Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT SHORT AND STOUT,
HERE'S MY HANDLE, HERE'S MY SPOUT
WHEN I GET ALL STEAMED UP I JUST SHOUT
TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD OBJECT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
WHEN A LITTLE FLAME OF A CANDLE BURNS BLUE, A GHOST IS PRESENT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COLOR ; Flame ; GHOST ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
WHEN THE MORNING SKY IS RED AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, IT'S MRS. SANTA
CLAUS BAKING UP LOTS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ELAINE BY HER GRANDMOTHER WHO IS GERMAN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): Baking ; CHRISTMAS ; COLOR ; Cookies ; Legend ; Mrs. Claus ; Red ; SIGN ; Sky ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-20-1967
DANDELION BELIEF
AS CHILDREN IN MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, WE BELIEVED THAT IF YOU PICKED A DANDELION, YOU'D HAVE TO URINATE.
Submitter comment:
Learned in late 1940s.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector appear to be the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; MAMARONECK
Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT WEED ; YELLOW COLOR ASSOCIATES WITH URINATION?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
BLACK TABOO
IF YOU EAT BLACK GRAPES OR BLACK FIGS THEN SOME SORT OF BAD LUCK WILL FOLLOW, SUCH AS BAD NEWS, OR YOU'LL DO SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL FEEL SORRY ABOUT LATER. HOWEVER, RED, WHITE, GREEN, AND BLUE GRAPES/FIGS ARE OK TO EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME ; 5583 South 4th St.
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC, COLOR
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
CROUP
TO CURE THE CROUP, PUT GOOSE GREASE ON YOUR CHEST; THEN PUT
A PIECE OF RED FLANNEL OVER IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-15-1970
VERSE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
GENE, GENE MADE A MACHINE
JOE, JOE MADE IT GO
ART, ART LET A FART
BLEW THE ENGINE ALL APART.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHAIN ; INTERNAL RHYME ; ITERATION ; PERSONAL NAMES ; RHYME:ABCC ; SCATOLOGICAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 11-29-1969
VERSE
I ASKED MY MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS,/
TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENCE,/ HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE
TOUCHED THE SKY,/ AND DIDN'T COME BACK 'TILL THE 4TH OF JULY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Highland
Keyword(s): HYPERBOLE ; MARVELS ; RHYME:AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 11-22-1970
CINDERELLA
CINDERELLA, DRESSED IN YELLA',
WENT UPSTAIRS AND KISSED HER FELLA'.
Submitter comment: NOT A JUMP ROPE RHYME
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COLOR OF CLOTHES ; FELLOW YELLOW ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
BEWARE OF BOYS WHOSE EYES ARE BLUE,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND ASK FOR TWO.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF GREEN,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER BE SEEN.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF BLACK,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER COME BACK.
YOU WILL KNOW ALL KINDS OF JOYS,
IF YOU WILL ONLY BEWARE OF BOYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; COLOR OF EYES AS BASIS OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ; COUPLETS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
CHILDREN,S VERSE
SAM, SAM THE DIRTY OLD MAN,
WASHED HIS FACE IN A FRYIN' PAN;
COMBED HIS HAIR WITH A DONKEY'S TAIL,
SCRATCHED HIS BELLY WITH A PIG'S TOE-NAIL.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE
Keyword(s): COMPARE "OLD DAN TUCKER" ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
"DAVID, BUMBAVID, TILLYAVID
CUM-CAVID,
TEE-LEGGED, TIE-LEGGED,
BOW-LEGGED DAVID.
Submitter comment:
TAKING A CHILD'S NAME AND INSERTING IT
INTO THIS REFRAIN FASCINATES THEM.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION ; NEOLOGISMS ; RHYME: AABA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
LITTLE BAR OF SOAP
I WISH I WAS A LITTLE BAR OF SOAP/ I WISH I WAS A LITTLE BAR OF SOAP
FOR I'D SLIPPIE AND I'D SLIDDIE/ DOWN EVERYBODY'S HIDDY/ OH, I WISH
I WAS A LITTLE BAR OF SOAP}
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): BATHTUB VERSE ; ENVELOPE STRUCTURE ; FEMININE RHYME NEOLOGISM ; REPETITION FIRST PERSON ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-02-1965
VERSE
MINNIE MINNIE HA HA, WENT TO SEE HER PAPA,
PAPA DIED, MINNIE CRIED. MINNIE HAD A BABY,
CALLED HIM TINY TIM, PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB
TO TEACH HIM HOW TO SWIM.
DRANK A GALLON OF WATER, ATE A BAR OF SOAP,
MINNIE CALLED THE DOCTOR, MINNIE CALLED THE NURSE,
MINNIE CALLED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
OUT WENT THE DOCTOR, OUT WENT THE NURSE,
IN STAYED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
Data entry tech comment: THERE CAN ALSO BE ADDED ANOTHER VERSE BETWEEN LINES 9 AND 10.
Where learned: LIBRARY
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BATHTUB VERSE MONOLOGUE ; JUMP ROPE RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
EENSY WEENSY SPIDER
THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER/ WENT UP THE WATER SPOUT/ DOWN CAME THE RAIN
AND WASHED THE SPIDER OUT./ OUT CAME THE SUN/ AND DRIED UP ALL THE
RAIN/ AND THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER/ WENT UP THE SPOUT AGAIN.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): MONOLOGUE BABY TALK ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 09-27-1968
AUTOGRAPH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; REMEMBER ME (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
REMEMBER THE BOY OF EYES OF GRAY
WHO KISSED YOU ONCE AND TURNED AWAY.
REMEMBER THE BOY OF EYES OF BROWN
WHO KISSED YOU ONCE AND TURNED YOU DOWN.
BUT REMEMBER THE BOY OF EYES OF BLUE
WHO KISSED YOU ONCE AND ASKED FOR TWO.
Submitter comment: FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK 1963.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHAIN ; COUPLETS ; INITIAL ITERATION ; REPETITION EYE COLOR ; RHYME: AABBCC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 01-00-1963
ALBATROSS (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; BAD LUCK: BIRD (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
THE ALBATROSS THAT HOVERS AROUND A SHIP BRINGS BAD LUCK AND
TO KILL THE ALBATROSS WILL ALSO BRING BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLED THIS ITEM FROM SEVERAL AREAS BUT PARTICULARLY
FROM A POEM BY COLRIDGE.
Where learned: REMEMBERS HEARING OF THIS LEGEND
Keyword(s): COLERIDGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
SCOTS SUPERSTITION (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; BAD LUCK: NEW YEARS (CLASSIFIERS TITLE)
NEVER LET A RED OR LIGHT HAIRED PERSON CROSS YOUR THRESHOLD ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY UNLESS THEY CARRY COAL WITH THEM OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: PAT HAND HEARD THIS FROM A NEIGHBOR OF SCOTS DESCENT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; HAIR COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42 |
LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD
THE DOGWOOD TREE WAS ONCE A BEAUTIFUL SHADE OF WHITE, HOWEVER, WHEN
JUDAS ISCARIOT HUNG HIMSELF ON ITS BRANCHES AFTER BETRAYING CHRIST,
THE TREE BLUSHED PINK. IT REMAINS PINK TO THIS DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD SOUTHERN LEGEND WHICH I WAS TOLD WHEN I LIVED IN
NEW ORLEANS, IN 1968
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
THE WERWOLF OF KOTTERN
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A VERY POOR MAN WHO HAD TWELVE CHILDERN.
HE LIVED IN THE TOWN OF KOTTERN. HE WAS SO POOR THAT HE COULDN,T
AFFORD TO BUY THE WOOD FOR HIS HOME. SO, HE STOLE THE WOOD AND WAS
CAUGHT IN THE ACT. OUT OF FEAR OF SEVERE BODILY PUNISHMENT, HE FLED
TO THE WOODS TO HANG HIMSELF.
SUDDENLY A STRANGER APPEARED AND ASKED THE MAN WHAT HIS TROUBLE WAS.
THE STRANGER LAUGHED AND TOLD THE POOR MAN THERE WAS AN ESAY WAY
TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE. ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS BECOME A WOLF.
HE COULD DO THIS BY CONCENTRATING ON THE DEVIL AND COMPLETING
IGNORING GOD. WHEN THE POLICE ARRESTED THE THIEF, HE WOULD
CONCENTRATE ON THE DEVIL AND WOULD IMMEDIATELY CHANGE INTO A WOLF.
THE POLICE WOULD RUN AWAY. THE MAN BEGAN TO ENJOY THE POWER TO
CHANGE INTO A WOLF WHENEVER HE FELT LIKE SCARING SOMEONE. BUT EVERY
NOW AND THEN HIS CHILDREN NOTICED THAT THEIR FATHER SMELLED FROM
BLOOD.
ONE DAY IN BROAD DAY LIGHT, THE MAN GOT THE URGE TO TURN INTO A WOLF
AND HE COULDN,T CONTROL HIMSELF. THE CHILDREN THEN KNEW THEIR FATHER
WAS A WERWOLF.
THAT VERY DAY THE FATHER DISAPPEARED AND HIS FAMILY BECAME
EVEN POORER.
Data entry tech comment: THE KEYPUNCHER HAS CORRECTED THE COLLECTOR,S SPELLING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT ONLY TO FIND PUNISHMENT. ; TRANSFORMATION: MAN TRANSFORMED FROM MAN TO WOLF TO SAVE SELF FROM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 10-10-1968