Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BIRD returned 114 results.
A POLISH SONG: A RED APPLE
CUT IN QUARTERS
WHY DO YOU, MY GIRL
LOOK DOWN ON ME?
GEESE ON THE OTHER BANK
DUCKS ON THE OTHER BANK
CAREFUL GIRL, OR THEY WILL BITE YOU
I WILL KISS YOU, YOU WILL KISS ME.
I WILL NEVER GIVE YOU AWAY, YOU WLL ALWAYS KEEP ME.
A RED APPLE
ROLLING ON THE TABLE
SUCH A GIRL I LOVE
THAT HAS BLACK EYES
POLISH TEXT NOT KEYPUNCHED. SEE ORIGINAL 5X8 INCH CARD.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A KUJAWIAK MELODY, FROM THE KUJAROY REGION OF POLAND. IT IS
A COURTING SONG AND VERY POPULAR. I,VE KNOWN IT SINCE CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment: VERSES IN POLISH LOCATED ON FILE CARD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BIRDS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Love |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BIRDIE IN THE SKY
BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY
DROPPED SOME WHITE WASH IN MY EYE
I'M NOT A SISSY, I DON'T CRY
I'M JUST GLAD THAT COWS DON'T FLY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; EUPHEMISM: WHITEWASH FOR BIRD DUNG ; RHYME: AAAA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY,
DROP A WHITE WASH IN MY EYE,
ME NO WORRY,
ME NO CRY,
ME JUST HAPPY COWS DON'T FLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; BABY TALK ; EUPHEMISM: WHITEWASH FOR BIRD DUNG ; RHYME: AABAA ; SUGGESTION COW DUNG
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
CUCKOO MOTHER
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, A WIDOW MOTHER LIVED ON A FARM WITH HER
THREE SONS; STRONG AS OAK TREES AS BROAD AS TREE-TRUNKS. THEY
LIVED MANY YEARS HAPPILY, EVERYONE'S RESPECTED, TILL HER SONS
GREW UP. AND WHEN THEY GREW UP, THE KING INVITED THEM TO RIDE
WITH HIM INTO WAR. ONE RODE OUT TO THE EAST, ANOTHER TO THE SOUTH,
AND THE THIRD, THE YOUNGEST--TO THE WEST. WHEN THEY RODE OUT,
THROUGH THE THREE YEARS NOT ONE SENT ANY WORD AND THE MOTHER
DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE ALIVE OR DEAD. SHE CRIED, BUT
DIDN'T GIVE UP HOPE, THAT SOMEDAY THEY WILL RETURN, TO CALM
HER OLD DAYS. BUT WHEN THE THIRD SPRING CAME, SHE WENT OUT
ON TOP OF A HILL AND SAW, THAT A HORSE WAS RIDING EMPTY-SADDLED.
AND SHE RECOGNIZED IT AS HER OLDEST SON'S HORSE. SHE
RECOGNIZED AND REALIZED, THAT HER OLDEST SON WAS NO LONGER ALIVE.
AND WHEN SHE REALIZED THIS, SHE CRIED FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE
NIGHTS. BUT THE PEOPLE TOLD HER: "DON'T CRY, THAT YOUR SON DIED
IN WAR. GOD GAVE, AND GOD TAKETH AWAY. BETTER YOU ASK HIM TO
RETURN YOUR OTHER TWO SONS WELL." WHILE THEY WERE CALMING HER,
THEY SAW A SECOND HORSE COME GALLOPING UP, NEIGHING AS IF
WEEPING HIMSELF. THE REIGNS PULLED OFF, THE SADDLE SPLASHED WITH
BLOOD AND THE HORSE ITSELF WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATE, KNELT
DOWN ON ALL FOURS AND FELL OVER DEAD. AND THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED
THAT THE SECOND HORSE BROUGHT HER PAINFUL NEWS. SHE BEGAN TO CRY
EVEN MORE PAINFULLY, THAT NOW HER SECOND SON WAS DEAD. THE
PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW TO COMFORT HER NOW. "IF ONLY. LORD, I KNEW
WHERE MY SONS LIE. WITH A FOX I'D RUN THERE, WITH A BIRD I'D FLY
THERE, ON THEIR GRAVES I WOULD CRY." SHE CRIED DAY AND NIGHT,
CURSING HER FUTURE, WAITING FOR HER YOUNGEST SON. BUT WHILE
SHE WAS CRYING, THE THIRD HORSE CAME HOME, TOO, INJURED AND
WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATES, NEIGHED SORROWFULLY AND
KNEELING ON ALL FOURS, FELL OVER DEAD. THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED THAT
NOW HER THIRD SON WOULDN'T COME HOME. SHE FELL TO THE GROUND
FROM THE GRIEF AND TURNED INTO A CUCKOO BIRD, CUCKOOD IN A
SORROWFUL WAY AND FLEW AWAY TO FOREIGN LANDS IN SEARCH OF HER
SONS: SHE FLIES AND HUNTS FOR THEM YEAR ROUND IN THE STRANGE LANDS,
AND IN THE SPRING TIME COMES HOME, FLIES THROUGH THE FORESTS,
CRYING FOR HER SONS. AND WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT THE YOUNGEST
SON'S HORSE CAME HOME, SHE AGAIN FLIES OUT TO THE FOREIGN LANDS
TO SEARCH FOR THEM. AND THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL
BE....
Submitter comment: (TRANSLATED FROM LITHANIA BY RAMUNE M. STONYS)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): BIRDS, ANIMALS, TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
VERSE AUTOGRAPH MATERIAL (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; HUMOROUS ALLUSION TO LOVE (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
REMEMBER THE PIGEON,/ REMEMBER THE DOVE,/ REMEMBER THE NIGHT/ WE FELL
IN LOVE. ROSEMARY MOSTER
Submitter comment:
RECOPIED FROM AN OLDER AUTOGRAPH BOOK DATING AROUND 1850. THE
SELECTIONS FROM THE OLDER BOOK WERE COLLECTED IN INDIANA.
Data entry tech comment: SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER
Where learned: INDIANA ; BROOKVILLE
Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; LOVE BIRDS REPETITION ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
RETORT
UPON PASSING WIND (FARTING) ONE WOULD SAY "LET THEM FLY, THEY ARE NO
WORTH FEATHERING ANYWAY."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-16-1980
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
THE EAGLE MAY FORGET THE ROCK
THE OCEAN BIRD THE SEA
THE FLOWERS MAY FORGET TO BLOOM
BUT I'LL REMEMBER THEE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRDS ; CONTRAST ; FLOWERS ; FRIENDLY ; FRIENDSHIP ; INFORMATIVE ; METER: IAMBS ; PROMISE OF REMEMBRANCE ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 10-17-1967
ALBATROSS
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR AN ALBATROSS TO FOLLOW A SHIP. IF SHE DOES,
SHE MUST BE SHOT WITH A GUN ARMED WITH SILVER BULLETS.
Where learned: ROUTE 2 ; W JEFFERSON RD
Keyword(s): BIRDS: ALBATROSS ; CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: SHIPS
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: KILLING AN ALBATROSS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P 88 P 88.33 BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions P883.33 |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
WHAT WEIGHS 1000 LBS. AND CHEEPS?
TWO 500 LB. CANARIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRDS: CANARIES ; RIDDLE JOKE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND LIVE ON A HILL,
SEND ME A MESSAGE BY THE WHIP-POOR-WHILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD ; INSTRUCTIONS ; RHYME: AA ; WHIP-POOR-WILL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
HAMBONE
HAMBONE, HAMBONE, HAVE YOU HEARD?
MOMMA'S GONNA BUY YOU A MARKING BIRD.
IF THAT MARKING BIRDIE DON'T SING,
MOMMA'S GONNA BUY YOU A DIAMOND RING.
IF THAT DIAMOND RING DON'T SHINE,
MOMMA'S GONNA BUY YOU A BOTTLE O WINE.
IF THAT BOTTLE OF WINE DON'T DRINK,
MOMMA'S GONNA BUY YOU A KITCHEN SINK.
HAMBONE, HAMBONE, HAVE YOU HEARD?
MOMMA'S GONNA BUY YOU A MARKING BIRD.
Submitter comment:
THE SONG IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF HUSH LITTLE BABY,
BUT THE TEMPO IS MUCH FASTER. ONE HAND BEATS THE LEG
AND CHEST DURING THE SONG. AND THE SONG IS ESPECIALLY
POPULAR AMONG MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN WITH INTERLINKED ITEMS ; MOCKING BIRD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
Every old crow
Thinks its baby white as snow.
Submitter comment:
This proverb was told to Maryann by her Italian father,
as a way of dismissing praise given to children by
their own parents.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): sarcasm, humor, parental pride
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL METAPHOR ; BIRD ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001960S
THE BUZZARDS HAVE RETURNED TO HINCKLEY OHIO YEARLY ON
MARCH 15 FOR MANY YEARS, WHEN FROZEN CARCASSES FROM A
CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNITY HUNT BEGAN DEFROSTING AS SPRING
APPROACHED. PEOPLE WEARING BUZZARDS COSTUMES WAIT FOR
THE BUZZARDS WHO ROOST ON ROCKY LEDGES IN A NEARBY
LAKE. THIS USUALLY MARKS THE END OF THE WINTER SEASON.
THE CARCASSES ARE THERE EVERY YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): BIRDS ; DATE ; SEASONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 15 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 00001980S
Superstition: Animals
Eating the chicken gizzard will make you beautiful.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Beautiful ; BIRD ; Chicken ; Eat ; FOOD ; FOWL ; Gizzard ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom |
IF A WHIPPOORWILL IS SCREECHING IN THE NIGHT, TURN A
SLIPPER OVER AND HE WILL STOP
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
IF A WEEPERWILL GETS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE OR NEAR THE
ASHHOPPER, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL DIE IN A YEAR.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD WHIPPORWHILL WHIPPORWILL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
IF A HOOT OWL SITS IN A TREE OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW, THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BIRD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
PROVERB
SHOW ME YOUR COMPANY AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; OWENSBORO
Keyword(s): BIRDS OF A FEATHER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
PROVERB: FOXES
THE SLEEPING FOX CATCHES NO POULTRY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FRANKLIN
Keyword(s): EARLY BIRD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE TO RED YOU BECOME RED.
WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE TO BLACK YOU BECOME BLACK.
Submitter comment: YOU CAN TELL A MAN BY HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BIRDS OF A FEATHER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 07-28-1968