Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for REFRAIN returned 17 results.
BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY,
DROPPED SOME WHITE WASH IN MY EYE.
I'M NO BABY, I WON'T CRY.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT COWS DON'T FLY.
Submitter comment: ORIGIN: KNEW IT AS A LITTLE CHILD, WALLED LAKE, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WALLED LAKE
Keyword(s): HUMOR ; REFRAIN, OBSERVATION ; RHYME: AAAA ; RHYME: MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
FISHY, FISHY, IN THE BROOK,
DADDY CAUGHT YOU ON THE HOOK.
MOMMY FRY YOU IN A PAN,
BABY EAT YOU LIKE A MAN.
Submitter comment: SAID TO HIS CHILDREN ON FRIDAYS.
Data entry tech comment: CATHOLIC CUSTOM TO EAT FISH ON FRIDAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METER: IAMBIC ; QUATRAIN SIMILE ; REFRAIN, BABY TALK ; RHYME: AABB ; RHYME: MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
(BOY'S NAME) AND (GIRL'S NAME) SITTING IN A TREE,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G. (SPELLING)
FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE,
THEN COMES (NAME) WITH THE BABY CARRIAGE.
Submitter comment: I REMEMBER THIS FROM GRADESCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTI-CLIMAX HUMOR SYMBOL ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: TROCHAIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABB ; SEX, REFRAIN ; SPELLING RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TWO'S A COUPLE,
THREE'S A CROWD,
FOUR ON THE SIDEWALK,
IS NEVER ALLOWED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METER: TROCHAIC ; REFRAIN NUMBERS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB ; VARIATION: FOUR'S TOO MANY, FIVE'S NOT ALLOWED.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WE MUST, WE MUST,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.
THE BIGGER THE BETTER,
THE TIGHTER THE SWEATER,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANATOMY ; BOSOM BREAST ; FUNCTION GROWING UP ; MONOLOGUE SLANG DIALECT ; REFRAIN, QUATRAIN? ; RHYME: FEMININE, INTERNAL ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM,
WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METER: IAMBIC ANAPESTIC ; REPETITION FOOD REFRAIN CACOGRAPHY ; RHYME: MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
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
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 11-06-1970
FOOTBALL CHEER
FROM ALL THE TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD, THE ---- ARE ON THE TOP.
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TO EAST TO WEST, THE ---- ARE ON THE TOP.
GIVE A CHEER. GIVE A CHEER. THE ----- ARE ON THE TOP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
MY BOYFRIEND
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEACHES,
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEARS,
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME FIFTY CENTS,
AND KICKED ME DOWN THE STAIRS.
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEACHES,
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEARS,
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS FIFTY CENTS,
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
MY MOTHER NEEDED PEACHES,
MY MOTHER NEEDED PEARS,
MY MOTHER NEEDED FIFTY CENTS,
AND KICKED ME DOWN THE STAIRS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN DETROIT CHILDHOOD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BODILY ACTIVITY ; INCREMENTAL REPTITION ; INITIAL ITERATION ; REFRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
CHILDREN,S VERSE
COWARDY, COWARDY CUSTARD,
FELL IN HIS MOTHER,S MUSTARD;
THE MUSTARD WAS HOT,
HE SWALLOWED THE LOT,
COWARDY, COWARDY CUSTARD.
Data entry tech comment: SIC: COWARDY
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ENVELOPE STRUCTURE ; FEMININE RHYME ; REFRAIN ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CAMPSONG DIKKI BIRD
HIGH IN A TREE A DIKKI BIRD
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
HIGH IN A TREE A DIKKI BIRD SAT.
BENEATH HIM SAT A FURRY BLACK
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
BENEATH HIM SAT A FURRY BLACK CAT.
HE SAID FOR DINNER I SHALL HAVE
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
HE SAID FOR DINNER I SHALL HAVE YOU.
THEN ALL AT ONCE THE DIKKI BIRD
BIM SALA BIM BAM BA SALA DU SALA BIM.
THEN ALL AT ONCE THE DIKKI BIRD FLEW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): DELAYED COMPLETION ; NONSENSE REFRAIN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
PRACTICAL JOKE
THE JOKE TELLER INSTRUCTS THE DUPE TO REPEAT THE PHRASE
"BEHIND THE BUSH" AFTER EVERY STATEMENT THAT HE MAKES.
JOKE TELLER- THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN.
DUPE- BEHIND THE BUSH.
JOKE TELLER- TAKING OFF HIS CLOTHES.
DUPE- BEHIND THE BUSH.
JOKE TELLER- WHERE WERE YOU?
DUPE- BEHIND THE BUSH.
Submitter comment:
THIS JOKE IS MEANT TO TRAP PEOPLE (ESPECIALLY WOMEN) INTO
ADMITTING TO HAVING DONE SOMETHING DISGUSTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH TALE ; REFRAIN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00001970S
I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For bringing home a baby bumble bee, OUCH HE BIT ME!!!!!
I'm mashing up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mashing up my baby bumble bee, Ugh, what a mess!!
I'm licking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For licking up my baby bumble bee, Ohh, I feel sick!!!
I'm puking up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For puking up my baby bumble bee, Eew, what a mess!!
I'm mopping up my baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
For mopping up my baby bumble bee, there all clean.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur.
Won't my mommy hide behind the door.
I'm bringing home a baby dinosaur, OOPS, HE ATE ME!!!
Submitter comment:
This song is done with lots of hand motions and
pretend gestures.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; REFRAIN ; Teller killed in his own story.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S
Diarrhea Drip, drip! Diarrhea! Drip, drip!
Some people think it's funny
But they like it hot and runny!
Diarrhea! Drip, drip! Diarrhea! Drip, drip!
Some people think it's nice
And they like it over rice!
Submitter comment:
The collector heard this as a child. It's a simple chant
where the last two lines after every "drip, drip" are changed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Feces as food ; HUMOR ; ILLNESS ; REFRAIN ; SICK HUMOR
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1991
WORD GAME
THIS TRICK IS PLAYED ON AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON. HE
IS TOLD TO REACH EACH LINE IN THE FIRST COLUMN
AND SAY "TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN" AFTER EACH. THEN
HE IS TOLD TO READ THE FIRST COLUMN BACKWARDS AND
HE SAYS, "LOOK HOW MANY TIMES I MADE THIS SILLY
ASS SAY 'TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.'"
TRAIN TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
SAY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
ASS TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
SILLY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
THIS TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
MADE TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
I TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
TIMES TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
MANY TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
HOW TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
LOOK TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL