Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HUMOR returned 352 results.
Mock Wedding
It is a tradition in Marcie's Polish family to have a
mock wedding, the day after an actual wedding ceremony
takes place in the family. All the guests assume positions
in the wedding, and act out another wedding and reception.
They sometimes dress in strange outfits, and invent humorous
themes for the various positions in the wedding party.
Examples: a jilted lover, bride dresses like a whore, the
groom is too drunk to stand up straight, etc.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
Keyword(s): pretend
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites DRAMA -- Secular CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001970S
AN OLD SAYING: TAKE A GUN AND SHOOT IT IN THE AIR. IF NONE OF
THE BULLETS COME DOWN AND KILL YOU, YOU ARE A LUCKY PERSON. IF
ONE DOES KILL YOU, YOU ARE A STUPID PERSON FOR TRYING.
Where learned: SOUTH DAKOTA
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Good luck PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
"SHE WALKS THE BLOODY TOWER"
THIS SONG WAS SUNG BY MY MOTHER AND HER SIBLINGS:
"SHE WALKS THE BLOODY TOWER
AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
WITH 'ER 'EAD TUCKED UNDERNEATH HER ARM
AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR...
...IT MAKES IT AWFULLY DIFFICULT FOR THE QUEEN TO BLOW HER
NOSE
WITH 'ER 'EAD TUCKED UNDERNEATH 'ER ARM."
MY INFORMANT ONLY REMEMBERS THIS FRAGMENT.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER MY MOTHER SINGING THIS TO ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
SHE WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN THE HISTORICAL CONNECTION TO THE QUEENS OF
HENRY THE EIGHTH. ANNE BOLEYN IS PROBABLY THE QUEEN REFERRED TO
IN THE SONG. I ATTRIBUTE MY INTEREST AND MAJOR IN HISTORY IN PART
TO THIS FRAGMENT.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00001940S
I work with a teacher by the name of Penny Coin.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOROUS NAME
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 03-22-1992
ITEM IN A BULLETIN PUT OUT BY THE LAND AND FORESTS
DEPARTMENT OF ONTAIN, CANADA: (ONTARIO?)
THE BEST WAY TO EFFECT CAPTURE OF A PROCUPINE IS
TO WAIT UNTIL HE'S IN THE OPEN. THEN WATCHING
FOR HIS SLAPPING TAIL, RUSH IN QUICKLY AND POP A
LARGE WASTETUB OVER HIM. THUS YOU WILL HAVE
SOMETHING TO SIT ON WHILE YOU FIGURE YOUR NEXT
MOVE.
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
THIS EXPRESSION IS USED BY MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER:
I'M GLAD I ATE WHEN I DID, 'CAUSE I'M NOT HUNGRY
NOW.
Submitter comment: THIS IS USUALLY SAID AFTER A HUGE MEAL HAS BEEN
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-03-1969
FATHER RYAN (POET-PRIEST) WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE
THE UNION OFFICERS AFTER NASHVILLE HAD GONE INTO UNION HANDS.
THEY QUESTIONED HIM FOR HAVING SAID THAT HE REFUSED TO BURY
UNION SOLDIERS. FATHER RYAN REPLIED THAT HE'D BE WILLING TO
BURY ALL OF THEM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CIVIL WAR ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
THE HAND OF GOD
ONCE THIS OLD COUPLE WHO LIVED ON A FARM AWOKE ONE MORNING
TO FIND A HORSE MISSING. NOW ON THE FARM THEY HAD A
HIRED MAN NAMED TOMMY LYTLE EDGAR WHITAKER JOHN KNOX
FREEMAN WYNN, AND AS HE SAID "AND COOPER COMES IN THAR
SOMEWHAR." SO THEY SENT THIS MAN OUT TO LOOK FOR THE
HORSE, WITH HIS FATHER. IN A FIELD THEY FOUND THE HORSE
UNDER A DEAD TREE THAT HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND
FALLEN ON THE ANIMAL, KILLING HIM. THE FATHER OF THE
HIRED MAN SUMMED UP THE SITUATION IN THIS WAY, "YOU TAKE
GOD UP ONE SIDE AND DOWN T'OTHER AND HE DOES JUST ABOUT
AS MUCH HARM AS HE DOES GOOD."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): GOD EVALUATED, FOUND EQUALLY HELPFUL AND HARMFUL ; HUMOROUS NAME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 08-12-1968
NORWOOD AND HIS TASTE FOR COFFEE
AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MY FATHER'S NAMED NORWOOD LIVED ABOUT
TEN OR TWELVE MILES FROM PULASKI. IT WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON
SIGHT TO SEE HIM WALKING TO AND FROM PULASKI. WHEN ASKED
ABOUT THE TRIP, HE ALWAYS REPLIED, "I STEPPED OVER TO
TOWN TO GET SOME COFFEE FOR BREAKFAST."
ONCE WHEN EATING AT A NEIGHBOR'S HOME, HE PASSED HIS
CUP BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR MORE COFFEE. THE LADY OF THE
HOUSE SAID TO HIM, "MR. NORWOOD, YOU ARE VERY FOND OF
COFFEE, AREN'T YOU?" "YES MAM, IF I WASN'T I WOULDN'T
BE DRINKING SO MUCH WATER TO GET A LITTLE COFFEE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 08-11-1968
PONY
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
"PONY," WHO LIVED IN THE GOODSPRING COMMUNITY IN THE
LATTER PART OF THE 1880S:
SOME MEN HITCHED A TEAM OF OXEN TO A WAGON. WHEN THE
OXEN WERE COMMANDED TO MOVE, ONE BALKED AND WOULDN'T
MOVE. PONY TOLD THE MEN TO TAKE OUT THE BALKY OX
AND HITCH HIM IN HIS PLACE, WHICH THEY DID. THE OTHER
OX BECAME FRIGHTENED AT PONY AND RAN AWAY, DRAGGING PONY
ALONG WITH IT. WHEN THE MEN WERE FINALLY ABLE TO STOP
THE TEAM, THEY BEGAN TO TAKE THE HARNESS OFF PONY BUT HE
STOPPED THEM SAYING, "TAKE THE OX LOOSE. I'LL STAND."
James Callow comment: COMPARE "SUT LOVINGOOD'S DADDY ACTING HOSS" BY G. W. HARRIS
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 08-11-1968
PONY
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
"PONY," WHO LIVED IN THE GOODSPRING COMMUNITY IN THE
LATTER PART OF THE 1880S:
ONE NIGHT AS PONY SAT ASLEEP IN A STRAIGHT CHAIR, TILTED
BACK AGAINST THE DOOR POST, WITH HIS MOUTH OPEN, A LARGE
BUG FLEW INTO HIS MOUTH. HE CHEWED DOWN ON THE BUG AND
SAID, "NOW WATCH WHICH WAY YOU GO NEXT TIME."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 08-11-1968
PONY
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
"PONY," WHO LIVED IN THE GOODSPRING COMMUNITY IN THE
LATTER PART OF THE 1880S:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS MOTHER DIED, PONY SAID TO HIS
BROTHER, "MOM'S AS DEAD AS SHE WILL EVER BE, LET'S 'VIDE
(DIVIDE). THE BIG CHEST IS MINE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 08-11-1968
HUMOR
THAT'S AS FUNNY AS A PAY TOILET IN A DIARRHEA WARD.
Where learned: KANSAS ; WICHITA
Keyword(s): BLACK HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RUB A DUB DUB
THANKS FOR THE GRUB
YEA GOD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 11-10-1973
LULA HAD A STEAMBOAT,
STEAMBOAT HAD A BELL.
LULA WENT TO HEAVEN
AND THE STEAMBOAT WENT TO HELL-O.
OPERATOR GIVE ME NUMBER NINE;
IF YOU DON'T CONNECT ME, I'LL KICK YOU
IN THE--BEHIND THE REFRIGERATOR
THERE LAID SOME BROKEN GLASS,
LULA SLIPPED BEHIND IT AND CUT
HER BIG, FAT ---
ASK ME NO MORE QUESTIONS
I'LL TELL YOU NO MORE LIES.
LULA WENT TO HEAVEN
AND A STEAMBOAT NEVER DIES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 12-05-1973
THREE, SIX, NINE THE GOOSE DRANK WINE,
THE MONKEY CHEWED TOBACCO
ON THE STREETCAR LINE.
THE LINE BROKE,
THE MONKEY GOT CHOKE(ED)
AND THEY ALL WENT TO HEAVEN
IN A LITTLE ROWBOAT (CLAP, CLAP).
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; HUMOR COUNTING BY THREES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 12-05-1973
IN THE OLD COUNTRY, AT FUNERALS, IT WAS CONSIDERED
RESPECTFUL FOR SOMEONE TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT WITH THE
BODY. SINCE EVERYONE WOULD RATHER "WHOOP IT UP" AT
THE WAKE, INSTEAD OF STAYING WITH THE BODY, THEY
USUALLY GOT A COBBLER, WHO STAYED UP ALL NIGHT
ANYWAY, WORKING ON HIS SHOES, TO DO THE JOB.
ONE NIGHT, A COUPLE PRANKSTERS DECIDED TO PUT A LIVE
PERSON IN THE COFFIN, INSTEAD OF THE BODY. TOWARDS
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE "CORPSE" LIFTED ITS
RIGHT LEG. THE COBBLER, WITHOUT THINKING TWICE,
PUSHED IT BACK IN PLACE. A LITTLE WHILE LATER, AN
ARM WENT UP, AND THE COBBLER, SLIGHTLY ANNOYED,
PUSHED IT BACK. BUT THIS KEPT UP ALL NIGHT, UNTIL
THE COBBLER WAS PRETTY EXASPERATED. THE "CORPSE"
FINALLY PUT ITS HEAD UP AND LOOKED AT THE COBBLER.
AT THIS POINT, IN A FIT OF TEMPER, THE COBBLER PICKED
UP HIS HAMMER AND BASHED THE "CORPSE'S" HEAD IN.
THE MAN NOW REALLY WAS A CORPSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): BLASON POPULAIRE: COBBLERS ARE FEARLESS ; HUMOR ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
IN THE OLD COUNTRY, AT FUNERALS, IT WAS CONSIDERED
RESPECTFUL FOR SOMEONE TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT WITH THE
BODY. SINCE EVERYONE WOULD RATHER "WHOOP IT UP" AT
THE WAKE, INSTEAD OF STAYING WITH THE BODY, THEY
USUALLY GOT A COBBLER, WHO STAYED UP ALL NIGHT
ANYWAY, WORKING ON HIS SHOES, TO DO THE JOB.
ONE NIGHT, A COUPLE PRANKSTERS DECIDED TO PUT A LIVE
PERSON IN THE COFFIN, INSTEAD OF THE BODY. TOWARDS
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE "CORPSE" LIFTED ITS
RIGHT LEG. THE COBBLER, WITHOUT THINKING TWICE,
PUSHED IT BACK IN PLACE. A LITTLE WHILE LATER, AN
ARM WENT UP, AND THE COBBLER, SLIGHTLY ANNOYED,
PUSHED IT BACK. BUT THIS KEPT UP ALL NIGHT, UNTIL
THE COBBLER WAS PRETTY EXASPERATED. THE "CORPSE"
FINALLY PUT ITS HEAD UP AND LOOKED AT THE COBBLER.
AT THIS POINT, IN A FIT OF TEMPER, THE COBBLER PICKED
UP HIS HAMMER AND BASHED THE "CORPSE'S" HEAD IN.
THE MAN NOW REALLY WAS A CORPSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR IRONY BLASON POPULAIRE: COBBLERS ARE FEARLESS.
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
PROVERB
THE MAN WHO IS BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH,
SELDOM MAKES MUCH STIR.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS OUR FAMILY DOCTOR. HE ALWAYS TOLD THIS TO EVERY NEW
PARENT.
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; METAPHOR ; OBERSERVATION ; REPUTATION ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
WHEN HE DONATES BLOOD TO THE RED CROSS, THERE'S SO
MUCH ALCOHOL IN IT, THEY USE IT TO STERILIZE THE
INSTRUMENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLISM ; DRINKING ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN