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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Your search for CHILDREN returned 92 results.

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SPRING

THE AIR IS WARM AND THE SKY IS BLUE
THE LEAVES ARE GREEN_YELLOW
BECAUSE THEY ARE NEW.
THE FEET GO SKIPPING
THE BIRDS ALL SING,
THE WHOLE WORLD IS HAPPY
BECAUSE IT IS SPRING.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SINGS THIS WITH HER FRIENDS IN SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SEASONAL SONG ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Joy Happiness

Date learned: 08-11-1964

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ST. JOHN'S EVE

ON A PLEASANT ST. JOHN,S EVE
IN THE QUIET OF A PRETTY HILLSIDE
A MOTHER SAT, WHILE AT HER KNEE
A FAINTING DAUGHTER FELL.


O MOTHER, MOTHER, MY HEART ACHES
BECAUSE LEON MAY NOT RETURN,
MAYBE HIS HORSE WILL THROW HIM FROM THE SADDLE
OR AN EVIL PERSON WILL KILL HIM.
(TWICE)
O CAROLINE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
WHERE ARE ALL YOUR PROMISES?
YOU WROTE, "OH, COME, COME."
NOW YOU ARE IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER.

MY HORSE, MY HORSE, LET US RETURN HOME.
THEY HAVE NO BREAD FOR US HERE.
THERE IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE STREAM FLOWS,
THERE IS OUR BELOVED HOME.
(TWICE)

 

POLISH VERSION:

Wieczor Pogodny

Wieczor pogodny Swietego Jana
Ucich pieknego pagorka,
Siedziala matka, na jej kolana

Upada zemdlona corka.

O Mamo, mamo, serce mnie boli,
Bo moze Leon nie wroci,

Moze go konik ze siodia rzuczi,
Albozly czlowiek ubile.

O Karolino, cozes zrobiloa
gdzie twoje wszystkie zaklencia,
Tys mi pisala, ach przyjedz, przyjedz, przyjedz
Teraz zes w innych objenciach.

Koniu muj koniu, wrocmy do domu.
Tu dla nas nie maja chleda.
Tam na dolinie, gdzie strumyk plynie,
Tam nasza chata kochana.

Submitter comment:

MY MOTHER USED TO SING THIS SONG TO ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. SHE TOLD
ME SHE LEARNED IT FROM A LADY WITH WHOM SHE WORKED DURING 1926-1929,
IN VARIOUS DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS--WASHINGTON BLVD. BLDG., INDUSTRIAL
BANK BLDG., AND EATON TOWER (NOW BRODERICK TOWER).
THE LADY, SADIE MANDULAK, BROUGHT THE SONG FROM THE UKRAINE.
ON THE NOTE ON WHICH THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN, MY MOTHER WROTE:
"TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE." I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT THIS IS
THE WAY THE SONG IS REMEMBERED BY HER.
MY MOTHER USED TO SING THIS, IN ITS POLISH VERSION, TO ME WHEN
I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL. I REMEMBER SHE USED TO ROCK ME AND
OFTEN I WOULD FALL ASLEEP TO THE SONG. LATER (13 TO 15 YEARS LATER.
IN FACT.) SHE SANG THE VERY SAME SONG TO MY SISTER, AS SHE PUT
HER TO SLEEP.
 

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILDREN ; LULLABY ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23

Date learned: 05-00-1965

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1,2,3,4, WHO ARE WE FOR,
BUS DRIVER, BUS DRIVER, RAH, RAH, RAH.
5,6,7,8, WHO DO WE THINK IS GREAT,
BUS DRIVER, BUS DRIVER, RAH, RAH, RAH
9,10,11,12, WHO DO WE THINK IS SWELL,
BUS DRIVER, BUS DRIVER, RAH, RAH, RAH.

Submitter comment:

KIDS SING THIS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR BUS DRIVER TO GO FAST SO THEY
WILL BE AT CAMP FIRST.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: CAMP

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; l Chant ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Admiration Praise Adulation

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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BREAT BIG JARS OF GREASY GRIMMY GOPHER'S GUTS
MURDILATED [sic] MONKEY'S MEAT
CONCENTRATED BIRDIES FEET
GREAT BIG JARS OF ALL PURPOSE PORPOISE PUS
AND ME WITHOUT A SPOON OR A FLAVORED STRAW.
 

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

[sic] probably is "mutilated"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; CHILDREN ; Funny ; GROSS ; JOKE ; MUSIC ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 09-29-1969

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A LATE BATH

THIS IS TOLD TO YOUNG CHILDREN: IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR
BATH EARLY YOU WILL SEE THE WATER MOVING AROUND AS A GHOST IS
IN THE TUB.

Submitter comment:

TOLD BY GRANDMOTHER

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; GHOST ; KIDS ; THREAT ; WATER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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BOOGIEMAN BELIEF

WHEN I WAS A KID MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME THAT OLD UNCLE
GEORGE WAS THIS GHOST THAT LIVED IN THE BASEMENT AND
THAT HE WOULD COME UP AT NIGHT AND EAT ME ALIVE IF I WAS BAD.
(I USED TO HAVE A PICTURE IN MY MIND
OF EXACTLY WHAT UNCLE GEORGE LOOKED
LIKE. HE WAS EXTREMELY OLD AND DUMB, LIKE JETHRO.)

Submitter comment:

JETHRO IS A MUSCLE BOUND HILLBILLY OF A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW CALLED
THE "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): Boogieman ; CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; Legend ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; THREAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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LEGEND

IF YOU WERE A BAD BOY WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG AND YOUR PARENTS
COULDN'T CONTROL YOU THEY WOULD SEND YOU AWAY TO THIS OLD
MAN'S HOUSE WHERE HE WOULD BEAT YOU TO MAKE YOU LISTEN. YOUR
PARENTS COULD ALSO CALL HIM ON THE PHONE AND TELL HIM YOU WERE
BAD AND HE WOULD COME TO YOUR HOUSE IF YOUR PARENTS WANTED HIM.
HIS NAME WAS MR. SKEEZIX. TO GET YOU TO OBEY YOUR PARENTS WOULD
SAY: "DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL MR. SKEEZIX?"
THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU LISTEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): Behave ; Boogeyman ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Misbehaving ; Mr. Skeezix ; Parent ; Punish ; THREAT ; Threaten

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 11-12-1971

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BELIEF-WITCHES

IF A WOMAN ( SUPPOSEDLY) A WITCH HAS A DAUGHTER SHE WISHES
TO MARRY OFF, SHE WILL BURN A STOCKING AND THIS WILL BEWITCH
A BOY AND DRAW HIM TO THE DAUGHTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHILDREN ; DAUGHTER ; MAGIC ; Offspring ; Son ; Spell ; WITCHES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 11-20-1969

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SUPERSTITION PERTAINING TO WOMEN AND CHICKEN

A WOMAN MUST NOT EAT CHICKEN LEST HER CHILDREN BECOME
FLIGHTY HEARTED LIKE THE BIRDS. THIS ABSTINENCE IS REQUIRED
THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE NOT JUST DURING PREGNANCY.

Submitter comment:

THE SUPERSTITION IS PROPER TO THE BATOORO TRIBE OF ABOUT
100,000 PEOPLE IN UGANDA. THE SUPERSTITION IS DYING OUT
WITH INCREASED EDUCATION.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Batooro Tribe ; BEHAVIOR ; Chicken ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Consume ; Eat ; Fetus ; Flighty ; FOOD ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION ; Uganda ; Woman

James Callow Keyword(s): AFRICA ; ANIMAL ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SEXISM

Subject headings: Daily Life
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
Food Drink -- Meat Bird Poultry

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TO WARD OFF THE "COOTIES" SO COMMON TO ALL GRADE
SCHOOL CHILDREN, A GESTURE OF 2 FISTS TOGETHER WITH THE
THUMBS EXTENDED IS MADE.

Data entry tech comment:

DIAGRAM IS ON 5 X 8 CARD.

Updated By TRD for BN. Card Info Update is Forthcoming.

Where learned: DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Classroom ; COOTIES ; CUSTOM ; Fists ; GAME ; GESTURE ; Grade School ; SLANG ; Thumb

Subject headings: BELIEF -- School
BELIEF -- P670 P670.88
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 10-10-1969

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PREDICTING HOW MANY CHILDREN A FUTURE BRIDE WILL HAVE.
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS ON THE PRESENTS, BROKEN
PREDICTS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Keyword(s): Babies ; BELIEF ; Bride ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; FAMILY ; GAME ; GIFT ; MARRIAGE ; Newlyweds ; Offspring ; PREDICTION ; Ribbon

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Breaking of
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Use of Object Occasions Events
BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn

Date learned: 04-00-1980

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Entry filtered.

YOUNG NEGRO CHILDREN WERE ONCE TAUGHT NOT TO DRINK COFFEE
BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THEM DARK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ALABAMA, ASSUMED ; MONTGOMERY

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Coffee ; Coffee ; COLOR ; Dark ; Pigmentation ; SKIN ; SUPERSTITION ; WARNING

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR OF SKIN COMPLEXION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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