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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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YOU CAN LOVE YOUR BOOKS,
YOU CAN LOVE YOUR TOYS,
BUT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,
DON'T LOVE THE BOYS!

Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Chimney corner wisdom, advice, humorous fortune

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WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND GROW OUT OF SHAPE,
REMEMBER GIRDLES ARE STILL $2.98.

Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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CHILDREN'S SONG

DID YOU EVER TAKE A WALK ON A HOT SUMMER DAY
DOWN BY THE RIVER JUST TO PASS THE TIME AWAY?
PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKET AND YOUR
POCKETS IN YOUR PANTS, AND WATCH THE LITTLE
FISHEES DO THE HOOTCHIE-HOOTCHIE DANCE.
OH AN OLD CROW FLEW IN A COUNTRY STORE
AND HE PTTTT ON THE COUNTER AND HE PTTTT ON THE
FLOOR, AND HE PTTTT IN THE COFFEE AND HE PTTTT IN
THE TEA. AND IF I HADNA' RUN, HE'D A PTTTT ON ME.
IF FROGS HAD WINGS AND TOADS HAD HAIR
AUTOMOBILES COULD FLY IN THE AIR. IF PUMPKINS
GREW ON WATERMELON VINES, YOU OUGHTA HAVE
SNOW IN THE SUMMERTIME.

PTTTT-DA-DEE-YA-DA-PTTT-DING

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BIRD DUNG ; LUBBERLAND ; MARVELS ; ONOMATOPOEIA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C360
SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia

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EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE, ALL OF THE FANCY PRESENTS ARE PLACED
UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE. IN THE MORNING, JUST BEFORE
THE CHILDREN OPEN THE GIFTS, THE ONES WRAPPED IN NEWSPAPER
ARE BROUGHT OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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WHEN ROSES ARE RED THEY'RE READY FOR PICKING
WHEN CHICKENS ARE FAT THEY'RE READY FOR PLUCKING
BUT WHEN GIRLS ARE EIGHTEEN THEY'RE READY FOR
.....COLLEGE.

Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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EVERY CHRISTMAS SINCE THEY WERE CHILDREN, THE KLINGENSMITHS
HAVE OPENED THEIR GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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BERMUDA DAY

ON THIS DAY, ALL MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY COME TO
SCHOOL IN BERMUDA SHORTS. IT USUALLY OCCURS TOWARDS
THE END OF MAY WHEN THE STUDENTS GET THEIR YEARBOOKS.
EVERYONE LIES ON THE FLOOR AND SIGNS YEARBOOKS.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW SOME FELLOW STUDENTS DO IT.

Where learned: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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WHEN YOU GET OLD AND YOUR DRESS TURNS PURPLE,
REMEMBER THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN A CIRCLE.

James Callow comment: THIS VERSE WRITTEN IN A CIRCULAR FASHION,

Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Reading or writing backwards, upside down

Date learned: 10-08-1967

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YOU SWEEP WITH A BROOM,
YOU MOP WITH A MOP,
BUT WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON'T MARRY A WOP.

Submitter comment:

THIS WOMAN, WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PERMITTED
ME TO COLLECT THESE VERSES FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
THE VERSES WERE ENTERED BY HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES
IN 1939.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): DEROGATORY TERM=WOP (FOR ITALIAN)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Chimney corner wisdom, advice, humorous fortune

Date learned: 00-00-1939

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CUSTOM-POLISH

IN POLISH FAMILIES AROUND XMAS TIME (CHRISTMAS TIME) IT IS
CUSTOMARY TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERY TYPE OF DISH, AND NOT TO
JUST EAT ONE OR A COUPLE OF THINGS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; POLAND ; POLISH ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus

Date learned: NOT RECORDED

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WHEN YOU GET OLD
AND THINK YOU'RE SWEET
JUST TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES
AND SMELL YOUR FEET.

Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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COUNTING OUT

ENGINE, ENGINE, NUMBER 9
GOING DOWN THE CHICAGO LINE,
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
(YES OR NO) Y-E-S SPELLS YES AND OUT YOU GO.
WHILE SINGING THIS, THE CHILD IS HITTING EACH PERSON ON
THE FOOT. THE CHILD LEFT IS THE ONE THAT IS "IT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
WE'LL STICK TOGETHER, JUST LIKE GLUE.

Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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(FIRST NAME) FOR NOW,
(FIRST NAME) FOREVER,
(LAST NAME) FOR NOW,
BUT NOT FOREVER.
DOLSEN, MICHAEL

Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 10-08-1967

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2 IN A CAR
2 LITTLE KISSES
LINE OF UNDERLINING
4 WEEKS LATER MR. AND MRS.

Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 10-08-1967

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WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND LIVE IN A FLAT,
SEND ME A PICTURE OF YOUR LITTLE BRAT.

Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND GET BABY CRITTERS,
DON'T ASK ME TO BE YOUR BABY SITTER.

Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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COUNTING OUT

DURING HIDE'N'SEEK THE PERSON WHO IS "IT" RECITES THIS
VERSE:
APPLE, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE,
WHO'S NOT READY, HOLLER "I."
IF A PLAYER IS NOT READY HE HOLLERS "I," AND TH ONE
WHO IS"IT" WILL WAIT A FEW MORE SECONDS, AND REPEAT
THE VERSE UNTIL EVERYONE IS READY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 03-02-1970

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COUNTING OUT RHYME

MEMBERS OF A GROUP HOLD OUT BOTH HANDS, FISTS CLENCHED. A
LEADER, WITH FIST CLENCHED, TAPS EACH MEMBER'S HANDS WHILE
SINGING OR SAYING THE FOLLOWING DITTY. EACH HAND IS TAPPED
ONCE FOR EACH WORD, AS IN EENY, MEENY, MINNY, MO.
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, OR.
THE MEMBER WHO IS TAPPED ON THE WORD "OR" IS ELIMINATED.
HE HOLDS THE FIST THAT WAS TAPPED BEHIND HIS BACK. IF
BOTH FISTS ARE TAPPED HIS IS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. THE
LAST PERSON WITH A FIST REMAINING IS THE LEADER. THE
PROCESS IS USUALLY USED TO CHOOSE A LEADER FOR A GAME,
A TEAM CAPTAIN, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 03-02-1970

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Entry filtered.

POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THREE SCIENTISTS, A GERMAN, AN ENGLISHMAN, AND A POLACK
WERE BRAGGING OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. THE GERMAN SAID,
"WE WILL BE ON VENUS BY 1971." THE ENGLISHMAN SAID, "HO,
HO, WE'LL BE ON THE MOON BY 1970." THE POLACK LAUGHED
AND SAID, "FOOEY, WE'LL BE ON THE SUN BY THE END OF
THE MONTH."
"BUT YOU'LL BE BURNT TO DEATH IF YOU FLY TO THE SUN,"
SAID THE ENGLISHMAN AND THE GERMAN.
"NO, WE WON'T," SAID THE POLACK, "WE'LL GO AT NIGHT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 00001967 SUMMER

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