Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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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
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
SHE TIED HIM TO THE HEATER.
AND EVERY TIME HE TURNED AROUND,
HE BURNED HIS LITTLE SEATER.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS VERY POPULAR WHEN INFORMANT WAS IN GRADE
SCHOOL IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN) IN THE 30S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY ; SEATER=BUTTOCKS
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
THE DOCTOR WAS SURPRISED.
BUT WHEN OLD MAC DONALD HAD A FARM,
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS EYES.
Submitter comment: UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; NURSERY RHYME ; PARODY ; PUN QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABAB
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMP
SHE FILLED IT WITH BENZINE.
SHE WENT TO LIGHT HER LITTLE LAMP,
AND HASN'T SINCE BENZINE (BEEN SEEN).
Where learned: RESIDENCE
Keyword(s): IAMBIC METER WORD PLAY ; PARODY NURSERY RHYME ; PUN ACCIDENTS GORE ; SURPRISE ENDING, NUTSHELL NARRATIVE QUATRAIN
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
OF THE BURNING OF THE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE TORTURED ALL THE TEACHERS,
WE HAVE BROKEN ALL THE RULES.
BEATEN MOM AND DAD IN A DIRTY GAME OF POOL,
AND THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC PARODY
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
NOW I'LL TELL YOU THE STORY OF JOHNNY MC GUIRE,
HE RAN DOWN THE STREET WITH HIS PANTS ON FIRE,
HE RAN TO THE DOCTOR'S AND FAINTED IN FRIGHT,
WHEN THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM HIS END WAS IN SIGHT.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PUN END=BUTTOCKS
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
OLD KING COLE WAS A MERRY OLD SOUL,
A MERRY OLD SOUL WAS HE;
HE CALLED FOR HIS PIPE, AND HIS OPIUM BOWL,
AS WELL AS SOME L.S.D.
Where learned: COLORADO ; FORT LYON
Keyword(s): DRUGS ; PARODY, NURSERY RHYME QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABAB CHIASMUS ; SURPRISE ENDING
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
THE BOY STOOD ON THE BURNING DECK,
HIS TRUNK WAS PACKED FOR JERUSALEM.
THE WIND BLEW ALL AROUND HIS FACE,
HIS NAME WAS AL METHUSALEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LEXINGTON
Keyword(s): PARODY ; PUN BIBLICAL CHARACTER
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-14-1969
PAUL REVERE'S DASH
TWAS THE 18TH OF APRIL IN '75,
HARDLY A MAN IS YET ALIVE
WHO REMEMBERS THAT FAMOUS DAY AND YEAR,
OF THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE.
UP THE ALLEY AND DOWN THE STREET,
A TWENTY-YARD DASH FOR THE TOILET SEAT.
Submitter comment:
SHE FIRST HEARD IT IN A SEVENTH-GRADE CLASS FROM ANOTHER
PUPIL AT OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL IN 1961.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; PARODY ; PARODY OF POEM: MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE ; RHYME: AABB
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
LYRICAL VERSE-CHILDREN'S RHYME
I WISH I WAS A LITTLE PIECE OF SOAP.
I WISH I WAS A LITTLE PIECE OF SOAP.
I'D SLIPPY AND I'D SLIDEY OVER EVERYBODY'S HIDEY,
I WISH I WAS A LITTLE PIECE OF SOAP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HIDEY=SKIN BODY
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
CHILDREN'S RHYME
JEREMIAH, PUFF THE FIRE,
PUFF, PUFF, PUFF.
FIRST, HE BLOWS IT GENTLY,
AND THEN HE BLOWS IT ROUGH.
JEREMIAH, PUFF THE FIRE.
PUFF, PUFF, PUFF.
Submitter comment: NO INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THIS WAS USUALLY RECITED.
Where learned: LETTER
Keyword(s): INCLUSION, SEXTET, CONTRAST ; INDIRECTION, CHARM, ADVICE ; METER: ROCHEE RHYME: ABCBAB ; ONOMATOPOEIA, REPETITION, REFRAIN ALLITERATION
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 11-06-1970
LYRICAL VERSE
MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOES-ES ARE ROSES,
BUT MOSES SUPPOSES ERRONEOUSLY,
FOR MOSES HE KNOWS-ES HIS TOES-ES AREN'T ROSES,
AS MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOES-ES TO BE.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS IN FERNDALE, MICHIGAN, FROM A YOUNG FRIEND
OF FRENCH AND POLISH LINEAGE, FORMERLY A CANADIAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL NAME
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC
MATHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THE BED THAT I LIE ON!
ALL FOUR CORNERS ROUND ABOUT,
WHEN I GET IN, WHEN I GET OUT.
FOUR CORNERS TO MY BED,
FOUR ANGELS ROUND MY HEAD;
ONE TO WATCH AND ONE TO PRAY,
AND TWO TO BEAR MY SOUL AWAY.
Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.
Keyword(s): DEATH PIOUS SLEEPING BIBLICAL ; PIOUS ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AABB
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
TOUGH, ROUGH AND HARD TI DIAPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; CONTRADICTION ; TAUNT?
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GRACE BEFORE MEALS
GOOD FOOD, GOOD MEAT,
GOOD GOD, LET'S EAT.
Where learned: MINNESOTA ; MINNEAPOLIS
Keyword(s): BLESSING
Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST INCREASE OUR BUST.
FOR FEAR, FOR FEAR, FOR FEAR IT WILL GO TO THE REAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
TAUNT AT TEAM GAMES
OE-SA-SA-SA,
OE-SA-SA-SA,
HIT 'EM IN THE HEAD
WITH A BIG KIELBASA!
Data entry tech comment:
KIELBASA=POLISH SAUSAGE
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHANT ; CHEER ; Kielbasa ; SPORTS
James Callow Keyword(s): CHEER
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse in Other Group of Folklore C800.500 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH ON THE THROTTLE,
DON'T PULL (DRINK) ON THE BOTTLE.
Submitter comment: A WARNING!
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE CAR ; DRINKING DRUNKENNESS
Date learned: 11-00-1971
COUNTING OUT
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, MORE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A COUNTING SONG PERFORMED BY A GROUP OF PERSONS
WHO HAVE EXTENDED THEIR HANDS SHAPED INTO FISTS TO A PERSON
WHO COUNTS AS HE SAYS THE RHYME. THE PERSON WHOSE FIST IS
TOUCHED ON THE WORD EIGHT MUST PUT THAT FIST BEHIND HIS
BACK AS THE PROCESS OF COUNTING CONTINUES. THIS IS A
GAME USED AS A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION TO SEE WHO IS
"IT" FOR A GAME OF TAG.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): ON THE COUNT OF EIGHT,--ON THE WORD "MORE"--PUT YOUR FIST BEHIND YOUR BACK.
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
FONTANELLA, FONTANELLA,
A QUA CI BEVE LA PECORELLA
LA PECORELLA DI SAN GIOCCHINO
VA CANTANTO LA LITANIA
DEL VIVO E DEL MORTO
PER NOI PATRE NOSTRO
PER LA MORTE E PER LA VITA
PER NOI SAN ANTONINO
LITTLE FOUNTAIN, LITTLE FOUNTAIN
HERE THE LITTLE SHEEPS COMES TO DRINK
THE LITTLE LAMB OF SAN JACOM
GOES SINGING THE LITANY
OF THE LIVING AND OF THE DEAD
FOR US AN HOUR FATHER (OUR FATHER?)
FOR THE DEAD AND FOR THE LIVING
FOR US SAN ANTONINO.
Submitter comment:
A CIRCLING MOTION IS MADE WITH THE INDEX FINGER IN THE PALM
OF THE BABY'S HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SAN JACOB?
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |