Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHY DID THE BLACK MAN WEAR A TUXEDO TO HIS VASECTOMY?
ANSWER. IF I'M GONNA BE IMPOTENT I MIGHT AS WELL LOOK
IMPOTENT.
Submitter comment:
I GOT THIS JOKE FROM THE MOVIE "SOUL MAN." IT WAS TOLD
BY TWO WHITE GUYS IN FRONT OF A BLACK GUY TO MAKE HIM
FEEL BAD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOTENT- USED INSTEAD OF THE WORD IMPORTANT TO MAKE ; THE BLACK MAN'S SPEECH SEEM BAD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- BLAC |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
SPIRITUAL PRESENCE
I WAS LAYING IN MY MOTHER'S BED SOME TIME AFTER MY FATHER
DIED AND HER ROOM WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM HIS. I WASN'T
QUITE ASLEEP YET WHEN I SAW A TRANSPARENT PERSON ABOUT THE
SIZE AND SHAPE OF MY FATHER COME OUT OF THAT ROOM. I WAS
NOT SCARED BECAUSE IN LIFE MY FATHER WAS A VERY KIND MAN
THAT WOULD NOT HURT ME AND HE WOULD BE THE SAME IN DEATH.
I WENT TO SLEEP FEELING VERY COMFORTED.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
YOU ARE SO OLD THAT YOU REMEMBER WHEN GOD'S MOTHER WAS
PREGNANT WITH HIM.
Submitter comment: MADE THIS UP WHEN PLAYING THE DOZENS WITH MY SISTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
YOU ARE SO OLD THAT THERE ARE RECORDS OF YOU PLAYING
BALL WITH GOD WHEN HE WAS A BOY.
Submitter comment: MADE UP JOKE TO PLAY THE DOZENS WITH MY SISTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
NEVER KISS AT THE GARDEN GATE,
LOVE IS BLIND BUT THE NEIGHBORS AIN'T.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WORMS
A TALL GLASS OF WATER IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE PERSON TO BE CURED.
THEN A PIECE OF REGULAR SEWING THREAD IS USED TO MEASURE THE PERSON
FROM HEAD TO TOE THREE TIMES.
THEN THE PERSON SUSPENDS HIS HANDS IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS
AND IS MEASURED FROM FINGERTIP TO FINGERTIP WITH THE SAME THREAD
THREE TIMES.
THEN THE LENGTH OF THREAD IS FOLDED IN HALF,
THEN FOLDED ONCE AGAIN IN HALF AND SO ON
UNTIL THE THREAD'S FORM HAS A LENGTH OF ABOUT 6 INCHES.
THE THREAD IS THEN HELD LENGTHWISE ABOVE THE GLASS OF WATER
AND SLOWLY CUT IN LITTLE PIECES
ABOUT AN INCH LONG.
AS THE THREAD FALLS INTO WATER SOME THREAD WILL STAY AT TOP
OR REST IN THE MIDDLE OR FALL TO THE BOTTOM.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THE THREAD RESTS, THE PERSON
PERFORMING THE CURE CAN TELL WHERE THE WORMS ARE IN THE BODY.
THIS CEREMONY IS CARRIED OUT FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW.
AND ON THE THIRD DAY THE PERSON IS CURED
AND FEELING MUCH BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
CHEER
OUR TEAM IS SO BIG,
YOUR TEAM IS SO SMALL,
(THEN EVERYONE STARTED STOMPING THEIR FEET.)
Submitter comment: CATHOLIC CENTRAL IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; GRAND RAPIDS ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival |
LAKE SUPERIOR
WHEN A PERSON WOULD DROWN IN LAKE SUPERIOR, THEY WOULD NEVER BE
ABLE TO FIND THE BODY BECAUSE IT WOULD NEVER COME UP. SO LAKE
SUPERIOR WAS SAID NEVER TO GIVE UP ITS DEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DROWNING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Still water Large body. Ocean, sea.... |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
JUMP ROPE RHYME
BLUE BELLS COCKEL SHELLS,
EVE EVY OVER,
HERE COMES TEACHER WITH A BIG BLACK STICK,
YOU BETTER KNOW YOUR ARITHMATIC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
COIN CUSTOM
IF YOU PUT A PENNY IN EACH OF YOUR DRESSER DRAWERS
AND KEEP THEM THERE YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MONEY
WHILE YOU LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM THIS AND SWEARS IT IS TRUE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
JUMP ROPE RHYME
FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE,
MAMA HAS A NEW BORN BABY.
IT WASN'T A GIRL
IT'S NOT A BOY
IT'S JUST A PLAIN OLD BABY.
WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER
SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR
FIRST FLOOR--STOP
SECOND FLOOR ----------.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
CHILDREN'S RHYME
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT, THEY EAT UP YOUR GUTS AND SPIT THEM OUT.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
CHILDREN'S RHYME
TEACHER, TEACHER, I DECLARE,
GIVE ME BACK MY UNDERWEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
WHEN A LITTLE GIRL WHISTLES, THE DEVIL DANCES.
Submitter comment: THIS SAYING WAS USED FREQUENTLY BY THE INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HELL MUSIC CHILDREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
THE WHEEL THAT SQUEAKS LOUDEST IS THE ONE THAT GETS THE GREASE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY HER TENNESSEE GRANDMOTHER. MEANS ATTENTION GOES TO
TH LOUDEST PERSON.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Entry filtered.
RIDDLE
LONDONBERRY, CORK AND KERRY. SPELL ME THAT WITHOUT A "K"?
"T-H-A-T." "THAT"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
GOSSIP
WHAT GOES IN THE WASH MUST COME THROUGH THE WRINGER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
OLD SAYING
THE WAY YOU RAISE 'EM, THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET 'EM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER TOLD HIM THIS AND HIS GRANDFATHER TOLD
HIS FATHER THIS. IT'S AN OLD SAYING THAT'S BEEN PASSED
DOWN IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDREN PARENTS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-05-1971