Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SUPERSTITION VERSE
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP IN A HOLE,
CRACK THE SUGAR BOWL.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A VERSE COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.800 |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
A HICCUP CURE
MY FATHER LEFT ME, JUST AS HE WAS ABLE
ONE BOWL, ONE BOTTLE, ONE LADLE,
TWO BOWLS, TWO BOTTLES, TWO LADLES (ETC. AS FAR AS YOU ARE
ABLE IN ONE BREATH).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.760 |
Date learned: 01-19-1971
STEP ON A CRACK YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK
STEP ON A LINE YOU WILL CRACK HER SPINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-26-1968
STEP ON A CRACK YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
PROVERB
WHERE THE DEVIL CAN'T MANAGE,
HE'LL SEND A WOMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-16-1968
RUB-A-DUB-DUB,
THANKS FOR THE GRUB,
YEA GOD!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-02-1968
MEAL PRAYER
BLESS THIS FOOD
BLESS THIS MEAT.
COM'N JESUS, LET'S EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
MEAL PRAYER
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND HOLY GHOST.
WHO EASTS THE FASTEST, GETS THE MOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-06-1971
BRIDE'S NAME CHANGE IN MARRIAGE:
CHANGE THE NAME, BUT NOT THE LETTER,
CHANGE FOR WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 860 Belief |
Date learned: 03-09-1971
BELIEF CONCERNING SNEEZING
ONE FOR A WISH
TWO FOR A KISS
THREE FOR A LETTER,
FOUR TO GET BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.477 |
LEGEND IN VERSE - PENNY WHISTLE PEDDLER
CHORUS: I HOPE YOU MEET THE PEDDLER WITH THE FEATHER
IN HIS HAT,
THE PENNY-WHISTLE MAN WITH THE ORANGE-COLORED CAP.
BELLS ON HIS CAP AND A RAGGLE TAGGLE KIND OF GRIN
HE'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO LOVE IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM.
VERSE 1: HE NEVER HEARD OF WAR IN THE PLACE HE DWELLS.
THERE'S MUSIC AND LAUGHTER AND THE MAGIC TALES HE TELLS.
NO ONE'S EVER NASTY. SNAKES AND DOGS DON'T EVER BITE
LITTLE CHILDREN NEVER CRY, THEY'RE HAPPY DAY AND NIGHT.
CHORUS:
VERSE 2: IN THE MISTY MYSTIC LAND BENEATH DARK HILLS
THE PENNY-WHISTLE PEDDLER LIVES AND HE WEAVES HIS MAGIC
SPELLS.
IF YOU EVER HEAR HIS PIPING COMING DOWN SOME FOREST GLADE,
OPEN YOUR MIND AND LOVE AND NEVER BE AFRAID.
CHORUS:
VERSE 3: WE ARE SAD TO TELL YOU THE WHISTLEMAN HAS GONE.
TODAY YOU NEVER HEAR OF HIM, THE SOUND OF WAR AND HATE HAVE
COME.
BUT IF CHILDREN LOVE EACH OTHER AND NARROW MINDS ALL PASS
AWAY,
THE PENNY-WHISTLE MAN WILL BE BACK SOMEDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.430 |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
KING OF THE FAIRIES (IRISH)
UP THE AIRY MOUNTAIN
DOWN THE RUSHY GLEN,
WE DAREN'T GO A HUNTING
FOR FEAR OF LITTLE MEN.
WEE FOLK, GOOD FOLK
TROOPING ALL TOGETHER,
GREEN JACKET, RED CAP
AND A WHITE OWL'S FEATHER.
BY THE CRAGGY HILLSIDE
THROUGH THE MOSSES BARE
THEY HAVE PLANTED THORN TREES
FOR PLEASURE HERE AND THERE.
IS ANY MAN SO DARING
AS TO DIG THEM UP IN SPITE
HE'LL FIND THE SHARPEST THORNS
IN HIS BED AT NIGHT.
REPEAT STANZA 1.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.423 |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
DRINKING AGE
IN GERMANY, THEY HAVE A STANDARD REPLY TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY
ASK IF THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK; THE PARENTS ASK IF
THEY CAN REACH THE BOTTLES IN THE WINE CELLAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WENT TO SCHOOL IN GERMANY WHILE HER FATHER,
AN ARMY OFFICER, WAS STATIONED THERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOW TO DETERMINE SEX OF UNBORN CHILD
IF AN EXPECTING MOTHER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SEX HER CHILD WELL BE SHE
SHOULD HAVE HER FUTURE MID-WIFE AID HER IN THE FOLLOWING TEST. IF
THE WOMAN IS FIVE TO NINE MONTHS EXPECTANT SHE SHOULD REST ON THE
FLOOR ON HER BACK WITH BOTH ARMS STRAIGHT AT THEIR SIDES, HER LEGS
AND FEET TOGETHER AND RELAX ALL THOUGHTS OF DOUBT ABOUT THE TEST
WORKING OR NOT. THE MID-WIFE IS TO WASH HER HANDS IN A MIXTURE OF
VINEGAR AND SALT AND HOLD A LONG CHAIN BELONGING TO THE EXPECTANT
WOMAN'S MOTHER; THE CHAIN SHOULD HAVE A HEAVY OBJECT ON ITS END, SUCH
AS A CAMEO OR THE LIKING. THE MID-WIFE IS TO HOLD THE CHAIN AND
OBJECT OVER THE WOMAN'S STOMACH AND ASK, "WHAT'S IT GONNA BE LORD,
THE LIKINGS OF ME OR THEE, LORD?" AT THAT POINT THE HANGING OBJECT
SHOULD REST ON THE WOMAN'S STOMACH AND IT SHOULD BE SLOWLY RAISED AND
AGAIN RESTED, RAISED, RESTED AND SO ON. IF THE OBJECT ON THE CHAIN
SWINGS CLOCKWISE AS IT'S RAISED AND LOWERED ONTO THE UNBORN CHILD, IT
WILL BE A MALE. BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THE OBJECT SWINGS
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE, THE UNBORN CHILD WILL BE A FEMALE. THE OBJECT'S
MOVEMENT WILL BE ONLY SLIGHT. THIS TEST SHOULD BE DONE AT LEAST FIVE
TIMES AND IF THE TEST "PROVES" THE CHILD TO BE A MALE AT LEAST THREE
OUT OF THE FIVE TRYS, THE MOTHER SHOULD EXPECT A SON AND LIKEWISE, IF
THE OBJECT SWINGS TO THE LEFT OR COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AT LEAST THREE OF
THE FIVE TRIES, THE MOTHER
WILL HAVE A DAUGHTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
IF A BABY SAYS "MAMA" FIRST, THE NEXT CHILD WILL BE A
GIRL. IF THE BABY DAYS "DADA" FIRST, THE NEXT CHILD
WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A SUPERSTITION COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
A PERSON SUSPENDS A NEEDLE ON A STRING OVER ANOTHER
PERSON'S WRIST. THIS IS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY
CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE AND WHETHER THEY WILL BE BOYS
OR GIRLS. IF THE NEEDLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE, YOU
WILL HAVE GIRLS, BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, BOYS. THE
NUMBER OF TIMES THE NEEDLE SWINGS DETERMINES THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1966
Mr Johnny Goback
Once there was a Dutchman his name was Johnny Goback.
He was a sausage dealer in sauerkraut and speck.
One day he invented a marvelous machine,
now all the neighbors cats and dogs will never no more be
seen.
(Chorus) Oh mister Johnny Goback how could you be so mean?
I told you you'd be sorry for inventing that machine.
Now all the neighbors cats and dogs will never no more be seen
they'll all be ground to sausages in Johnny Goback's machine.
chorus over.
One day a little boy came strolling in the store.
He bought a pound of sausages and set them on the floor.
The little boy started whistling, he whistled up a tune.
And all the little sausages started dancing around the room.
(Chorus)
One day the thing got stuck the blame thing wouldn't go.
So Johnny crawled inside of it to see what made it so.
His wife was having a nightmare walking in her sleep.
She gave the crank a heck of a yank and Johnny was sausage
meat.
(Chorus)
Submitter comment:
My grandma learned this from her husband, who is no longer
living. She believes it is a Marching song for soldiers. My
grandfather came directly on the boat from the Netherlands so
this is native to that land. It goes back to at least his
childhood since his father taught it to him. This would date
this back as early as 1915.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- War cries |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
FOOLS HANDS SCRIBBLE ON THE TABLE AND WALL.
Submitter comment: GERMAN PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed SPEECH -- Instructions Directions PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
IN THE CALMNESS LIES THE POWER.
Submitter comment: GERMAN PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |