The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SNIPE HUNT

PART OF INITIATION AND USUALLY SUCKED UP BY NAIVE
FRESHMEN ON THEIR FIRST CAMPOUT. STORY IS TOLD
OF RARE ANIMALS WHO ARE AFRAID OF LIGHT AND COME OUT
ONLY AT NIGHT. THEREFORE A HUNT IS PLANNED TO CATCH
SOME. NEW SCOUTS ARE TEAMED UP WITH EACH OTHER
AND OLDER SCOUTS TEAM UP WITH OLDER SCOUTS. EACH
PAIR IS GIVEN A PAPER BAG AND THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT
SNIPE ARE SMALL, FAST, NOISELESS AND EASILY SCARED
BY SOUND AND LIGHT. THEY ALL GO OUT AND OLDER
SCOUTS SLIP BACK, LEAVING TENDERFEET OUT ALL NIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOY SCOUTS

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TOPNOTCHER

I SAY TO MEINSELF, WAS IST DAS HEIR?
DAS IST MEIN TOPNOTCHER (TOP OF THE HEAD)
JA, MAMA DEAR.
TOPNOTCHER, TOPNOTCHER, JA MAMA DEAR.
THAT'S WHAT I LEARN IN MEIN SCHOOL, JAWOHL.

[THIS REPEATED FOR VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BODY UNTIL AT THE END WE GET:]
I SAY TO MEINSELF, WAS IST DAS HEIR?
DAS IST MEIN BREADBASKET (STOMACH), JA MAMA DEAR.
BREADBASKET
CHEST-PROTECTOR (CHEST)
RUBBER-NECKER (NECK)
COOKIE-DUSTER (CHIN)
BULL-SHOOTER (MOUTH)
SOUP-STRAINER (MOUSTACHE)
SNOT-BLOWER (NOSE)
EYE-BLINKER (EYES)
SWEAT-BROWSER (FOREHEAD)
TOPNOTCHER (TOP OF THE HEAD)
JA,MAMA DEAR,
THAT'S WHAT I LEARN IN MEIN SCHOOL, JAWOHL!

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A SONG SUNG BY BOY SCOUTS AT CAMPFIRES. IT IS AN
ACCUMULATIVE SONG LIKE "OLD MAC DONALD" AND IT INCLUDES
THE GESTURE OF POINTING TO THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BODY WHICH ARE
REFERRED TO. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PRETENDED GERMAN ACCENT.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOY SCOUTS ; REMEMBERED

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THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET

1. THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET, DEAR IVAN, DEAR IVAN,
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET, DEAR IVAN, A HOLE.
2. THEN PATCH IT DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA,
THEN PATCH IT DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, PATCH IT.
3. WITH WHAT SHALL I PATCH IT, DEAR IVAN, DEAR IVAN?
WITH WHAT SHALL I PATCH IT, DEAR IVAN, WITH WHAT?
4. WITH A STICK, DEAR LIZA ,ETC.
5. BUT THE STICK IS TOO LONG, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
6. THEN CHOP IT DEAR LIZA, ETC.
7. WITH WHAT SHALL I CHOP IT, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
8. WITH THE AX, DEAR LIZA,ETC.
9. BUT THE AX IS TOO DULL, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
10. THEN SHARPEN IT, DEAR LIZA, ETC.
11. WITH WHAT SHALL I SHARPEN IT, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
12. WITH THE STONE, DEAR LIZA, ETC.
13. BUT THE STONE IS TOO DRY, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
14. THEN WET IT, DEAR LIZA, ETC.
15. WITH WHAT SHALL I WET IT, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
16. WITH WATER, DEAR LIZA, ETC.
17. WITH WHAT SHALL I FETCH IT, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
18. WITH THE BUCKET, DEAR LIZA, ETC.
19. THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET, DEAR IVAN, ETC.
ETC...........

Submitter comment:

THIS CAMPFIRE SONG IS ONE OF THOSE CYCLIC SONGS THAT END WHERE THEY
BEGAN AND SO GO FOREVER.

Remembered from the days when I was a Boy Scout.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOY SCOUTS ; REMEMBERED

Keyword(s): CIRCULAR FORM

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