Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND HAD NO SENSE,
THEY RAISED ME UP FOR TWENTY PENCE.
NOW THEY SAY I'M OLD AND GRAY,
AND THEY SAY I'M IN THE WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AGING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.325 |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
THE MONKEY'S DISGRACE
THREE MONKEYS SAT UNDER A COCONUT TREE,
DISCUSSING THINGS AS THEY ARE TO BE.
SAID ONE TO THE OTHER, NOW LISTEN YOU TWO,
THERE IS A CERTAIN RUMOR THAT CANNOT BE TRUE.
THAT MAN DESCENDED FROM OUR NOBLE RACE,
THE VERY IDEA IS A DISGRACE.
NO MONKEY EVER DESERTED HIS WIFE,
STARVED A BABY OR RUINED A LIFE,
AND YOU HAVE NEVER KNOWN A MOTHER MONK
TO LEAVE HER BABIES WITH OTHERS TO BUNK.
OR PASS THEM ON FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
TILL THEY SCARCELY KNOW WHO IS THEIR MOTHER.
ANOTHER THING YOU WILL NEVER SEE;
A MONK TO BUILD A FENCE AROUND A COCONUT TREE.
AND LET THE COCONUTS GO TO WASTE,
FORBIDDING ALL OTHER MONKS TO TASTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IRONY SARCASM ; JUDGMENT ON HUMAN RACE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.327 |
TOBACCO IS FILTHY WEED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): ADVICE OBSERVATION ; HUMOR METAPHOR OVERSTATEMENT ; KLOC, CHESTERINE ; QUATRAIN CHAIN ELLIPSIS ; RHYME: DOUBLE AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.327 |
AS A BEAUTY I AM NO STAR,
THERE ARE OTHERS MUCH MORE HANDSOME BY FAR.
BUT MY FACE, I DON'T MIND IT,
BECAUSE I'M BEHIND IT.
IT'S THE FOLKS UP IN FRONT THAT I JAR.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): SELF-CRITICISM
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
CURLERS IN MY HAIR AT NIGHT,
HEAVENS--WHAT AN AWFUL SIGHT.
I TOSS, I TURN, WHEN WILL I LEARN--
THAT BEAUTY ISN'T WORTH THE FIGHT!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; SELF-CRITICISM
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
DAN, DAN, THE FUNNY WEE MAN,
WASHED HIS FACE WITH A FRYING PAN.
COMBED HIS HAIR WITH THE LEG OF A CHAIR,
DAN, DAN, THE FUNNY WEE MAN.
Data entry tech comment: OLD DAN TUCKER?
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): COMPARE "OLD DAN TUCKER" ; QUATRAIN NONSENSE ; RHYME: AABA
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
ARMY VERSE
G. I. BEANS
G. I. GRAVY,
GEE, I WISH I'D JOINED THE NAVY.
Where learned: WEST GERMANY
Keyword(s): G. I. = GOVERNMENT ISSUE ; REFERS TO THE ARMY IN GENERAL..
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HERE LIES THE BODY OF SOLOMON PEASE.
UNDER THE DAISIES, UNDER THE TREES.
BUT PEASE ISN'T HERE, ONLY THE POD.
PEASE SHELLED OUT AND WENT HOME TO GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH PUN ; EPITAPH RHYME: COUPLETS ; VEGETABLES: PEAS METAPHOR SLANG
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
I AM A BEAVER,
YOU ARE A BEAVER,
WE ARE ALL BEAVERS,
WHEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE,
WE GIVE THE BEAVER CALL.
KISSING SOUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
WHO CARES? NOT I.
I KNOW HOW UGLY I ARE,
MY FACE IT AIN'T NO STAR,
BUT I DON'T MIND IT,
CAUSE I'M BEHIND IT,
IT'S THE FOLKS OUT FRONT GET THE JAR.
Submitter comment: FROM CHILDHOOD
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
Keyword(s): SELF-CRITICISM
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
O-I-C
I'M IN A 10 DER MOOD TODAY
AND FEEL POETIC 2
4 FUN I'LL JUST -- OFF A LINE
AND SEND IT OFF 2 U.
I'M SORRY U HAVE BEEN 6 SO LONG,
DON'T BE DISCONSOL8
BUT BEAR YOUR ILLS WITH 42DE
AND THEY WON'T SEEM SO GR8.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DIGITAL SPELLING ILLNESS ; QUATRAIN RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
JOHN AND KATHY SITTING IN A TREE,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
FIRST COMES LOVE
THEN COMES MARRIAGE
THEN COMES JOHN PUSHING A BABY CARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH VERSE?
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
LITTLE FLY UPON THE WALL,
HIM AIN'T GOT NO HOME AT ALL.
HIM AIN'T GOT NO MAMA TO COMB HIS HAIR,
HIM DON'T CARE!
HIM GOT NO HAIR.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY-TALK
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
TAUNT
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN
TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR PLANET.
Submitter comment:
THE TIME IS NOW FOR MEN TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE WHAT
HAS TO BE DONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): ANAPESTS ; GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY. ; PARODY: ON TYPING EXERCISE: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
(NAME) IS A POET AND DON'T KNOW IT,
HIS FEET SHOW IT; THEY'RE LONGFELLOWS.
HE'S GETTING WHITTIER AND WHITTIER EVERY DAY,
THE LITTLE DICKINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LEXINGTON
Keyword(s): PUNS
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-14-1969
POOR LITTLE FLY, SITTING ON THE WALL,
HIM AIN'T GOT NO FRIENDS AT ALL,
HIM GOT NO MOMMA TO COMB HIS HAIR.
HIM DON'T CARE, HIM GOT NO HAIR.
Submitter comment: VERSES WERE RECITED WITH A SAD TONE IN THE VOICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY-TALK
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
ONE LESS TEST
WHEN I SET MYSELF DOWN TO STUDY,
I PRAY THE LORD I DON'T GO NUTTY;
AND IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE,
THAT'S ONE LESS TEST I'LL HAVE TO TAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" ; PARODY: PRAYER TO GUARDIAN ANGEL ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
(BLANK) IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE RESEMBLES FRANKENSTEIN.
WHEN HE DOES THE IRISH JIG,
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE PORKY PIG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): INSULT DANCING ; PORKY PIG=WALT DISNEY CHARACTER IN MOVIES ; QUATRAIN RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GLORY, GLORY, ALLELUIA
TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER,
SO I HID BEHIND THE DOOR
WITH A LOADED 44,
AND SHE WON'T BOTHER ME ANY MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): VIOLENCE PARODY: GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND THE HOLY
GHOSTEST,
HE WHO EATS THE FASTEST GETS THE MOSTEST
RUB A DUB DUB
THANKS FOR THE GRUB
YEAH GOD!
Submitter comment:
WE USED TO SAY THIS IN THE BOY SCOUTS WHEN WE WERE ABOUT
ELEVEN OR TWELVE YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
Keyword(s): GRACE BEFORE MEALS ; PRAYER PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN