The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Play on Words

Thrones:

IN darkest Africa one time, there were some wicked men who terrorized the natives of the various tribes by exploiting them for their valuables. In fact, these men would go to the chief's hut and steal his throne, because they were usually adorned with gold and diamonds and all sorts of other precious stones.

Well, the word got around to one particular chief that thesemen were coming to his village. Not wanting his throne stolen, he had it hidden up in the attic of his grass hut. When the wicked men arrived, they only found a plain wooden chair as a throne. Thinking that this was not a worthwhile village profitably, they decided to leave. All of a sudden, without warning, the ceiling gave out, and the chief's magnificent throne fell to the ground in front of everybody. discovering this prize, the men packed it up and left the king with no throne.

The moral of this story: People who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones.

Submitter comment:

I heard this a few years ago, but I don't remember when. the informant has also slipped my mind. / I don't remember where or whom I heard this from.

Data entry tech comment:

Motif added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S570] crossed out/replaced with current classification

Written underneath the BN: [Shaggy Dog - Pun Type]

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): DETECTION OF THIEF ; Fable ; JOKE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG STORY ; Throne ; WORD PLAY

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

London Bridge:

London Bridges falling down, falling down. London Bridges falling down, my fair lady. Take the key and lock her up, lock her up. Take the key and lock her up, my fair lady. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Everyone says the verse, two people hold each other's hands and walk around at Monday and when Sunday comes they put someone between them, swinging their arms back and forth and throwing the person away.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C730.360, C523] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Submission card located in a pile marked C750 Jump Rope Rhyme

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself

Keyword(s): Bridges ; CHILDREN ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; London ; Playground ; Rhymes

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Method of Choosing IT:

To choose the "it" in a smae, the kids get together and someone would volunteer. Everyone eventually got chosen, and the ones that did not volunteer often enough were made "it" by mob rule. The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570, C570.500] crossde out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Playground

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "It":

This is a chant that the neighborhood kids used to choose the "it" in their games. It went: "1 potato, 2 potato, 3 potato, 4. 5 potato, 6 potato, 7 potato, or." The person who "or" fell on was out and the rhyme started again.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from his friends.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Playground ; RHYME

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "IT":

To pick the "it" the people playing would gather together and someone would say: "Engine, Engine, number nine. Going down Chicago Line. If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" 

The person who "back" was said to is out and the rhyme is started over.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BASEBALL GAME. ; CHILDREN ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Playground ; RHYME

View just this record

Ethnic: German

Tros, tros, tril,

Der Bauerhat ein Phil,

Das Philchen will nicht lauffen,

Der Bauer will verkaufen,

Tros, tros, tril.

This verse was sung by a grandfather to a small child. It accompanied a little game in which the grandfather sat with his knees crossed. On his right leg the child was seated facing the grandfather who grasped the child's hands. As the grandfather sings the verse, he gives the child a "pony" ride on his leg.

The verse tells of a farmer who had a horse, the horse would not run, so the farmer wants to sell the horse.

Submitter comment:

The informant remembers her German-born father entertaining his grandchildren with this game in Kenosha, Wisconsin about 30 years ago.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Loose (very loose) translation:

Tros, Tros, tril, The Bauerhat a Phil, The Philchen will not often run, the farmer wants to sell, Tros, Tros, tril.

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C520, C750] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; ETHNIC ; Fable ; GAME ; GERMAN ; HORSE ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG

View just this record

Entertainment: Games

"It":

One of several methods of determining who would be "it" in games like tag and hide and seek was found in the following rhyme:

Lincoln, Lincoln, I been thinking,

What the world have you been drinking?

It ain't bourbon, it ain't wine,

Oh My God, it's turpentine!

All the participants put one foot into a circle. One goes through this rhyme and eliminates the participants one at a time. The one who is left is it.

Submitter comment:

I often used this methid to determine who would be it in the games in Washington DC (1950's)

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C500, C750, C500.1; S555] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Choice ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Play ; RHYME

View just this record

Entertainment: Games

Hide and Seek Call:

When playing hide and seek, and the person who is it cannot find everyone, he calls out "Ally Ally in Free" and all those who are still hidden come out of their places to hide again for the next game.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the other kids in the neighborhood

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Bn [C524, S70] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Play

View just this record

Entertainment: Games

Jump Rope Song:

Two, Four, Six, Eight, teacher's got a bellyache.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from a friend

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDHOOD ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG

View just this record

Entertainment: Games

Jump Rope Song:

Catch me, Catch me, Catch me if you can.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with C750.560

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDHOOD ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; Play

View just this record

Signatures:

Don't let your meat loaf

Data entry tech comment:

entered by TRD

Where learned: Rhode Island ; PROVIDENCE

Keyword(s): loaf ; meat ; meatloaf ; PLAY ON WORDS ; Signature

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Method of Choosing "IT":

To choose an "it," all of the players put both feet in a  circle and let one person say; "engine, engine, number nine; going down Chicago Line; If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" The person could then respond Yes or No. The choice he picked is the number of feet more the count is advanced - (yes=3, no=no) and that person is excluded. This keeps up until only one is left.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from his buddies.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Diversion ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Play

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Song:

Changing Bedrooms Number 1/ Changing Bedrooms Number 2/ Changing Bedrooms Number 3/ Changing Bedrooms Number 4/ Changing Bedrooms Number 5/ etc. etc.

Two people are jumping at opposite sides of the rope. They must switch places on every number.

Submitter comment:

Informant learned it from her friends.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out/replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHILD ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Song:

Cinderella, dressed in yella,

went upstairs to kiss a fella

how many kisses did she receive?

(Hot pepper count until she misses)

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out/ replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Song:

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say goodnight.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from her friends.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN crossed out / Replaced with C750.560

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHILD ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Play

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Song:

Not last night, but the night before, 24 robbers came knocking at my door. I went out (jump out of rope) to let them in (jump back in) and here's what they said to me:

"Spanish Dancer do the kicks, kicks, kicks, kicks, (jump with legs far apart)

Spanish Dancer do the splits, splits, splits, splits, (jump up with legs extended)

Spanish Dancer turn around, round, round, (turn rope)

Spanish Dancer Touch the ground, ground, ground. (touch the ground)

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Song:

Mable, Mable, set the table. Don't forget the salt, but don't forget the red hot peppers. (when "red peppers" is said, the rope is spun faster.)

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from neighborhood kids.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out / replaced with current classification

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME

View just this record

Entertainment: Game

Jump Rope Rhyme:

Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge / Moms Gonna Have a Baby / Not a Boy, Not a Girl / Just a Plain Ole Baby.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with Current Classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Entertainment ; EXERCISE ; GAME ; Jump ; Jump Rope ; Pastime ; Play ; RHYME ; Rope ; SONG

View just this record

Language

Weather Verse:

Rain Rain, go away. Come again another day.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Dup. of WPP

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ;

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER

View just this record