Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.
Submitter comment: THIS VERSE IS SUNG BY A CHILD WHEN IT'S RAINING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTHROPORMORPHIC NAME FOR GOD. ; CHANT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CHILDREN'S RHYME
HE MET HER IN THE GARDEN,
THE MOON WAS SHINING BRIGHT.
SHE WAS A MARBLE STATE,
AND HE WAS DRUNK THAT NIGHT.
THEY SAT OUT ON THE BACK PORCH,
THEIR LIPS WERE TIGHTLY PRESSED.
THE OLD MAN GAVE THE SIGNAL,
THE BULLDOG DID THE REST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
CHILDHOOD RHYME
FUZZY-WUZZY WAS A BEAR,
FUZZY-WUZZY HAD NO HAIR,
FUZZY-WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY,
WAS HE?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
FROM GHOULIES AND GHASTIES,
AND LING LEGGED BEASTIES,
AND ALL THINGS THAT GO THUMP IN THE NIGHT,
THE GOOD LORD PROTECT ME.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS RHYME WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY PRAYER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
PAUL REVERE'S DASH
TWAS THE 18TH OF APRIL IN '75,
HARDLY A MAN IS YET ALIVE
WHO REMEMBERS THAT FAMOUS DAY AND YEAR,
OF THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE.
UP THE ALLEY AND DOWN THE STREET,
A TWENTY-YARD DASH FOR THE TOILET SEAT.
Submitter comment:
SHE FIRST HEARD IT IN A SEVENTH-GRADE CLASS FROM ANOTHER
PUPIL AT OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL IN 1961.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; PARODY ; PARODY OF POEM: MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DE-AY,
I'LL TAKE YOUR PANTS AWAY,
AND WHILE YOU'RE STANDING THERE,
I'LL TAKE YOUR UNDERWEAR.
Submitter comment:
SCHOOLBOY "OFFCOLOR" RHYME.
PASSED AROUND DURING GRADES 4-6.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
PARSLEY BELIEF
A WOMAN WILL LOSE HER HUSBAND IF SHE TRANSPLANTS
PARSLEY.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER BELIEVED THIS, AND ATTRIBUTED THE PREMATURE
DEATHS OF SEVERAL NEIGHBORS TO THEIR WIVES TRANSPLANTING
PARSLEY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; GARDENING ; HUSBAND ; Parsley ; SUPERSTITION ; Transplant ; Wife
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
CHILDREN'S RHYME
ROOSEVELT'S IN THE WHITEHOUSE
EATING AT THE TABLE;
LANDON'S IN THE POORHOUSE,
CLEANING OUT THE STABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALFRED LANDON, WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND LOST. ; FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
THE DOCTOR WAS SURPRISED.
Submitter comment: THIS IS FROM A JOKE SESSION IN THE DORMS ONE NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
SHE TIED HIM TO THE HEATER.
AND EVERY TIME HE TURNED AROUND,
HE BURNED HIS LITTLE SEATER.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS VERY POPULAR WHEN INFORMANT WAS IN GRADE
SCHOOL IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN) IN THE 30S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY ; SEATER=BUTTOCKS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
AND FED IT CASTOR OIL.
AND EVERY WHERE MARY WENT
THE LAMB FERTILIZED THE SOIL.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IT FROM A CLASSMATE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
GRANNY GOOSE RHYME
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
SHE ALSO HAD A BEAR.
I'VE OFTEN SEEN HER LITTLE LAMB,
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN HER BARE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE SHE LEARNED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PARODY PUN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
SMART ALECK RHYME
LIAR, LIAR, TWO BY FOUR,
CAN'T GET THROUGH THE KITCHEN DOOR.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
Data entry tech comment: FATTY, FATTY, TWO BY FOUR....
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
MOCKING RHYME
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE,
CAUGHT THEM ON AN ELECTRIC WIRE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ETIQUETTE AND LOGIC
IT'S BETTER TO BURP AND BEAR THE SHAME,
THAN HOLD IT IN AND BEAR THE PAIN.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS THE TYPICAL RETORT AFTER BEING UPBRAIDED FOR
RELIEVING ONESELF RATHER NOISILY.
I CAN RECALL NO SPECIFIC INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EXCUSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
"LONE RANGER" VERSE
HI YO SILVER, EVERYWHERE,
TONTO LOST HIS UNDERWEAR.
TONTO SAY, "ME NO CARE,
LONE RANGER BUY ME 'NOTHER PAIR."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERED THIS FROM HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
(BLANK) IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE RESEMBLES FRANKENSTEIN.
WHEN HE DOES THE IRISH JIG,
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE PORKY PIG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): INSULT DANCING ; PORKY PIG=WALT DISNEY CHARACTER IN MOVIES ; QUATRAIN RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT ROOM CAN NO ONE ENTER?
A: A MUSHROOM.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PARTICULAR PLACE (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
FIRST GRADE BABIES,
SECOND GRADE TOTS,
THIRD GRADE ANGELS,
FOURTH GRADE SNOTS,
FIFTH GRADE APPLES
SIXTH GRADE PEARS
SEVENTH GRADE TIGERS
EIGHTH GRADE BEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
TAUNT
CRY BABY, CRY BABY, STICK YOUR FINGER IN YOUR EYE,
AND TELL YOUR MOTHER IT WAS NOT I.
Submitter comment: MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS USED THIS TO TEASE EACH OTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN