Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Retort
...Says the pretty little bird on Nellie's hat.
(Variant of "Who are you kidding?")
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this often from Nellie Gaffney, a friend of informant's Irish grandmother, Rose Brady.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): BIRD ; COMEBACK ; DISBELIEF ; Hat ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Don't soft soap me.
Submitter comment:
Heard by informant in Detroit, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Soap ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Detroit, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The question [Proves what?] is written next to the collector comment.
Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Appreciation ; COMEBACK ; Generous ; GIFT ; Grateful ; Greedy ; HORSE ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TEETH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND A MEMBER OF HER FAMILY
DIES, THE BABY WILL BE THE SEX OF THE DECEASED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
Retort
Off the Cob.
Submitter comment:
A remark made after someone has expressed an inept idea or an idea lacking in social sophistication.
Informant heard this in Detroit, Michigan.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Cob ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Language: Games
Pastime:
If you see another child with money you yell- "Butts on you." He then must share anything he buys with that money with you. However, when he pulls out his money, if he yells - "fan butts" first, then he doesn't have to share his purchases.
Submitter comment:
Bill used to play this as a child when he was given money, or if one of his friends was given money. He said it was common to yell this.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Miscellaneous grammar correction written on card.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Buy ; CHILDREN ; Currency ; Dollars ; GAME ; MONEY ; Own ; Ownership ; Pastime ; Purchase ; Share
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
An Old Saying:
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers.
Submitter comment:
It is not certain just when, or from whom my grandmother first heard this little saying; although, since it seems to be a typically American little adage, I'm quite certain that she did not hear it before she came to this country in 1910.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The contribution stamp date has been changed from [January 1964] to [May 1965].
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
KW:EZX
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Common Law ; Cry ; Discover ; Find ; Lose ; Loss ; LOST ; Ownership ; Weep
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
PROVERB
HE WHO SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR, HAS NO FEAR OF FALLING OUT OF BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Belief: Weather
April Showers bring May flowers
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Ferndale, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The A in April and the C in Cissell are both underlined in red.
Dup of WPP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): April ; FLOWERS ; May ; Month ; NATURE ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; PREDICTION ; Rain ; RHYME ; Sky ; TIME ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Weather Proverb |
Custom/Belief
Craving of Pregnant Woman:
If a pregnant woman has a craving for something and does not get it, the baby will have a birthmark resembling the food that was craved.
Submitter comment:
Informant is a friend's mother, and she remembers this from all her life.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): BABY ; Birthmark ; Craving ; Craving ; Disfigure ; FOOD ; Lore ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
TOREADOR-EE, DON'T SPIT ON THE FLOOR-EE
USE THE CUSPIDOR-EE
THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR-EE.
Submitter comment:
SUNG TO "CARMEN" ARIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): MUSIC ; PARODY ; SONG ; Tune
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 04-00-1971
BE PREPARED IS THE BOY SCOUT'S MARCHING SONG
BE PREPARED AS IN LIFE WE MARCH ALONG
BE PREPARED TO HOLD YOUR LIQUOR WELL
DON'T WRITE NAUGHTY WORDS ON BOARDS
IF YOU CAN'T SPELL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 13, SUNG AS A MOCK ON
BOY SCOUTS BY "INDEPENDENTS".
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Boy Scouts ; Campfire Song ; MUSIC ; SONG ; Tune
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 04-00-1971
POPEYE THE SAILOR
I'M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN
I LIVE IN A GARBAGE CAN
I LIKE TO GO SWIMMIN
WITH BARE-NAKED WOMEN
I'M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIENDS BROTHER, AND HE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HIS
CHILDHOOD.
IT IS SUNG TO THE SAME TUNE AS THE REGULAR POPEYE SONG.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Kants, Robert
Keyword(s): JOKE ; Lyrics ; PARODY ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
BOSCO
I LOVE BOSCO
IT'S FULL OF TNT
MOMMY PUTS IT IN MY MILK
TO TRY AND BLOW UP ME.
BUT I FOOL MOMMY
I PUT IT IN HER TEA.
NO MORE MOMMY
TO TRY AND BLOW UP ME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIENDS BROTHER, AND HE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HIS
CHILDHOOD.
IT IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF THE OLD BOS
SONG.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): JOKE ; PARODY ; SONG ; Tune
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN BAKES BREAD AND THE DOUGH RISES
QUICKLY, SHE WILL HAVE A SON.
Submitter comment:
STORY TOLD TO INFORMANT, MY NEIGHBOR, BY HER AUNT WHO
WAS RAISED IN THE MONTREAL (CANADA) AREA. MM MY MOTHER'S
MOTHER WHO WAS IRISH, TOLD ME ABOUT THIS. WHEN YOU WERE
EXPECTING A CHILD, THE GARMENT YOU WERE SEWING ON WHEN
THE BABY WAS TO BE BORN WOULD PREDICT THE SEX. I DON'T
REMEMBER IT ALL, BUT SOMETHING LIKE, WOOK, A BOY; COTTON,
SILK, A GIRL.
TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
JUMP ROPE VERSE
POTATOES, TOMATOES, PEAS, AND CHEESE
YOUR MOTHER SAYS TO EAT ALOT OF THESE
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S YOUNGEST SISTER, AND SHE IS ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS OLD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
How do you clear the Iraqis away fast in a Bingo game?
You yell out loud B-52!
Submitter comment:
The B-52 was what the allies used much of the time to
bomb many of the Iraqis' positions and main military
areas.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Proverb
A job worth doing is worth doing well
Submitter comment:
From - uncertain
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
The Three Musketeers were surrounded in shark infested
water after their boat sank; how did they manage to get
away?
By using swordfish of course.
Submitter comment:
We are all sitting around together with the family telling
jokes and stories.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
The number thirteen is important to witches because at one
time it was felt that this was the maximum number that could
meet at the time that witches were being persecuted. It also
means twelve people and the priest or leader.
Submitter comment: Brian learned this from a lecture at Oakland University.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 00001980S