Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RAILROAD returned 15 results.
OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM,
OOEY GOOEY LIKED TO SQUIRM,
OOEY GOOEY CROSSED THE RAILROAD TRACK.
O-O-EY, G-O-O-EY!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR, FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE UNDERSTATEMENT ; RAILROAD DEATH ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, MASCULINE, AABC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
WHEN I DIE AND GO ABOVE,
I WILL SEE THE BOYS YOU USED TO LOVE,
WHEN YOU DIE AND GO BELOW,
YOU WILL SHOVEL COAL FOR THE B & O.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): B & O IS (OR WAS) A RAILROAD, BALTIMORE & OHIO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
GOOD LUCK
IF YOU LIFT UP YOUR FEET FROM THE FLOOR AND TOUCH YOUR HANDS TO
THE CEILING WHILE GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK IN YOUR CAR, YOU
WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RAILROAD TRACK, LUCK
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
VERSE
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
COMING DOWN THE CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL LOBBY
Keyword(s): RAILROAD ; RHETORICAL QUESTION ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
MAKING A WISH
WHEN ELENA WAS YOUNG, SHE WAS TOLD BY HER OLDER SISTER
THAT WHEN SHE WAS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSED OVER A RAILROAD
TRACK THAT SHE SHOULD TOUCH SMETHING MADE OF METAL AND
LIFT HER FEET OFF THE FLOOR AND MAKE A WISH.
Submitter comment: FORMER ROOMMATE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): RAILROAD TRACK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ghost Tale
In Chapel Hill, TN, There is a ghost that roams next to the railroad. All you can see is his light as he flashes it up and down the tracks. It is supposedly a lineman who had fallen off the train many years before. When he fell he lost his head. Now he roams the track swinging the light looking for his head.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; DECAPITATION ; GHOST ; HEAD ; Lineman ; RAILROAD ; Story ; SUPERNATURAL ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER FEET WHEN CROSSING A RAILROAD
TRACK OR SHE'LL LOSE HER LOVER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Crossing ; FEET ; OMEN ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
"GET THOSE FEET UP!"
WHEN RIDING IN A CAR ONE MUST LIFT HIS FEET WHILE GOING
OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR HE WILL BE KILLED IN SOME SORT
OF TRAIN ACCIDENT THE NEXT DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Car ; DEATH ; FEET ; Railroad Tracks ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF A GIRL IS GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK IN A CAR, SHE SHOULD
LIFT HER FEET UP WHILE GOING OVER, OR ELSE SHE WILL BREAK
UP WITH THE GUY SHE IS GOING WITH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GILBERTS LOUNGE ; HARPER
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Car ; Car ; RAILROAD ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
Railroad Tracks
Lift up your feet when you cross railroad tracks, or you will lose your boyfriend.
Data entry tech comment:
Input by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; CUSTOM ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
RAILROAD TRACKS
WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; FEET ; Railroad Tracks ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
RAILROAD TRACKS
TO KEEP YOUR BOY FRIEND, WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER LEFT FOOT OFF THE CAR FLOOR AND TOUCH
THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH HER TWO INDEX FINGERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Railroad Tracks ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PONTIAC ROAD
OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Origin ; Pontiac ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- S478 |
Date learned: 10-07-1967
PONTIAC ROAD
OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Origin ; Pontiac ; Slavery ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- S478 |
Date learned: 10-07-1967
PONTIAC ROAD
OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Origin ; Pontiac ; Slavery ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- S478 |
Date learned: 10-07-1967