Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.
CHILDRENS' SONG OR GAME
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT, SHORT AND STOUT,
(HERE HE PUTS HIS HAND ON HIS HIP, WITH HIS ARM CURVED
OUTWARD AS A HANDLE WOULD BE.)
HERE IS MY HANDLE, HERE IS MY SPOUT--
(HERE HE CURVES HIS ARM OUT FROM THE SIDE OF HIM, LIKE A
SNAKE.)
WHEN I GET ALL STEAMED UP, I BEGIN TO SHOUT,
(HERE HE BENDS TO THE SIDE OF THE "SPOUT" AND PRETENDS HE
IS GOING TO POUR OUT TEA.)
TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT.
Submitter comment: THE PERSON BEGINS THE SONG STANDING UP:
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
MY MOTHER, YOUR MOTHER, HANGING OUT THE CLOTHES,
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER RIGHT IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD? MM(E.G. BLUE)
B-L-U-E SPELLS BLUE, AND YOU ARE NOT IT.
Submitter comment:
THE PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL BUT ONE CHILD IS
ELIMINATED. THAT CHILD IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 02-21-1971
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS 6 LEGS, FOUR EYES, AND ONE TAIL?
A: A MAN RIDING A HORSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN TO LONDON TO SEE THE QUEEN.
PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT, WHAT DID YOU THERE?
I FRIGHTENED A LITTLE MOUSE UNDER THE CHAIR.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT,
TEACHERS LET THE MONKIES OUT.
NO MORE PAPERS, NO MORE BOOKS,
NO MORE TEACHER'S DIRTY LOOKS.
Submitter comment:
IN GRADE SCHOOL, WE CANTED THIS ALL THE WAY HOME FROM
SCHOOL IN JUNE. IT WAS AN ANNUAL OCCURENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GO ASK YOUR MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS
TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENCE,
HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE TOUCHED THE SKY
AND NEVER CAME DOWN TIL THE FOURTH OF JULY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RAIN BEFORE SEVEN,
CLEAR BY ELEVEN.
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS FROM MY FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.800 |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
MARRIAGE
A HUNGARIAN CUSTOM, THE ENGAGEMENT RING IS WORN ON THE FOURTH
FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND; BUT AFTER MARRIAGE, THE RING IS TRANSFERRED
TO THE RIGHT HAND, FOURTH FINGER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, LOUIS L. SZEP, LEARNED THIS CUSTOM FROM HIS PARENTS
AS A CHILD IN HUNGARY. ALTHOUGH HE LEFT HUNGARY 27 YEARS AGO, HE
OBSERVES THIS PRACTICE TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Engagement ring |
Date learned: 12-31-1963
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF YOUR STOMACH STICKS OUT IN FRONT, IT'S A BOY. IF IT STICKS OUT
ON THE SIDES, IT'S A GIRL.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BIRMINGHAM ; MONTGOMERY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 07-26-1968
WISH ON A SHOOTING STAR IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU SAY YOUR WISH
COMPLETELY (AND SILENTLY) BEFORE IT FALLS, THE WISH WILL
COME TRUE.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; ALABAMA, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer |
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
A NEW BROOM SWEEPS WELL BUT AN OLD ONE IS BEST FOR THE CORNERS
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY ; POLITICS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC
TWO PEOPLE STAND OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER WHILE RECITING
THIS VERSE. AS THEY DO, THEY CLAP FIRST THEIR HANDS
AND THEN THE HANDS OF THEIR PARTNER:
DOCTOR, DOCTOR HAVE YOU HEARD.
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A MOCKING BIRD.
AND IF THAT MOCKING BIRD DON'T SING,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A DIAMOND RING.
AND IF THAT DIAMOND RING DON'T SHINE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A BOTTLE OF WINE.
AND IF THAT BOTTLE OF WINE GETS BROKE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A BILLY-GOAT.
AND IF THAT BILLY-GOAT RUNS AWAY,
MOMMY'S GOING TO SPANK MY BOOM-ZEE-A,
AND IF MY BOOM-ZEE-A GETS SORE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A CLOTHING STORE.
AND IF THAT CLOTHING STORE BURNS DOWN,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME AN EVENING GOWN,
AND IF THAT EVENING GOWN DON'T FIT,
MOMMY'S GOING TO SAY, "I QUIT, QUIT, QUIT."
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: IF YOU WERE A BUS DRIVER, AND YOU PICKED UP THREE PEOPLE AT ONE
BUS STOP, AND EIGHT AT THE OTHER, HOW OLD WOULD YOU BE?
A: THE AUDIENCE'S AGE; IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE QUESTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PERSONS (Q) ; TRANSPORTATION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS TEETH BUT NEVER BITES?
A: A COMB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): NOTION ITEMS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
RAIN AT SEVEN
IT WILL END BY ELEVEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
RED SKY AT NIGHT,
SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
RED SKY IN THE MORNING,
SAILORS TAKE WARNING.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
PROVERB
A PICTURE IS A MUTE POEM.
Submitter comment: DOES NOT REMEMBER
Where learned: HOME ; BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; DEFINITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
RED SKY IN THE MORNING
IS A SAILOR'S WARNING.
RED SKY AT NIGHT
IS A SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AN ENGLISHMAN VISITING AMERICA WAS TOURING A DUDE
RANCH. UPON SEEING THE COWBOYS, HE REMARKED:
"WHAT MANNER OF MEN ARE THESE,
THAT WEAR THEIR BALLS IN PARENTHESES?"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music C700.334 |
ON THE FINAL SCHOOL DAY OF EACH YEAR, WE WOULD CHANT THIS
REFRAIN:
NO MORE SCHOOL;
NO MORE BOOKS;
NO MORE TEACHERS' DIRTY LOOKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; NEW YORK ; HEMPSTED ; LONG ISLAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |