The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FROM GHOULIES AND GHASTIES,
AND LING LEGGED BEASTIES,
AND ALL THINGS THAT GO THUMP IN THE NIGHT,
THE GOOD LORD PROTECT ME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS RHYME WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARODY PRAYER

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HI HO, HI HO,
I KICKED MY TEACHER'S TOE,
SHE KICKED ME BACK,
O, WHAT A CAT,
HI HO, HI HO.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON

Keyword(s): PARODY ON SONG FROM "SNOW WHITE." ; TUNE OF "HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO"

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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HI HO, HI, HO,
IT'S OFF TO SCHOOL WE GO,
TO STUDY JUNK,
THEN TO FLUNK,
HI HO, HI HO, HI HO.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON

Keyword(s): PARODY ON SONG FROM "SNOW WHITE." ; TUNE OF "HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO"

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CHILDREN'S VERSE

I HAD A WOODEN WHISTLE,
AND IT WOULDN'T WHISTLE.
I GOT A STEEL WHISTLE,
AND IT STILL WOULDN'T WHISTLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): ONOMATOPOEIA ; PUN=WOULDN'T WOODEN

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IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.

Submitter comment: THIS VERSE IS SUNG BY A CHILD WHEN IT'S RAINING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTHROPORMORPHIC NAME FOR GOD. ; CHANT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CHILDREN'S RHYME

JEREMIAH, PUFF THE FIRE,
PUFF, PUFF, PUFF.
FIRST, HE BLOWS IT GENTLY,
AND THEN HE BLOWS IT ROUGH.
JEREMIAH, PUFF THE FIRE.
PUFF, PUFF, PUFF.

Submitter comment: NO INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THIS WAS USUALLY RECITED.

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): INCLUSION, SEXTET, CONTRAST ; INDIRECTION, CHARM, ADVICE ; METER: ROCHEE RHYME: ABCBAB ; ONOMATOPOEIA, REPETITION, REFRAIN ALLITERATION

Date learned: 11-06-1970

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LYRICAL VERSE, CHILDREN'S RHYME

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT,
FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT,
I WISH I MAY, I WISH I MIGHT,
"OH MY GOSH, IT'S A SATELLITE!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARODY ; SURPRISE ENDING

Date learned: 03-23-1968

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LYRICAL VERSE

THREE LITTLE ANGELS ALL DRESSED IN WHITE,
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON THE TAIL OF A KITE,
THE KITE STRING BROKE AND THEY ALL FELL,
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN THEY ALL WENT TO ...
TWO LITTLE ANGELS ... (REPEAT REST OF VERSE #1)
ONE LITTLE ANGEL . . . (REPEAT THE REST OF VERSE #1)
THREE LITTLE DEVILS ALL DRESSED IN RED,
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON THE END OF A THREAD.
WELL THE THREAD IT BROKE AND THEY ALL FELL,
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN THEY ALL WENT TO ...
TWO LITTLE DEVILS (REPEAT REST OF VERSE #2)
ONE LITTLE DEVIL... (REPEAT REST OF VERSE #2)
HELLO OPERATOR GIVE ME NUMBER EIGHT,
IF THE DEVIL GETS CONNECTED, TELL HIM I CAN'T WAIT.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED, DON'T GET UPSET,
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN, THEY ALL WENT TO BED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Keyword(s): HELL TELEPHONE

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

MATHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THE BED THAT I LIE ON!
ALL FOUR CORNERS ROUND ABOUT,
WHEN I GET IN, WHEN I GET OUT.
FOUR CORNERS TO MY BED,
FOUR ANGELS ROUND MY HEAD;
ONE TO WATCH AND ONE TO PRAY,
AND TWO TO BEAR MY SOUL AWAY.

Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): DEATH PIOUS SLEEPING BIBLICAL ; PIOUS ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AABB

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HERE COMES THE BRIDE,
ALL DRESSED IN WHITE,
STEPPED ON A TURTLE
AND DOWN FELL HER GIRDLE.

Submitter comment: RECITED

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARODY OF WEDDING MARCH

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MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
AND THE DOCTOR FAINTED.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): PARODY ; PUN

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MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THESE WHEELS WE TRAVEL ON.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): PARODY ; PRAYER

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
HOW SHE DID IT, I'LL BE DAMNED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NURSERY RHYME ; PARODY

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ROSES ARE RED,
VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
MY FEET STINK,
AND SO DO YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): PARODY

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GRACE

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,
AND OF THE SON,
AND OF THE HOLY GHOST;
HE WHO EATS THE FASTEST
GETS THE MOST!

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM SOME SEMINARIANS IN SPRING
OF 1966.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY OF PRAYER

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GRACE

RUB-A-DUB-DUB,
THANKS FOR THE GRUB.
YEAH! GOD!

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM SOME SEMINARIANS IN SPRING
OF 1966.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY OF PRAYER

Date learned: 00001966 SPRING

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BEATITUDE

BLESSED ARE THEY WHO SIT ON A TACK,
FOR THEY SHALL RISE AGAIN!

Where learned: LIBRARY

James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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SIGNATURE

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND HAVE TWINS,
DON'T COME TO ME FOR SAFETY PINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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RIDDLE

IT'S NOT ON LAND,
IT'S NOT ON SEA,
I'LL BET MY OLD HAT
IT'S (A) NOT (KNOT) ON A TREE.
WHAT IS IT?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRAVERSE CITY

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN

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