Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MICHIGAN returned 23056 results.
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
Entry filtered.
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
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
A POLISH TRADITION ON THE CHRISTMAS VIGIL IS THE BREAKING OF WAFERS
AND WISHING GOOD LUCK ON EVERYBODY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU BURY A PERSON WITHOUT SHOES, THEY WILL COME BACK AND
HAUNT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
On the stroke of twelve (on New Year's Eve) every door
in the house has to be opened to allow the spirit of
the old year to leave.
Submitter comment:
Her best friend's family did it when she was a little
girl, and she never forgot it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GHOST
Date learned: 00001930S
SURPRISE SONG
SONG:
GREAT BIG GOBS OF GREASY, GRIMY GOPHER GUTS
IMITATION MONKEY MEAT, LITTLE PIGGIES HAIRY FEET,
ME WITHOUT A SPOON.
Submitter comment:
THE LAST LINE IS MEANT TO SURPRISE AND SHOCK THE
LISTENER, THAT ONE WOULD THINK TO EAT THE THINGS MENTIONED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
COUGH
HONEY, WHISKEY, AND LEMON IS BEST FOR A COUGH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-19-1968
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, THE NEXT PERSON WHO KISSES
YOU IS A FOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BACK WHEN MY GREAT UNCLE WAS GROWING UP, ON SUNDAYS
WHEN THEY SAT DOWN TO EAT DINNER AND UNEXPECTED COMPANY
SHOWED UP, HIS MOTHER WOULD SAY TO THE CHILDREN NOT TO
EAT ANY OF THE MEAT SO THE COMPANY COULD HAVE SOME. AS THE
MEAT DISH WAS PLACED AROUND THE DINNER TABLE, THE CHILDREN
WOULD PASS ON THE MEAT. AT THE END OF DINNER WHEN HIS
MOTHER GOT UP TO GET THE DESSERT, SHE WOULD SAY, "ALL
THE CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T EAT ANY MEAT FOR DINNER COULDN'T
HAVE ANY DESERT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): UNFAIR PRACTICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001970S
A CUSTOM OR RATHER SUPERSTITION STILL FOLLOWED BY
SOME UKRAINIAN-AMERICANS TODAY STATES THAT IF A
SINGLE GIRL FALLS ON THE ICE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, SHE
WILL BE MARRIED. IF AN OLD MAN FALLS ON NEW YEAR'S
DAY (SLIPPING ON THE ICE) THEN HE WILL DIE IN
THAT SAME YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 09-20-1969
FOLK CURE
FOR PNEUMONIA, PUT CHOPPED RAW ONIONS
IN A WOOL SOCK AND PUT THE SOCK ON YOUR FOOT
OR ON YOUR CHEST.
THE POISON WILL BE DRAWN OUT BY THE ONIONS.
Submitter comment: FROM MRS. HOWARD OF SCOTCH - IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
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 |
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
Bubble gum, bubble gum in the dish
how many bubble gums do you wish? Answer, any number.
One, two, three, four and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This game is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
caller says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND BAD
LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE MAN THE
BETTER THE GOOD LUCK). THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST
Date learned: 10-25-1970
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
My mama and your mama were hanging out the clothes.
My mama socked your mama right straight in the nose.
What color was the blood? Answer y/n
N O spells no and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This games is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
callers says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
Keyword(s): African American ; COUNTING ; GAME ; Playground ; RHYME ; Selection
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND BOYS IS THE PRICE OF THEIR TOYS
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO INFORMANT IN 1969 BY A MARRIED MAN
ABOUT 21 YEARS OF AGE. THE MAN SAW IT AS A TRUE PROVERB.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Maturity PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 03-10-1970