RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for Count returned 72 results.

prev | items
| next

Down in the Valley

Down in the valley where the green grass grows,
There sat Susie as sweet as a rose.
She sang, she sang, she sang so sweet,
Along came Tommy and kissed her on the cheek.
How many kisses did she receive?
1-2-3-4-till you miss.

Submitter comment: This game is played when you are jump roping.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 00-00-1966

View just this record

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

AFTER DARK, CHILDREN GATHER AROUND A STREET LIGHT.
"IT" COUNTS WHILE CHILDREN HIDE. AFTER COUNTING
TO SPECIFIED NUMBER, HE BEGINS LOOKING FOR PLAYERS
SAYING "STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, HOPE TO SEE A
GHOST TONIGHT. ONE O'CLOCK, HE IS NOT HERE, TWO
O'CLOCK, HE IS NOT HERE, ETC." UNTIL A CHILD IS
SPIED WITH "HE IS HERE." A RACE TO THE STARTING
POINT ENSUES. IF "IT" TAPS THE PLAYER BEFORE REACHING
THE STREET LIGHT, HE IS IT AND THE GAME BEGINS.
IF NOT, HE KEEPS LOOKING FOR PLAYERS AS IN "HIDE
AND SEEK."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MINNESOTA

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.524

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD

ONE CHILD WAS THE GHOST AND THE OTHERS WERE VISITORS
TO THE GRAVEYARD. THE VISITORS WOULD GATHER AROUND
ONE SPOT WHILE THE GHOST WENT OUT TO HIDE. THE
VISITORS WOULD CHANT "ONE O'CLOCK, HE ISN'T HERE, TWO
O'CLOCK, HE ISN'T HERE...TWELVE O'CLOCK, HE'S ON HIS
WAY." AT THIS POINT, THE GHOST JUMPPED OUT OF HIDING
AND CHASED THE VISITORS. THE ONE THAT WAS CAUGHT
BECAME THE NEW FOX. (GHOST?) THIS GAME WAS USUALLY
PLAYED AFTER DARK.

Submitter comment: VARIATION: WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.524

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

GAME FOR TRAVELING: YOU WOULD COUNT AS YOU RODE. ALL
ANIMALS COUNTED ONE, BUT A WHITE HORSE COUNTED FIVE.
YOU DIDN'T COUNT POULTRY AS THEY WERE TOO HARD TO SEE.
SOMETIMES, A KID WOULD FIND OUT WHERE ONE WAS AND
ALWAYS SIT ON THAT SIDE. THE HIGHEST POINT COLLECTOR
GOT A PRIZE AT THE END OF THE TRIP.

Submitter comment: PPLAYED AS A BOY IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OMAHA ; NEBRASKA

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; COUNTING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 05-10-1965

View just this record

IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD KICK OFF OR RECEIVE
THE BALL IN THE BEGINNING OF NEIGHBORHOOD FOOTBALL
GAMES, THE TWO CAPTAINS WOULD TURN THEIR BACKS AND
ANOTHER WOULD SPIN THE FOOTBALL BEHIND THEIR
BACKS. THE CAPTAIN WOULD HAVE TO GUESS IF THE
LACINGS WERE FACE UP OR NOT SHOWING. HENCE,
THE NAME OF THE GAME, "STRINGS, NO STRINGS."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING OUT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

View just this record

Etymology

Origin of name:

Cornersville, TN gets its name from the fact that it is located in the corner of four counties.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Cornersville, Counties ; ETYMOLOGY ; Language ; NAME ; Origin ; REGIONAL ; Tennessee ; WORD

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Folk etymology

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

A method children use to select teams or "it" is for everyone to hold out both fists and someone counts off on each fist"one-potato, two-potato, three-potato, four. Five-potato, six-potato, seven-potato more." The first fist on which "more" lands must be put behind back. The winner (or loser) can either be the first or last person to have both fists behind his back.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Choose ; COUNTING ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Fists ; GAME ; POTATO

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

View just this record

I WENT UPTOWN TO SEE MISS BROWN;
SHE GAVE ME A NICKLE TO BUY A PICKLE,
THE PICKLE WAS SOUR SO I BOUGHT A FLOWER,
THE FLOWER WAS RED SO I BOUGHT SOME THREAD,
THE THREAD WAS THIN SO I BOUGHT A PIN,.
THE PIN WAS SHARP, SO I BOUGHT A HARP.
AND ON THIS HARP I PLAYED:
I LOVE COFFEE,
I LOVE TEA,
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STACKED ON ME?
ONE, TWO, THREE...

Data entry tech comment: PUNCTUATION ADDED BY STUDENT EDITOR.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING ; STAIRCASE PARALLELISM

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS,
THERE SAT SUSIE AS SWEET AS A ROSE.
SHE SANG, SHE SANG, SHE SANG SO SWEET;
ALONG CAME JIM AND KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK.
HOW MANY TIMES DID HE KISS HER?
ONE, TWO, THREE,...

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PALOS PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

CINDERELLA DRESSED IN YELLOW
WENT TO TOWN TO MAIL A LETTER.
ON THE WAY BACK
SHE MET HER FELLOW.
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE GET?
ONE, TWO, THREE...

Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

CHARLIE CHAPLIN SAT ON A PIN.
HOW MANY INCHES DID IT GO IN?
ONE, TWO, THREE,...

Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; CHARLIE CHAPLIN, MOVIE STAR ; COUNTING

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

'LO, SIR; 'LO, SIR,
MEET ME AT THE GROCER.
NO, SIR. WHY, SIR?
BECAUSE I HAVE A COLD, SIR.
WHERE'D YOU GET THE COLD, SIR?
AT THE NORTH POLE, SIR.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE, SIR?
CATCHING POLAR BEARS, SIR.
HOW MANY DID YOU CATCH?
ONE, SIR; TWO, SIR; THREE, SIR; FOUR, SIR; FIVE, SIR.
SIX, SIR
OLD DUTCH CLEANSER.

Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING ; FEMININE RHYME

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

ONE, TWO, THREE O'LEARY
FOUR, FIVE, SIX O'LEARY,
SEV'N, EIGHT, NINE O'LEARY,
TEN, O'LEARY, POSTMAN.

Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

View just this record

CINDERELLA DRESS IN YELLOW
WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE HER FELLER.
ON THE WAY HER GIRDLE BUSTED,
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE DISGUSTED?
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE...

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 11-10-1973

View just this record

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO,
THREE POTATO, FOUR.
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO,
SEVEN POTATO; OR.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 12-05-1973

View just this record

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

View just this record

FORMULA SPEECH

WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING AS YOU, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY "JINX ON A COKE; ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
SIX, SEVEN, ETC." AND THE OTHER PERSON WOULD HAVE TO SAY "STOP!"

Data entry tech comment: SPELLING CORRECTED BY STUDENT EDITOR

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-00-1970

View just this record

Nine Times Tables

Easy way to multiply by nine:

1x9=9

2x9=18

3x9=27

4x9=36

5x9=45

6x9=54

7x9=63

8x9=72

9x9=81

Count from one to eight for the first didgits top down, and then again from the bottom up (for the second digits).

Data entry tech comment:

Possible name variations for Collector: Cuisloh, Crisloh, Cisloh

Possible name variations for Informant: Frabiky, Frabilsy, Zrabiky, Zrabilsy
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Calculation ; Cheat ; COUNTING ; MATHEMATICS ; MULTIPLICATION ; Multiplication Tables ; NUMBERS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Numbers System of counting Calculation

View just this record

COUNTING OUT

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR;
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, ORE.
OUT GOES YOU.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT USED THIS RHYME WHILE A CHILD IN BALTIMORE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE

Keyword(s): Count ; COUNTING ; Eliminate ; Elimination ; GAME ; NUMBER ; POTATO ; RHYME

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

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

View just this record

Proverb

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Chicken ; Count ; Gamble ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.