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THE MOON SHINES TONIGHT ON CHARLIE CHAPMAN [sic]
HIS SHOES ARE CRAKLIN FOR WANT OF BLACKNIN
AND HIS OLD CARKY PANTS NEED A MENDIN
FOR THE WANT OF SENDIN, FOR THE GONE AWAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): PARODY ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

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IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE, NO MORE,
IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE,
BUT HOW IN THE HECK, CAN I WASH MY NECK,
IF IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE.

Submitter comment:

I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A CHILD

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: CA12001965

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RHEUMATISM, REHUMATISM.
HOW IT PAINS. HOW IT PAINS.
UP AND DOWN THE WINDOWS, UP AND DOWN THE WINDOWS,
WHEN IT RAINS, WHEN IT RAINS.

[Sung to the tune of "Brother John"]

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT HEARD FROM HENRY DALE KRABBENSCHMIDT, A CHILDHOOD FRIEND
IN JAPAN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: JAPAN

Keyword(s): JOKE ; PARODY ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: NO DATE INDICATED

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THE FIRST MARINE FOUND THE BEANS PARLE VOO.
THE SECOND MARINE COOKED THE BEANS PARLE VOO.
THE THIRD MARINE ATE THE BEANS, BLEW A HOLE IN THE SUBMARINE
INKY DINKY PARLE VOO.

Submitter comment:

IN GRADE SCHOOL THIS SONG WAS POPULAR. IT WAS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF
THE FRENCH SONG.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; JOKE ; PARODY ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 11-11-1969

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I'M CHIQUITA BANANA AND I'M HERE TO SAY
GET RID OF YOUR TEACHER THE EASY WAY.
PEEL A BANANA AND PUT IT ON THE FLOOR
AND WATCH YOUR TEACHER FLY OUT OF THE DOOR.

Submitter comment:

THIS SONG WAS POPULAR WHAN I WAS IN GRAD SCHOOL.
THIS WAS SUNG TO THE MUSIC OF THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR CHIQUITA BANANAS
AT THAT TIME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): JOKE ; MUSIC ; PARODY ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 11-13-1969

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ELECTROCUTIONS

IT IS A COMMON BELIEF, REINFORCED BY MOVIES AND TELEVISION
SHOWS, THAT THE LIGHTS IN A PENITENTIARY DIM WHEN A CONVICT
IS ELECTROCUTED.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEATH ; Death Row ; Dim ; Electricity ; ELECTROCUTION ; JAIL ; Lethal ; Lights ; Penitentiary ; PRISON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BELIEF-WITCHES

IF A WOMAN ( SUPPOSEDLY) A WITCH HAS A DAUGHTER SHE WISHES
TO MARRY OFF, SHE WILL BURN A STOCKING AND THIS WILL BEWITCH
A BOY AND DRAW HIM TO THE DAUGHTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHILDREN ; DAUGHTER ; MAGIC ; Offspring ; Son ; Spell ; WITCHES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 11-20-1969

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FUNERAL CUSTOM

THE ST. AMOUR'S HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE SONG "NOW I SEE
HIM FACE TO FACE " PLAYED OR SANG AT FAMILY FUNERALS.

Submitter comment:

THIS TRADITION STARTED WITH MRS. ST. AMOUR,S GRANDMOTHER.
IT WAS PLAYED AT HER FUNERAL.
IT WAS ALSO PLAYED AT HER OLDER SISTER,S FUNERAL.
MRS. ST. AMOUR'S AUNT HEARD THIS SONG THROUGH THE BED SPRINGS
ON HER DEATH BED.
SHE DIED A SHORT TIME LATER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; Funeral ; RITUAL ; SONG

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial moment of life Life cycle C434.546

Date learned: 12-03-1982

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Don't eat "chittlings" (chitterlings) in the summer. This
would give you an upset stomach because too much pork in the
summer was not good for your health. "Chittlings are the
intestines of hogs.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

For eating pork only during months with an "R" in them, see
Puckett, Ohio, no. 6680.

Where learned: GEORGIA

Keyword(s): Chitlings ; FOOD ; Pork ; REGIONAL ; Seasonal ; Summer

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal

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HAD A LITTLE MONKEY,
SAT HIM ON A DONKEY,
FED HIM SOME GINGERBREAD,
ALONG CAME A COUPLE,
HIT HIM ON THE KNUCKLE,
NOW MY MONKEY'S DEAD.

Submitter comment:

THIS RHYME WAS AND STILL SUNG BY SYD'S AUNT MARGE USUALLY WHEN DRUNK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DONKEY ; DRINKING SONG ; Gingerbread ; Monkey ; RHYME ; SONG

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

Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950

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JUMP ROPE SONG

DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A PIGEON-TOED, PIGEON-TOED, PIGEON-TOED DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A BOW-LEGGED, BOW-LEGGED, BOW-LEGGED DUCK
YOU REPEAT THIS SONG UNTIL THE PERSON JUMPING ROPE MISSES
AS THE PERSON IS JUMPING ROPE HE OR SHE IS ACTING OUT WHAT IS SAID.

Submitter comment:

CHAIN SONG
INITIAL ITERATION
FINAL ITERATION
THIS DEFINITELY HAS A TUNE

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Donald Duck ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; JUMP ROPE RHYME ; REPETITION ; RHYME ; SONG

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

Date learned: CA00001963

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CINDERELLA DRESSED IN YELLOW

CINDERELLA DRESSED IN YELLOW
WENT UP STAIRS TO KISS A FELLOW
SHE MADE A MISTAKE
AND KISSED A SNAKE
HOW MANY DOCTORS DID IT TAKE? COUNT FROM 1 TO 15.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): COLOR ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; JUMP ROPE RHYME ; RHYME ; SONG

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

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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BELIEF

A DIMPLE IN YOUR CHEEK --
YOU ARE GENTLE AND MEEK
A DIMPLE IN YOUR CHIN --
THE DEVIL IS WITHIN

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): Cheek ; Demeanor ; DEVIL ; Dimple ; PREDICTION ; RHYME ; SONG

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; QUATRAIN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Use of Object P860.438

Date learned: 02-03-1970

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PROVERB

IF YOUR EAR RINGS,
YOUR NAME SOMEONE SINGS.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS PROVERB IN 1976. THE STYLISTIC
DEVICES OF RHYME AND METER ARE USED. INVERSION IS PRESENT IN
THIS SHORT PIECE. KEY WORDS ARE EMPHASIZED AND A CAUSE AND EFFECT
RELATIONSHIP IS PRESENT. IT IS AN "A = B" EQUATION. THE
COLLECTOR INTERPRETS THIS TO MEAN THAT SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT
YOU, IF YOUR EARS RING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GOSSIP ; Longing ; PREDICTION ; Relationship ; RHYME ; SIGN ; Sing ; SONG ; TALK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.477
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.400
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.582
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.584
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
BELIEF -- Use of Object P860.438
SPEECH -- Syntax

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 09-00-1976

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STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES,
BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME.

Submitter comment:

REPLY TO A TAUNT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; GRADE SCHOOL

Keyword(s): BONES ; Defense ; poem ; Reverse Taunt ; RHYME ; SONG ; Sticks ; STONES ; TAUNT ; WORDS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
BELIEF -- P870 P870.570

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Entry filtered.

KIND OF FOOD AND ITS PREPARATION: MEAT

ONE OF THE UNIVERSAL IMAGES OF THE NEGRO, IN PRISON
AND OUT, WAS THAT HE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT PORK. IT
MADE ME FEEL GOOD TO SEE THAT MY NOT EATING IT HAD
ESPECIALLY STARTLED THE WHITE CONVICTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PAGE 156 ; AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X ; GROVE PRESS INC

Keyword(s): Black ; DIET ; NEGRO ; Pork ; PRISON ; Stereotype

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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JAMES MILLER AND MYSELF JOINTLY PRODUCE TELEVISION SHOWS.
OUR COMPANY IS NOT REGISTERED ANYWHERE, THEREFORE I THINK IT
IS APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE SOME BASIC INFORMATION IN THIS
FOLK FILE. WE ARE THE "WIERD PRODUCERS" (SPELLING INTENTIONAL).
WE HAVE INTRODUCED MANY NEW CHARACTERS WHICH HAVE BEEN
SEEN ON CABLE CHANNELS ALL OVER THE METROPOLITAN DETROIT AREA.
WE HAVE A FEW FOLLOWERS, BUT MOST NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD
NOT PUBLICLY CONFESS TO LIKING OUR PROGRAMS. THUS,
TO PLEASE THE MASSES, WE ALSO USE THE NAME "POINTLESS PRODUCTIONS."
AT LEAST ONE OF US IS DESTINED AS A FAILURE, THEREFORE WE
EACH HAVE RELATED CAREERS TO FALL BACK ON: JAMES IS AN
ASTRONOMER AND I AM AN ARCHEOLOGIST. AS I'M SURE YOU CAN TELL
OUR HUMOR IS A BIT WARPED, BUT THAT IS WHY WE DON'T STAND OUT.
SOME ELITE PEOPLE ENJOY OUR SARCASM, AND THEY PASS IT
AROUND ORALLY. THEREFORE, SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IN ONE OF
YOUR COURSES, WITH A TWISTED MIND SIMILAR TO MINE, WOULD
SURELY COLLECT INFORMATION ON US.

Submitter comment:

TAPES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE WIERD PRODUCERS' ARCHIVES.
OUR FIRST NATIONALLY UNKNOWN PROGRAM WAS ENTITLED
"ROCKY ZERO." THE CRITICS LOVED THIS ONE. FROM THAT TIME
ONWARD, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER. WE KNOW THAT THEY
ARE BETTER BECAUSE FEWER PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM. THUS, THE
CRITICS HAVE RIPPED US APART ON OUR LAST FOUR ATTEMPTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Keyword(s): DRAMA ; Entertainment ; Funny ; Gag ; JOKE ; PANTOMIME ; Personalities ; RADIO ; SARCASM ; Show ; Spoof

Subject headings: Shadow / Pantomime

Date learned: 05-00-1984

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HOW GOD MADE "FLUTTER-BYS"

WELL, THE LORD HAD JUST FINISHED MAKING THE WORLD AND HE SAT BACK
IN HIS BIG OL' ROCKER TO LOOK IT OVER. "NOT A BAD JOB, IF I SAY SO
MYSELF." HE LIT UP A BIG, FINE CIGAR AND WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT IT UNTIL HE NOTICED THAT THE WORLD LOOKED KIND OF BARE. THE
FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THERE WASN'T A THING TO THE WORLD EXCEPT LAND,
TREES AND A LOTS OF WATER. THERE WAS EVEN MORE WATER THAN LAND.
"WONDER HOW I DID THAT," THE LORD SAID. "SEEMS TO ME I'D PLANNED FOR
THERE TO BE MORE LANDTHAN WATER." WELL, HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND
TURNED HIS MIND TO MAKE THE WORLD LOOK A BIT PRETTIER. "GIMME MY
PRUNING SHEARS," HE CALLED OUT AND ONE OF THE CUTE, LITTLE ANGELS RAN
AND GOT THEM. THEN THE GREAT LORD ALMIGHTY LEANED OUT OF HIS ROCKING
CHAIR, TRIMMED THE TREES, AND THREW THE TRIMMINGS ALL OVER THE EMPTY
GROUND. THAT'S WHAT MADE THE GRASS, BUSHES, AND ALL THE FLOWERS.
"NOW THAT DON'T LOOK TOO BAD," HE SAID AND LEANED BACK. "YESSIRY
I'VE DONE MADE A AWFUL PRETTY WORLD." AND SO SAYING, HE WENT TO BED
TO REST UP FROM ALL THAT WORK. THE NEXT MORNING THE LORD HADN'T EVEN
HAD ONE EYE OPEN YET, WHEN HE HEARD THE FLOWERS WHISPERING AMONG
THEMSELVES, "IT'S LONELY DOWN HERE"; THE OTHER FLOWER SAID, "WE
WERE PUT HERE TO KEEP THE GROUND COMPANY AND MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK
PRETTY, BUT IT SURE IS MIGHTY LONELY." THE LORD SHOOK HIS HEAD IN
DISGUST. "HAVE MERCY, FATHER. YOU GET THROUGH MAKING ONE THANG AND
AND THE NEXT THANG YOU KNOW YOU GOTTA MAKE SOMETHING TO GO WITH THE
FIRST. GIMME THEM LITTLE SHEARS, ONE OF YOU ANGELS, PLEASE." AN
ANGEL BROUGHT HIM THE TEENICHY PAIR OF SHEARS AND HE BENT OVER TO THE
EARTH AND STARTED SNIPPING LITTLE PIECES OFF OF EVERYTHING - THE SKY,
THE GROUND, THE TREES, THE ANIMALS, THE BUSHES, THE FLOWERS;
EVERYTHING HE PUT HIS SHEARS ON, GOT SNIPPED. "THE VERY IDEA OF
GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD AND IT AIN'T EVEN A DAY OLD.
THAT'S GRATITUDE." THE LORD HAD A FEELING HE WAS GOING TO BE GETTING
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD FROM THEN ON. HE WAS SO MAD THAT HE DID
NOT CARE WHAT HE SNIPPED - SNIP, SNIP, ALL MORNING LONG. WELL, WHEN
THE FOLKS LOOKED UP AND SAW THE TINY CLIPPINGS FLUTTERING AROUND.
THEY CALLED THEM FLUTTER-BYS. THE BLUE FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN SNIPPED
FROM THE SKY; THE YELLOW FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN CLIPPINGS FROM THE SUN;
AND THERE WERE THE LORD'S WHITE FLUTTER-BYS THAT WERE CLIPPINGS FROM
THE STARS. EVERY COLOR FLUTTER-BY YOU COULD THINK OF WAS FLUTTERING
AROUND.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS ANOTHER LONG NARRATIVE WITH A STRONG BLACK IMAGE, AS REFERRED
TO IN MY COLLECTION'S SEQUENCE NUMBER 731772-1; I GET THE
IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A BLACK GOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Butterfly ; CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; God ; NAME ; Origin ; PERSONIFICATION ; Tale

James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life
SPEECH -- Proper Name

Date learned: 00-00-1954

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ASTROLOGICAL BELIEF

EVERY TIME A SCORPIO IS BORN, A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HAS DIED THE
YEAR BEFORE, AND EVERY TIME ONE DIES, THERE WILL BE A BIRTH IN THAT
FAMILY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ASTROLOGICAL SIGN FOR PERSONS BORN 10-24--11-22.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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BELIEF-LEGEND

THE ESKIMOS BELIEVED THAT AFTER THE SUN SET IN THE
WESTERN OCEAN HE WAS PADDLED BACK IN A KAYAK THROUGH THE
NIGHT TO THE EASTERN HORIZON.

Submitter comment:

HEARD IN YOUTH BY INFORMANT.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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