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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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PROVERB

POGGI SEIFEC F GHANTEC GHAX BILLI TGHATI TIEHU (MALTESE)
PUT YOUR SWORD AT YOUR SIDE - THOSE THAT LIVE BY
THE SWORD DIE BY THE SWORD.

Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS MALTESE TEXT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; OBSERVATION ; THREAT ; TRANSLATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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JAMAICAN PLOY TO KEEP CHULDREN INDOORS.

TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM GOING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT THERE IS THE STORY OF
THE CATCHER MAN WHO WALKS AROUND WITH A BUCKET WHICH, IF IT TOUCHES
YOUR FOOT' YOU CAN,T MOVE, THE CATCHER MAN WILL THEN PUT YOU INTO
HIS BUCKET AND CARRY YOU AWAY.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): THREAT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails

Date learned: 10-31-1975

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THE FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL CHEER WAS USED AT KICKOFFS IN FOOTBALL
GAMES AND AT TIPOFFS IN BASKETBALL GAMES:
"FEE FI FO FUM
LOOK OUT (OPPOSING TEAM'S NICKNAME) HERE WE COME."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): JACK AND THE BEANSTALK ; LINE FROM CANTE FABLE ; THREAT?

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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ETHNIC CUSTOM

DECEMBER 6 IS THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS. ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 5,
IN GERMAN HOMES, CHILDREN HANG UP THEIR STOCKINGS. IF THEY HAVE BEEN
GOOD DURING THE YEAR, THEIR STOCKING IS FILLED WITH CANDY, NUTS AND
TANGERINES. IF THEY HAVE BEEN BAD, THE STOCKING IS FILLED WITH COAL

Submitter comment: THIS WAS A CUSTOM MY MOTHER'S FAMILY FOLLOWED AND WHICH WE FOLLOWED
FROM ABOUT THE TIME I WAS 5 UNTIL I WAS 17.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; THREAT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent.

Date learned: CA00001960

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LOVE HER

I LOVE HER ON THE HILLSIDE
I LOVE HER ON THE LEVEL
IF I HAD HER IN MY ARMS
I WOULD LOVE HER LIKE THE DEVIL.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; FRIENDSHIP ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT ; WISH

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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A LATE BATH

THIS IS TOLD TO YOUNG CHILDREN: IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR
BATH EARLY YOU WILL SEE THE WATER MOVING AROUND AS A GHOST IS
IN THE TUB.

Submitter comment:

TOLD BY GRANDMOTHER

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; GHOST ; KIDS ; THREAT ; WATER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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BOOGIEMAN BELIEF

WHEN I WAS A KID MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME THAT OLD UNCLE
GEORGE WAS THIS GHOST THAT LIVED IN THE BASEMENT AND
THAT HE WOULD COME UP AT NIGHT AND EAT ME ALIVE IF I WAS BAD.
(I USED TO HAVE A PICTURE IN MY MIND
OF EXACTLY WHAT UNCLE GEORGE LOOKED
LIKE. HE WAS EXTREMELY OLD AND DUMB, LIKE JETHRO.)

Submitter comment:

JETHRO IS A MUSCLE BOUND HILLBILLY OF A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW CALLED
THE "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): Boogieman ; CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; Legend ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; THREAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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VERSE

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? / JOHN BROWN,/ ASK ME AGAIN AND I'LL KNOCK YOU
DOWN.

Where learned: RESIDENCE

Keyword(s): IMPERFECT RHYME ; MANNERS ; RHYME: ABAB ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: NOT RECORDED

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AUTOGRAPH VERSE

I LOVE YOU A BUSHEL
I LOVE YOU A PECK
IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME
I'LL BREAK YOUR NECK

Submitter comment: FROM INFORMANT'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK 1956

Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): IRREGULAR TWO-STRESS METER ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 00-00-1956

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EXPECTANT MOTHERS

PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT TO WALK OVER A HOSE (GARDEN HOSE, ETC.)
AS THIS WILL STRANGLE THE UNBORN CHILD

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ASSURED ME THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRUE.

Keyword(s): THREAT SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMESOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-26-1971

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RETORTS

SEE MY FINGER?
SEE MY THUMB?
SEE MY FIST?
YOU'D BETTER RUN

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): TAUNT THREAT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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THREATENING METAPHOR

I'LL GET ON YOU LIKE STINK OFF A SKUNK.

Where learned: TELEVISION SERIES ; GUNSMOKE

Keyword(s): THREAT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ODOR

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

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VERSE

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLACK
YOU WOULD LOOK BETTER
WITH A KNIFE IN YOUR BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; FLOWERS ; HOSTILITY ; INDIRECTION ; INSULT ; KNIVES ; METER: ANAPESTS ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAIN ; RESENTMENT ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

Date learned: 11-22-1968

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IF YOU KEEP THAT FROWN ON YOUR FACE MUCH LONGER,
IT WILL HARDEN AND BECOME PERMANENT.

Submitter comment: PARENTS TOLD THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN WHEN THEY
FROWNED.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REBUKE ; THREAT

Subject headings: Observation
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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There is a saying in Greece that if one eats too much of one
certain kind of food every single day, in time a plant producing that
type of food will take root and grow inside of that person.

Submitter comment: My informant made it clear that this is only a saying and is not
believed by the people of Greece.

Where learned: GREECE

James Callow Keyword(s): threat, corrective

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00001944CA

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I come from a very large family of eleven children and there is
always a lot of teasing going on. One phrase that I remember, my
one older brother would say to my younger brother with his large
fist raised: "One punch; two black eyes, a broken nose, and a fat
lip." I am happy to say this event never did occur.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): THREAT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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NOSEY PEOPLE DON'T LIVE LONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REBUKE ; THREAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 03-15-1968

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I'M GOING TO GET YOU

THERE IS AN ITALIAN GESTURE IN WHICH ONE BITES HIS HAND
WITH HATE IN HIS EYES (AS ONLY THE ITALIANS CAN DO IT)
WHICH MEANS, I'M GOING TO GET YOU! (GOD HELP YOU).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): THREAT THREATENING GESTURE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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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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LEGEND

IF YOU WERE A BAD BOY WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG AND YOUR PARENTS
COULDN'T CONTROL YOU THEY WOULD SEND YOU AWAY TO THIS OLD
MAN'S HOUSE WHERE HE WOULD BEAT YOU TO MAKE YOU LISTEN. YOUR
PARENTS COULD ALSO CALL HIM ON THE PHONE AND TELL HIM YOU WERE
BAD AND HE WOULD COME TO YOUR HOUSE IF YOUR PARENTS WANTED HIM.
HIS NAME WAS MR. SKEEZIX. TO GET YOU TO OBEY YOUR PARENTS WOULD
SAY: "DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL MR. SKEEZIX?"
THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU LISTEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): Behave ; Boogeyman ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Misbehaving ; Mr. Skeezix ; Parent ; Punish ; THREAT ; Threaten

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 11-12-1971

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