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 NAME returned 152 results.
WELLERISM
BY GEORGE, SAID PAUL, WHILE SITTING ON THE JOHN. WHERE DID MY
RING GO?
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A WELLERISM-LIKE DEVICE SINCE THERE IS NO HUMOROUS
QUOTATION FOLLOWING. IT IS ALSO SIMILAR TO A TOM SWIFTIE, BUT
THERE IS NO ADVERBIAL PUN. THIS SAYING CONTAINS ALL FOUR OF THE
BEATLES' NAMES - GEORGE, PAUL, JOHN, RINGO - INCORPORATED IN ONE
SENTENCE. JOHN IS USED AS A SLANG FOR TOILET. GEORGE IS USED AS
A SIGN OF EXCLAMATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME (GEORGE) IN EXCLAMATION ; SLANG: JOHN FOR TOILET
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 10-00-1980
Entry filtered.
AUTOGRAPH BOOK JUNGLE
FLORIDA GROWS ORANGES.
CALIFORNIA DOES TOO
BUT IT TOOK OHIO
TO GROW A PEACH LIKE YOU.
Data entry tech comment: ANY STATE COULD BE SUBSTITUTED FOR OHIO.
Keyword(s): FOOD ; LOCATION ; PRAISE ; RHYME: ABCB
James Callow Keyword(s): NAMES OF STATES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 10-27-1968
O'LEARY'S BAR
TWAS A COLD WINTER'S EVENING, THE GUESTS WERE ALL LEAVING,
O'LEARY WAS CLOSING THE BAR.
WHEN HE TURNED AND HE SAID TO THE LADY IN RED,
GET OUT, YOU CAN'T STAY ANY MORE.
SHE WEPT A SAD TEAR IN HER BUCKET OF BEER,
AS SHE THOUGHT OF THE COLD NIGHT AHEAD,
WHEN A DAPPER PHI KAPPER STEPPED OUT OF THE CRAPPER,
AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT HE SAID.
"HER MOTHER NEVER TOLD HER THE THINGS A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD KNOW,
ABOUT THE WAYS OF COLLEGE MEN, AND HOW THEY COME AND GO--
MOSTLY COME.
NOW AGE HAS TAKEN HER BEAUTY, AND SIN HAS LEFT ITS SAD SCAR,
SO REMEMBER YOUR MOTHERS BOYS, AND LET HER SLEEP UNDER THE BAR."
NEXT TO THE GIN, IN SOUTHERN COMFORT, WITH HIRAM WALKER,
AND THERE WAS GRANNY SWINGING ON THE OUTHOUSE DOOR,
WITHOUT HER NIGHTY, AND GRAMPA YELLING MORE, MORE, MORE.
SHE WORE PAJAMAS.
Submitter comment: SLANG: CRAPPER FOR RESTROOM
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUNS ON WHISKEY NAMES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
YOU SHOULD NEVER MENTION A DEAD PERSON'S NAME IN VAIN
BECAUSE THEY WILL COME AND PUNISH YOU FOR IT BY HAUNTING
YOUR HOUSE OR BY PLAYING MEAN TRICKS ON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME TABU
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
"M'AN COCO POTE D'ENFER" IS A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN AN UNDERWATER
CAVE, AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT SHE ATTACKS FISHERMEN AND DIVERS.
Submitter comment:
SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN HER UNDERWATER CAVE, AND
WHAT THEY SAW WAS A HUGE TABLE FULL OF DISHES.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "M'AN COCO" MEANS "MADAME COCO". "POTE D'ENFER" MEANS "HELL'S GATE" ; SUPPOSELY THAT IS WHERE SHE LIVES. ; WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE NORTHERN EXTREMITY OF GUADELOUPE, AND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
RAIN RHYME
IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.
BUMPED HIS HEAD
ON THE HEAD OF THE BED
AND COULDN'T GET UP
IN THE MORNING.
Submitter comment:
THIS RHYME WAS SAID WHENEVER THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM. THE
OLD MAN'S SNORING REFERRED TO THE THUNDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR GOD: OLD MAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465 |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
ENGINE #9 TAG RHYME
ENGINE, ENGINE, NUMBER NINE,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN FALL OFF THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
YES, NO, MAYBE SO?
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS ANOTHER RHYME TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD BE IT IN A
GAME OF TAG. WHATEVER THE CHOICE WAS (YES, NO, MAYBE SO),
WAS SPELLED OUT. WHOEVER THE KING SAYER WAS POINTING
TO ON THE LAST LETTER WOULD NOT BE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR PERSON CHOOSING "IT" IN A GAME: KING SAYER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.500 SQ[ 84 SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
"O'LEARY'S BAR"
'TWAS A COLD WINTER'S EVENING.
THE GUESTS WERE ALL LEAVING.
O'LEARY WAS CLOSING THE BAR,
WHEN HE TURNED AND HE SAID TO THE LADY IN RED,
"GET OUT! YOU CAN'T STAY HERE NO MORE."
SHE WEPT A SAD TEAR IN HER BUCKET OF BEER
AS SHE THOUGHT OF THE COLD NIGHT AHEAD,
WHEN A GENTLEMAN DAPPER STEPPED OUT OF THE PHONE BOOTH
AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT HE SAID:
"YOUR MOTHER NEVER TOLD YOU
THE THINGS A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT THE WAYS OF COLLEGE MEN AND HOW THEY COME AND GO--
MOSTLY GO!!!!!"
NOW AGE HAS TAKEN HER BEAUTY
AND SIN HAS LEFT ITS SAD SCAR.
SO, REMEMBER YOUR MOTHERS AND SISTERS, BOYS,
AND LET HER SLEEP UNDER THE BAR
NEXT TO THE GIN,
WITH HIRAM WALKER,
IN SOUTHERN COMFORT.
AND THERE WAS GRANNY SWINGING ON THE OUTHOUSE DOOR
WITHOUT HER NIGHTIE
AND GRANDPA YELLING, "MORE, MORE, MORE!"
SHE WORE PAJAMAS.
Submitter comment:
WHEN THIS IS SUNG BY MEMBERS OF KAPPA BETA GAMMA SORORITY, THE
PARTS OF THE "LADY IN RED" AND THE "GENTLEMAN DAPPER" ARE
ACTED OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON BRAND NAMES OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
| Subject headings: | Shadow / Pantomime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Date learned: 09-00-1985
"DID SALLY RIDE OR WALK TO THE MOON?"
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AUTOGRAPH VERSE MAKING USE OF THE
NAME OF SALLY RIDE, THE FIRST WOMAN ASTRONAUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON NAME
| Subject headings: | Z210 |
Date learned: 11-08-1985
"DOES GEORGE BURNS WHEN HE SMOKES A CIGAR?"
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AUTOGRAPH VERSE USING THE
NAME OF COMEDIAN GEORGE BURNS.
James Callow comment: BURNS USES A CIGAR AS A PROP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON NAME
| Subject headings: | Z210 |
Date learned: 11-08-1985
DURING 1987, DETROIT EXPERIENCED A RASH OF TEEN VIOLENCE
OCCURRING IN EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER CITY
IN THE U.S. THIS EARNED DETROIT THE PHRASE:
"DETROIT, THE LAND OF THE SMOKING GUN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PLACE NAME NICKNAME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 07-00-1987
Yo have mo front 'n Katie Ben.
Submitter comment:
You have more "gumption" than Katie Ben. The story goes back
to the 1940's in Saint Thomas when there was a problem with
the congregation of a Methodist church. Everyone was afraid
to talk about it, including the minister, even though all knew
a problem existed. Katie Ben, a child, got up in church and
spoke out or took the "front." The informant has no idea what
the problem was at the time but that is where this saying came
from.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
Keyword(s): 'n = than ; mo = more ; Yo = you
James Callow Keyword(s): Effrontery Boldness Audacity ; Personal name in proverb
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
Willing is a good man; Able is a better one.
Submitter comment:
Being willing to try to do something is good but being able to
do something is better.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
James Callow Keyword(s): NAMES ; PERSONIFICATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
WHILE SITTING ON A HAY BALE AT THE 1989 MICHIGAN
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, A FRIEND AND I OVERHEARD A YOUNG BOY CALL
ANOTHER BOY A "FROGHEAD." CONTEXT: "WAIT UP, YOU FROGHEAD!"
BOTH OF US ENJOYED THE NAME SO MUCH THAT WE SPREAD IT TO OUR
FRIENDS. MY FRIENDS AND I STILL USE THE EXPRESSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Holly
Keyword(s): FROG
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL NAME FOR HUMAN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
I work with a teacher by the name of Penny Coin.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOROUS NAME
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 03-22-1992
Chin Tickler
I remember this little game my grandmother played on my face
and head. She would knock on my head and say, "head knocker", then
touch my eyes and say, "eye peepers," then pinch my nose and say,
"nose blower," then place her finger on my mouth and say, "mouth
chopper" and tickle under my chin and say, "chin tickler."
Submitter comment:
The two of us would continue the little game, laughing until
one of us would finally give in due to stomach pain from laughter.
I did the same with my children.
Where learned: Grandmother
James Callow Keyword(s): Names for body parts
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Date learned: 00001950S
Japan -- Abortion
In Japan, abortion and birth control are not allowed. There is a
strong concern for the spirit of the unborn. They have abortion
cemeteries for victims of abortion. In these cemeteries, there are
stone figures of babies, on which are placed little knitted caps.
These babies are called "water babies".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME
Date learned: 01-00-1990
IN ITALY, SAINTS' DAYS ARE CELEBRATED FOR PEOPLE JUST
AS THEIR BIRTHDAYS ARE.
Submitter comment: FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHRISTENING ; NAME DAY ; PATRON SAINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
Etymology
Origin of Name:
Hungry Mother State Park gets its name from the little boy who is said to have been found wandering through the park (which was at the time only pasture) crying and saying "Hungry, Mother." Later the child's mother was found dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): CHILD ; Dead ; ETYMOLOGY ; HUNGRY ; Legend ; MOTHER ; NAME ; Origin ; Pasture
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |