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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

THE SMALLER THE TREE
THE TIGHTER THE BARK
THE YOUNGER THE COUPLE
THE MORE THEY SPARK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COURTSHIP ; RHYME: ABCB

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: SPARKING FOR KISSING AND HUGGING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: 11-05-1967

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL

THOUGH YOUR TASKS ARE MANY
AND YOUR REWARDS ARE FEW
REMEMBER THAT THE MIGHTY OAK
WAS ONCE A NUT LIKE YOU}

Submitter comment: ENTRY DATED MARCH 8, 1962

Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; PUN: ON NUT ; QUATRAIN ; SIMILE: COMPARISON TO A NUT. ; SURPRISE ENDING

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; INSULT ; METER: ; SLANG--NUT ; UNREWARDED EFFORT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 03-08-1962

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

WHEN YOU ARE MARRIED AND EATING HAM,
THINK OF ME AND MY OLD MAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): INSTRUCTIONS ; RHYME: AA ; SLANG: OLD MAN FOR ; SLANT RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1933

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED
AND YOUR OLD MAN GETS CROSS,
PICK UP THE BROOM
AND SAY I'M BOSS.

Where learned: KANSAS ; HUDSON

James Callow Keyword(s): INSTRUCTIONS ; RHYME: ABCB ; SLANG OLD MAN FOR HUSBAND.

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1933

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

NOVEMBER 10, 1937
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED,
DON'T MARRY A FOOL.
MARRY A BOY
FROM CARY SCHOOL. MM
2 DAY
+2 MORROW
4 GET ME NOT
GERALDINE RITCHIE MM
DECEMBER 8, 1937
IF I WAS A LITTLE RABBIT
AND HAD A TAIL OF FLUFF,
I WOULD SIT ON YOUR DRESSER
AND BE YOUR POWDER PUFF.
ELEANOR FODOR MM
DECEMBER 12, 1937
YOU MAY LIVE IN ITALY.
YOU MAY LIVE IN SPAIN.
BUT THE WAY I LOVE YOU BABY,
WOULD MAKE A BULLDOG BREAK ITS CHAIN.
YOURS TIL BUTTER FLIES.
GEORGIA CASH MM
FEBRUARY 7, 1938
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED
AND HAVE TWINS,
DON'T SEND TO ME
FOR SAFETY PINS.
SYLVIA GAZDAG MM
FEBRUARY 14, 1938
YOU MAY BE FRENCH OR GERMAN,
BUT MARRY A BOY NAMED HERMAN.
CAROLYN

Submitter comment: THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE WAS COLLECTED BY THE INFORMANT
WHILE A PUPIL AT HUGH CARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 6501 SOUTH
STREET, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE INFORMANT ATTENDED CARY
SCHOOL FROM 1931-1940 (KINDERGARTEN-EIGHTH GRADE) AND
ESTIMATES THE ETHNIC MAKE-UP AS 50% ARMENIAN, 20% HUNGARIAN,
20% ITALIAN, AND 10% OTHER (LESS THAN 1% BLACK).
"STEP-INS" ARE PANTIES. "TOYS", ACCORDING TO THE
INFORMANT, MEANS "I AM FOND OF YOU."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BABY FOR SWEETHEART

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing
Z210

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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RIDDLE

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR TONSILS REMOVED?
A TONSILECTOMY.
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR APPENDIX REMOVED?
AN APPENDECTOMY.
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN A WOMAN WANTS HER SEX CHANGED?
ADD-A-DICK-TO-ME.

Submitter comment: I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I DIDN'T EXPECT SUCH AN ANSWER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANATOMY

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: DICK FOR PENIS

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

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RIDDLE

WHY ARE MOST OFFICES CONSIDERED OVENS?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THEIR BREAD.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BREAD = MONEY

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 05-00-1990

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

A boy walks up to his father covering something up
in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered up in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"It's a bullfrog."
The father asks,
"What are going to do with it son?"
The boy replies,
"I'm going into town to trade it in for a bull."
A couple of hours later the boy comes back leading
a bull.
The next day the boy walks up to his father covering
something up in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered up in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"Its a horsefly."
The father asks,
"What are you going to do with it son?"
The boy replies,
"I'm going into town to trade it in for a horse."
A couple of hours later the boy comes back leading
a horse.
The next day the boy walks up to his father covering
something up in his hands.
The father asks,
"What do you have covered in your hands son?"
The boy replies,
"It's a pussywillow."
The father says,
"Hold on a second son while I go and get my coat. I'll
drive you into town."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LENNON

James Callow Keyword(s): Pussy = vulgar slang for illicit sex or sexy women

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1989

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

GREEN M&M CANDIES MAKE A PERSON HORNY.
CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS WOULD ALWAYS SCRAMBLE TO GET THE
PRECIOUS FEW GREEN M&M'S IN A BAG OF THE CANDIES SO THAT
THEY MIGHT HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING OR STAYING WITH A MATE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Keyword(s): APHRODISIAC ; CANDY ; COLOR ; Green ; Sexuality ; Urban Legend

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXUALLY AROUSED = HORNY ; SLANG

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 00001976CA

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Language

Slang Expressions:

Op Yop Talk. It's a slang expression which I recently learned. All the letters of the alphabet except the vowels (a,e,i,o,u) and you put an OP at the end of the letter. Such as: STOP - you would say in Op Talk: Sop Top O Pop

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

Where learned: SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL

Keyword(s): Language ; SECRET ; SLANG ; Vernacular ; Vocabulary

James Callow Keyword(s): Slang Expressions

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Vocabulary

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WORD ORIGIN

MR. FINK AND HIS BEST FRIEND THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH THE
SAME GIRL AND IN TURN THIS GIRL WAS IN LOVE WITH BOTH
OF THEM, SO THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE A BOW AND
ARROW DUEL OVER HER. MR. FINK ASKED HIS FRIEND TO PUT
AN APPLE ON HIS HEAD AND HE WOULD PUT ONE ON HIS AND WHO
EVER COULD SHOOT THE APPLE OFF WOULD WIN THE GIRL. AND
MR. FINK, THE BASTARD, SHOT FIRST AND HIT HIS FRIEND
RIGHT HERE (POINTS BETWEEN THE EYES). AND THEY JUST
ADDED THE "RAT" TO "FINK" AND THAT MEANS TO DO YOUR
FRIEND IN.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK

James Callow Keyword(s): RATFINK--SLANG

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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FAR OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 105

Keyword(s): SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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PEACE WITH A LITTLE
PIECE ON SIDE.

Data entry tech comment: DIAGRAM OF HAND GESTURE ON 5 X 8 CARD: THUMB AND RING

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): INTERCOURSE=PIECE ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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A PARTICULARLY OBSCENE GESTURE OF ITALIAN ORIGIN IS
USED WHEN ONE WISHES TO TELL A PERSON TO "GO GET
SCREWED!" THIS IS DONE BY HITTING THE BICEP
OF YOUR RIGHT ARM WITH THE PALM OF YOUR LEFT
HAND AND AT THE SAME TIME RAISING YOUR RIGHT
FOREARM UPWARDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; FAMILY DINING ROOM

Keyword(s): SCREWED=SLANG FOR INTERCOURSE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 10-15-1967

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I HAVE OBSERVED THIS GESTURE USED IN EVERY PART OF THE
COUNTRY AND IN EACH INSTANCE THE MANNER IN WHICH IT
WAS GIVEN AND THE INTENDED MEANING WERE THE SAME.
THE GESTURE IS CALLED EITHER SHOOTING THE BIRD
OR GIVING THE FINGER. THE GESTURE IS GIVEN BY
CLOSING THE FIST AND EXTENDING THE MIDDLE FINGER.
WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THE GESTURE MEANS "FUCK YOU"
TO THE PERSON IT IS GIVEN TO. I MYSELF KNOW THAT
THIS GESTURE HAS BEEN AROUND POPULARLY FOR AT
LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): INSULT ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS

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FINGERNAIL OF THUMB SNAPPED FROM A FRONT UPPER
TOOTH MEANS "FUCK YOU."

Submitter comment: PARDON MY "FRENCH."

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): FRENCH=FOUL LANGUAGE ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 12-00-1971

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CASINO WORKERS USE GESTURES: FINGERTIPS TOUCHING
TABLE MEANS "THERE'S A CHISLER HERE;" A FINGER BEHIND
THE EAR IS A DISTRESS CALL FOR THE HEAD MAN; CROSSED
INDEX AND THIRD FINGER MEANS "PLEASE TAKE OVER;"
PALM AND FINGERS EXTENDED DOWNWARD MEANS "THEY ARE
CLEANED OUT."

Where learned: BOOK

Keyword(s): SLANG: CLEANED OUT: OUT OF MONEY.

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
SPEECH -- Underworld
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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CRUCIAL MOMENT OF LIFE CUSTOM

WHEN A FRATERNITY BROTHER OF MY FRATERNITY GETS MARRIED,
GRADUATES, OR GETS PINNED, WE TOAST HIM BY INTERLOCKING
OUR ARMS WITH THE DRINKS IN OUR HANDS, WE CLINK THE
GLASSES BACKWARDS AND CHUG THE DRINK.

Submitter comment: HE COMMENTS THAT THIS PROBABLY SOUNDS STUPID, BUT
THEY ALWAYS DO IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SLANG: CHUG=DRINK IT ALL AT ONCE.

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
Food Drink -- Drink
SPEECH -- Drinking

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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Poor Wording

A number of GI's in England during the war decided to hold a horse race to keep up the morale of the base. For some reason they were short of active animals for the event. Now it happened that the local parish priest had a donkey and they obtained his permission to use it to make up the field. The donkey to the surprise of everyone came in third in the first race. Where upon the camp newspaper came out with the headline "Padre's Ass Shows."

This naturally caused no small scandal among the people of the parish and eventually reached the bishop. However, when called to ask about it by the bishop the padre managed to mollify the good man by explaining it was only an American slang expression. The next day a race was held and the donkey came in first. The paper then announced "Padre's Ass Out in Front."

This called for further episcopal disapproval, but again the padre succeeded in mollifying the bishop. The third day's race the donkey finished second and the paper reported "Padre's Ass back in Place." This was the last straw for the bishop and he ordered the priest to withdraw the animal from the race. The camp then came forth with the sad news: "Bishop Scratches Padre's Ass."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [ B667 ] modified: the number zero is written over the seven. Additionally, the entire BN is crossed out and replaced with B660.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Anecdote ; Culture Clash ; DONKEY ; European ; GAMBLING ; HORSE ; Jest ; Language ; MILITARY ; NEWSPAPER ; PUN ; RACING ; RELIGION ; SLANG

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
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Ethnic Joke: Black

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Ethnic (Black) Joke

5 Men are on the moon. Because of rocket engine trouble, only 4 can come back to Earth. The captain of the ship proposes a question to be asked to each of the men. If they answer correctly, they return to Earth. If not, they will be left there. He asks the first: "What was the worst sea-going accident of all time?" The crew man replies"The sinking of the Titanic." "Good!" the captain replies. "You have a place with me on the ship." He comes to the second crewman and asks, "how many people died on that ship?" The crew man answers "about 1100 people, sir." "Good!" The captain says. "You have a place on the ship with me." He comes to the third crewman and says "allright nigger, name 'em!"

(Obviously, he didn't make it...)

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word Negro is written in the top left hand corner of the submission card.

Submission card was located in a pile labeled To Be Classified.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): DEROGATORY ; DEROGATORY SLANG ; Distasteful Jokes ; ETHNIC JOKE ; ETHNIC SLUR ; MOON ; NEGRO ; NIGGER ; RACISM ; Stereotype ; Titanic

James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C566
RIDDLE -- W566
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