The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TAUNT

I SEE LONDON,
I SEE FRANCE,
I SEE (NAME OF PERSON)'S UNDERPANTS.

Where learned: OLD NEIGHBORHOOD

Keyword(s): HUMOR TAUNT REPETITION ; PLACE NAMES IMPROPRIETY ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABB ; SURPRISE ENDING

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LYRICAL VERSE

ROSES ARE RED,
VIOLETS ARE BLUE;
SUGAR IS SWEET,
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Keyword(s): PARODY ; TAUNT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SHAME, SHAME, DOUBLE SHAME,
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS CHANTED WHENEVER A TEACHER SCOLDED A STUDENT
IN FRONT OF THE CLASS.

Where learned: DORMITORY

Keyword(s): DERISION ; TAUNT

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TOUGH, ROUGH AND HARD TI DIAPER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; CONTRADICTION ; TAUNT?

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ROSES ARE RED,
VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
SUGAR IS SWEET
AND SO ARE YOU.

BUT THE ROSES ARE WILTED,
AND THE VIOLETS ARE DEAD,
AND THE SUGAR IS LUMPED
AND SO IS YOUR HEAD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM PLAYMATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): INSULT ; TAUNT

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BRASS BUTTON BLUE COAT CAN'T CATCH A
NANNY GOAT.

Submitter comment: THIS TERM WAS USED BY CHILDREN AT PLAY
IN PITTSBURG, PA. IN THE YEAR 1925.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): TAUNT

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SMART ALECK RHYME

LIAR, LIAR, TWO BY FOUR
CAN'T GET THROUGH THE KITCHEN DOOR.
I LEARNED THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNG

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COUPLETS TAUNT LIAR

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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RETORTS

SEE MY FINGER?
SEE MY THUMB?
SEE MY FIST?
YOU'D BETTER RUN

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): TAUNT THREAT

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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GEORGE

GEORGIE PORGIE, PUDDNIN' PIE,
KISSED THE GIRLS AND MADE THEM CRY.

DAN

DAN, DAN, THE DIRTY OLD MAN,
WASHED HIS FACE IN A FRYIN' PAN.

DAVID

DAVIE, DAVIE, FIE FOR SHAME,
KISSED THE GIRLS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): TAUNT RIDICULE OF A NAME

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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HAVE A NICE TRIP, SEE YOU NEXT FALL.

Submitter comment: WE SAID THIS AS CHILDREN TO AGGRAVATE SOMEONE WHO HAD
JUST TRIPPED OR FALLEN.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

James Callow Keyword(s): TAUNT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Retort

I know you are, but what am I?

Submitter comment:

This retort was used by a child whenever another child called him a name e.g. brat, or pimple face. It can be used over and over again for any name at all. I learned this retort years ago from neighborhood children in SW Detroit.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack

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Retort

If brains were explosive, you couldn't blow your nose!

Submitter comment:

Heard at work.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Meaning?

Keyword(s): Brains ; COMEBACK ; Explosive ; INSULT ; NOSE ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack

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Retort

You're not proud, you're thoroughly convinced.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Two cards merged: identical submissions, different informants. Both informants are listed here.

James Callow comment:

Sense?  Circumstance? Both cards the same except for informant?

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; PRIDE ; Proud ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TAUNT ; Wisecrack

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Language

after a twenty minute argument with his cousin, Jim hollored this parting statement: "Make like a tree and leave!"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Leave-Talking?

Better-Taunt?

Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts

Keyword(s): Leave ; Leave Talking ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; TAUNT ; Tree ; WORDPLAY

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Language

Taunt:

Make like a tree and leave.

Submitter comment:

Informant Used in School.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Keyword(s): Leave ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; TAUNT ; Tree ; WORDPLAY

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Taunt

Drop Dead!

Go play sea hunt in the toilet!

Submitter comment:

Can't remember.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

T?

Keyword(s): Dead ; Drop ; Expression ; INSULT ; INSULT ; Play ; SEA ; TAUNT ; Term ; Toilet

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Taunt

Poet;

When somebody says something that rhymes, you say to them:

"You're a poet and don't know it, but your feet show it, because they are Longfellows."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): LONGFELLOW ; POET ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SLANG ; TAUNT

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Verse

You want a penny? Go kiss Jack Benny.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Verse?

Where learned: HONORS HOUSE

Keyword(s): Jack Benny ; KISS ; MONEY ; Penny ; RHYME ; Saying ; SLANG ; TAUNT ; VERSE

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Retort

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Verse?

Keyword(s): Language ; NAMES ; RETORT ; RHYME ; Sticks ; STONES ; TAUNT ; Tease ; VERSE

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Taunt

Fatty, fatty, two by four. Can't get through the bathroom door. So he did it on the floor.

Submitter comment:

Friends

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Orignal BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BATHROOM ; Bowels ; Door ; Fat ; Fatty ; Floor ; INSULT ; JOKE ; Large ; RHYME ; SIZE ; TAUNT ; URINATE ; WEIGHT

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