Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B returned 4320 results.
SEE A PENNY,
PICK IT UP,
ALL THE DAY,
YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPERFECT THYME: UP - LUCK ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Good luck P881.15 |
Date learned: 11-1-1972
DON'T WORRY IF YOUR WORK IS SMALL,
OR YOUR REWARDS ARE FEW.
REMEMBER THAT THE MIGHTY OAK,
WAS ONCE A NUT LIKE YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): METER: ALTERNATING IAMBIC TETRAMETER AND IAMBIC TRIMETER ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 10-24-1972
TULIPS IN THE GARDEN,
TULIPS IN THE PARK,
BUT THE TULIPS YOU LIKE THE BEST,
ARE THE TWO LIPS IN THE DARK,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MEDIAL ITERATION ; PUN: TULIPS AND TWO LIPS ; RHYME: ABCB ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 10-17-1972
WHEN YOUR HAIR HAS TURNED TO SILVER,
AND LIFE'S PATH NO MORE YOU TROD.
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN,
IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH SALVATION NAME MAGIC ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 10-24-1972
TRUE FRIENDS ARE LIKE DIAMONDS,
PRECIOUS AND RARE.
FALSE ONES ARE LIKE AUTUMN LEAVES,
FOUND EVERYWHERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB ; SIMILES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
TWO IN A HAMMOCK,
READY TO KISS,
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THEY WENT LIKE THIS. (THE WORD "THIS" IS WRITTEN UPSIDE DOWN.)
Submitter comment: THIS IS ONE OF A GROUP OF AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSES COLLECTED IN 1941
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 10-12-1972
DON'T TURN YOUR HAT BIBB BACKWARD. THIS IS UNLUCKY.
Submitter comment: BIBB= BRIM.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION OR POSITION: BACKWARDS ; WEARING CLOTHES: HAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
EACH GRAY HAIR IN ONE'S HEAD REPRESENTS A PARTICULAR WORRY.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL: HAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 09-08-1972
LITTLE SALLY WALKER
LITTLE SALLY WALKER,
WALKING DOWN THE STREET.
DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S WALKING,
BUT SHE SURE HAS GOT THAT BEAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
CAN FOOD
DON'T CAN FOOD WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR PERIOD.
BECAUSE THE FOOD WILL GO TO WASTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUAL TABU AGAINST PRESERVING FOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
BRE RABBIT
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THE STORY ABOUT BRE RABBIT. BRE RABBIT, BRE
FOX AND THEIR AH..WELL ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE FOREST HAD GOTTEN
TOGETHER AND THEY HAD FOUND A WHOLD CROCK OF MILK, AND EVERYBODY
WANTED A BIG SHARE. WE WE A GONA DIVIDED THIS, THIS, THIS, MILK
UP EQUALLY AMONG EACH OTHER. AND NO ONE WELL TAKE MORE THAN THE
OTHERS GOT. WE ALL GONA GET A FAIR SHARE OF THIS MILK. SO AH..
HE SAY EVERTHING..WE AINT GOT TIME TO DIVIDE THIS THIS MILK UP NOW
BECAUSE IT'S COMING IT'S GETTING NIGHT. NOW WE'LL DIVIDE THIS MILK
UP IN THE MORNING. AND NO ONE SHALL DRINK A DROP OF THIS MILK.
SO EVERYBODY AGREED AND THEY ALL WENT AND THEY LAID DOWN. AND AH.
EVERYBODY AGREED AND THEY ALL WENT AND THEY LAID DOWN. AND AH..
EVERYBODY FELL A SHOUND ASLEEP. WELL BRE RABBIT HE GOT HUNGRY
THAT NIGHT. HE GOT UP AND HE SNEAKED OVER TO THE CROCK OF MILK.
HE DRINK ABOUT ...TWO THIRDS OF THAT MILK... HE WENT ON BACK TO
ASLEEP. WHEN MORNING CAME, EVERYBODY GOT UP..BRE FOX SWISHED OVER
THERE AND LOOKED AT THE CROCK. AND CRIED OH MY GOODNESS SOMEONE
STOLLED TWO THIRDS OF THE MILK. NOW ONE OF US HAD TO DO IT. SO..
I'M GONA FIND OUT WHICH ONE IT US WAS. NOW WHAT WE'RE GONA DO.
WE GONA BUILD US A BIG BARN FIRE...AND WE'RE GONA LAY DOWN BESIDE
IT. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT MILK GONA RUN, CAUSE THAT HEAT. SO WE
ALL WE WENT AND GATHER WOOD AND BUILT A BIG BARN FIRE. AND THE
HEAT GOT REAL HOT.. AND THIS BIG OLE HEATING FLAMES LEAPIN UP IN THE
AIR. AND EVERYBODY SAY, ALL RIGHT NOW WE AL GONA LAY BESIDE THE
FIRE. NO BODY MOVES. I'M GONA, WE GONA CHAIN EACH OTHER TO THE
SPOT. AND THEY ALL LAYING THERE...WELL BRE RABBIT HE KNEW THAT
IF HE HE KNOWS THAT IN THE MORNING ITS GONA BE HIS TURN TO GET IT.
SO HE CRAWLED OVER THERE BESIDE BRE BEAR, TO ...AND DID HIS THING.
AND WENT ON BACK OVER TO HIS SPOT AND WENT TO SLEEP.. SO IN THE
MORNING WHEN..EVERYBODY WOKE UP THEY LOOKED AROUND AND
LOOKED OVER THERE BY BRE BEAR. AND THEN THEY SAW WHAT HE DONE DONE.
AND ALL JUMPED ON BRE BEAR AND TRIED TO BEAT HIM TO DEATH.. AND
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS.. YOU MIGHT STEAL MILK AND GET AWAY
WITH IT..BUT YOU'LL FIND A BEAR IN THE WOODS...
James Callow comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED WHEN NOT AFFECTING PRONOUNCIATION ; K2155 (SUPPOSED) EVIDENCE OF CRIME LEFT SO DUPE IS BLAMED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IS "DID HIS THING" A ; THEFT OF MILK (COMPARE THEFT OF BUTTER)
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
GOOD LUCK FROM A DEAD SPIRIT WHEN YOU PLAY A NUMBER
IF YOU PUT A GLASS OF WATER UNDER YOUR BED IT WILL MAKE YOUR DEAD
GRANDMOTHER COME BACK TO YOU. HER SPIRIT WILL COME TO YOU AND
BRING YOU GOOD LUCK. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN BECAUSE A LADY
GOT RICH THAT WAY. YOU PICK OUT THE NUMBER WHICH YOU WANT TO
COME OUT. AND PUT IT INTO THE GLASS OF WATER. THE SPIRIT OF A
DEAD RELATIVE WILL COME TO GET A TASTE OF THE WATER AND THANK YOU
BY MAKING THE NUMBER COME OUT. THIS WAS PASSED ON TO ME BY MY
GRANDMOTHER. SHE CAME FROM THE SOUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GAINING WEALTH ; GAMBLING: PLAYING THE NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
STORY
THIS IS A STORY ON THE WHITE FOLKS. YOU KNOW BACK IN THE OLDEN
DAYS WHEN THE COLORED PEOPLE DIDNH HAVE ANYTHING TO DO. THROUGH
THEYRE DOING, THEY DIDNT HAVE NO WHERE TO PRAY BUT UNDER AN OAK
TREE. AND EVERYTIME THEY START TO PRAYING, WHITE FOLKS WOULD
TAKE AN WHIP AN BUGGY WHIP, WHAT THEY CALL A RAW HIDE LEATHER
TIDED ON THE END OF A STICK, COME DOWN AND BEAT EM. SO FINALLY
ONE DAY THE BLACK MAN DECIDED HE'LL PRAY. HE SAY HE'S GONA TALK
TO THE LORD. AND HE GONA TALK TO HIM IN PERSON. SO HE WENT DOWN
HE DID IN THE WOODS. DIDN'T CLEAN HIM OUT NO PLACE , HE DECIDED
HE'L KNEEL DOWN. HE STARTED TO PRAYING.
HE SAID OH LORD, HE SAID,
I'M DOWN HERE IN THESE WOODS TRYING TO SERVE YOU THE BEST I CAN.
CAUSE WHEN I WAS DOWN AT THAT OTHER OAK TREE, SAY THE MAN USE
THAT RAW HIDE WHIP ON ME, HE DAY. BUT IM GONA TELL YOU ONE THING
HE SAYS, AS I PRAY DOWN ON MY KNEES TROUBLE ALWAYS AROUND. AND
HE SAYS ONE DAY I WAS PRAYING AND I SAY TROUBLE ALWAYS AROUND AND
YOU WHIP ME. HE SAY WHY DID I WHIP YOU HE SAY YOU LET THAT
WHITE MAN DRAW THAT WHIP BACK AND GIVE HIM THE POWER TO HIT ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO BLAMES GOD FOR RACIAL PREJUDICE OF WHITES. ; PRAYER TREE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B645 |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
POEM
MONKEY SITTING ON THE INDIAN RAIL,
PICKIN HIS TOOTH WITH THE END OF HIS TAIL,
GRASS GREW UP AND TOUCHED HIS BALLS,
AND HE JUMPED IN HIS OVERALLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM OR SLANG: BALLS FOR TESTICLES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A PERSON OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, THROW SOME SALT
BEHIND THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL OF WOULD-BE VISITORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
ONCE THERE WAS AH...AH COLORED MAN, A WHITE MAN IN SLAVERY TIME.
HE HAD TWO NEGROES WORKING ON HIS PLANTATION. AND ONE DAY HE TOLD
HIM SAY LISTEN THERES A BEAR DOWN THERE IN THERE IN THAT BOTTOM
EATING MY CORN. SAY JOHN GO DOWN THERE AND BRING THAT BEAR UP
HERE. GOES DOWN THERE AND GET THAT BEAR AND BRING HIM ON UP HERE.
JOHN GOT OUT HE DID THAT MORNING EARLY THAT MORNING... WENT ON
DOWN THERE THERE IN THE BOTTOM HE DID AND HE SEEN THE BEAR. AND
THE BEAR HAD AN ARM OF CORN. SO HE TOLD HIM HEY PUT DOWN THAT
CORN. AND THE BEAR THROWD THE CORN DOWN AND GOT AFTER HIM AT
JOHN. JOHN JUST...HE WENT TO THE BARN. HE RAN JUST AS HARD AS
HE COULD UP TO THE HILL. TILL HE GOT TO THE BARN. HE WENT IN THE
BARN DOOR AND CLOSE...AND WENT ON DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE BEAR
COME ON IN THE BARN AND HE CLOSED IT AND COME ON THE OUTSIDE
AND CLOSED THE DOORS. OK, SAY, NOW HE WENT ON UP TO THE HOUSE, TO
OLE MASTER'S HOUSE, HE SAY. JOHN YOU GET THAT BEAR(?) / . SAY YEA, I
GOT THAT BEAR. SAY WHERE'S HE AT? HE UP THERE IN THE BARN. WELL,
YOU TAKE THIS KNIVE AND GO ON UP THERE AND KILL THE BEAR NOW.
JOHN SAY LISTEN BOSS, I WENT AND BROUGHT THE BEAR HERE WHY DON'T
YOU MAKE THE OTHER GUY KILL HIM. SAY YEA, MRS SAY, YEA. JOHN
DONE BROUGH THE BEAR HERE. LET THE OTHER FELLA KILL HIM. SO SLE
JOHN HE WENT IN DOWN THERE AND GOT ON TOP OF THE FENCE. AND THE
OTHER FELLA WHEN IN THE BARN WHERE THE BEAR WAS, AND OUT CAME
HIM AND THE BEAR. DOWN ACROSS THE FIELD HIM AND THE BEAR WENT.
AND HE GOT DOWN DOWN THERE IN THE FIELD A GOOD WAYS AND SAID AH
JOHN HOW DID YOU BRING THAT BEAR HERE? JUST LIKE HE GOT THE SON
OF A BITCH TO COME DOWN ACROSS THAT FIELD.
James Callow comment:
SOME SPELLING HAS BEEN CORRECTED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AN EPISODE ; CAPTURE BY ESCAPE, AS IN \"JACK AND THE VARMINTS\"
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
SNAKES
IF YOU SEE A SNAKE OR DREAM ABOUT ONE, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSSIBLE GOSSIP, BACKBITING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
WHISTLE IN YOUR EAR
IF YOU HEAR A WHISTLE IN YOUR EAR, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU SAY THE ALPHABET UNTIL IT STOPS,
THE LETTER IT STOPS ON (WILL BE)
THE FIRST INITIAL OF THE NAME OF THE PERSON TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSSIBLE GOSSIP, BACKBITING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
WEARING GREEN IS THE OLDEST IRISH CUSTOM ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
THE COLOR GREEN IS THE COLOR OF THE CATHOLIC IRISH, AND WEARING
IT SHOWS YOUR RESPECT FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FAITH.
Submitter comment:
ALL THE ITEMS I HAVE LEARNED HAVE BEEN
TAUGHT TO ME OVER THE YEARS BY
MY RELATIVES. I CAN'T PINPOINT EXACT DATES OR PEOPLE THOUGH.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): NATIONALISM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick BELIEF -- Color |
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
THE FOUR LEAF CLOVER IS THE TRADITIONAL GOOD LUCK CHARM.
WEARING ONE ON ST. PAT'S DAY BRINGS DOUBLE LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 17 BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.11 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 |
Date learned: CA1960-1975