Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THESE WORDS ARE USUALLY SAID BY THE MOTHER PLAYFULLY
AND THEN ANSWERED BY THE CHILD.
WHO'S MY LITTLE WHO'S ITS.
WHO'S MY TURTLE DOVE,
WHO'S MY LITTLE WHO'S ITS.
ANSWER: MEEEE
Data entry tech comment:
I'VE HEARD A LAST LINE, THUS: WHO DO YOU LOVE?
WE USED TO SING THIS VERSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-03-1969
THE FLY AND THE BEE
ONE SPRING MORNING IN AN ORCHARD, A BEE WAS SITTING
ON A FLOWER. A FLY SAW HER GATHERING THE NECTAR AND
SAID: "DON'T YOU TIRE OF WORKING EVERY DAY FROM
MORNING TO NIGHT? I WOULDN'T TRADE PLACES WITH YOU,
I COULDN'T TAKE IT FOR A DAY. MY LIFE IS HEAVENLY.
I FLY AROUND AMONGST THE GUESTS AT BALLS, WEDDINGS,
AND BIRTHDAYS. I'M ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE THERE. I EAT
FROM RICH MEN'S PLATES; I DRINK SWEET WINE FROM
CRYSTAL GLASSES; I TAKE WHATEVER I FANCY. I CAN
EVEN BE FOUND AT THE KING'S TABLE."
THE BEE REPLIED: "I KNOW ALL OF THAT BUT I HEAR THAT
NOBODY LIKES YOU. WHEN YOU SHOW UP IN A HOME, THEY
CHASE YOU OUT IN SHAME!"
THE FLY SAID: "CHASE ME OUT, SO WHAT? IF THEY CHASE
ME OUT ONE WINDOW, I SIMPLY FLY IN THE NEXT!"
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER LEARNED THIS IN RUSSIA. IT IS A RUSSIA
A RHYME WHEN TOLD IN RUSSIAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RUSSIA ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
ON THE WAY TO THE CEMETERY, THE HEARSE PAUSES IN FRONT
OF THE DECEASED PERSON'S HOME AS A LAST FAREWELL TO
HIS EARTHLY DWELLING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AFTER THE FUNERAL THE UNDERTAKER BROUGHT THE POLISH PEOPLE
BEER AND WHISKEY SO THEY WOULD FORGET THE DEPARTED.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BULLSHIT
EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE A DRINK TO PLAY (USUALLY BEER).
FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE SIT AROUND TOGETHER AND PLAY THE GAME AS
FOLLOWS:
EVERYONE HAS CHOSEN A ONE-SYLLABLE NAME FOR THEMSELVES
THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO DURING THE GAME BY THAT NAME SO
THEY TELL EVERYONE ELSE AT THE BEGINNING WHAT THEIR NAME
IS (EX.- DOG, PIG OR SHOO). WHEN ONE PERSON CALLS ANOTHER BY
THEIR "NAME" DURING PLAY THEY ADD "SHIT" TO THE END OF THE
NAME (EX.-"DOGSHIT" OR "SHOOSHIT"). EACH PERSON THEREFORE
HAS A TWO-SYLLABLE NAME. A DIFFERENT NAME FROM THE PERSON'S
REAL ONE IS USED SO IT WILL CONFUSE OTHER PLAYERS WHILE
PLAYING THE GAME. THE PERSON WHO STARTS THE GAME SAYS THE
FOLLOWING STORY:
"THE DUKE OF YORK WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND HE THOUGHT
HE SAW" (HERE HE SAYS THE NAME OF ONE OF THE PLAYERS, EX.-
SHOO) "SHIT."
THE PERSON CALLED (IN THIS CASE SHOO) REPLIES, "BULLSHIT."
THE 1ST PERSON SAYS "WHO SHIT?"
THE 2ND PERSON SAYS THE NAME OF ANOTHER ONE OF THE PLAYERS
AND THEN "SHIT". NOW THAT THIRD PERSON SAYS, "BULLSHIT" AND
THE PROCESS IS REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN, CHANGING NAMES
EACH TIME UNTIL SOMEONE MAKES A MISTAKE. THAT PERSON MUST THEN
TAKE A DRINK AND THE GAME IS STARTED AGAIN BY THE LAST PERSON
WHO MADE A MISTAKE.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME ACTUALLY GETS HARDER TO PLAY AS IT GOES ALONG
BECAUSE THE PARTICIPANTS ARE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
AND THEIR SPEECH TENDS TO GET SLURRED. OF COURSE CONCENTRATION
IS ALSO AFFECTED AND CAN RESULT IN INTERESTING MISTAKES.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 07-00-1989
DON'T WALK ON A CRACK
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
SUPERSTITION
THE NUMBER THIRTEEN IS IT REALLY LUCKY OR UNLUCKY.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; DETROIT ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 10-09-1967
EXPECTANT MOTHER
WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD,
I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IN A VILLAGE IN LEBANON.
WE CAME ACROSS A VENDOR WITH A MONKEY. WHEN I NOTICED THE MONKEY,
I TOLD MY MOTHER-IN-LAW TO LOOK AT HOW CUTE IT WAS. SHE WAS
HORRIFIED! "SPIT, SHE YELLED, "QUICK, SPIT!
WHEN I ASKED WHY, SHE SAID IF I DIDN'T SPIT, THE BABY WOULD COME
OUT LOOKING LIKE A MONKEY.
"THAT'S A RIDICULLOUS SUPERSTITION," I TOLD HER, "I DON'T BELIEVE
IT AND I WON'T SPIT."
WHEN SHE TURNED HER BACK I QUICKLY SPIT -- JUST IN CASE.
James Callow Keyword(s): PRAISE ; SPITTLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
POEM
MAY YOUR PATH BE STRUED WITH FLOWERS
WELCOME BE ON EVERY SIDE
MAY YOUR HOME BE VERY HAPPY
MAY NO SORROWS ENTER THERE
MAY SWEET ROSES BLOOM AROUND YOU
AND LOVE GREET YOU EVERYWHERE
MAY YOUR FRIENDS BE MOST FAITHFUL
AND NO THOUGHTLESS WORD IMPLANT
THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL UNHAPPY
OR WOULD WOUND YOUR KINDER HEART
Submitter comment:
POEM BY ALBERT WALLEN, WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
IN AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF LATE MRS. GEORGE A. SCHNEIDER
AND LATE CLARA SPIELBUSCH, TOLEDO, OHIO
Data entry tech comment: IMPLANT MIGHT BE IMPART
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; FLOWERS ; FRIENDSHIP ; HAPPINESS ; KINDNESS ; METAPHOR ; METER: TROCHEES ; REPETITION ; RHYME: ABCADAEFCA ; SERIOUSNESS ; SINCERITY ; STANZA ; WISH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 11-21-1965
NOT GIVEN
NERVOUS AS A TOMCAT IN A ROOMFULL OF ROCKERS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED
AND HAVE TWINS
DON'T COME TO ME
FOR SAFETY PINS.
James Callow comment: IS THIS FROM AN AUTOGRAPH BOOK? NO.
Where learned: LIBRARY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE
REMEMBER ME WHILE LIFE IS SWEET
REMEMBER ME TILL NEXT WE MEET
LONG MAY YOU LIVE AND HAPPY BE
BELOVED BY ALL BUT MOST BY ME
YOUR FRIEND
ROSA HIMMELSBACH
JULY 30, 1882
Submitter comment: AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF LATE CLARA (SPIELBUSCH) MATHES
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY TONE ; INVERSION ; QUATRAIN ; WISH
James Callow Keyword(s): COMMAND INSTRUCTIONS ; FRIENDSHIP ; LONGEVITY ; REMEMBRANCE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 11-24-1965
BAD LUCK
DO NOT EAT MONKEY BECAUSE OF ITS RESEMBLANCE TO MAN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Wild animal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
BELIEF
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LEAVE A BUILDING FROM A DIFFERENT DOOR THAN
WAS USED TO ENTER IT.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SINGING
IF YOU GO TO BED SINGING YOU'LL WAKE UP CRYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
AUTOGRAPH BOOK JINGLE
I LOVE, I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU I DO;
BUT DON'T GET EXCITED
I LOVE MONKEY'S T6O)
Keyword(s): FALSE LOVE ; HUMOROUS INSULT ; RHYME: AABA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 10-27-1968
AUTOGRAPH BOOK JUNGLE
FLORIDA GROWS ORANGES.
CALIFORNIA DOES TOO
BUT IT TOOK OHIO
TO GROW A PEACH LIKE YOU.
Data entry tech comment: ANY STATE COULD BE SUBSTITUTED FOR OHIO.
Keyword(s): FOOD ; LOCATION ; PRAISE ; RHYME: ABCB
James Callow Keyword(s): NAMES OF STATES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 10-27-1968
BEATITUDE
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO SIT ON A TACK,
FOR THEY SHALL RISE AGAIN!
Where learned: LIBRARY
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music C700.370 |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
WHERE THE CAT OF THE HOUSE IS BLACK,
OF LOVERS THEY'LL BE NO LACK;
WHERE THE CAT OF THE HOUSE IS GRAY,
THERE THE LOVERS WILL STAY AWAY.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
CUSTOM
WHEN MY FATHER DIED MY BROTHERS AND I HAD OUR TIES CUT BY THE RABBI.
THIS IS THE ONLY CUSTOM CONNECTED WITH ANY OF THE CHILDREN--ONLY THE
SONS. I THINK IT IS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE THE BREAKING OF THE FATHER
AND SON RELATIONSHIP, OR A SEPARATION OF A FATHERS' DEATH FROM HIS
SON'S LIVES. AFTERWARDS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR
TIE AND WEAR IT PINNED INSIDE OF YOUR SHIRT ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR A
YEAR.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): NECKTIES ; POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 02-00-1979