The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HELLOW OPERATOR, GIVE ME NUMBER NINE/ IF SHE DOESN'T ANSWER, PLEASE
GIVE ME BACK MY DIME./ THERE IS MORE TO THIS BUT DON'T REMEMBER

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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HERE COMES THE BRIDE ALL DRESSED IN PINK,/ OPEN THE WINDOW
AND LET OUT THE STINK.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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HERE WE COME, WHERE FROM? NEW ORLEANS - WHAT'S YOUR TRADE? LEMONADE
GIVE ME SOME) NO) THEN GET TO WORK YOU LAZY BUM)

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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HI HO SILVER HOW'S ABOUT A DATE?/ MEET ME AT THE CORNER AT HALF PAST
EIGHT.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)

Submitter comment: This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained

James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman

Date learned: 00001943CA

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I'M A LITTLE DUTCH GIRL DRESSED IN WHITE./ THESE ARE THE THINGS I
SAY AT NIGHT: GOODNIGHT TO MY MOTHER, GOODNIGHT TO MY FATHER AND
GOODNIGHT TO MY BABY BROTHER.

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

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I'M A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL , AS PRETTY AS PRETTY CAN BE./ AND ALL
THE BOYS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE CRAZY OVER ME./ MY BOYFRIEND'S NAME
TO TOMMY. HE COMES FROM THE LAND OF SALAIMI./ WITH PICKLES ON HIS
NOSE AND FIVE BLACK TOES./ THAT'S THE WAY MY STORY GOES.

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

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I'M GOING DOWNTOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE./ I WON'T BE BACK TILL SATURDAY
NIGHT./ I'LL WHIP YOU BLUE, I'LL WHIP YOU BLACK./ ESPECIALLY YOU MY
DAUGHTER SUE.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I ASKED MY MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS,/ TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENC
HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE TOUCHED THE SKY./ AND DIDN'T COME BACK TIL THE
FOURTH OF JULY.

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

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I ASKED MY MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS./ TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENC
HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE TOUCHED THE SKY./ AND DIDN'T COME DOWN TIL THE
FOURTH OF JULY.

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

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1,2,3,4,5, I CAUGHT A HARE ALIVE./ 6,7,8,9,10 I LET HIM GO AGAIN.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I EAT MY PEAS WITH HONEY, I'VE DONE IT ALL MY LIFE./ IT MAKES THE PEA
TASTE FUNNY, BUT IT KEEPS THEM ON THE KNIFE./

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I GACE HIM BACK HIS PEACHES./ I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEAR./ I GAVE HIM
BACK HIS FIFTY CENTS./ AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I HAD A LITTLE TEDDY BEAR, HIS NAME WAS TINY TIM,/ I PUT HIM IN THE
BATHTUB TO TEACH HIM HOW TO SWIM./ HE DRANK UP THE WATER, HE ATE UP T
SOAP, HE DIED LAST NIGHT WITH A BUBBLE IN HIS THROAT./ I CALLED UP TH
DOCTOR, I CALLED UP THE NURSE,/ I CALLED UP THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGAT
PURSE.

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

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I HATE BOSCO, BOSCO HATES ME./ MOMMY PUTS IN IN MY MILK TO TRY TO

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I LIKE COFFEE, I LIKE TEA AND I LIKE THE BOYS AND THEY LIKE ME.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I LIKE COFFEE. I LIKE TEA. I LIKE----TO JUMP IN WITH ME.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I LOVE COFFEE, I LOVE TEA, I LOVE THE BOYS AND THE BOYS LOVE ME.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I ONE THE SNAKE, I TWO THE SNAKE, I THREE THE SNAKE, I FOUR THE SNAKE
I FIVE THE SNAKE, I SIX THE SNAKE, I SEVEN THE SNAKE,I ATE THE SNAKE.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALLSCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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