Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RHYME: returned 460 results.
THERE WAS A YOUNG FELLOW NAMED WIER,
WHO HADN'T AN ATOM OF FEAR.
HE INDULGED A DESIRE,
TO TOUCH A LIVE WIRE.
(MOST ANY LAST LINE WILL DO HERE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FUNCTION AND GENRE ; HUMOR LIMERICK ; INDIRECTION ; METER: IAMBIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABBA ; STRUCTURE, PATTERN AND FORM ; SUBJECT SOUND RHYME: ; TONE AND POINT OF VIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD A LITTLE CURL,
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FOREHEAD.
WHEN SHE WAS GOOD, SHE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD;
WHEN SHE WAS BAD, SHE WAS HORRID.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER SAID THIS TO HER OFTEN WHEN SHE WAS
YOUNGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FUNCTION BEHAVIOR ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; MONOLOGUE CONTRAST ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT, INTERNAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
THERE WAS A GIRL YOU COULD TICKLE,
BY POKING HER RIBS WITH A PICKLE.
AT A CHURCH FAIR ONE DAY,
THEY MADE THE BOYS PAY,
BY CHARGING A NICKEL A TICKLE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER UNCLE, WHO WAS A MINISTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; HUMOR CHILDREN MONEY ; METER: TROCHAIC ; METONYMY ; RHYME: FEMININE, INTERNAL, AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM THE CITY,
WHO MET WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A KITTY.
HE GAVE IT A PAT
AND SAID, "NICE LITTLE CAT!"
THEY BURIED HIS CLOTHES OUT OF PITY.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): FUNCTION AND GENRE: LIMERICK ; HUMOR ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE ANTICLIMAX QUINTAIN ; RHYME: AABBA, FEMININE ; SKUNK ; SOUND: DACTYLIC TETRAMETER ; SUBJECT: ACCIDENTS, ANIMALS ; UNDERSTATEMENT IRONY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED BRIGHT,
WHOSE SPEED WAS MUCH FASTER THAN LIGHT.
SHE SET OUT ONE DAY,
IN A RELATIVE WAY,
AND RETURNED ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
Keyword(s): HUMOR, FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; INDIRECTION LIMERICK ; METER: ANAPESTIC TETRAMETER ; QUATRAIN CONTRADICTIONS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABBA ; RIDICULE NONSENSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 11-12-1968
THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM, WENT TO SEA IN A BOWL; IF THE BO; HAD BEEN STRONGER,
Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Keyword(s): ACCIDENT NONSENSE ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCC ; RHYME: FEMININE, REPETITION ; SATIRE UNDERSTATEMENT EPITAPH LAMENT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
AND ALL THROUGH THE TOWN
ST. JOSEPH WAS SEARCHING,
WALKING UP ROADS AND DOWN.
OUR LADY WAS WAITING
SO MEEK AND SO MILD,
WHILE JOSEPH WAS SEEKING
A PLACE FOR THE CHILD.
THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED,
EACH SNUG IN HIS BED;
AND THE GROWNUPS WOULDN'T BOTHER,
"THERE'S NO ROOM," THEY SAID.
WHEN EVEN THE INNKEEPER SENT THEM AWAY
AND JOSEPH WAS WONDERING WHERE THEY WOULD STAY,
HE THOUGHT OF THE CAVE IN THE SIDE OF THE HILL.
"LET'S GO THERE," SAID MARY, "IT'S SILENT AND STILL."
THE MOON ON THE BREAST
OF THE NEW FALLEN SNOW
MADE A PATHWAY OF LIGHT
FOR THEIR TIRED FEET TO GO.
AND IN THE CAVE
IN A CRADLE OF HAY
THE SAVIOR WAS BORN
ON THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY!
THE FATHER WAS WATCHING
IN HEAVEN ABOVE,
AND SENT FOR HIS ANGELS,
HIS COURTIERS OF LOVE.
MORE RAPID THAN EAGLES,
GOD'S BRIGHT ANGELS CAME,
REJOICING AND EAGER,
AS EACH HEARD HIS NAME.
"COME POWERS, COME CHERUBS,
COME VIRTUES AND RAPHAEL;
COME THRONES AND DOMINIONS,
COME MICHAEL AND GABRIEL."
"NOW FLY TO THE EARTH
WHERE MY POOR PEOPLE LIVE,
ANNOUNCE THE GLAD TIDINGS
MY SON COMES TO GIVE!"
THE SHEPHERDS WERE WATCHING
THEIR FLOCKS ON THIS NIGHT;
AND SAW IN THE HEAVENS
AN UNEARTHLY LIGHT.
THE ANGELS ASSURED THEM
THEY'D NOTHING TO FEAR,
"IT'S CHRISTMAS," THEY SAID,
"THE SAVIOR IS HERE."
THEY HASTENED TO FIND HIM,
AND STOOD AT THE DOOR,
UNTIL MARY INVITED THEM IN
TO ADORE.
HE WAS SWADDLED IN BANDS
FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FEET,
AND NEVER DID SHEPHERDS
SEE A BABY SO SWEET.
HE SPOKE NOT A WORD,
BUT THE SHEPHERDS ALL KNEW
HE WAS TELLING THEM SECRETS,
AND BLESSING THEM, TOO.
THEN SOFTLY THEY LEFT HIM,
THE BABE IN THE HAY,
AND REJOICED WITH GREAT JOY,
ON THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY.
MARY HEARD THEM EXCLAIM
AS THEY WALKED UP THE HILL,
"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST;
PEACE TO MEN OF GOOD WILL."
Submitter comment:
SISTER BANKERT SAID THAT IT WAS A CUSTOM FOR MANY YEARS,
FOR THE SISTERS TO MAKE UP PICTURE BOOKS OF THIS POEM FOR
NIECES AND NEWPHEWS. SISTER GAVE ME THIS COPY IN 1953.
Data entry tech comment: VARIATION OF "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): METER: ANAPESTIC ; PIOUS, THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE ; RELIGION CHRISTMAS NATIVITY ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
A GOWN WITH A PARIS LABEL,
IS A THING TO SHOUT ABOUT,
IN FACT, IF I WERE ABLE,
I'D WEAR IT INSIDE OUT.
Submitter comment: JEFF HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): CLOTHES FASHION ; HUMOR OVERSTATEMENT OBSERVATION WISH ; IAMBIC METER ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT, ABAB ; SURPRISE ENDING QUATRAIN CONTRADICTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO.
OH GEE, OH GOSH, I WISH I HAD A BEAU.
Submitter comment: SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COUPLET ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AA ; WISH SLANG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MY MOTHER WAS TAUGHT THIS POEM WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND SHE SAYS THAT SHE HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN IT: A WISE OLD O; SAT IN AN OAK,
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE, EXAMPLE ; CHIASMUS ; METER: ANAPESTIC DIMETER ; RHETORICAL QUESTION ; RHYME: MASCULINE, INTERNAL, AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
BEANS, BEANS, THE MUSICAL FRUIT;
THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE YOU TOOT,
THE MORE YOU TOOT, THE BETTER YOU FEEL,
SO LET'S HAVE BEANS FOR EVERY MEAL.
Submitter comment:
FROM GRANDFATHER.
RECITED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): METER: ANAPESTIC ; MONOLOGUE OVERSTATEMENT FOOD ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BILL HAD A BILLBOARD
HE ALSO HAD A BOARD BILL
BILL SOLD HIS BILLBOARD TO PAY FOR HIS BOARD BILL
THEREFORE, BILL'S BILLBOARD NO LONGER BORED BILL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATES THE RHYME HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR A LONG
TIME AND WAS RELATED TO HIM BY HIS FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING NONSENSE ; HUMOR PUN INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; RHYME: ABBB ; TONGUETWISTER ; WORD PLAY, ITERATION (FINAL) ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER,
AND SO DO PIGS AND SWINE;
RATS AND MICE DO HAVE THEIR CHOICE,
AND SO DO I HAVE MINE.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM PROVERBIAL RETORT ANIMALS ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
I LOVE COFFEE,
I LOVE TEA,
I LOVE THE BOYS,
AND THE BOYS LOVE ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BOAST SEX ; ITERATION INITIAL ; RHYME: MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
TAUNT
I SEE LONDON,
I SEE FRANCE,
I SEE (NAME OF PERSON)'S UNDERPANTS.
Where learned: OLD NEIGHBORHOOD
Keyword(s): HUMOR TAUNT REPETITION ; PLACE NAMES IMPROPRIETY ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABB ; SURPRISE ENDING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
IT'S NOT THE COUGH
THAT CARRIES YOU OFF.
IT'S THE COFFIN
THEY CARRY YOU OFF IN.
Submitter comment: HEARD AND SAID WHEN YOUNG, 1915-1920.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): DEATH ; HUMOR TANGLETALK PUN ; IAMBIC-DACTYLIC, FEMININE RHYME, WORD PLAY, REPETITION ; OBSERVATION, TONGUETWISTER ; QUATRAIN SURPRISE ENDING CONTRAST ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
LADY BUG, LADY BUG,
FLY AWAY HOME;
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE,
AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BURN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; QUATRAIN, MONOLOGUE ; REPETITION FIRE ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RAILROAD,
WITH AN ENGINEER THAT'S BRAVE.
WE MUST MAKE THE RUN SUCCESSFUL,
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.
Submitter comment: RECITED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: TROCHAIC-IAMBIC ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT, ABCA ; SIMILE ADVICE PREPARATION FOR DEATH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
MOSQUITO FLY HI,
MOSQUITO FLY LO,
FLY ON ME,
YOU FLY NO MO!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): CONTRAST QUATRAIN ELLIPSIS ; HUMOR SLANG CACOGRAPHY UNDERSTATEMENT ; METER: IRREGULAR, RHYME: STRAINED ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: ABCB DIALECT ; THREAT ANIMAL REPETITION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
NEVER INDULGE IN ONIONS, UNLESS YOUR LOVE EATS ONIONS TOO.
FOR YOUR SCENTED BREATH WILL BE THE DEATH
OF THE LOVE, HE BEARS, FOR YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): FOOD SEX ; MONOLOGUE INDIRECTION ADVICE ; QUATRAIN? ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, ABCA ; RHYME: INTERNAL, MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |