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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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DRUNK JOKE

THE ONE DRUNK SAYS TO THE OTHER DRUNK, "WE MUST BE
GETTING NEAR A TOWN." THE OTHER DRUNK SAYS, "HOW CAN
YOU TELL?" THE FIRST DRUNK SAYS, "BECAUSE WE'RE
HITTING A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS."

Data entry tech comment: ITEM PUNCHED AS IT APPEARED ON CARD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSURD ; ACCIDENT ; AUTOMOBILE ; DIOLOGUE ; DRINKING ; DRUNKS ; HUMOR

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 09-16-1969

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THE BEAVER FAMILY

PAPA BEAVER WAS SAYING GRACE BEFORE SUPPER:
"GOD BLESS MAMA DAM, PAPA DAM, BROTHER DAM, SISTER DAM..."
BABY DAM INTERRUPTED HIM--
"GOD BLESS THE WHOLE DAM FAMILY!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; DAMN ; HUMOR ; PRAYERS ; TALKING ANIMALS ; WORD PLAY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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LEARNING HOW TO COOK

DURING CAVEMEN DAYS, A BOY WAS RUNNING AROUND THE FIRE WITH A
PIECE OF RAW MEAT HANGING ON A STICK. HE ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED
THE MEAT INTO THE FIRE. HE WAS SO HUNGRY, HE DIDN'T WANT
THE MEAT TO GO TO WASTE SO HE RESCUED IT FROM THE FLAMES.
HE THEN BEGAN TO EAT THE "COOKED" MEAT. HE THOUGHT IT WAS
DELICIOUS} AND THAT IS HOW MAN LEARNED THE VALUE OF EATING
THEIR FOOD COOKED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CAVEMEN ; COOKING ; FIRE ; FOOD ; MYTH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: 02-18-1970

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SHAGGY DOG TALE

ONCE THERE WAS THIS MAN WHO HAD A DOG THAT COULD TALK. HE TOOK THIS
DOG TO THE LOCAL TAVERN AND BEGAN TO BRAG ABOUT HIS TALKING DOG.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT" SAID THE BARTENDER. "YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
PROVE IT" SAID ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS. "ALL RIGHT" SAID THE MAN
TURNING TO HIS DOG, "WHO WAS THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER IN
HISTORY?" HE ASKED THE DOG. THE DOG REPLIED, "ROOF, ROOF."
UPON HEARING THIS THE PEOPLE IN THE BAR GOT PRETTY MAD AND
THREW THE MAN AND HIS DOG OUT ONTO THE STREET. CONFUSED,
THE DOG LOOKED UP TO HIS MASTER AND ASKED, "WAS IT WILLIE MAYS?"

Submitter comment: TOLD IN CAJUN DIALECT ON A JUSTIN WILSON RECORD

Data entry tech comment: CHAPTER 7 IN "WITCRACKS BY ALVIN SCHWARTZ
SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; DOG ; HUMOR ; SURPRISE ENDING ; TALKING ANIMALS ; TAVERN

James Callow Keyword(s): BABE RUTH

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- B203
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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IRISH LEPRECHAUN SONG

-WHERE IS YOUR PURSE
-THE PURSE, HE SAID, IT'S IN HER HAND,
THAT LADY BY YOUR SIDE
-I TURNED TO LOOK, THE ELF WAS OFF,
AND WHAT WAS I TO DO.
I LAUGHED TO THINK OF THE FOOL I'D BEEN,
AND THE FAIRIE IS LAUGHING TOO.

Submitter comment: THE FIRST AND THIRD VERSES ARE SUNG BY THE NARRATOR WHILE THE
SECOND VERSE IS SUNG BY THE LEPRECHAUN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): BLINKING TABU

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome

Date learned: 11-22-1979

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Entry filtered.

AH SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE CREATOR WAS MAKING THE WORLD, HE CALLED
MAN ASIDE AND BESTOWED UPON HIM 20 YEARS OF NORMAL SEX LIFE.
MAN WAS HORRIFIED} ONLY 20 YEARS OF NORMAL SEX LIFE? BUT THE
CREATOR WOULDN'T BUDGE. THAT WAS ALL HE WOULD GIVE HIM. THEN
HE CALLED THE MONKEY AND GAVE HIM 20 YEARS. BUT I DON'T NEED 20
YEARS, 10 IS ENOUGH, PROTESTED THE MONKEY. MAN SPOKE UP AND SAID,
CAN I HAVE HIS OTHER 10 YEARS? THE MONKEY GRACIOUSLY AGREED.
NEXT HE CALLED THE LION AND GAVE HIM 20 YEARS, BUT HE, TOO, NEEDED
ONLY 10 AND MAN AGAIN ASKED, CAN I HAVE THE OTHER 10? AND THE LION
ROARED, OF COURSE. ALONG CAME THE DONKEY AND HE WAS GIVEN 20 YEARS
BUT LIKE THE OTHERS, 10 WERE ENOUGH. SO MAN ASKED FOR THE SPARE 10
YEARS AND GOT THEM. ALL OF WHICH EXPLAINS WHY MAN HAS 20 YEARS
OF NORMAL SEX LIFE, 10 YEARS OF MONKEYING AROUND, 10 YEARS OF LION
ABOUT IT, AND 10 YEARS OF MAKING AN ASS OF HIMSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; RECEIVED IN MAIL

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN: LION AND LYING ; SLANG FOR MAKING HIMSELF LOOK FOOLISH (AN ASS OF HIMSELF). ; SLANG: MONKEYING AROUND FOR DALLIANCE.

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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TOAST

HERE'S TO LOVE AND UNITY
DARK CORNERS AND OPPORTUNIT_

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): DRINKING HUMOR

James Callow Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; TRIPLE RHYME

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

Date learned: 01-00-1971

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HERE'S TO THE TOP - - -
BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE BOTTOM,
IT WOULDN'T HOLD A DROP.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON

Keyword(s): DRINKING HUMOR

James Callow Keyword(s): GLASS

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

Date learned: 02-28-1970

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IRISH TOAST

HEALTH AND LONG LIFE TO YOU
LAND WITHOUT RENT TO YOU
A CHILD EVERY YEAR TO YOU
AND MAY YOU DIE IN IRELAND.

Submitter comment: ATTITUDE: TRUSTING

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT HER HOME

Keyword(s): DRINKING BLESSING WISH

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; IDEAL BIRTHDAY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 01-15-1972

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PROVERB

WENN DER VOGEL FRISST, SINGT ER NICHT.
IF THE BIRD EATS, HE CANNOT SING. (TRANS).

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER AND FATHER USED TO SAY
THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN TO ENCOURAGE SILENCE
AT THE DINNER TABLE AS WELL AS BETTER EATING.
INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN REGENSBERG, GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSATION TABU ; FUNCTION ; TALKING TABU

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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IF YOU HAVEN'T PUT SOMETHING DOWN, DON'T LOOK FOR IT}

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): TAKING NOTES

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-23-1971

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ISN'T IT ODD THAT PEOPLE WILL GET SICK DRINKING TO THE HEALTH
OF OTHERS?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DRINKING, TOASTS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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AN INDUSTRIOUS WIFE IS THE BEST SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER FATHER.

Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG

Keyword(s): MARRIAGE ; OBSERVATION

James Callow Keyword(s): BANKING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 11-23-1967

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ACTIVITY-ASTRONOMY

CORN SHOULD BE PLANTED UNDER LEO TO INSURE LARGE
EARS. MM
CORN SHOULD BE PLANTED UNDER GEMINI TO INSURE TWO
EARS PER STALK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM AN UNCLE, JOHN FURR.

Data entry tech comment: GEMINI=TWINS

Where learned: INDIANA ; GREENFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): LEO=LION, KING OF BEASTS. ; SYMBOLISM ; SYMBOLISM MM

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 11-23-1967

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VERSE

DOWN TO THE PRESS THE PUWICE GOES (QUINCE?)
AND'S PRESSED TILL OUT THE CIDER FLOWS
IT FLOWS INTO THE CIDER TANKS
MONSTROUS FELLOWS ALL IN RANKS. MM
THEN THEY THE BARRELS WITH CIDER FILL
AND FREIGHT TRAINS TAKE IT FROM THE MILL
THEY FREIGHT IT TO SOME DISTANT TOWN
WHERE OLD TOPERS DRINK IT DOWN.

Where learned: FAMILY JOURNAL

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; HUMOR ; RHYME DOUBLE ; RHYME: AABBCCDD

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink C855.443

Date learned: 11-08-1969

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

THE SMALLER THE TREE
THE TIGHTER THE BARK
THE YOUNGER THE COUPLE
THE MORE THEY SPARK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COURTSHIP ; RHYME: ABCB

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: SPARKING FOR KISSING AND HUGGING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 11-05-1967

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BLASON POPULAIRE

USING A FINE ITALIAN HAND.

Submitter comment: PROFESSOR'S QUERY: HANDWRITING?
COLLECTOR'S ANSWER: ESPECIALLY APPLIED TO COOKING.

Where learned: HIS HOME

Keyword(s): COOKING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 10-22-1968

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KNOCK ON WOOD

YOU SAY SOMETHING THEN KNOCK 3 TIMES SO THAT NO BAD LUCK
WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-31-1968

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FOLK BELIEF (LUCK)

IN GERMAN VILLAGES WHEN A MAN ENTERS AN INN HE MUST HIDE HIS FACE
AND SEEK OUT HIS FRIENDS. HE MUST THEN BUY ALE FOR HIS CHRONIES
(CRONIES) BEFORE THEY RECOGNIZE HIM. THIS WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.
IF SOMEONE ELSE BUYS THE FIRST BEER FOR HIM IT IS
AN OMEN OF BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; GERMAN BELIEF ; SOCIAL RELATIONS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 09-21-1968

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BELIEF

IN UKRAINE, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A PERSON SPEAKS OF HIS OWN GOOD
FORTUNE, HE SHOULD AFTERWARDS KNOCK THREE TIMES ON SOME RAW,
UNFINISHED WOOD SO HIS LUCK WON'T CHANGE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT COLLECTED INFORMATION PASSED ON BY GRANDPARENTS IN UKRAINE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD ; UKRAINIAN BELIEF

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-01-1967

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