Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 7746 returned 370 results.
PROVERB
YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
WHEN MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WAS THREE, MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING
FROM TEXAS TO MICHIGAN. IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND I WAS SLEEPING
WITH CATHY BESIDE ME WHEN I HAD A DREAM OF A TRUCK STRIKING OUR
CAR. I WOKE UP SHOUTED A WARNING TO MY HUSBAND AND GRABBED HOLD
OF MY DAUGHTER JUST BEFORE THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SEMI.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 841 Dreams about the dead and sick BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the dead and sick |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
WIND FROM THE EAST
FISHING IS LEAST.
WIND FROM THE WEST
FISHING IS BEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.448 |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SAY MACBETH IN A THEATER. IF YOU DO SO YOU MUST
GO OUTSIDE AND TURN AROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING BACK IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK TO SAY "GOOD LUCK" TO A PERFORMER BEFORE
A PERFORMANCE. YOU SHOULD SAY INSTEAD "BREAK A LEG".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
I WANNA BEER
JUST LIKE THE BEER
THAT PICKLED MY OLE MAN.
IT WAS A BEER
AND THE ONLY BEER
THAT DADDY EVER HAD.
A GOOD OLE FASHIONED BEER
WITH LOTS OF FOAM.
TOOK TEN MEN TO CARRY DADDY HOME.
OH I WANT A BEER
JUST LIKE THE BEER
THAT PICKLED MY OLE MAN.
Submitter comment: SONG IS PARADY OF I WANT A GAL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
GLORY GLORY HALLELUIAH
TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER
I MET HER AT THE DOOR
WITH A LOADED .44
AND SHE AIN'T MY TEACHER NO MORE.
Submitter comment: SONG IS A PARADY OF THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
MISS SUZIE HAD A STEAMBOAT
THE STEAMBOAT HAD A BELL.
MISS SUZIE WENT TO HEAVEN,
THE STEAMBOAT WENT TO...
HELLO OPERATOR
GIVE ME NUMBER NINE.
IF YOU DISCONNECT ME
I'LL KICK YOU IN THE..
BEHIND THE FRIGORATOR
SAT A PIECE OF GLASS.
MISS SUZIE FELL UPON IT
AND BROKE HER LITTLE ...
ASK ME NO MORE QUESTIONS.
I'LL TELL YOU NO MORE LIES.
MISS SUZIE TOLD ME ALL OF THIS
THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIED.
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG IS NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE A PARODY. IT IS A CHILD'S SONG
OR CHANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
IT IS BAD LUCK TO BUY YOURSELF AN OPAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
IT IS BAD LUCK TO WHERE AN OPAL IF YOU WEREN'T BORN IN OCTOBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F100 BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
YOU CAN TELL IF A BABY IS GOING TO BE LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED BY
WHICH SIDE OF THE MOTHER'S SPINE THE FETUS IS LYING ON. IF ON THE
RIGHT THE CHILD WILL BE RIGHT HANDED IF ON THE LEFT, LEFT HANDED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY A NURSE FROM TEXAS WHO WOULD READ THE
X-RAYS OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS. SHE WAS ACCURATE ON THE THREE OF THE
INFORMANTS CHILDREN WHOES X-RAYS SHE EXAMINED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
THE GOREY FAMILY HAVE A NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITION.
AT MIDNIGHT THEY TAKE ALL THEIR POTS AND PANS
AND BANG THEM TOGETHER. ALL THIS IS TAKING PLACE
WHILE THE FAMILY EXITS THROUGH THE BACK DOOR
AND ENTERS THROUGH THE FRONT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO LET THE BAD LUCK GO OUT THE BACK
DOOR, WHILE LETTING THE GOOD LUCK INTO THE FRONT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
DURING RECESS TERRI HEARD A RUMOR THAT IF YOU KISSED
A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX, YOU WOULD GET KOOTIES.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THAT YOU WOULD GET KOOTIES FROM JUST
TOUCHING A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): COOTIES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
TERRRI'S MOTHER TOLD HER THAT IF SHE CONTINUES TO CRACK
HER KNUCKLES, THEY WILL BE SO BIG THAT SHE WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO PUT HER WEDDING RING ON, WHEN IT IS TIME FOR HER
TO GET MARRIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
IN TERRI'S NEIGHBORHOOD THERE IS A FAMILY WHO LITERALLY
LIVES THEIR WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE. THEIR HOUSE IS WHITE
WITH BLACK SHUTTERS, THE NEW CAR IS WHITE (THE OLD ONE WAS
BLACK), ALL THE FURNITURE AND CARPETING IS WHITE WITH BLACK
HIGHLIGHTS. FINALLY EVEN THE FAMILY DOG IS BLACK.
THE LADY OF THE HOUSE IS SELDOM SEEM AND IF SHE IS YOU
CAN GUESS FOR YOURSELF WHAT COLOR CLOTHES SHE HAS ON.
WHEN TERRI WAS YOUNGER SHE SAID THAT ALL THE KIDS THOUGHT
THAT SHE WAS A WITCH. TODAY IT IS SAID THAT SHE IS NEVER SEEN
BECAUSE SHE IS ALLERGIC TO LIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): RUMORS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Human Being BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
ONE NIGHT MY WIFE AND I WERE INVITED TO GO TO AN ENGAGEMENT
PARTY. MY WIFE SAID, "I'M NOT GOING UNLESS I BRING HIS WIFE
SOMETHING."
WE WENT TO THE GROSSE POINTE FLORIST TO BUY A GIFT. I SAID,
"LOOK, I FOUND A PLANT."
"HOW MUCH," SHE ASKED.
I SAID, "THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS."
"THAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE," SHE SAID. "HERE'S ONE FOR TWENTY
DOLLARS."
JUST AS SHE SAID THAT, THE PLANT SLIPPED FROM HER HANDS
AND FELL ONTO OTHER FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS. WE HAD TO PAY
FIFTY-TWO DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS: WE SHOULD HAVE PAID THE THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS, IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN LESS EXPENSIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
I WAS WORKING AT WENDY'S OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS.
I WAS PLACED TO WORK ON THE CASH REGISTER. THE MANAGER
CLEARED THE CASH DRAWER FOR ME TO START WORKING. AFTER
A FEW CUSTOMERS, A LADY APPROACHED ME. SHE ASKED ME TO
GIVE HER A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL FOR HER TEN ONE DOLLAR BILLS
AND TWO FIVE DOLLAR BILLS. I AGREED, REACHED UNDER MY
CASH DRAWER AND HANDED HER A TWENTY. I STARTED TO PUT THE
MONEY SHE GAVE ME INTO THE DRAWER WHEN SHE SAID, "I'M
SORRY MISS, BUT YOU ONLY GAVE ME ONE DOLLAR." AS QUICKLY AS
I HAD HANDED HER THE TWENTY, SHE HAD SHOWED ME A ONE DOLLAR
BILL. I APOLOGIZED AND LOOKED UNDER THE DRAWER AGAIN. I DID
NOT HAVE A TWENTY UNDERNEATH. SHE THEN SAID, "I SHOULD HAVE
ASKED FOR THE MANAGER IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING
RIGHT." I CALLED THE MANAGER OVER AND ASKED HIM TO COUNT THE
MONEY IN MY CASH DRAWER; MEANWHILE I HAD GIVEN HER HER MONEY
BACK AS SHE STARTED TO ACCUSE ME OF CHEATING HER. AS THE
MANAGER STARTED TO COUNT THE MONEY, SHE SAID, "I CAN'T
STAND HERE ALL DAY WAITING. I'M NOT GOING TO COME HERE AGAIN."
AS SHE LEFT, THE MANAGER TOLD ME SHE HAD TAKEN ME FOR NINETEEN
DOLLARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 08-00-1985
WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING SMOOTHLY, ONE SAYS, "WELL,
MAKES THE CHEESE MORE BINDING."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK.
Submitter comment:
TOLD WHEN SOMEONE WANTS HELP DOING SOMETHING LIKE
SETTING OR CLEARING A TABLE TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1930