Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HOME returned 1952 results.
RIDDLE QUESTION
WHAT DID GEORGE WASHINGTON SAY WHEN HIS FATHER ASKED WHO CHOPPED
DOWN THE CHERRY TREE?
HE SAID, "I CANNOT TELL A LIE, POPEYE DID IT."
Submitter comment: "POPEYE" IS A PUN ON "POP, I" THEREFORE A DOUBLE MEANING
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; GEORGE WASHINGTON ; HISTORICAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
EXPRESSION
"MIND YOUR OWN BEES WAX."
Submitter comment:
WAS A SUBSTITUTE EXPRESSION FOR "MIND YOUR
OWN BUSINESS" DURING HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-21-1970
ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER WHO IS LISTLESS:
"KEEP THIS UP AND YOU'LL WEAR YOURSELF OUT."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-29-1971
"17" (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
TO ITALIANS, THE NUMBER, "SEVENTEEN", IS CONSIDERED HARD LUCK.
SO WHEN MAKING MEATBALLS, FOR INSTANCE,
THEY WILL MAKE "16" OR "18" MEATBALLS BUT NEVER "17".
Submitter comment: INFORMATIONT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER IN NEW YORK AS A CHILD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.17 BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-10-1970
EVIL EYE
SOME OF THE OLDER SICILIANS WEAR A GARLIC NECKLACE
TO KEEP EVIL AWAY.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S AUNT PRACTICED THIS DAILY.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 10-25-1971
BURNING OF PALMS
THE PALMS GIVEN OUT ON PALM SUNDAY ARE BURNED DURING A STORM
IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HOUSE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
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COUNTING OUT RHYME
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING UP CLOTHES
MY MOTHER HIT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD? RED. R-E-D SPELLS "RED" AND YOU ARE OUT
OF THIS GAME.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
PROVERB
YOU GON, LET YOUR TEETH DIG YOUR GRAVE)
Submitter comment:
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HEARD THAT) GRANNY USED TO TELL US THIS
WHEN WE WERE "PIGGING OUT" I GUESS IT SEEMED AS THOUGH WE
WOULD EAT OURSELVES TO DEATH.
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
HAND GAME
OLD MARY MAC MAC MAC
ALL DRESSED IN BLACK BLACK BLACK
WITH SILVER BUTTONS BUTTONS BUTTONS
ALL DOWN HER BACK BACK BACK
SHE WENT UPSTAIRS STAIRS STAIRS
TO GET FIFTEEN CENTS CENTS CENTS
TO SEE THE ELEPHANT ELEPHANT ELEPHANT
JUMP OVER THE FENCE FENCE FENCE
HE JUMPED SO HIGH HIGH HIGH
THAT HE TOUCHED THE SKY SKY SKY
AND NEVER CAME BACK BACK BACK
TIL THE FOURTH OF JULY LY LY.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
HAND GAME
SAY SAY OLD PLAYMATE
COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR DOLLIES THREE
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE
SLIDE DOWN MY RAIN BEAR
INTO MY CELLAR DOOR AND
WE,LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS
FOREVER MORE
SO SORRY PLAYMATE
I CANNOT PLAY WITH YOU
MY DOLLY HAS THE FLU
SHE MIGHT THROW UP ON YOU
JUST CAN,T COME OVER
AND SLIDE INTO THE CELLAR DOOR
WE,LL STILL BE JOLLY FRIENDS
FOREVER MORE)
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
HAND GAME
SAY SAY OLD JUNKIE
COME OUT AND SMOK E WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR LSD WE,LL TRY SOME PCP
WE,LL SHOOT SOME HEROIN THEN DRINK SOME METHADONE
AND WE,LL BE DRUNKEN BUMS
FOREVER MORE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE TO THE SAME TUNE AS783485-11. SHE DOESN,T
REMEMBER WHERE SHE COULD HAVE PICKED UP THIS VERSION. ITS VERY
MORBID.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
HAND GAME
MISS LUCY HAD A BABY
SHE NAMED HIM TINY TIM
SHE PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB
TO SEE IF HE COULD SWIM
HE DRANK UP ALL THE WATER
HE ATE UP ALL THE SOAP
HE TRIED TO EAT THE BATHTUB,
BUT IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN HIS THROAT!
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
COUNTING OUT RHYME
LAST NIGHT NIGHT BEFORE
24 ROBBERS AT MY DOOR
I WOKE UP, LET THEM IN, HIT EM IN THE HEAD WITH A ROLLING PIN
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME)
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SAID ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY DURING A GOOD GAME OF
HIDE AND SEEK. AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
RIDDLE
Q. WHAT DO YOU CALL HORSES THAT PRACTICE THE OLDEST PROFESSION
IN THE WORLD?
A. NIGHT MARES.
Submitter comment: GET IT? PROSTITUTION. NIGHTMARES. I KNOW, GO TO MY ROOM.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
SILK PURSE,SOW,S EAR
Submitter comment:
THIS ONE WAS PRETTY DEEP, BUT MY INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS
A SIMPLE CASE OF EXPRESSING EXTREME CONTRAST. MAKES SENSE.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
ETHNIC JOKE
JOE: THERE,S A NEW STORE IN TOWN SELLING BRAINS, THEY HAVE
TWO TYPES--- A BLACK MAN,S BRAIN AND A WHITE MAN,S BRAIN.
THE BLACK MAN,S COST MORE.
JIM: WHY?
JOE: CAUSE THE WHITE MAN,S BRAIN BEEN USED.
Submitter comment: NOT FUNNY.
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
DIVINATION
YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OR WASH YOUR FACE IN THE FIRST MAY RAIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
TALKING TO YOU IS LIKE TRYING TO KEEP WATER ON A DUCK,S BACK.
Submitter comment: APPARENTLY THERE IS A BIG COMMUNICATION GAP.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-17-1981