Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF A PERSON IS ILL, FOLLOW THIS RECIPE: FEED A COLD,
STARVE A FEVER. IF A PERSON HAS A COLD, HE SHOULD DRINK A LOT
OF FLUIDS, EAT A LOT OF CHICKEN SOUP, AND TRY TO EAT A LOT IN
GENERAL TO KEEP UP HIS STRENGTH. IF HE HAS A FEVER, HE SHOULD
REFRAIN FROM EATING OR DRINKING ANYTHING EXCEPT WATER SO THAT THE
FEVER HAS NOTHING TO FUEL IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For bringing home a baby bumble bee, OUCH HE BIT ME!!!!!
I'm mashing up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mashing up my baby bumble bee, Ugh, what a mess!!
I'm licking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For licking up my baby bumble bee, Ohh, I feel sick!!!
I'm puking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For puking up my baby bumble bee, Eew, what a mess!!
I'm mopping up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mopping up my baby bumble bee, there all clean.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur.
Won't my mommy hide behind the door.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur, OOPS, HE ATE ME!!!
Submitter comment:
This song is done with lots of hand motions and
pretend gestures.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; REFRAIN ; Teller killed in his own story.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
Diarrhea Drip, drip! Diarrhea! Drip, drip!
Some people think it's funny
But they like it hot and runny!
Diarrhea! Drip, drip! Diarrhea! Drip, drip!
Some people think it's nice
And they like it over rice!
Submitter comment:
The collector heard this as a child. It's a simple chant
where the last two lines after every "drip, drip" are changed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Feces as food ; HUMOR ; ILLNESS ; REFRAIN ; SICK HUMOR
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1991
PARIS IN THE THE SPRING (PRINTED IN A PYRAMID)
THE WORDS ARE ARRANGED IN THE PYRAMID THUS:
PARIS ON FIRST LINE, IN THE ON SECOND LINE, THE
SPRING ON THE LAST LINE.
MOST PEOPLE WILL READ THIS AS "PARIS IN THE SPRING,"
BUT ACTUALLY IT IS "PARIS IN THE THE SPRING." YOU ASK
THE PERSON WHO IS TO READ IT TO READ IT AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): OPTICAL ILLUSION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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 |
Saying
Stubborn as a billygoat
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Billygoat ; Goat ; Language ; METAPHOR ; Saying ; SIMILE ; Stubborn
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Group of Vowels and Consonants, and of Words |
POLISH
ON A BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, PLACE A WINE GLASS, A
PRAYER BOOK, AND SOME COINS. WHATEVER HE REACHES
FOR FIRST WILL INDICATE THE TYPE OF CAREER HE
CHOOSES. THE INW GLASS INDICATES THAT HE WILL
BE A DRUNK; THE PRAYER BOOK, A PRIEST; AND THE
COINS, A BUSINESSMAN.
Submitter comment:
WE TRIED THIS AT THE FIRST BIRTHDAY OF MY CURRENTLY
SEVEN YEAR OLD COUSIN. ONLY TROUBLE WAS THAT HE
KNOCKED ALL THREE OBJECTS OFF THE HIGH CHAIR
TRAY AT ONCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IN A HIGH CHAIR. ; SEVEN MONTH OLD COUSIN I HOPE, SINCE HE STILL IS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future of young |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
IF I SPILT SALT, I SHOULD TOSS A PINCH OVER MY LEFT
SHOULDER TO WARD OFF MISFORTUNE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BLACK BOY: A RECORD OF CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH ; SIGNET BOOK ; NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 82
James Callow Keyword(s): SPILLED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
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
THERE WILL BE NO RAIN AT NIGHT IF A WHIP-O-WILL CALLS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
Keyword(s): WHIP-OR-WILL WHIPORWHILL
Date learned: 06-17-1972
CORN SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN THE WHIP-O-WILL CALLS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
Keyword(s): WHIP-OR-WILL WHIPORWHILL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 06-17-1972
IF YOU SEE A WHIPPERWILL, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: HEARING A WHIPPERWILL IS NOT BAD LUCK, JUST SEEING IT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): WHIPPORWILL WHIPPOORWILL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
Date learned: 05-05-1972
CHILDREN'S STORY
SOME TROLL LIVED UNDER A BRIDGE--SORT OF A CULVERT, BUT HE
CALLED IT A BRIDGE--AN', UH, I BELIEVE THERE WAS THREE GOATS
LIVED ON ONE SIDE OF A HILL, AN' THERE WAS A GREEN PASTURE
ON THE OTHER SIDE (OF THE BRIDGE). THEY'D JUST EATEN UP
EVERYTHING THEY HAD ON THEIR SIDE AN' THEY WANTED TO GO OVER TO
THIS GREEN PASTURE. BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE TROLL 'COS
EVERYBODY THAT WENT ACROSS THIS BRIDGE, HE CAME OUT, Y'KNOW
AN' HE GOBBLED 'EM UP, ONE WAY OR 'NOTHER, AN' THESE THREE
GOATS DECIDED THEY WOULD GO ACROSS TO THE PASTURE. SO THEY
DECIDED THEY WOULD TRY THIS RUSE, AT LEAST THEY'D GET THEIR
LITTLE ONE ACROSS AN', UH, GET OVER WHERE THE PASTURE WAS
GREEN, 'COS IT WAS PROB'LY STARVATION IF THEY DIDN'T. SO
THE LITTLE FELLA, THEY THOUGHT HE'S SO LIGHT MAYBE HE WOULDN'T
HEAR HIM ANYWAY, AN' HE'D GET ACROSS, HE TRIPPED ACROSS THIS
BRIDGE. THE OLD TROLL SAID, "WHO'S THAT TRIPPIN' ACROSS MY
BRIDGE?" HE SAID, "I'M THE LITTLE GOAL BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M
COMIN' OUT AN' EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, "OH, DON'T EAT ME
UP," SAID, UH, "MY FATHER'S COMIN' AFTER A WHILE AN' HE'S
MUCH BIGGER THAN I." AN' HE SAID, "VERY WELL THEN, GO ON."
SO THEN THE MIDDLE-SIZED GOAT, WHICH WAS THE MOMMA GOAT,
WENT ACROSS. AN' HE WANTED TO KNOW, THE OLD TROLL SAYS,
"WHO'S THAT TRAPPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" THE LITTLE ONE TRIPPED,
& THIS ONE TRAPPED. "WHO'S THAT CROSSIN' MY BRIDGE?" TRAP,
TRAP, TRAP. SHE SAID SHE'S THE MIDDLE-SIZE GOAT BILLY . . .
MAYBE THE NANNY GOAT . . . HE SAYS HE'S COMIN' OUT AN' EAT HER UP.
AN' SHE SAID, "OH, NO, DON'T COME OUT AN' EAT ME UP NOW,"
SHE SAID, "WE'RE GOIN' ACROSS IN A GREEN PASTURE WHERE WE CAN
EAT GRASS AN' GROW FAT, AN' THEN WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL BE
GOOD FOR YE TO EAT." AND HE TOLD HER, VERY WELL, THEN, BUT
BE SURE THEY CAME BACK THAT WAY. SO AFTER A WHILE THE PAPA
GOAT, THE BIG BILLY GOAT, WENT ACROSS, TROMP, TROMP, TROMP.
AN' HE SAID, "WHO'S THAT TROMPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" AND HE
SAID, "THE BIG GOAT BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M COMIN' OUT AN'
EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, UH, "WELL, COME AHEAD, THEN."
SO, THE TROLL CAME OUT, AND HE (THE GOAT) WAS SO STRONG HE
TOOK HIS OL' HORNS, Y'KNOW, AN' GORED HIM WITH 'EM; HE TOOK
AHOLD OF HIS NOSE AN' BROKE IT. THE TROLL'S NOSE WAS AS
LONG AS A BROOMSTICK AN' HIS EYES WAS AS BIG AS SAUCERS, AN'
HIS HAIR LOOKED LIKE, WELL . . . IT LOOKED ABOUT LIKE YOURS
(THE COLLECTOR'S LONG HAIR). ANYWAY, HE GORED HIM AN' HE
PICKED HIM UP AN' PITCHED HIM OVER IN THE RIVER, AN'
HE WAS GONE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WAS DOUBTFUL AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS CORRECTLY
REPEATING THE STORY, BUT SHE FELT SHE HAD IT MOSTLY CORRECT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
LADYBUGS
WHEN ONE FINDS A LADYBUG ON ONE'S CLOTHING, ONE IS SUPPOSED
TO RELEASE THE BUG IN THE AIR (IT WILL FLY) AND SAY:
LADYBUG, LADYBUG,
FLY AWAY HOME,
YOUR HOUSE IN ON FIRE,
AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE ALL ALONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BURN.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
WHEN YOU HEAR A WHIP-O-WHIRL CALL IT'S TIME TO PLANT CORN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; HENDERSONVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): WHIPPOORWILL WHIP-O-WILL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- P663 |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
DISTILLERY PROSE
THIS ONE HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WAS THIS GUY NAMED LOSS
HONEYCUTT
AND HIS PROFESSION WAS BREEDING BULLS. ON THE SIDE HE RAN A
DISTILLERY. BACK IN THOSE TIMES, I THINK IT WAS THE EARLY 1900{S, AS
FAR AS POLICEMEN AND GUYS LIKE THAT, THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT TOO MUCH
ABOUT
DISTILLERIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL AND EVERYTHING. BUT
BY MOUTH OR WHATEVER, THE AUTHORITIES FOUND OUT THAT LOSS WAS RUNNING
THIS DISTILLERY AND MAKING PRETTY GOOD MONEY ON IT. SO ONE DAY TWO
LOCAL
OCAL SHERIFFS DECIDED TO PAY LOSS A VISIT. IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE
POLICE
LICE WERE SEEN GOING IN THERE TO BREAK UP THE STILL AND OF COURSE A
CROWD BEGAN TO GATHER OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. AND THEY WAITED AND WAITED,
BUT THE TWO SHERIFFS NEVER CAME OUT. THE PEOPLE GOT KIND OF CONCERNED
AND WENT TO THE POLICE STATION AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TWO SHERIFFS
HADN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. SO THE POLICE INVESTIGATED. THEY WENT
INTO THE HOUSE AND DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE THE STILL WAS LOCATED
AND THERE WAS LOSS MAKING WHISKEY. IT SO HAPPENS THAT LOSS HAD DONE
AWAY WITH THE TWO SHERIFFS AND HAD MADE WHISKEY OUT OF THEM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
Keyword(s): MOONSHINING
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM: PEOPLE DISTILLED INTO WHISKEY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
(STORY WITH A PUN ON AN ADVERTIZING SLOGAN)
THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT WAS GETTING ALL THE ROYALTIES FOR
HIS COMMERCIALS AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, CALLED TRIDS,
WEREN'T GETTING ANYTHING FOR THEIR PART IN THE COMMER-
CIALS. THIS MADE THE TRIDS VERY ANGRY AND SO THEY
DECIDED TO GET RID OF THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT. SO, 150
TRIDS CLIMBED UP HIS LEG AND TRIED TO PULL HIM OVER A
CLIFF, BUT THE GIANT JUST KICKED THEM OFF HIS LEG.
SO, 1500 TRIDS CLIMBED UP HIS LEG, BUT THE GIANT ONLY
KICKED THEM OFF, TOO. FINALLY, 15,000,000,000 TRIDS
AND ONE RABBI CLIMBED UP THE GIANT'S LEG, BUT HE KICKED
ALL THE TRIDS OFF HIS LEG, BUT LET THE RABBI STAY.
WHEN THE RABBI ASKED WHY HE WAS SAVED, THE JOLLY GREEN
GIANT ANSWERED, "SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Data entry tech comment: SEE B667.1-120 FOR FURTHER EXPLANATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ARRIVING ; NEW BALTIMORE
Keyword(s): SILLY RABBIT, KIX ARE FOR KIDS.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1969
DISTILLERY PROSE
THIS ONE HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WAS THIS GUY NAMED LOSS
HONEYCUTT
AND HIS PROFESSION WAS BREEDING BULLS. ON THE SIDE HE RAN A
DISTILLERY. BACK IN THOSE TIMES, I THINK IT WAS THE EARLY 1900{S, AS
FAR AS POLICEMEN AND GUYS LIKE THAT, THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT TOO MUCH
ABOUT
DISTILLERIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL AND EVERYTHING. BUT
BY MOUTH OR WHATEVER, THE AUTHORITIES FOUND OUT THAT LOSS WAS RUNNING
THIS DISTILLERY AND MAKING PRETTY GOOD MONEY ON IT. SO ONE DAY TWO
LOCAL
OCAL SHERIFFS DECIDED TO PAY LOSS A VISIT. IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE
POLICE
LICE WERE SEEN GOING IN THERE TO BREAK UP THE STILL AND OF COURSE A
CROWD BEGAN TO GATHER OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. AND THEY WAITED AND WAITED,
BUT THE TWO SHERIFFS NEVER CAME OUT. THE PEOPLE GOT KIND OF CONCERNED
AND WENT TO THE POLICE STATION AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TWO SHERIFFS
HADN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. SO THE POLICE INVESTIGATED. THEY WENT
INTO THE HOUSE AND DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE THE STILL WAS LOCATED
AND THERE WAS LOSS MAKING WHISKEY. IT SO HAPPENS THAT LOSS HAD DONE
AWAY WITH THE TWO SHERIFFS AND HAD MADE WHISKEY OUT OF THEM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
Keyword(s): MOONSHINING
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM: PEOPLE DISTILLED INTO WHISKEY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
PROVERB
THE TRIDS OF TRIDVILLE WERE CONSTANTLY BEING PLAGUED
BY A MEAN OGRE WHO KICKED THEM VICIOUSLY. ONE DAY,
A RABBI CAME TO THE OGRE AND SAID, "OGRE, PLEASE DON'T
KICK THE TRIDS ANYMORE, KICK ME." THE OGRE REPLIED,
"SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
(STORY WITH A PUN ON AN ADVERTIZING SLOGAN)
THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT WAS GETTING ALL THE ROYALTIES FOR
HIS COMMERCIALS AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, CALLED TRIDS,
WEREN'T GETTING ANYTHING FOR THEIR PART IN THE COMMER-
CIALS. THIS MADE THE TRIDS VERY ANGRY AND SO THEY
DECIDED TO GET RID OF THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT. SO, 150
TRIDS CLIMBED UP HIS LEG AND TRIED TO PULL HIM OVER A
CLIFF, BUT THE GIANT JUST KICKED THEM OFF HIS LEG.
SO, 1500 TRIDS CLIMBED UP HIS LEG, BUT THE GIANT ONLY
KICKED THEM OFF, TOO. FINALLY, 15,000,000,000 TRIDS
AND ONE RABBI CLIMBED UP THE GIANT'S LEG, BUT HE KICKED
ALL THE TRIDS OFF HIS LEG, BUT LET THE RABBI STAY.
WHEN THE RABBI ASKED WHY HE WAS SAVED, THE JOLLY GREEN
GIANT ANSWERED, "SILLY RABBI, KICKS ARE FOR TRIDS."
Data entry tech comment: SEE B667.1-120 FOR FURTHER EXPLANATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ARRIVING ; NEW BALTIMORE
Keyword(s): SILLY RABBIT, KIX ARE FOR KIDS.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1969