Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SONG
MY BONNIE HAS TUBERCULOSIS,
MY BONNIE HAS ONLY ONE LUNG.
SHE SPITS UP A BLOODY CORRUPTION,
AND ROLLS IT AROUND ON HER TONGUE.
Submitter comment:
( SONG TO TUNE OF " MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE
OCEAN. " )
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE
HAD A LITTLE MONKEY
HIS NAME WAS JUNGLE JIM
PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB
TO SEE IF HE COULD SWIM
PUT HIM IN SOME SOAPSUDS
TO SEE IF HE COULD FLOAT.
HE DIED LAST NIGHT WITH A BUBBLE IN HIS THROAT.
CALLED UP THE DOCTOR
CALLED UP THE NURSE
CALLED UP THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
IN WALKED THE DOCTOR
IN WALKED THE NURSE
IN WALKED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
OUT WALKED THE DOCTOR
OUT WALKED THE NURSE
OUT WALKED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ; 4143 N. LOCKWOOD
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
Proverb
Time and Tide wait for no man.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Man ; Maxim ; NATURE ; PROVERB ; Tide ; TIME ; VERSE ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
THEY REMEMBER A REFUSE COLLECTOR GOING THROUGH ALLEYS
BOTH DETROIT, MICHIGAN AND TOLEDO, OHIO, AND THEY REFERRED
TO HIM AS THE SHEENY MAN.
MRS. GENTILE SAID THE ONE IN TOLEDO HAD A KAZOO-LIKE HORN
WHICH HE BLEW, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HE WAS COMING.
MR. GENTILE SAID THAT THE BOYS USED TO SWITCH THE REINS
ON THE HORSE AROUND, SO THAT WHEN THE MAN CAME BACK
FROM MAKING HIS COLLECTIONS IN THE HOUSES,
HE HAD A HARD TIME STEERING THE ANIMAL, SINCE THE
LINES WERE REVERSED.
MRS. GENTILE SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG AND LIVING
IN TOLEDO, OHIO, HER BROTHER {JOHN}, BEING JEALOUS OF A
NEW BORN BROTHER {PAUL}, WANTED TO GIVE HIM AWAY TO THE
SHEENY MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; TOLEDO ; DETROIT ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Proverb
The early bird catches the worm.
Submitter comment:
Heard it in gradeschool.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BIRD ; Early ; Forethought ; Late ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Worm
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Good, Better, Best / Never let it take a rest / Till your good is better / And your better best.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bn [V700] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Ability ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Best ; Better ; Good ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; RHYME ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Proverb
"I see" said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; VERSE ; Wellerism
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Proverb
watch pot never boils.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A?? watch ed?? pot never boils
Original BN [V600] crossed out. replaced with current classifications.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): Boil ; METAPHOR ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; View ; Watch ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Belief: Weather
The south wind brings wet weather,
The north wind wet and cold together,
The west wind always brings us rain,
The last wind blows it back again.
Submitter comment:
Verse without Music or Prediction Divination
Heard in School
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Dup. of WPP
Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ;
Keyword(s): Compass ; DIRECTION ; North ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; PREDICTION ; Rain ; South: east West ; Wind
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Belief: Weather
Rain:
If it rains before seven, it will be clear before eleven.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V800, P8] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications
Dup. of WPP
Keyword(s): NATURE ; PREDICTION ; Rain ; Sky ; TIME ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Maxim
Sun and Rain:
Happy is the bride the sun shines on;
Lucky is the corpse that rain falls on.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880, P45] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications.
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Bride ; BURIAL ; Corpse ; DEATH ; Funeral ; MARRIAGE ; Maxim ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Proverb
There's no fool like an old fool.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW:PPP
Keyword(s): AGE ; Fool ; Old ; Senility ; WISDOM ; YOUTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Ethnic: Polish
IN POLAND, AND IN MANY POLISH-AMERICAN HOMES, THE VIGIL OF
CHRISTMAS IS A VERY SOLEMN OCCASION. A VARIETY OF FOOD IS SERVED,
TWELVE DISHES IN ALL, TO REPRESENT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. NO DAIRY
PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED. IT ALSO CONSISTS OF SPECIAL WAFERS CALLED
OPTATKI, WHICH THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTES TO EACH
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD
Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; DAIRY ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Feast ; FOOD ; holiday ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; Vigil
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas 686 Seconds / Twice / Two CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 10-27-1968
BLASON POPULAIRE
AN OPTIMIST LOOKS AT A DONUT AND SEES THE DONUT, A PESSIMIST
SEES THE HOLE.
Submitter comment: I WAS REMINDED OF THIS MANY TIMES AS A YOUNG GIRL.
Keyword(s): DEFINITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00-00-1951
PROVERB IN VERSE
NA SW GRZEGORZA POJDZIE ZIMI DO MORZA
ON THE FEAST OF ST. GREGORY THE WINTER GOES TO THE SEA.
Data entry tech comment:
ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS POLISH TEXT
TRANSLATED BY MRS K J UNIECHOWSKI
Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
CUSTOM
THE DUTCH THAT CAME FROM THE OLD COUNTRY
BELIEVED THAT AS SOON AS A BARN WAS ERECTED,
ALL SORTS OF FIGURES WERE PAINTED ON IT
SO AS TO DISCOURAGE ANY HOAX THAT MIGHT COME UPON THEIR CROPS
OR FARM ANIMALS. THEY REALLY BELIEVED THIS AND
STILL DO IT TODAY.
Submitter comment:
MRS. MURPHYS GREAT GRANDMOTHER TOLD HER THIS WHEN SHE LIVED
IN PENNSYLVANIA OVER 60 YEARS AGO.
Data entry tech comment: DATES ARE TYPED AS IS, CONFUSING.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 11-09-1967
REPRIMAND
"YOU'LL ALL AGREE TOGETHER YET IN FAR LESS ROOM." MOTHER USED TO SAY
THIS TO MY BROTHERS AND ME WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING. IT MEANT THAT WHEN
WE WERE ALL EVENTUALLY IN A CEMETERY WE'D HAVE LESS ROOM TO FIGHT, SO
WE'D BETTER START GETTING ALONG NOW.
Where learned: HOME ; OHIO ; TOLEDO
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
BLESSING
SOME HAE MEAT
AND CANNA EAT,
AND SOME HAE NONE AND WANT IT
BUT WE HAE MEAT
AND WE CAN EAT,
SO WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL.
THIS WAS A BLESSING WE USED TO SAY BEFORE DINNER.
Where learned: HOME ; OHIO ; TOLEDO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
REMEDY
PUT A DIRTY SOCK AROUND YOUR NECK TO CURE A SORE THROAT.
Where learned: HOME ; OHIO ; TOLEDO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-00-1979