Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for OCCUPATION returned 13 results.
BRAD JACKSON JR. A DRIVER FOR BRAD JACKSON INC. RELATED TO ME
THE STORY OF A FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE MAN STOPPING
A SEMI-DRIVER NEAR JACKSONVILLE AND ASKED TO SEE THE DRIVER'S LOG
BOOK, THE DRIVER REPLIED, ME SUH, I AIN'T HAULIN' NO LOGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 12-01-1972
TRUCK DRIVING PROWESS
DURING THE 1940'S AND EARLY 1950'S SEMI DRIVERS
FOLLOWING EACH OTHER ON OLD U.S. 22 (ONE OF THE FEW TRUCK
ROUTES INTO THE NEW YORK METRO AREA FROM THAT AREA [HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA]) USED TO ENGAGE IN A "CONTEST"
BY ALTERNATELY KNOCKING OUT THE ROADSIDE MAILBOXES BY SWAYING THE
REARMOST END OF THE TRAILER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S INFORMANT: JOHN POTERE A DRIVER FOR MCCLEAN TRUCKING. THE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA IN OCTOBER OF 1969.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVERS
Date learned: 12-01-1972
RIDDLE
Q: TO WHAT MAN DOES EVERY ONE ALWAYS TAKE OFF HIS HAT?
A: THE BARBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LITERAL ; PERSONS (A) ; PERSONS (Q) ; WEARABLE (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERBIAL PHRASE IN VERSE FORM
ALL ARE ARCHITECTS OF FATE,
WORKING IN THE WALLS OF TIME.
SOME WITH MASSIVE DEEDS OF GREAT,
SOME WITH ORNAMENTS OF RHYME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; OCCUPATIONS ; POETS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN
OH, FOR THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN,
OH, FOR THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN,
TO STAND UPON THE ENGINE RED,
AND SHOUT TO THE HORSES,
GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD!
THE FIREMAN'S BAND, THE FIREMAN'S BAND,
HERE'S MY HEART AND HERE'S MY HAND.
HERE'S MY HEART AND HERE'S MY HAND.
NOW DON'T YOU REALLY, REALLY THINK,
THAT IT'S TIME WE HAD A DRINK,
(A HELL OF A LONG ONE)
THE FIREMAN'S BAND, THE FIREMAN'S BAND,
HERE'S MY HEART AND HERE'S MY HAND.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG,
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THE DAMN FIRE'S OUT!
Submitter comment:
A COLLEGE SONG
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 12-04-1969
SNEAKY
THERE WAS A GUY WO RETIRED HERE AT FORD'S SOME YEARS AGO. FOR A
LONG TIME BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT, HE USED TO GO THROUGH THE PLANT
GATES WITH A WHEELBARROW FULL OF SAW DUST. THE GUARDS WOULD SIFT
THROUGH THE SAWDUST, BUT THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHING, SO THEY WOULD
LET HIM GO. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THEN THE DAY OF HIS
RETIREMENT CAME. AFTER THE TRADITIONAL DINNER AND HONORS AND
SPEECHES, THE MAN LEFT THE COMPANY.
BEFORE HE DID, HOWEVER, ONE OF HIS
FELLOW EMPLOYEES ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS TAKING OUT WITH ALL THOSE
WHEELBARROWS THAT HE HAD BEEN TAKING THROUGH THE GATES ALL THIS
TIME. HE ANSWERED VERY SERIOUSLY, "WHEELBARROWS."
Submitter comment:
(I HEARD THIS STORY, TOLD AS BEING TRUE, FROM MAC MCLAIN AT
THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN WHEN I WORKED THERE IN 1955-569)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL STORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 05-00-1965
WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
THERE IS A PLATEAU IN THE NEW MEXICAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS THAT IS SHAPED
LIKE A SKULL. THE STORY GOES THAT COWBOYS WOULD GO UP THERE LOOKING
FOR WILD HORSES THAT THEY HEARD RUNNING UP THERE BUT EVERY TIME THEY
GOT UP THERE THEY FOUND NO HORSES AND NO TRACKS. ONE DAY A NATIVE
COWBOY GOES UP THERE BY HIMSELF AND LATER COMES RACING DOWN, RUSHES
INTO THE ROOM WHERE THEY ARE ALL SITTING, DROPS TO HIS KNEES, AND
PRAYERS FOR HALF AN HOUR STRAIGHT. WHEN HE IS THROUGH HE REFUSES
TO TELL ANYONE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM UP THERE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON A CAMPING TRIP WHILE HE WAS OUT THERE.
Where learned: NEW MEXICO
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1983 ; 11-00-1987
THE SHANTY BOY
"AS I WALKED OUT ONE EVENING, JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.
I CARELESSLY DID RAMBLE TILL I CAME TO SAGINAW TOWN.
I HEARD TWO GIRLS CONVERSING, AS SLOWLY I PASSED THEM BY;
ONE SAID SHE LOVED A FARMER'S SON, AND THE OTHER A SHANTY
BOY.
"THE ONE THAT LOVED THE FARMER'S SON, THESE WORDS I HEARD
HER SAY,
'THE REASON WHY I LOVE HIM IS AT HOME WITH ME HE'LL STAY;
HE'LL STAY AT HOME ALL WINTER, TO THE WOODS HE WILL NOT GO,
AND WHEN THE SPRINGTIME COMES AGAIN, HIS LANDS HE'LL
PLOW AND SOW.'
'I SHALL ALWAYS PRAISE MY SHANTY BOY WHO GOES TO THE
WOODS IN THE FALL,
HE IS BOTH STOUT AND HEARTY AND FIT TO STAND A SQUALL;
WITH PLEASURE I WILL GREET HIM IN THE SPRING WHEN
HE COMES DOWN.
HIS MONEY ON ME HE'LL SPEND IT FREE WHEN YOUR MOSSBACK
HE HAS NONE.'
HOW CAN YOU PRAISE YOUR SHANTY BOY WHO TO THE WOODS
DOES GO?
HE'S ORDERED OUT BEFORE DAYLIGHT TO FACE THE FROST AND SNOW,
WHILE HAPPY AND CONTENTED MY FARMER'S SON WILL LIE,
SOFT TALES OF LOVE HE'LL TELL TO ME WHILE THE STORMS
ARE BLOWING BY.'
'I NEVER CAN STAND THAT SOFT TALK,' THE OTHER GIRL DID SAY,
'THE MOST OF THEM THEY ARE SO GREEN THE COWS COULD EAT
THEM FOR HAY;
HOW EASY IT IS TO KNOW THEM WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN,
THE SMALL BOY SHOUTING AFTER THEM, "MOSSBACK, HOW COME
YOU DOWN?'
'WHAT I'VE SAID UNKIND OF YOUR SHANTY BOY, I DO NOT
MEAN IT SO,
AND IF EVER I MEET WITH ONE OF THEM ALONG WITH HIM
I'LL GO,
AND LEAVE MY MOSSBACK FARMERS' SON TO PLOUGH AND PLANT
HIS FARM.
WHILE MY SHANTY BOY SO BOLD AND FREE WILL SAVE ME FROM
ALL HARM.
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG COMES FROM NOT AN EDUCATED PERSON BUT FROM
THE HEART OF A LUMBERING CREW. IT FITS THE MENTALITY
OF THE AVERAGE LOGGING CREW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): LOGGING SONGS ; SHANTY BOY
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRASTED OCCUPATIONS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
Date learned: 03-04-1990
A pregnant beautician will make your hair grow during the middle
months of the pregnancy and fall out at the end.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Never trust a bald barber; he has no respect for other people's
hair.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses No hair, baldness BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
THREE PEOPLE TO BEWARE:
A TRADING PREACHER
A PRAYING LAWYER
A CROSS-EYED WOMAN
Where learned: CHURCH
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONS
Date learned: 05-04-1969
Custom
Chimney Sweep:
In Belgium, or Europe for that matter, each house usually had two or more chimneys. Since they needed cleaning periodically, chimney sweeps were common. Some of these were employed by the cities for the purpose. But, in each case, it was good practice to give the sweeper a good tip, for if you didn't he would play tricks on you. For instance, he might come back to clean your chimney at a future date, but not tell you. Then you would be unprepared and the soot would come into the house because you didn't close the soot door in time.
Submitter comment:
Recorded on Tape
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [M848] crossed out and replaced with F534
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): BUSINESS ; Chimney Sweep ; CUSTOM ; Gratuity ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; TIPPING ; WORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |