BABY'S BODY. THIS IS TRUE!
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER GIRLFRIEND,
JEAN UPDIKE WHO LIVES IN ROYAL OAK {MICH.} AND HAS
LIVED THERE ALL HER LIFE.
BABY'SITTER FINDS MURDERER ROCKING BABYS BODY, HEAD ROLLING AROUND
IN CRIB.
INFORMANT HEARD STORY FROM JEAN UPDIKE, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale |
Date learned: 07-03-1964
HORROR STORY
TWO GIRLS WERE ASLEEP IN THEIR ROOM. ONE OF THE GIRLS
AWOKE WHEN SHE HEARD HUMMING. SHE POKED HER SISTER
TO ASK HER IF SHE HEARD IT, TOO. RECEIVING NO ANSWER,
SHE TURNED ON THE LIGHT. THERE IN A ROCKER SAT AN OLD
MAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH HUMMING TO HER SISTER'S
SEVERED HEAD, WHICH HE HELD IN HIS ARMS.
Submitter comment:
GIRL FINDS MURDERER IN ROCKING CHAIR HOLDING HER SISTER'S SEVERED
HEAD AND HUMMING.
Where learned: OHIO ; PORT CLINTON
Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale |
Date learned: 1964-65
MURDER PROSE
DOWN SOUTH IN LOUISIANA, THERE WERE THESE TWO CHICKS SPENDING THE
NIGHT
TOGETHER. YOU SEE, ONE OF THE GIRLS' PARENTS RE GONE FOR THE WE
WEEKEND AND SO THE GIRLS WERE STAYING TOGETHER SO THE ONE WOULDN'T BE
ALONE. ANYWAY, IT WAS GETTING LATE AND THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR
BED, WHEN THE GIRL WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE HEARD SOMETHING DOWNSTAIRS
DOWNSTAIRS IN
THE KITCHEN. SO, SHE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. WELL, A LITTLE
WHILE LATER, THE GIRL UPSTAIRS HEARS THIS HORRIBLE SCREAM. SHE GOT
REALLY SCARED BY THIS, SO SCARED SHE DIDN'T EVEN GO DOWNSTAIRS
TO SEE WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. ALL SHE DID WAS GO INTO THE CLOSET AND HIDE. THIS
CLOSET WAS REAL SMALL WITH NO LIGHT. SHE KEPT ON HEARING THESE
STRANGE
NOISES LIKE A SCRAPING SOUND AND THEN A THUD. THIS WENT ON A GOOD
PART OF THE NIGHT. THESE NOISES SCARED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE FINALLY
FAINTED. THE NEXT MORNING THE GIRL WAS AWOKEN BY THE OTHER GIRLS'
PARENTS WHO HAD COME HOME FROM THEIR TRIP. THE PARENTS SAID, "WHAT HA
"WHAT HAPPENED
PENED HERE LAST NIGHT?" SHE TOLD THEM HER STORY ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED
. THEN THE GIRLS' PARENTS TOOK THE OTHER GIRL TO THE TOP OF THE
STAIRS
AND THERE WAS THE OTHER GIRL HALF WAY UP THE STAIRS, DEAD, WITH
HER LEGS CUT OFF. SHE WAS THE ONE CAUSING THE STRANGE NOISES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE HORROR
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
THERE WAS A GIRL IN COLLEGE WHO CLAIMED TO BE COMPLETELY
FEARLESS. HER ROOMMATE AND ALL HER FRIENDS PLAYED MANY
PRANKS TRYING TO FRIGHTEN HER. BUT SHE REMAINED BRAVE.
FINALLY, AS A LAST ATTEMPT TO SCARE HER, THEY STOLE AN
ARM FROM THE MED SCHOOL'S MORTUARY AND PUT IT IN HER
BED WHILE SHE WAS OUT.
WHEN THEY RETURNED THE NEXT DAY TO SEE HOW SHE FARED,
THEY FOUND HER SITTING ON HER BED, HER LONG, BLACK
HAIR TURNED WHITE, AND EATING THE ARM.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): PRANK GORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
CRY OF BABY
THERE WAS A BABYSITTER "SITTING" AT A LARGE HOUSE.
SHE WAS SITTING DOWNSTAIRS LISTENING TO THE RADIO WHEN
SHE HEARD THAT AN INSANE MAN HAD ESCAPED FROM THE
INSANE ASYLUM. SHE HEARD THE BABY CRY AND WENT
UPSTAIRS AND ROCKED IT TO SLEEP, THEN SHE WENT DOWN-
STAIRS. THE BABY STARTED TO CRY AGAIN, BUT STOPPED
SUDDENLY. SHE WENT UPSTAIRS AND SAW THE BABY'S HEAD
ROLLING AROUND IN THE CRIB AND A MAN IN THE ROCKING CHAIR
ROCKING THE BABY'S BODY. THIS IS TRUE!
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER GIRLFRIEND,
JEAN UPDIKE WHO LIVES IN ROYAL OAK {MICH.} AND HAS
LIVED THERE ALL HER LIFE.
BABY'SITTER FINDS MURDERER ROCKING BABYS BODY, HEAD ROLLING AROUND
IN CRIB.
INFORMANT HEARD STORY FROM JEAN UPDIKE, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale |
Date learned: 07-03-1964
HORROR STORY
TWO GIRLS WERE ASLEEP IN THEIR ROOM. ONE OF THE GIRLS
AWOKE WHEN SHE HEARD HUMMING. SHE POKED HER SISTER
TO ASK HER IF SHE HEARD IT, TOO. RECEIVING NO ANSWER,
SHE TURNED ON THE LIGHT. THERE IN A ROCKER SAT AN OLD
MAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH HUMMING TO HER SISTER'S
SEVERED HEAD, WHICH HE HELD IN HIS ARMS.
Submitter comment:
GIRL FINDS MURDERER IN ROCKING CHAIR HOLDING HER SISTER'S SEVERED
HEAD AND HUMMING.
Where learned: OHIO ; PORT CLINTON
Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale |
Date learned: 1964-65