Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Able returned 152 results.
REMEDY
PUT STEAMED RED CABBAGE LEAVES ON SKIN TO CURE ECZEMA.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER SUPPOSEDLY CURED INFORMANT BY THIS METHOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VEGETABLE CURE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-16-1970
VITAMIN BELIEF
IF YOU EAT GREEN VEGETABLES
THEY'LL MAKE YOUR HAIR THICK AND GROW FASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VEGETABLES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-31-1971
LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO
( SONG ) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.
( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG COME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 3 CHANCES,
( SUNG ) I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST, SCOOPIN'
UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD--AND--
IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I TELL YOU, I'LL TURN YOU INTO A GOON " .
BUT THE NEXT DAY--
(SUNG) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO WAS RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST,
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.
( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG CAME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 2 CHANCES, ETC.
BUT THE NEXT DAY--
( REPEATED, BUT NOW WITH ONLY 1 CHANCE )
( SPOKEN ) FOO-FOO BLEW HIS CHANCES, SO THE FAIRY TURNED HIM INTO A
GOON, AND
NARRATOR 1 " DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MORAL IS?"
NARRATOR 2 " I SURE DO, "
( TOGETHER IN UNISON ) " HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW. "
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SANG THIS SONG FOR ME BY HERSELF, BUT IT ACTUALLY SHOULD
BE DONE WITH TWO PEOPLE, ONE ACTING AS NARRATOR AND THE OTHER AS
THE GOOD FAIRY. THE TUNE SHOULD BE SUNG TO THIS MELODY:
" G-G-G-A-B ( REST ) B ( REST ) - A-G-A-B-G-D
GGG-A-B-B-A-G-A-B-G " ( GUITAR NOTES )
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BRUNVAND C30 ; CANTE FABLE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG CANTE FABLE ; THE RABBIT THAT WAS CHANGED INTO A GOON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
LYRICAL VERSE DEATH
HERE LIES THE BODY OF SOLOMON PEASE.
UNDER THE DAISIES, UNDER THE TREES.
BUT PEASE ISN'T HERE, ONLY THE POD
PEASE SHELLED OUT AND WENT HOME TO GOD.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): EPITAPH COUPLETS DEATH VEGETABLES-PEAS METAPHOR PUN-SLANG ; RHYME:AA
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 04-02-1968
"READY"
APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE,
WHO'S NOT READY,
HOLLER "I"
Submitter comment: CALLED OUT BY PERSON WHO IS "IT" IN TAG.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COUNTING OUT
James Callow Keyword(s): FRUIT ; VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.524 |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
IF YOU PUT ALL THE PEOPLE IN A BAG YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO
SHAKE TO THE TOP.
Submitter comment:
IN BELGIUM, THE FLEMISH HAVE A HUGE BAG OF POTATOES IN WHICH THEY
SHAKE THE BAG IN ORDER TO GET THE BAD POTATOES OUT. THIS PROVERB
IS SAID IN REFERENCE TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL UNDESIRABLE.
Data entry tech comment: PROFESSOR CALLOW HAS MADE NECESSARY SPELLING CHANGES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VEGETABLES SEPARATION GOOD AND EVIL
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
IF YOUR HEAD IS WAX DON'T WALK IN THE SUN.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): HUMOR
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; STAY OUT OF DANGER IF YOU'RE VULNERABLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY MOTHER USED TO TELL MY SISTERS
AND ME THAT THE BLESSED MOTHER WOULD CRY IF SHE HEARD
LITTLE GIRLS SINGING AT THE DINNER TABLE OR WHISTLING
AT ANY TIME.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001950S
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND STARTING THE "TALK ON THE
PHONE ALL NIGHT STAGE," MY MOTHER WOULD YELL AT ME
TO GET OFF THE PHONE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO GET A
CAULIFLOWER EAR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VEGETABLES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001975CA ; 11-00-1985
WHILE BOB WAS VISITING IN PENNSYLVANIA HE HEARD A TALE
ABOUT A HILL AND IF YOU DROVE YOUR CAR UP THE HILL AND
STOPPED JUST BEFORE THE TOP, PUT YOUR CAR IN NEUTRAL
AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT ROLL BACK
AS IT SHOULD. SO BOB DECIDED TO GO AND TRY IT FOR HIMSELF.
IT WORKED! MANY SCIENTISTS HAVE GONE THERE AND TRIED
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN AND NO ONE
CAN EXPLAIN IT.
Submitter comment: HE IS MY STEPFATHER
Where learned: WHILE VISITING RELATIVES
Keyword(s): UNEXPLAINABLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B479 |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
"One day two brothers were fighting and beating each
other up, almost killing each other. The neighbor saw
it and moved in to try and stop the fight. The brothers
stopped fighting and beat up the neighbor, then they went
back to fighting. Lesson: Mind your own business and
keep out of family fights."
Submitter comment:
This is a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner which
retells a story her father learned from old (Italian)
relatives.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Fable, function, cautionary tale, warning
James Callow Keyword(s): Dramatic Irony ; Peacemaker
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001930S
If a woman or girl sings at the table, she
will marry a crazy man.
Submitter comment:
Informant said this happened to a friend of hers who
used to listen to the radio and sing while she was
eating. When she grew up she married a man who was
crazy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EATING ; FUNCTION ; Meals ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001940S
"Once a dog from a meat market stole a piece of meat and began to
run. On the road, he encountered a small bridge. As he looked down
into the water he saw a larger piece of meat. (Unknown to him, it was
just a reflection of the meat he had in his mouth.) As he opened his
mouth to grab the 'larger piece of meat,' he lost the piece he had.
Moral: Whoever wants more than he or she has loses the little he or
she does have."
Submitter comment: The moral loses much in the translation.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): animal fable
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 00001950CA
Entry filtered.
BELCHEWELL SOPHIE
THE INFORMANT CAN DATE THIS STORY IN HIS FAMILY AT LEAST
AS FAR BACK AS 1820.
ONCE THERE WAS A COW WHO HAD A PARTICULARLY POPULAR CALF,
LOVED BY ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS. THIS CALF'S NAME WAS
BELCHEWELL SOPHIE, AND EVERY EVENING AT DINNERTIME, THE
MOTHER COW WOULD CALL OUT:BELCHEWELL SOPHIE
COME GET YOUR INDIA LINEN
COME GET YOUR CALICO
AND THE CALF WOULD COME FOR HER DINNER. ONE NIGHT WHEN
THE MOTHER COW CALLED, BELCHEWELL SOPHIE DIDN'T COME.
NOR DID SHE COME HOME THE NEXT DAY. BY THIS TIME, THE
MOTHER WAS SURE SHE HAD BEEN EATEN BY ONE OF THE OTHER
ANIMALS, SO A CONCLAVE OF ALL THE ANIMALS WAS CALLED TO
DECIDE HOW TO FIND THE CULPRIT. FINALLY, IT WAS DECIDED
THAT THEY WOULD BUILD A BONFIRE AND ASK ALL THE ANIMALS
TO JUMP OVER IT, THE IDEA BEING THAT ANY ANIMAL WHO HAD
EATEN AS MUCH AS A CALF WOULD BE TOO FAT TO MAKE IT OVER
THE FIRE. SO THE FIRE WAS BUILT, AND THE ANIMALS LINED UP
TO JUMP OVER. THE RABBIT WAS FIRST AND AS HE JUMPED, HE SANG
(MUSIC WRITTEN ON THE 5 X 8 CARD):
I AIN'T NO LIAR AND I AINT NO ROGUE;
I DIDN'T EAT BELCHEWELL SOPHIE SO JUMP OVER ITT
AND OVER HE WENT. ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS FOLLOWED HIM
SINGING THE SAME SONG, EXCEPT THE WOLF. HE SLUNK IN THE
SHADOWS AND REFUSED TO JUMP. FINALLY WHEN HE HAD
EXHAUSTED THE PATIENCE OF THE OTHERS, HE APPROACHED
THE FIRE AND SANG:
(MUSIC ON THE 5 X 8 CARD)
I AM A LIAR AND I AM A ROGUE;
I DID EAT BELCHEWELL SOPHIE SO JUMP IN IT.
SO HE JUMPED INTO THE FIRE AND WAS BURNED UP.
(MUSIC WRITTEN ON 5 X 8 CARD)
James Callow comment: MUSIC ON THE 5 X 8 CARD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CANTE FABLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal |
Date learned: 08-12-1968
TO TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF BREAD IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-08-1973
EXPRESSION FOR GESTURE
COMMENT (USUALLY BY PARENT) WHEN SOMEONE REACHES ACROSS
THE DINNER TABLE:
"THAT'S THE BOARDING-HOUSE REACH!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): IMPOLITE
James Callow Keyword(s): TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Eating |
Date learned: 02-10-1970
WHEN IS ONION SOUP SURE TO RUN OUT OF THE SOUP
PLATE?
WHEN THERE'S A LEAK IN THEM. (LEEK)
Where learned: INDIANA ; PORTAGE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1971