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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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CURE FOR WARTS

TO GET RID OF WARTS, RUB A FRESHLY PICKED MUSHROOM ON THE WART AND
THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN 2 DAYS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID AN OLD GERMAN TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS} YOUNG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT DIRECTION POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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PROVERB

BE HONEST, MAKE FRIENDS AND HELP PEOPLE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS THE PHILOSOPHY OF A MAN HE WORKED FOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-12-1972

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHY DID THE POLACK CUT HIS TOILET SEAT IN HALF?
BECAUSE HIS WIFE TOLD HIM HIS HALF ASS RELATIVES WERE COMING
TO VISIT!

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR TAKEN LITERALLY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

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PROVERB

YOUR FRIEND LOOKS AT YOUR FACE.
YOUR ENEMY LOOKS AT YOUR FEET.

Submitter comment: (HE IS YOUR ENEMY BECAUSE HE IS LOOKING AT THE DIRTIEST PART
OF YOUR LIFE.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ALLITERATION PARALLELISM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-00-1972

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LITTLE MISS MUFFET SAT ON A TUFFET, EATING HER CURDS AND WHEY
WHEN ALONG CAME A SPIDER AND SAT DOWN BESIDE HER
AND SHE SMASHED IT WITH HER SPOON

Where learned: Massachusetts

James Callow Keyword(s): NURSERY RHYME PARODY ; REVERSAL OF SITUATION

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

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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HE WHO CAN'T DO THIS CAN'T DO MUCH

THIS IS A PARLOR GAME AND THE TRICK IS BEING OBSERVANT.
SOMEONE TAKES A BROOM AND POINTS THE HANDLE TO THE FLOOR. HE TELLS
EVERYONE TO WATCH THE FLOOR AND THEN ASKS THEM TO DO AS HE DOES.
HE CLEARS HIS THROAT AND THEN SUPPOSEDLY TRACES A PATTERN ON THE
FLOOR WITH THE BROOM, THEN ASKS THEM TO REPEAT THE ACTION.
USUALLY THEY CONCENTRATE ON TRACING THE PATTERN WHICH IS
IRRELEVANT. THE TRICK IS TO CLEAR YOUR THROAT BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
THE GAME GOES ON UNTIL ALL HAVE GUESSED THE TRICK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INITATIVE GAME

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

Date learned: 00-00-1957

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DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE ON ONLY ONE LEG).
DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE ON TWO LEGS).
DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE TOUCHING THE GROUND WITH BOTH FEET AND ONE HAND).
DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE TOUCHING THE GROUND WITH BOTH FEET AND BOTH HANDS).
DONALD DUCK IS A PIGEON-TOED, PIGEON TOED, PIGEON-TOWED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE WITH TOES POINTED INWARD).
DONALD DUCK IS A BOW-LEGGED, BOW-LEGGED, BOW-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMP ROPE WITH LEGS BOWED).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN ; INCREMENTAL REPETITION

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

Date learned: 00-00-1957

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THREE, SIX, NINE
THE GOOSE DRANK WINE.
THE MONKEY CHEWED TOBACCO ON THE STREET CAR LINE. THE LINE BROKE. THE MONKEY GOT CHOKED. THEY ALL WENT TO HEAVEN IN A LITTLE ROW BOAT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS USED BOTH AS A HAND CLAPPING RHYME AND AS A JUMP ROPE
RHYME

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): IMPERFECT RHYME ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: AAA

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

Date learned: 00-00-1957

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NEVER TROUBLE TROUBLE,
UNTIL TROUBLE, TROUBLES YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION TO THE POINT OF BECOMING A TONGUETWISTER

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

Date learned: 10-16-1972

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TWO IN A CAR,
TWO LITTLE KISSES
TWO WEEKS LATER,
MR. AND MRS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB

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

Date learned: 10-16-1972

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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

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YOUR'S 'TILL THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS,
AND SEAS THE SALAD DRESSING.

Submitter comment: THIS IS ONE OF A GROUP OF AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSES COLLECTED IN 1941.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; EUPHEMISM: HEAT FOR HELL ; PUNS ; RHYME: AA

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

Date learned: 10-25-1972

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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

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IF YOU PUT A GARNET ON THE WRONG SIDE, HAVE SOME ELSE TO TAKE IT
OFF. IT WOULD BE BAD LUCK FOR YOU TO DO SO.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): GARMENT? ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 09-08-1972

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MY BACK IS BREAKING, MY GIRDLE'S TOO TIGHT, MY HIPS ARE SHAKING
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. LEFT, RIGHT...

Submitter comment: THIS IS USE TO TEACH CHILDREN THEIR LEFT FROM THEIR RIGHT SIDES.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; POSITION--LEFT AND RIGHT

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

Date learned: 08-04-1972

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A HORSESHOE OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE WILL RID IT OF EVIL
SPIRITS.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12

Date learned: 10-09-1972

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PUT A PENNY OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.15

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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PICTURE MAGIC

IF THE PERSON YOU LIKE IS STRAYING AWAY TAKE HIS PICTURE AND PUT IT
IN SOME WATER FACE DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE HIM STAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 09-00-1172

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WHEN BABIES ARE BORN

ON THE GROWING OF THE FULL MOON
AND THE FALLING OF THE FULL MOON,
BABIES ARE BORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION ; NONSENSE VERSE?

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.453
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.542
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 10-00-1974

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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

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