Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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YOU CAN'T PLEASE THEM WALKING OR RIDING. THIS IS A STORY. ONE
DAY A MAN WAS WALKING HIS HORSE THROUGH TOWN ON A VERY HOT DAY.
ALL THE TOWNS PEOPLE EXCLAIMED " WHAT A STUPID MAN! WHY DOESN'T
HE RIDE THAT HORSE AS HOT AS THIS DAY IS?" SO AT THAT, THE MAN
BEGAN TO RIDE THE HORSE. HE SOON APPROACHED ANOTHER TOWN WHERE
THE TOWNS PEOPLE BEGAN TO EXCLAIM "WHAT A STUPID MAN. THAT POOR
HORSE SHOULD NOT BE HAULING THAT LAZY MAN AROUND IN THIS HEAT!"
YOU CAN'T PLEASE THEM WALKING OR RIDING!!!!!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
WILL THE SUN EVER GET COLD? YES, IN THE YEAR 2050 EVERYTHING
WILL REVERSE. SUMMER WILL BRING SNOW AND WINTER WILL BRING
WARMT H.
Submitter comment: VERY RELIGIOUS, THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Season |
ALWAYS SIT DOWN WHEN IT IS THUNDERING AND LIGHTENING BECAUSE
GOD IS CLEANING UP HIS HOUSE.
Submitter comment: VERY SUPERSTITIOUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
MARRIAGE BELIEF
WHEN A SINGLE GIRL HAS HER FEET SWEPT SHE'LL MARRY A WIDOWER.
Submitter comment: BELIEF COMES FROM MEXICAN TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 12-00-1981
HAIR OMEN
MEN SHOULD NOT WEAR HATS OR THEY'LL GO BALD.
Submitter comment:
FROM MEXICO, MANY PEOPLE STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS CUSTOM. THE INFORMANT,
MY MOTHER, COMMENTED THAT HER MOTHER FREQUENTLY SAID THIS TO HER HUS
BAND.
HUSBAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
I AM NO POET,
I HAVE NO FAME,
BUT JUST THE SAME,
I'LL SIGN MY NAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGH SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; SAINT CYRIL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
THE BOYS WHO CRIED WOLF
ONCE THERE WERE TWO BOYS WHO WERE IN CHARGE OF
WATCHING THE SHEEP FOR AN ENTIRE VILLAGE WHILE
THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WERE IN TOWN. THE TWO BOYS
HATED THIS TASK AND WERE VERY BORED. ONE DAY, ONE
OF THE BOYS GOT AN IDEA ON HOW TO ADD A LITTLE
EXCITEMENT TO THEIR JOB. "WHAT IS IT?" ASKED THE
OTHER BOY. THE OLDER ONE SAID, "WELL, YOU GO INTO
TOWN SCREAMING THAT THE WOLF HAS COME TO TAKE THE
SHEEP AND I'LL STAY HERE WITH THE HERD." "ALL
RIGHT," SAID THE OTHER BOY. THE YOUNGER BOY RAN
INTO TOWN, SCREAMING THAT THE WOLF HAD COME TO GET
SHEEP. THE ENTIRE TOWN GATHERED WEAPONS OF ALL
KINDS AND WENT WITH THE BOY TO THE FIELDS. WHEN
THE VILLAGERS GOT THERE, THE OLDER BOY WAS SITTING
IN A TREE AND WAS LAUGHING AT THEM. THE PEOPLE WERE
VERY ANGRY AND RETURNED TO TOWN. THE BOYS WERE
REPRIMANDED FOR PLAYING SUCH A CRUEL TRICK.
EVERYTHING WENT ALONG FINE FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH.
THEN THE BOYS PLAYED THE SAME TRICK AND THE
VILLAGERS CAME ONCE AGAIN TO PROTECT THEIR SHEEP
AND RUN THE WOLF OFF. AGAIN, IT WAS A JOKE AND
THE VILLAGERS WERE VERY ANGRY. AGAIN THE BOYS WERE
PUNISHED SEVERELY. ONE DAY, NOT LONG AFTER THIS A
WOLF DID COME TO ATTACK THE SHEEP. THE YOUNGER
BOY AGAIN RAN INTO TOWN FOR HELP. THE VILLAGERS,
HOWEVER, THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER TRICK AND REFUSED TO
COME. THE BOY BEGGED AND BEGGED BUT THE PEOPLE REFUSED
TO COME. THE BOY RETURNED TO THE FIELD TO HELP THE
OLDER BOY HIDE AS MANY SHEEP AS THEY COULD. THAT
NIGHT, WHEN THE SHEEP WERE RETURNED TO TOWN, ONE HALF
WERE MISSING. THEIR OWNERS DEMANDED TO KNOW THE
REASON AND THE BOYS EXPLAINED SADLY THAT A REAL WOLF
HAD COME AND HAD TAKEN OR DESTROYED THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MOTHER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 10-15-1965
CHILDREN SONG
HI HO, HI HO,IT'S OFF TO SCHOOL WE GO,
WE LEARN SOME JUNK AND THEN WE FLUNK.
HI HO, HI HO, HI HO.
Submitter comment: AS THE INFORMANT REMEMBERED IT.
Data entry tech comment:
A PARODY OF " HI HO HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO,"
A SONG IN A MOVIE.
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
DAYS OF REST
IN POLAND THEY CONSIDERED THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AS HOLY AS
CHRISTMAS. ON BOTH OF THESE DAYS THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANY
WORK. ALL THE COOKING HAD TO BE DONE AND READY BEFORE THESE TWO DAYS
AND THEY COULD ONLY WASH AS MANY DISHES AS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAD TO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 26 Boxing Day St. Stephen's Day |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM MAXIM
THE DESIRE TO APPEAR CLEVER OFTEN PREVENTS OUR BECOMING SO.
Data entry tech comment: MR. DILES IS A LOCAL RADIO AND T.V. PERSONALITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WXYZ RADIO ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; AFFECTATION ; OBSERVATION ; PARADOX
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-12-1969
FATHERS JACK
WON'T BE MY FATHERS JACK,
WON'T BE MY MOTHERS JILL.
I'LL BE A FIDDLERS WIFE,
AND FIDDLE WHERE I WILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Function Purpose Theme C430.360 |
ORIGIN OF OLD EXPRESSION
THE INFORMANT STATED THAT HE HEARD IT ON THE RADIO THAT THERE WERE
TWO CHURCHES IN LONDON, ST. PETER'S AND ST. PAUL'S. ST. PETER'S
WAS WEALTHY AND ST. PAUL'S WAS POOR. THE LAND AROUND ST. PETER'S
WAS SOLD AND THE MONEY GIVEN TO ST. PAUL'S. HENCE THE EXPRESSION,
"ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
ROPE JUMP RIME
MABLE, MABLE, SET THE TABLE
DON'T FORGET THE RED HOT PEPPER!
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; SPEED-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
ROPE JUMPING RIME
MARGIE DRANK SOME MARMALADE
MARGIE DRANK SOME BEER
MARGIE DRANK SOME OTHER STUFF THAT MADE HER FEEL SO QUEER.
OOPSIE WENT THE MARMALADE, OOPSIE WENT THE BEER,
OOPSIE WENT THE OTHER STUFF THAT MADE HER FEEL SO QUEER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYMATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
ROPE JUMPING RIME
LAST NIGHT, THE NIGHT BEFORE
TWENTY-FOUR ROBBERS CAME TO MY DOOR.
THEY STOLE MY WATCH
THEY STOLE MY RING
AND THEN THEY ALL BEGAN TO SING.
LADY O LADY, TURN AROUND
LADY O LADY, TOUCH THE GROUND
LADY O LADY SHOW YOUR SHOE
LADY O LADY SHISHKAPOO.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYMATES IN HAMMOND, INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-30-1967
TRUNK
IT IS SAID, THAT IF YOU SIT ON A TRUNK, YOU LL BE DISAPPOINTED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-06-1971
ORIGIN OF OLD EXPRESSION
THE INFORMANT STATED THAT HE HEARD IT ON THE RADIO THAT THERE WERE
TWO CHURCHES IN LONDON, ST. PETER'S AND ST. PAUL'S. ST. PETER'S
WAS WEALTHY AND ST. PAUL'S WAS POOR. THE LAND AROUND ST. PETER'S
WAS SOLD AND THE MONEY GIVEN TO ST. PAUL'S. HENCE THE EXPRESSION,
"ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
BAD LUCK OMEN
BAD LUCK WILL COME TO THOSE WHO HEAR A CHICKEN SCREAM.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A BELIEF FROM SABINAS MEXICO, THE INFORMANTS HOME
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
THE SAINT MICHAEL DRAMATIC GAME
THE INFORMATION PRESENT IS IN THE COLLECTOR'S OWN WORDS. BEFORE THE
GAME BEGINS IT IS CHOSEN: EITHER BY A COUNTING OUT RHYME OR BY
SOMEONE VOLUNTEERING. THE GAME FEATURES CHILDREN AGES 6-10 GROUPING
THEMSELVES IN A CIRCLE AROUND IT. FACING IT, AND HOLDING HANDS, THE
CHILDREN BEGIN REVOLVING AROUND IT
(IT IS IN CENTER OF A CIRCLE)
IN A CLOCKWISE FASHION. THE CIRCLE USUALLY CONSISTS OF 10 TO 12 PLA
YERS. AFTER SEVERAL REVOLUTIONS
IT ABRUPTLY BEGINS SINGING IN SPANISH
THE WORDS ARE:
A LA RUEDA DE SAN MIGUEL, TODOS TIEN SU CAJA DE MIEL.
A LO MADURO, A LO MADURO, QUE SE VOLTEE (IT NAMES A PERSON FROM CIR
CLE) DE BURRO. TRANSLATED THE WORDS ARE: EVERYONE GET IN SAINT MICHA
EL'S CIRCLE, EVERYONE HAS A BOX OF HONEY, TURN AROUND, TURN AROUND,
(NAME OF CHILD IT SELECTS) AND MAKES A DONKEY FACE. THE CHILD
BY IT, MUST NOW FACE AWAY FROM IT AND CIRCLE IT BACKWARDS WHILE STILL
HOLDING HANDS WITH THE OTHER PLAYERS. THE GAME CONTINUES
UNTIL ALL PLAYERS HAVE BEEN CALLED BY IT, AND
THE LAST PLAYER CALLED IS THE NEW IT.
(CIRCLE)
MICHAEL'S
INFORMANT
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN IN MEXICO WHEN SHE PLAYED OUT
THIS GAME. THE TOWN, SABINAS HIDALGO NUEVO LEON, STILL EXISTS AND THE
GAME IS STILL PLAYED OUT. THE INFORMANT SANG OUT PORTIONS OF THE GAME
WHILE THE COLLECTOR RECORDED IT.
DONKEY FACE IS FUNNY OR CLOWN-LIKE FACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic |
GERMAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
GERMAN FAMILIES ALWAYS HAVE A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE WITH DIFFERENT
COLORED BULBS AND LIGHTS. THEY ALSO HAVE A CRIB SCENE AND VERY OFTEN
HANG THEIR CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS ON THE DOOR OR FIREPLACE OR SOME OTHER
APPROPRIATE PLACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-03-1968