Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Imp returned 94 results.
ADVICE
GET THE CAGE BEFORE YOU CATCH YOUR BIRDIE.
Where learned: PENNA
Keyword(s): 9ALLITERATION ; ANIMAL ; IMPERATIVE ; PREPARDNESS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-13-1971
IT IS BAD LUCK IF SOME ONE GIVES YOU BABY ARTICLES AS SOON AS YOU
KNOW YOU ARE PREGNANT.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT HER HOME
Keyword(s): IMPLIED WARNING ; MISFORTUNE
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
BIRTH
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN SEES ANY FOOD SHE MUST BE OFFERED A TASTE OF IT,
OTHERWISE SHE WILL LOSE THE BABY BECAUSE SHE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT
THE FOOD ALL NIGHT
Submitter comment: ROMANIAN
Keyword(s): IMPLIED WARNING ADVICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
CORN
IF YOU PLANT CORN IN THE OLD OF THE MOON, IT WILL EAR OUT BETTER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE FARMING NATURE
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE IMPLIED ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-09-1968
Entry filtered.
AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL
YOURS 'TILL THE OCEAN RUNS DRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; PROMISE
James Callow Keyword(s): ASSUMED IMPOSSIBILITY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 04-18-1971
LIMERICK ON A FAMILY TRIP
THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL NAMED CHER,
WHO WAS ALWAYS BRUSHING HER HAIR.
ONE DAY PEOPLE SAY
HER HAIR BLEW AWAY.
AND NOW POOR CHER'S HEAD IS BARE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POEM THAT MY SISTER MADE UP WHILE WE WERE PLAYING
A GAME IN THE CAR ON A FAMILY TRIP. THE GAME CONSISTS
OF EVERYBODY MAKING UP A FIVE-LINE POEM WITH A PERSON'S
NAME IN IT. AT THE END THE PERSON WITH THE BEST LIMERICK
GETS A PRIZE OF SOME SORT. USUALLY THE PRIZE TURNED OUT TO
BE A MILKSHAKE AT MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPROMPTU COMPOSITION OF POETRY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
LIMERICK ON A FAMILY TRIP
THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL NAMED JULIE.
HER HAIR WAS TANGLED AND UNRULY.
HER MOM HAD IT SHORN.
HOW JULIE DID MOURN.
FOR THE MICE HAD NO HOME WITHOUT JULIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A LIMERICK MADE UP IN THE GAME PLAYED ON A
FAMILY TRIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPROMPTU OF POETRY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
LIMERICK ON A FAMILY TRIP
THERE ONCE WAS A BOY NAMED BILL
WHO SWALLOWED AN ATOMIC PILL.
HE STARTED TO COUGH.
THE BOMB WENT OFF.
THEY FOUND HIS HEAD IN BRAZIL.
THERE WAS ALSO A GIRL NAMED JANE
WHO ALWAYS HAD A VERY STRANGE PAIN.
SHE TOOK ONE OF BILL'S PILLS
NEVER KNOWING IT KILLS,
AND WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.
SO DON'T FOOL AROUND WITH A PILL,
UNLESS YOU ARE MENTALLY ILL.
FOR THE PILL THAT YOU TAKE
COULD BE THE MISTAKE
OF ENDING YOUR LIFE WITHOUT WILL.
Submitter comment:
THIS LIMERICK WAS MADE UP IN A GAME PLAYED IN THE CAR ON
A FAMILY TRIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPROMPTU OF POETRY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
WHY DID THE BLACK MAN WEAR A TUXEDO TO HIS VASECTOMY?
ANSWER. IF I'M GONNA BE IMPOTENT I MIGHT AS WELL LOOK
IMPOTENT.
Submitter comment:
I GOT THIS JOKE FROM THE MOVIE "SOUL MAN." IT WAS TOLD
BY TWO WHITE GUYS IN FRONT OF A BLACK GUY TO MAKE HIM
FEEL BAD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOTENT- USED INSTEAD OF THE WORD IMPORTANT TO MAKE ; THE BLACK MAN'S SPEECH SEEM BAD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- BLAC |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
Whenever we went camping, we had a certain
song we would sing around the campfire.
The ants go marching up and down, Hurrah, Hurrah!
The ants go marching up and down, Hurrah, Hurrah!
The ants go marching up and down,
And one of them stops to ...
this line is made up by someone and it must
rhyme with down.
And the ants go marching up and down and all around
and under the ground.
this keeps up till everyone has had a turn filling in
the line and then it starts over.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPROVISATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
It has been said that if you urinate in the middle of the
highway, you'll get a star (pimple) under you eye.
Submitter comment:
Everytime I saw someone with a pimple under his/her eye I would
think about this old saying.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Pimple
James Callow Keyword(s): Stye
Date learned: 00-00-1970
CATCH THE WIND
IF YOU HAVE LOST A LOVE, IF YOU CAN CATCH THE WIND
AND HOLD IT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO "CATCH" YOUR LOVE
BACK AND HOLD IT FOREVER.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): IMPOSSIBLE TASK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU GET CHILL BUMPS, A RABBIT HAS JUST JUMPED OVER YOUR
GRAVE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): GOOSEPIMPLES GOOSEBUMPS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Chills, shivering |
IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE HORNS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SATAN DEVIL IMPS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 04-02-1969
WITTY SAYING--THAT'S GOT AS MUCH CHANCE AS . . .
THAT'S GOT AS MUCH CHANCE AS A SNOWBALL IN HELL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): IMPOSSIBILITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 08-05-1968
SAYING: DIFFICULTY
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
Submitter comment: USED TO DESCRIBE A DIFFICULT SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): DIFFICULTY IMPOSSIBILITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 04-28-1972
THE LITTLE PEOPLE
IN IRELAND, THE LITTLE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE "BRAMBLE BUSH." NO
IRISH PERSON WOULD DARE CUT DOWN ONE OF THESE BUSHES FOR FEAR
OF OFFENDING THE "LITTLE PEOPLE." IF THE "LITTLE PEOPLE"
BECAME EVEN A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY OVER SOMEONE CUTTING DOWN
THEIR BUSH, THEY WOULD PLAY MEAN TRICKS ON THE IRISH FOLKS.
THE FAVORITE TRICKS PLAYED ON FARMERS WERE MAKING THEIR
MILK TURN SOUR AND NOT ALLOWING THEIR BUTTER TO CHURN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): ELVES IMPS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-03-1969
THE LITTLE PEOPLE
IN IRELAND, THE LITTLE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE "BRAMBLE BUSH." NO
IRISH PERSON WOULD DARE CUT DOWN ONE OF THESE BUSHES FOR FEAR
OF OFFENDING THE "LITTLE PEOPLE." IF THE "LITTLE PEOPLE"
BECAME EVEN A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY OVER SOMEONE CUTTING DOWN
THEIR BUSH, THEY WOULD PLAY MEAN TRICKS ON THE IRISH FOLKS.
THE FAVORITE TRICKS PLAYED ON FARMERS WERE MAKING THEIR
MILK TURN SOUR AND NOT ALLOWING THEIR BUTTER TO CHURN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): ELVES IMPS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-03-1969
TALE OF KISSING ONES ELBOW
IF YOU KISS YOUR ELBOW, YOU'LL TURN INTO THE
OPPOSITE SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOSSIBLE TASK
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Word Letter SPEECH -- Magical |
Date learned: 01-26-1972