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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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African-American Children's hand clapping game
This game is played with a hand clap. The words to the game
must keep the beat of the clap. Rhythm is a very important
part in keeping the game going.
Hands up to eighty-five (clap clap)
gonna get (clap clap)
names of (clap clap)
(any fruit, color, city, state, people, anything selected.)
No hesitation (clap clap)
No demonstration (clap clap)
so let's go (clap clap)
starting with (say person's name). (clap clap)
ending with (say person's name) (clap clap)
So lets go! (clap clap)
Submitter comment:
The children are in a circle when playing this game and the
chosen topic is shouted out by each child as their turn comes
in the circle. I've watched my daughter and her friends play
games for hours. The children often add foot movement and hip
movements as they keep time with the rhythm of the game. Any
person causing a break in the timing is out of the game.
Players cannot duplicate objects or subject matters already
called by any other player in the game. If there is a
hesitation or pause by a players, loss for words or a wrong
topic called, that player is eliminated from the game. The
winner is the last person left in the circle. Each time a
person is out the caller of the game has the option to select
a new topic or keep the old one. Children most often use
fruit, colors and cities as the topic for this game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
ST. NICHOLAS' DAY
ON DEC. 6 A MAN WEARING A WHITE SHEET AND CARRYING A BIG CHAIN WOULD
VISIT ALL THE HOUSES AND ASK THE CHILDREN IF THEY HAD BEEN GOOD AND
IF THEY KNEW THEIR PRAYERS. IF NOT THEY WERE TOLD SANTA CLAUS
WOULDN'T VISIT THEM ON CHRISTMAS. IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE, EVERYONE
WAS GOOD FROM THEN TILL CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIGHTENED
OF HIM.
Submitter comment: PRACTICED IN STEELTON, PA. ABOUT 00001920
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ST. NICHOLAS' DAY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 01-12-1964
A PERSON WHO HAS A HIGH HAIR LINE, A WIDE FOREHEAD,
HAS AN OPEN MIND AND SEES CLEARLY.
Submitter comment:
I WAS TOLD THIS BY THE MOTHER OF MY IRANIAN FRIEND WHEN
SHE NOTICED I HAD A WIDE FOREHEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Forehead |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
DUCKY
ONE BIG ROCK IS PLACED ON THE GROUND. EACH PLAYER HAS
ONE STONE TO THROW AT THE LARGE ROCK. THE PERSON
WHOSE STONE MISSES THE ROCK BY THE LARGEST DISTANCE
IS OUT OF THE GAME AND HAS TO PLACE HIS STONE ON
TOP OF THE LARGE ROCK. THE REST OF THE PLAYERS
COLLECT THEIR STONES AND THROW AGAIN TRYING TO KNOCK
THE STONE OFF THE ROCK. THE PLAYERS TAKE A PLACE BY
THEIR STONE. WHEN THE STONE IS KNOCKED OFF THE ROCK,
ALL PLAYERS MUST "FLY" (RUN) BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL
POSITIONS BEFORE THE PLAYER WHO WAS OUT OF THE GAME
CAN PUT HIS STONE BACK UP ON THE ROCK. THE LAST ONE
BACK IS OUT OF THE GAME. THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL
ONLY ONE PERSON IS LEFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
GRAFFITI
ANGELS WHO GUARD YOU WHILE YOU DRIVE
USUALLY RETIRE AT 65.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; BASEMENT CARVEL 2
Keyword(s): AGES RHYME: AA
James Callow Keyword(s): GUARDIAN ANGELS ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.422 BELIEF -- Angel |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
Toast
A Gaelic toast when drinking: Priad
Sliante agus saoghal agat
Bean agus ciall agat
Talamh gan raol agat
Translation:
Health and long life to you
A sensible woman for a wife
And land without rent.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
original BN [P500 Custom] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Cultural ; Gaelic ; TOAST ; Translate
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
O.K. SIGN--JOIN THUMB AND INDEX FINGER TI SIGNIFY
EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; FOR MANY YEARS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms SPEECH -- All right O.K. |
Date learned: 10-22-1969
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
RIN TIN TIN SAT ON A PIN.
HOW MANY INCHES DID IT GO IN?
1, 2, 3, ETC.
(UNTIL PERSON JUMPING MISSES.)
Where learned: LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.56 |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
THE FIRST PERSON WHO COMES OVER THE THRESHOLD OF
YOUR HOUSE SHOULD BE A MAN TO BRING GOOD LUCK
TO THE HOUSE-HOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42 |
Date learned: 09-26-1971
A rhyme sung by African-American children
Lou Lou had an engine
The engine had a bell
Lou Lou went to heaven
The engine went to hello
Operator
Give me number nine
If you don't connect me
I beat your big
Behind
The refrigerator
There was a piece of glass
Lou Lou slipped upon it and
Cut her little
Ask
Me no more questions
I'll tell you no more lies
Lou Lou told me all of this
Just before she died.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
A rhyme used to pick the next player of a game.
She never went to college
She never went to school
But when she came back
She was an educated fool.
Submitter comment:
This game is used to pick the next person to be "it."
All players gather in a circle. One person is inside
the circle. This person covers their eyes with one hand and
points out a finger with the other hand as they spin around
in a circle. As the words to the above rhyme are sung a new
player is picked on the word "fool". Whoever the finger is
pointed at on the word "fool" takes the place of the person in
the center and becomes "it".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
A game played by African-American children
Look who's here Punchi-nella Punchi-nella
Look who's here Punchi-nella at the zoo
What can you do Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
What can you do Punchi-nella at the zoo?
We can do it too Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
We can do it too Punchi-nella at the zoo.
Submitter comment:
This game is played in a circle and there are hand
claps that accompany the words to the song. One
player (Punchi-nella) is in the center of the circle.
When Punchi-nella is asked "what can you do?", the
player responds by doing his/her own unique dance
in the center of the circle. When the other players
respond, "we can do it too" they imitate the dance
that Punchi-nella performed in the center of the
circle.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960-61
African-American children's jumping rope game
Dum Dee Dum Dee Doe Doe
catch me if you can
I can run faster than
(say the name of the person to chase you) can!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (jump out of the rope)
Submitter comment:
This game is played jumping rope. Two people are
turning the rope, one on each end. The person to be
chased says the above rhyme, then jumps out. The person
to tag runs in afterwards. Each one can only jump one
time in the rope. This is a fast chase game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960-61
A ball game played by African-American Children
Hello, hello, hello sir
how are you today sir?
fine sir
yes sir
Submitter comment:
This game is played by one or more players. The player(s)
bounces a ball to each word of the rhyme. When the word "sir"
is said the player must cross his/her leg over the ball.
Rhythm is very important in that the ball and the rhyme and
the leg crossing must all be together in timing. A missed
cross, or lost of control of the ball constitutes elimination
and turning the ball over to the next player.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
A RING IS ROUND AND HAS NO END AND THAT'S HOW LONG I'LL BE YOUR
FRIEND
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
GOOD FRIDAY
INFORMANT RECALLED THAT AS A CHILD, HER PARENTS REQUIRED
HER TO KEEP SILENCE BETWEEN 12:00 P.M. AND 3:00 P.M.
ON GOOD FRIDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
PERSON'S NICKNAME
DYNAMITE IN A BOTTLE
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED THAT, BECAUSE SHE IS OF SMALL STATURE,
PUSHES KIDS DO THEIR SCHOOLWORK, AND EXPLODES ONCE IN A
WHILE, THE STUDENTS NICKNAMED HER DYNAMITE IN A BOTTLE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
EARACHE
WHEN THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY HAD EARACHES, THEIR FATHER WOULD BLOW
CIGAR SMOKE IN THEIR EARS TO ALLEVIATE THE PAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
Keyword(s): TOBACCO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
LOOK NOT (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
LOOK NOT FOR THE BEAUTY/ NOR WHITENESS OF THE SKIN.
BUT LOOK FOR THE HEART/ THAT IS LOYAL WITHIN.
FOR BEAUTY MAY FADE/ AND SKIN GROW OLD,
BUT THE HEART THAT IS LOYAL,/ WILL NEVER GROW OLD.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN DETROIT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE QUATRAIN ; METONYMY ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Chimney corner wisdom, advice, humorous fortune |
AUTOGRAPH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
FALSE TEETH, ROUGE, AND BORROWED HAIR/ MAY GIVE TO AGE A YOUTHFUL
AIRE./ BUT WHEN DEATH COMES TO CALL US HENCE/ THERE IS AN END OF
ALL PRETENCE.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): MAKEUP WIG ; RHYME DEATH ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Cynical insight |