Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RHYME returned 1195 results.
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK THE DEVIL'S BACK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AA ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 11-19-1969
Belief: Children's Song
(1) DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
(2) IF YOU STEP ON A LINE YOUR MOTHER DRINKS WINE.
Submitter comment:
MY BLACK NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOORS TOLD ME THESE TALES WHEN I WAS A KID.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; Wine
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001960S
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK. STEP ON A LINE
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USED TO SING THIS WHEN SHE PLAYED HOPSCOTCH ON
THE SIDEWALK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Father ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): GAME SONG
Belief: Children's Song
WHEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET SOME CHILDREN WILL CAREFULLY WATCH
WHERE THEY STEP AND SAY, "IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK YOUR MOTHER'S
GOT A BROKEN BACK, AND IF YOU STEP ON A LINE YOUR FATHER DRINKS
WINE.
Submitter comment:
I USED TO PLAY THIS GAME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Father ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; Wine
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
Date learned: 00001958-00001966
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A CRACK (AS IN A SIDEWALK) (SIC) BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ASSUMED
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.533 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
Belief: Children's Song
If you step on a crack you'll break your mother's back.
Submitter comment:
Stepping on Cracks Superstition
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with C860.740
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Autograph Rhyme
Autograph Book Rhyme:
Don't steal this book, my honest friend, for fear the gallows be your end. And when you die the Lord shall say, "Where is the book you wtole away?" But if you cannot tell, the Lord shall cast you into hell. Whoever steals this book of knowledge, will sweetly graduate from Sing-Sing College.
Submitter comment:
The autograph book this is taken from is collected from the years 1929-1933.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
BN [C760] is crossed out and the word FlyLeaf is written next to it.
Submission card located in a pile marked [?]
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BOOK ; Glanshaw
Keyword(s): AFTERLIFE ; AUTOGRAPH ; FlyLeaf ; HELL ; Judgment ; PRISON ; RHYME ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): FlyLeaf
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Autograph Rhyme
Autograph Book Rhyme:
I pity the River/I pity the Brook/I pity the one /Who steals this book.
Submitter comment:
Submission is from informant's Junior High Autograph Book, dated 1929-1933
Data entry tech comment:
Motif and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C760] has been crossed out. The word FlyLeaf is written enxt to it.
Submission card located in pile marked [?]
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BOOK ; GLENSHAW
Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH ; BOOK ; FlyLeaf ; poem ; RHYME ; River ; Signature ; VERSE ; WATER
James Callow Keyword(s): FlyLeaf
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Mnemonic Device
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [ C750.534] is crossed out. Replaced with the words Mnemonic Device.
Keyword(s): Christopher Columbus ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Mnemonic Device
Memory Verse:
In Italian:
"Le Vocali"
Ah, che cose strombe!
L'A con due gambe;
L'E con tre braccia;
L'O tondo in faccia.
Curioso e L'U
Che guarda in su;
Ma il piu carino
L'I col puntino.
In English:
Oh, what strange things!
The A with two legs;
The E with three arms;
The O's round face.
Different is the U that looks up;
But the cutest one is the I with the dot.
Submitter comment:
The TIalian children use this little rhyme to help remember the vowels
Data entry tech comment:
Motif and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C534] is crossed out. No replacement
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): Italian ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; RHYME ; Vowels
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
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
| Subject headings: | -- .C750500 |
Entertainment: Game
Method of Choosing "it" for Games:
(Rhyme is chanted by one person who, at the same time, points to the children one by one. I will indicate when the person points by partially unerlining the corresponding words.)
Eenie meenie minie moe
Catch a rabbit by the toe
If he hollers, let him go
My mother told me to choose the very best one
O U T spells out goes you.
Submitter comment:
I learned this in my grade school days in Detroit.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570.560, C300.03] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAME ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Variations of "one potato, two potato" method of choosing "it':
(Rhyme is chanted by one person as all the children stand in a circle with both fists in front, thums up. The person taps each fist in the circle of fists, not neglecting his own. I will indicate the words correcponding to the taps by partial underlining.)
One potato, two potao, three potato, four.
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.
The first hit on more is put behind the back and the rhyme continues until only one fist remains, this person being "it.")
Submitter comment:
My mother learned this rhyme in her grammar school days in Detroit.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570.560, C300.021] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; POTATO ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
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
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
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
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Childhood Game:
When they were kids, they had a game called "Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back." They would run along the sidewalk but not step on the pavement cracks or they would "break their mother's back" and lose.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Entertainment, Tabu, Game, Childhood ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
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
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
Entertainment: Game
"Pony Boy" game:
Put a small child on lap. Child should be facing you. Bounce shild up and down by bouncing your own knees. Continue the bouncing and sing:
Pony Boy, Pony Boy
Won't you be my Pony Boy?
Marry me; carry me
Right across the lane.
Giddy-up, Giddy-up....
(gradually bounce faster - at height of speed, extend your legs out and let child slide down, saying:)
Whoa! Don't you drop him!
(slide child back up).
Submitter comment:
My sister taught me it. As a nurse in the nursery she used to do it with the children.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C524.360] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILD ; Entertainment ; GAME ; HORSE ; Pony ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
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
| Subject headings: | -- .C750520 |
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
| Subject headings: | -- .C750560 |