Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TAUNT
BRASS-BUTTONS, BLUE COAT,
CAN'T CATCH A NANNY GOAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
POOR LITTLE FLY, SITTING ON THE WALL,
HIM AIN'T GOT NO FRIENDS AT ALL,
HIM GOT NO MOMMA TO COMB HIS HAIR.
HIM DON'T CARE, HIM GOT NO HAIR.
Submitter comment: VERSES WERE RECITED WITH A SAD TONE IN THE VOICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY-TALK
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
LITTLE FLY UPON THE WALL,
HIM AIN'T GOT NO HOME AT ALL.
HIM AIN'T GOT NO MAMA TO COMB HIS HAIR,
HIM DON'T CARE!
HIM GOT NO HAIR.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY-TALK
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
LINCOLN, LINCOLN,
I'VE BEEN THINKIN'!
WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKIN'?
TASTES LIKE WATER, LOOKS LIKE WINE.
OH MY GOSH, IT'S TURPENTINE!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
O-I-C
I'M IN A 10 DER MOOD TODAY
AND FEEL POETIC 2
4 FUN I'LL JUST -- OFF A LINE
AND SEND IT OFF 2 U.
I'M SORRY U HAVE BEEN 6 SO LONG,
DON'T BE DISCONSOL8
BUT BEAR YOUR ILLS WITH 42DE
AND THEY WON'T SEEM SO GR8.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DIGITAL SPELLING ILLNESS ; QUATRAIN RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
I AM A BEAVER,
YOU ARE A BEAVER,
WE ARE ALL BEAVERS,
WHEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE,
WE GIVE THE BEAVER CALL.
KISSING SOUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
HERE LIES THE BODY OF SOLOMON PEASE.
UNDER THE DAISIES, UNDER THE TREES.
BUT PEASE ISN'T HERE, ONLY THE POD.
PEASE SHELLED OUT AND WENT HOME TO GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH PUN ; EPITAPH RHYME: COUPLETS ; VEGETABLES: PEAS METAPHOR SLANG
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
FOR EVERY EVIL UNDER THE SUN,
THERE IS A REMEDY OR THERE IS NONE,
IF THERE BE ONE, TRY TO FIND IT,
IF THERE BE NONE, NEVER MIND IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
POEM ABOUT TEACHERS
EXPERIENCE IS A TEACHER,
BUT THE THING THAT MAKES ME BURN,
IS THAT SHE'S ALWAYS TEACHING ME,
THINGS I DO NOT CARE TO LEARN.
Submitter comment:
USED BY ALL THE SIXTH GRADERS AT FISHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN REDFORD TOWNSHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
THE MONKEY'S DISGRACE
THREE MONKEYS SAT UNDER A COCONUT TREE,
DISCUSSING THINGS AS THEY ARE TO BE.
SAID ONE TO THE OTHER, NOW LISTEN YOU TWO,
THERE IS A CERTAIN RUMOR THAT CANNOT BE TRUE.
THAT MAN DESCENDED FROM OUR NOBLE RACE,
THE VERY IDEA IS A DISGRACE.
NO MONKEY EVER DESERTED HIS WIFE,
STARVED A BABY OR RUINED A LIFE,
AND YOU HAVE NEVER KNOWN A MOTHER MONK
TO LEAVE HER BABIES WITH OTHERS TO BUNK.
OR PASS THEM ON FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
TILL THEY SCARCELY KNOW WHO IS THEIR MOTHER.
ANOTHER THING YOU WILL NEVER SEE;
A MONK TO BUILD A FENCE AROUND A COCONUT TREE.
AND LET THE COCONUTS GO TO WASTE,
FORBIDDING ALL OTHER MONKS TO TASTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IRONY SARCASM ; JUDGMENT ON HUMAN RACE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.327 |
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND HAD NO SENSE,
THEY RAISED ME UP FOR TWENTY PENCE.
NOW THEY SAY I'M OLD AND GRAY,
AND THEY SAY I'M IN THE WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AGING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.325 |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
THE MAIDEN
THERE ONCE WAS A MAIDEN SO FAIR,
HER BRIGHT BLUE EYES AND GOLDEN HAIR;
BUT HER LIFE WAS RUINED BY A TWIST OF FATE,
THE STORY'S AWFUL, I'M SAD TO RELATE.
YES, THE TALE IS TRUE, FOR I WOULD NOT LIE,
I HEARD IT ONE NIGHT WHILE I WAS STILL HIGH;
I HAVE WRITTEN IT JUST AS SHE TOLD IT TO ME,
AND THE PAIN HAS MADE ME SICK AS CAN BE.
"I LEFT HIM FLAT; FOR HE TREATED ME CRUEL;
FOR NOW I SEE THAT I WAS A FOOL,
HE'S UGLY AND DIRTY AND SMELLS LIKE A HORSE,
AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO GET A DIVORCE."
"I WAS JUST TWENTY WHEN THE MESS DID START,
HE SAID HE WOULD LOVE ME TILL DEATH DO US PART;
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE DAY WOULD SOON COME,
WHEN I WOULD GET WISE TO THAT NO-GOOD BUM.
"NOW I AM HAPPY AND FINALLY FREE,
TO THINK, DO, AND SAY WHAT I PLEASE;
SO FOR A LITTLE ADVICE BEFORE YOU MARRY,
BE SURE YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT BIG AND HAIRY."
"SO WHEN THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS TURNS TO A FINK,
GET A DIVORCE OR MAKE A BIG STINK;
BUT IF YOU SEE HE'S NO GOOD FROM THE START,
DROP HIM FAST OR HE'LL BREAK YOUR HEART."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LAMENT ADVICE ; METER: IAMBIC TRIMETER ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABB ; SIMILE INDIRECTION HUMOR MARRIAGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.325 |
YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM,
WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METER: IAMBIC ANAPESTIC ; REPETITION FOOD REFRAIN CACOGRAPHY ; RHYME: MASCULINE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
WE MUST, WE MUST,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.
THE BIGGER THE BETTER,
THE TIGHTER THE SWEATER,
WE MUST IMPROVE THE BUST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANATOMY ; BOSOM BREAST ; FUNCTION GROWING UP ; MONOLOGUE SLANG DIALECT ; REFRAIN, QUATRAIN? ; RHYME: FEMININE, INTERNAL ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
WE DON'T HAVE OUR BACKHOUSE ANYMORE,
THINGS ARE MIGHTY DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.
ONCE I HAD TO GO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
I WAS SUCH A LITTLE FELLOW, I DIDN'T FIT RIGHT.
I TIPPED THE DARN THING OVER AND GOD! WAS I A SIGHT!
WE DON'T HAVE OUR BACKHOUSE ANYMORE.
Submitter comment:
MY DAD OFTEN RECITED THE FOLLOWING NURSERY RHYME TO
MY SISTERS AND ME WHEN WE WERE SAD. IT ALWAYS BROUGHT
A SMILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACCIDENT TOILET ; BACKHOUSE=PRIVY OUTHOUSE ; REPETITION SLANG HUMOR ; RHYME: MASCULINE, AABBBA ; UNDERSTATEMENT OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TWO'S A COUPLE,
THREE'S A CROWD,
FOUR ON THE SIDEWALK,
IS NEVER ALLOWED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METER: TROCHAIC ; REFRAIN NUMBERS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB ; VARIATION: FOUR'S TOO MANY, FIVE'S NOT ALLOWED.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TRUE RIDDLE
Q: FOUR LEGS UP, FOUR LEGS DOWN/ SOFT IN THE MIDDLE, HARD ALL AROUND.
A: A BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL ; FURNITURE (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
SITTIN' BY THE ROADSIDE ON A SUMMER DAY,
CHATTING WITH MY MESS MATES, PASSING TIME AWAY,
LAYING IN THE SHADOW UNDERNEATH THE TREE,
GOODNESS, HOW DELICIOUS EATING GOOBER PEAS!
CHORUS: PEAS, PEAS, PEAS, PEAS,
GOODNESS HOW DELICIOUS EATING GOOBERPEAS!
Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECITED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD ; FOOD, EATING ; GOOBERS=PEANUTS ; IT MAY ALSO BE SUNG. ; METER: IAMBIC, ANAPESTIC ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: MY TRUNK ALAS. IT HAS NO LOCK./ IT HASN'T ANY KEY./
BUT YET WHEREVER I MAY GO/ I TAKE MY TRUNK WITH ME.
A: AN ELEPHANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; LUGGAGE (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
SEE MY FINGER, SEE MY THUMB,
SEE MY FIST, YOU BETTER RUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BULLY ; DIALECT ; ELLIPSIS, SURPRISE ENDING ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; MONOLOGUE UNDERSTATEMENT FIGHTING ; RHYME: MASCULINE ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN