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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Tongue Twister

Nonsense TongueTwister:

Howe many knees could a negro grow if a negro could grow knees?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Sense? None? Ambiguous?

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Knees ; NEGRO ; Spoof ; TONGUE TWISTER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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A BABY CONCEIVED AT NIGHT WILL BE BORN AT NIGHT, WHILE A
BABY CONCEIVED DURING THE DAY WILL BE A GIRL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; Born ; CONCEPTION ; MORNING ; Night ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; Time of day

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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A MOTHER SHOULD COUNT THE BLACK BALLS OF FIBER IN THE
CORD TO DETERMINE HOW MANY MORE CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Black ; COLOR ; Fiber ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; UMBILICAL CORD

James Callow Keyword(s): UMBILICAL CORD

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 08-20-1973

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MONDAY'S CHILD IS FAIR OF FACE,
TUESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF GRACE,
WEDNESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE,
THURSDAY'S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO,
FRIDAY'S CHILD IS LOVING AND GIVING,
SATURDAY'S CHILD MUST WORK FOR A LIVING,
BUT THE CHILD BORN ON THE SABBOTH DAY
IS BONNY AND MERRY AND GLAD AND GAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): CHILD ; DAYS OF THE WEEK ; poem ; PREGNANCY ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.542
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

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TO CURE A TOOTHACHE PICK THE TOOTH WITH A COFFIN NAIL,
MIDDLE TOE OF AN OWL, A SPLINTER FROM A TREE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING OR APPLY THE JUICE OF A PRICKLY ASH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Claw ; Coffin ; Juice ; LIGHTNING ; Nail ; Owl ; Prickly Ash ; REMEDY ; Splinter ; TOOTHACHE ; Tree

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 09-30-1973

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A SNAKE WON'T DIE UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN. THEY'LL SQUIRM
AND SQUIRM UNTIL SUN GOES DOWN, THEN THEY DIE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE

Keyword(s): Die ; Snake ; Sundown ; Tale ; Time of day

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)

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IF IT THUNDERS BEFORE SEVEN, IT'LL RAIN BEFORE ELEVEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE

Keyword(s): Eleven ; OMEN ; Rain ; Seven ; SIGN ; Thunder ; Time of day ; WEATHER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)

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IF A PERSON IS SERIOUSLY ILL AND NOT EXPECTED TO RECOVER,
GO BUILD A COFFIN AND SET IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. SO
WHEN DEATH COMES TO TAKE AWAY THAT PERSON, HE WILL SEE
THE COFFIN AND THINK THAT ANOTHER DEATH HAS ALREADY
GOTTEN HIM. DEATH WILL GO AND THE PERSON WILL RECOVER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE

James Callow Keyword(s): Coffin ; DEATH ; Fool ; ILLNESS ; Reaper ; TRICK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-14-1973

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BAD BREATH CURE:
A CUPFUL OF STRONG COFFEE WILL REMOVE THE ODOR OF
ONIONS FROM THE BREATH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BREATH ; Coffee ; CURE ; Onion ; REMEDY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 07-09-1973

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Entry filtered.

WHAT DO YOU CALL FOUR POLACK GIRLS IN A MUD PUDDLE?
THE BAY OF PIGS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Bay of Pigs ; ETHNIC SLUR ; JOKE ; POLISH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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THE LEGEND OF POT GOLD

THE TORIES BEFORE FLEEING NEW YORK, TOOK ALL THEIR GOLD
AND PUT IT IN HUGE IRON POTS. THEY BURIED THESE POTS IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND TO THIS DAY THERE STILL REMAINS SOME
TO BE FOUND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Legend ; MONEY ; Pot of Gold ; Tories ; TREASURE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mineral

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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I LIKE COFFEE,
I LIKE TEA,
I WANT ------(NAME)
TO JUMP WITH ME!

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD

Keyword(s): Coffee ; Jump Rope ; JUMP ROPE RHYME ; poem ; RHYME ; SONG ; TEA

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

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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There once was a professor who was very abrasive in dealing with the students. IOne day he even told one student to go to hell. Well, the student went to Dr. Payne and told him about it..."why he even told me to go to hell!" Dr. Payne replied: "well, if I were you, I wouldn't do it."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): HELL ; JOKE ; Professor ; Student ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

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Verse - Wit

Jungle Bells, shotgun shells
Robin laid an egg
The batmobile lost a wheel
and the Joker got away.

 

(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BATMAN ; Carol ; Christmas Carol ; Comic ; holiday ; Jingle Bells ; Pop Culture ; SONG ; Spoof

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

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WARDING OFF GHOSTS

GHOSTS DON'T COME IN TENS. WHENEVER YOU SEE ONE, SAY:
"TEN, TEN, THE BIBLE TEN," AND THEY WILL GO AWAY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMER DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THIS STRONGLY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BIBLE ; GHOST ; Haunt ; RELIGION ; Repel ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward Off

Subject headings: 686 First / Once / One / Newness
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 01-26-1972

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CHARMS AGAINST GHOSTS

IF YOU PASS BY A HAUNTED PLACE AT NIGHT, TURN YOUR POCKETS INSIDE-OUT
AND THE GHOST WILL NOT HURT YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GHOST ; Pockets ; Protect ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward Off

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 09-25-1969

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GHOST SUPERSTITION

SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH A FOREST YOU SHOULD HOLD
A PIECE OF BREAD IN YOUR HAND IN ORDER TO SCARE AWAY ALL THE GHOSTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON

Keyword(s): BREAD ; Forest ; GHOST ; Protect ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward Off

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 09-21-1969

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LE GNOMME ROUGE

THE CITY OF DETROIT HAS A FRENCH ORIGIN. BOTH CADILLAC AND
FATHER RICHARD GREATLY AIDED THE CITY'S FOUNDING. BOTH OF
THESE MEN WERE ADVISED BY "LE GNOMME ROUGE". THIS LITTLE
MAN HELPED IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS. MANY OF THE CITIZENS
SAW HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN 1806 DURING THE
DETROIT FIRE AND IN 1943 DURING THE RACE RIOTS. AT THAT TIME,
SOME CITIZENS SAW HIM, OPENLY SOBBING, WALKING THE STREETS
OF DOWNTOWN.

Submitter comment:

BILL GORMAN HEARD THIS, I WOULD THINK, FROM TRADITIONAL SOURCES.

Data entry tech comment:

SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Detroit ; FRENCH ; Le Gnomme Rouge ; Legend ; Lore ; The Nain Rouge

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARE THE GRAY CHAMPION OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 07-08-1964

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BELIEF

ON THE RADIO ONE NIGHT I HEARD A SCIENTIST TALKING ABOUT
U.F.O.'S (UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS). HE EXPRESSED BELIEF
IN THE IDEA THAT THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM WAS ACTUALLY A FLYING SAUCER
FROM VENUS, AND CHRIST, HE BELIEVES, WAS VENETIAN.

Submitter comment:

I HEARD THIS AT THE TIME WHEN U.F.O.'S WERE THE BIG THING IN 1968.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

The Star of Bethlehem, according to Christian Belief, is the star seen by the local sheperds on the night of Christ's birth. It also led the Three Wise Men from the East to Christ.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): Alien ; Broadcast ; Christ ; Planet ; RADIO ; RELIGION ; RELIGION ; Star of Bethlehem ; UFO ; Unidentified Flying Object ; Venetian ; VENUS

Subject headings: Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer
Observation
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Celestial body come to earth

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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TO CAUSE ILLNESS IN WITCHES

TO MAKE A WITCH SICK YOU NEED TO DO THESE THINGS.
GET THREE NAILS FROM A COFFIN AND STICK THEM INTO A SAUCE
OF BUTTER AND WINTERGREEN.
SAY THE WITCH'S NAME WHEN YOU PLACE
THE SAUCE IN A HIDDEN SPOT WHERE NEITHER SUNLIGHT NOR MOONLIGHT
WILL PENETRATE. YOUR WITCH WILL BE SICK FOR SIX MONTHS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Keyword(s): Coffin ; Harm ; ILLNESS ; Nails ; RECIPE ; WITCHES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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