Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DON'T USE ONE MATCH FOR THREE CIGARETTES.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 03-03-1967
SUPERSTITION
IF A PERSON IS DEADLY SICK ONE SHOULD GO TO THE RABBI
AND HAVE HIM GIVE A NEW NAME TO THE ILL PERSON.
THE NEW NAME WILL EXTEND HER LIFE.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER TAUGHT HER THIS BUT SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT.
WHEN HER FATHER WAS DYING HER SISTER SENT A TELEGRAM
TO THEIR OLD RABBI ASKING FOR A NEW NAME. HE GAVE
HER ONE BUT THE FATHER STILL DIED.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 04-00-1965
BELIEF
IF YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, SOMEONE WILL MAKE YOU MAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
CURSE
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS REALLY PROVOKED WITH SOMEONE
OR WANTED TO SHOW HOW MUCH SHE DISLIKED A PERSON,
SHE WOULD SAY CHOLERA} (PRONOUNCED "HELLIDA" AND
FOLLOWED BY A SPITTING NOISE).
AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A TERRIBLE EPIDEMIC IN POLAND
AND THIS IS A GESTURE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BRING
THE DISEASE OF CHOLERA ON THE PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS ADDRESSED.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-20-1967
IF YOUR HEM IS TURNED UP, WHEN YOU GO TO TURN IT DOWN,
MAKE A WISH AND IT'LL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
REMEMBER MAN THAT PASSES BY,
AS YOU ARE NOW, SO ONCE WAS I.
AS I AM NOW, SO ONCE YOU'LL BE,
PREPARE THYSELF TO FOLLOW ME.
TO FOLLOW THEE IS NOT MY INTENT,
UNLESS I KNOW WHICH WAY HE WENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; DRAMATIC, ANTICLIMAX ; METER: IAMBIC ; PREDICTION, EUPHEMISM ; RHYME: AABBCC ; 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
BELIEF
IF YOU FORGET WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO TELL SOMEONE,
IT MEANS THAT WHATEVER YOU HAD TO TELL WAS A LIE.
Submitter comment:
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE INFORMANT USED TO TELL HER THIS.
THE INFORMANT CLAIMS THAT, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE
IT HERSELF, SHE TELLS IT TO HER OWN CHILDREN NOW.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 05-14-1965
MIRCULOUS CURE
ONE OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S FOURTEEN CHILDREN
WAS A HEMOPHILIAC. AS A CHILD HE OFTEN
SUFFERED TWO OR THREE NOSEBLEEDS A WEEK AND OFTEN
NEEDED TRANSFUSION FROM HIS MOTHER. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
EIGHT HE HAD A NOSEBLEED WHICH NO ONE COULD STOP.
HIS MOTHER SAW A RELIGIOUS PROCESSION GOING BY ON THE
STREET. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WERE MAKING
DONATIONS AND RECEIVED BITS OF BLESSED
COTTON AS A REMEMBRANCE OF THE
FEAST. THE MOTHER WENT OUT AND MADE A DONATION.
SHE PUT THE BLESSED COTTON TO THE CHILD'S NOSE AND
IMMEDIATELY THE BLEEDING STOPPED.
THE SON HAS NEVER HAD ANOTHER NOSEBLEED.
A YOUNGER DAUGHTER KEPT THE COTTON AND STILL HAS IT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER WHO LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR PALM ITCHES YOU'RE GOING TO COME INTO SOME MONEY.
Submitter comment: IN HER CHILDHOOD EVERYONE USED THIS PHRASE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
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 |
ONE FOR THE MONEY,
TWO FOR THE SHOW,
THREE TO GET READY,
AND FOUR TO GO.
Data entry tech comment: COUNTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF A RACE OR GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION ; METER: IAMBIC ; NUMBERS, FUNCTION ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABAB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RHYME WHICH SUPPOSEDLY MAKES SENSE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND
OMI DE ARMIS TRES
IM IN A DIS TRES
CANTU DIS COVER
MEA SA LAEVUR.
Data entry tech comment: NOT SURE OF SPELLING, SINCE TYPEWRITER VERY DIRTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RHYME: AABB ; RHYME: FEMININE, IMPERFECT ; SPELLING RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ON SPRINGFIELD MOUNTAIN
ON SPRINGFIELD MOUNTAIN THERE DID DWELL,
A LOVELY YOUTH; I KNEW HIM WELL.
ONE DAY OUR YOUTH HE DID GO
DOWN TO THE MEADOW FOR TO MOW.
AS HE HAD MOWED HALF ROUND THE FIELD,
AN UGLY SERPENT BIT HIS HEEL.
THEY TOOK HIM HOME TO MOLLY DEAR,
WHICH MADE HIM FEEL SO VERY QUEER.
NOW MOLLY HAD TWO RUBY LIPS,
WITH WHICH THE POISON FOR TO SIP.
BUT MOLLY HAD A ROTTED TOOTH,
AND SO THE POISON KILLED THEM BOTH.
Submitter comment:
RICHARD TOLD THIS TO ME ONE DAY WHEN I ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW ANY
VERSES OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH FOLKLORE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
UKRANIAN KOLOMJYKA
WHEN I WAS JUST LITTLE, OH, HOW LITTLE I KNEW}
I SWORE I WOULD LOVE NOBODY, NO, NO, NO.
NOW I AM A BIG GIRL---A MARRIAGEABLE MISS,
AND I HAVE BROKEN MANY A LAD'S HEART, YES, YES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 03-08-1971
UKRANIAN KOLOMYJKA
I DO NOT SING OUT OF SHEER JOY,
IT IS NOT HAPPINESS THAT MAKES ME SING,
ON THE CONTRARY, I AM UNHAPPY,
AND THAT IS WHY I SING.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 03-08-1971
Entry filtered.
MISS LUCY
MISS LUCY HAD A BABY,
SHE CALLED HIM TINY TIM.
SHE PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB,
TO SEE IF HE COULD SWIM.
HE DRANK UP ALL THE WATER,
HE ATE UP ALL THE SOAP,
HE WOULD HAVE EATEN THE BATHTUB,
BUT IT WOULDN'T FIT DOWN HIS THROAT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): EXAGGERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
BARROOM MOUSE
THE LIQUOR WAS SPILT ON THE BARROOM FLOOR,
AND THE BAR WAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT.
WHEN THE MOUSE CREPT FROM HIS HOLE IN THE WALL,
HE SAT IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT.
HE LICKED UP THE LIQUOR FROM THE BARROOM FLOOR
AND ON HIS HAUNCHES HE SAT.
AND ALL NIGHT LONG YOU COULD HEAR HIM CROAK,
BRING ON THE GODDAMN CAT}"
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
BAR
IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING,
THE GUESTS WERE ALL LEAVING
O'LEARY WAS CLOSING THE BAR.
WHEN HE STEPPED UP AND SAID,
TO THE LADY IN RED,
"GO HOME, YOU CAN'T STAY WHERE YOU ARE,"
GENTLEMAN DAPPER STEPPED OUT OF THE CRAPPER,
AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT HE SAID,
"DID YOUR MOTHER NEVER TELL YOU,
ABOUT THE WAYS OF COLLEGE MEN...."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT CAN'T REMEMBER THE REST OF IT. IT IS A SONG.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 11-18-1968