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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Your search for HUMOR returned 352 results.

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"NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, A DOLLAR DOWN AND A DOLLAR A WEEK."

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

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

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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QUESTION: HOW DO YOU HIDE A ELEPHANT IN A CHERRY TREE? ANSWER:
PAINT HIS TOE NAILS RED.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-23-1972

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QUESTION: WHAT'S GREEN AND DANGEROUS? ANSWER: A FROG WITH A
GRENADE.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-23-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASTRONAUTS AND BUDDHIST MONKS?
A: ASTRONAUTS BURN FASTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SICK HUMOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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STOP MAKING LOVE AT (NAME'S) GATE,
LOVE IS BLIND, BUT NEIGHBORS AIN'T.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AA ; HUMOROUS PLAY ON PROVERB ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 10-10-1972

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PARODY OF A PROVERB

AN APPLE A DAY IS A PENNY SAVED.

Data entry tech comment: VARIANT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR? ; NONSEQUITUR? ; PARODY

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP, BUT IT HELPS.

Submitter comment: CORRUPTION OF THE FAMILIAR.

Data entry tech comment: VARIANT

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; HOME

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; PARODY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FRESH FISH

I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THE CRY OF FISH VENDORS:

(VERY LOUD:) FRESH FISH

(QUIETLY:) SOME OF THEM.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HUMOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life

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SONG

JOHN JACOB JINGLES IRISH SMITH
THAT'S MY NAME TOO.
WHENEVER WE GO OUT
THE PEOPLE ALWAYS SHOUT
THERE GOES JOHN JACOB JINGLES IRISH SMITH.
TRA LA LA LA LA LA LA.

Submitter comment: THE VERSE IS SUNG SIX TIMES. EACH TIME IT IS SUNG THE SINGER'S
VOICE BECOMES A LITTLE SOFTER (EXCEPT FOR THE LAST TWO LINES WHICH
ARE ALWAYS SHOUTED) UNTIL THE WORDS ARE JUST MOUTHED FOR THE LAST
SINGING.
HEARD IN ROYAL OAK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): HUMOROUS NAME

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

Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER

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RIDDLE

WHAT DO THEY CALL AN ICECREAM VENDOR IN ARIZONA?
A GOOD YUMA MAN.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): GOOD HUMOR MAN ; PLACE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-26-1967

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GERMAN SAYING

HEAVEN FOR CLIMATE, HELL FOR SOCIETY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; HUMOR ; OBSERVATION PARALLEL STRUCTURE SOCIETY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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MING TOY LOVED A BOY, HAPPY LITTLE JAPANESE;
OOO LONG WAS HIS NAME, SET HER HEART AFLAME;
ONE DAY HE SAY SOON I GOTTA GO AWAY,
WHEN HE LEAVE MING TOY GRIEVE; EVERYBODY HEARD HER SAY_HAY_HAY;
SO LONG, OOO ONG, HOW LONG YOU GONNA BE GONE;
SO DON,T BE TOO LONG, OOO LONG, HURRY BACK HOME;
OH YOU LITTLE JAPANESE. I'LL BE WAITING UNDERNEATH THE BAMBOO TREE;
PLEASE DON,T BE TOO LONG, OOO LONG, HURRY BACK HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): ; Asian ; Chinese ; ETHNIC ; HUMOROUS INTERNAL RHYME ; Japanese ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness

Date learned: 02-02-1972

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GRANDMA'S DAYS - WAYBACK

SHE USED TO SEND THE SON TO THE BUTCHER SHOP AND TELL HIM
TO BE SURE AND GET A DOG BONE. THIS WAS USUALLY FOR
FREE AND BEFORE THE DAYS WHEN SAUSAGE WAS $2.00 A POUND
SO GRANDMA USED THE DOG BONE TO FEED THE FAMILY
FIRST WITH A GOOD SOUP OR STEW AND THE DOG STILL
HAD ENOUGH TO EAT AFTER TWO MEALS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOR

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Food

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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SPAGHETTI TEST

IF YOU THROW SPAGHETTI ON A WALL AND IT STICKS, IT MEANS IT'S DONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ACTUALLY TRUE, BUT THE INFORMANT TOLD ME
IT WORKS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORMS

Keyword(s): HUMOR

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Process

Date learned: 10-06-1971

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AN ITALIAN FOOD

UNRAISED BREAD MADE WITH CORN MEAL, RAISENS, AND THE CRACKLINGS
LEFT OVER WHEN YOU RENDER LARD.

Submitter comment: WHEN IT GETS OLD YOU CAN KNOCK OUT THE SIDE OF A BARN WITH IT,
ACCORDING TO MRS. GARAZZO.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; RAISINS

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert

Date learned: 10-26-1969

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PARODY

OH SAY CAN YOU SEE
ANY BEDBUGS ON ME
IF YOU DO
TAKE A FEW
AND I'LL FRY THEM FOR YOU.

Submitter comment: FROM HER GRANDFATHER, MR. HELLER, OF ENGLISH DESCENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): FOOD : AABBB ; HUMOR ; STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER

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ROSES ARE RED

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
YOU KISSED A COW
AND I LAUGHED AT YOU.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A PLAYMATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): FLOWERS: ABCB ; HUMOR

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

Date learned: 08-11-1964

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ROSES ARE RED

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
I KICKED MY WIFE
WITH MY ARMY SHOE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A PLAYMATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): HUMOR: ABCB

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

Date learned: 08-11-1964

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Entry filtered.

CHINKATEE CHUU CHUU PAN

ONCE THERE LIVED A CHINA MAN
HIS NAME WAS CHINKATEE CHUU CHUU PAN
HIS LEGS WERE LONG
HIS FEET WERE SHORT
POOR LITTLE CHINK COULD HARDLY WALK
AT LAST ONE DAY HE DID DIE
AND IN HIS COFFIN HE DID LIE
THEY SENT HIS BODY TO JAPAN
AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE CHINA MAN.
CHINKATEE, CHINKATEE CHUU CHUU PAN
ALA GA WAL A GA, STUN OF A LULA GA
AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE CHINA MAN.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS UNCLE IN NEW YORK MANY YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONTRAST: LONG AND SHORT ; HUMOR ; MOCK EPIC ; NONSENSE REFRAIN ; RHYME: AABCDEEAAAFA

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

Date learned: 07-00-1964

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A CHANT

TARZAN THE MONKEY MAN
SWINGIN ON A RUBBER BAND
ALONG CAME SUPERMAN
AND KNOCKED HIM IN THE GARBAGE CAN.

Where learned: COLLECTED AT HOME

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; MOVIE, TELEVISION, AND COMIC BOOK HEROES ; RHYME: AAAA ; RHYME: ABAA

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

Date learned: 10-13-1971

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