Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, IN ALEXANDRIA, GEORGIA, MOST
OF THE PEOPLE COULD NEITHER READ NOR WRITE. AT
GATHERINGS, AT CHURCH AFFAIRS, ETC., HE, A BOY AT
THAT TIEM, WOULD RECITE PIECES AND SING SONGS. (HE=
MR. WRIGHT, THE INFORMANT.)
RECITATION:
GOODBYE LITTLE BIRDIE FLYING TO THE SKY,
SINGING AND SINGING A MERRY GOOD BYE.
TELL ALL THE BIRDIES FLYING ABOVE,
NELL IN THE GARDEN, SENDS THEM HER LOVE.
TELL HOW I FOUND YOU HURT IN A TREE
ALTHOUGH YOU'LL WANDER, YOU COME BACK TO ME.
IT'S WRONG TO BE SORRY I OUGHT TO BE GLAD
YOU ARE THE BEST LITTLE BIRDIE I EVER HAD.
(THE GOODBYE IS TO A SWALLOW FROM NELL. THE BIRD
ANSERS):
(NELL) GOODBYE LITTLE BIRDIE,
WHERE DID YOU GO?
(BIRD) I WENT SOUTH FOR THE WINTER
AND ALWAYS DO YOU KNOW
THE SOUTH HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
I LIKE THE SUNNY SKIES,
AROUND THE ORANGE BLOSSOMS
I CAUGHT THE NICEST FLIES.
(THIS IS ALL MR. WRIGHT COULD REMEMBER).) MR. WRIGHT
ALSO SAID HE ALSO RECITED SOME ORIGINAL THINGS OF HIS
OWN:
DON'T GIVE UP
MEN ARE EVER RUNNING AND NEVER FIRE A GUN
THEY NEVER THINK OF WINNING BUT ALWAYS THINK TO RUN
THERE'S NO NEED OF GIVING UP, THAT'S A WEAKLIN'S WAY
IF YOU'VE LOST THE DAY BEFORE, YOU MAY GAIN TODAY.
ALL DAYS AREN'T JUST ALIKE; THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
SOME ARE JUST AS CLEAR AND BRIGHT,
OTHERS DARK AND CLOUDY.
THERE'S NO NEED OF GRUMBLING, THERE'S NO NEED TO WHINE,
HAVE FAITH, GO FORWARD UNTIL YOU WILL HAVE PLUCKED
THE MELONS FROM THE VINE.
(THERE IS AN ALTERNATE ENDING)
NEVER THINK OF GIVING UP, ALWAYS BE A TRYING
TILL AT LAST YOU WILL HAVE PLUCKED
THE MELONS FROM THE VINE.
LITTLE WILLIE AND I HAD A FIGHT LAST NIGHT.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT BOY IS A SIGHT.
HE WAS COURTING MISS JANIE THEN
WHEN HE WALKED OUT, I WALKED IN.
I KNOW THIS WAS A GREAT BIG SIN.
SO WHEN I CAME HOME THAT NIGHT
HE ASKED ME WOULD I FIGHT.
HE SAID TO ME, "I'LL WHIP YOU SURE."
I SHOOK MY HEAD, "NO, NO."
I'M A GREAT BIG MAN, YOU SEE
AND HE ONLY TOUCHED ME 'BOUT THE KNEE.
BUT HE KNOCKED ME SO BLAZING HARD,
I FELL A WINDING IN THE YARD.
UP AGAINST THOSE RAILROAD CARS,
I THINK I SAW THE SEVEN STARS.
TWAS ONE MORNING JUST A LIGHT,
IT WAS WILLY'S, NOT MY FIGHT.
AND HE DID ME JUST 'BOUT RIGHT.
Submitter comment:
ENCOURAGEMENT
WHEN MR. WRIGHT VISITS THE SOUTH, EVEN TODAY, HE RECITES
ESSAYS, SPEECHES, ETC. AT CHURCH GATHERINGS.
ANOTHER ORIGINAL RECITATION:
Where learned: HOME
Date learned: 11-00-1967
(JOHN) WAS HERE AND IS NOW GONE
BUT LEAVES HIS NAME TO CARRY ON.
Where learned: SCRIBBLED ON A FENCE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
ENVELOPE INSCRIPTION
SWALCAKWS
SEALED WITH A LICK, CAUSE A KISS WOULDN'T STICK.
Submitter comment: ON A LETTER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
SEE A PIN AND PICK IT UP,
ALL DAY LONG YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
ENVELOPE INSCRIPTION
IF YOU LOVE ME AS I LOVE YOU,
NO KNIFE CAN CUT OUR LOVE IN TWO.
Submitter comment: WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF A SEALED LETTER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
DON'T STEP ON A CRACK
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PLAYED WHEN WALKING ON A SIDEWALK. ONE HAD TO STEP
OVER THE CRACKS SO AS NOT TO BREAK THE MOTHER'S BACK.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-04-1965
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY.
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.646 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RISE WITH THE LARK,
STAY UP WITH THE OWL
AND YOUR TEMPER AND OUTLOOK
BOTH WILL BE FOWL.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music BELIEF -- Air Weather Fire |
BELIEF
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR TWO PEOPLE WALKING TOGETHER TO GO ON
EITHER SIDE OF AN OBJECT, TO SEPARATE AND WALK ON BOTH SIDES
OF A TREE. SAYING "BREAD AND BUTTER" WILL AVOID THE SPELL OF
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GOOD LUCK
A STONE IS PLACED IN YOUR FRONT YARD AND BLOOD FROM ANY ANIMAL YOU
KILL TO EAT, IS SPRINKLED ON THIS STONE. THIS HAS THE DEVIL STOPPING
AT THE STONE FOR BLOOD INSTEAD OF COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR IT.
Submitter comment: THIS IS BELIEVED IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
THIS BELIEF IS FOUND IN NEW ENGLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA:
"SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A PARAKEET OR A CANARY IN THEIR HOME
BECAUSE IT IS A SIGN OF DEATH. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS
WORKING AT A RELIGIOUS CAMP IN HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I WAS IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WITH A LARGE GLASSED-IN PORCH
AND SOMEHOW A BEAUTIFUL BIRD GOT IN THE PORCH. IT FLEW
AROUND, STRIKING THE GLASS, STUNNED HIMSELF AND FELL TO
THE FLOOR. I PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM OUT INTO THE YARD.
HE REVIVED IN THE FRESH AIR AND FLEW OUT OF MY HANDS. WITHIN
A VERY FEW MINUTES A TELEPHONE CALL CAME IN, TELLING US THAT
A WOMAN, A VOLUNTEER WORKER, HAD JUST BEEN KILLED ON A
NEAR-BY TURNPIKE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; HAMILTON ; NEW ENGLAND
| Subject headings: | Observation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
LUCKY DAYS FOR MARRIAGE
MONDAY FOR HEALTH
TUESDAY FOR WEALTH
WEDNESDAY THE BEST DAY OF ALL
THURSDAY FOR LOSSES,
FRIDAY FOR CROSSES,
AND SATURDAY NO DAY AT ALL.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME, TEASINGLY, WHEN I DECIDED TO
HAVE MY WEDDING ON FRIDAY.
| Subject headings: | 860 Belief |
Retort
You're like a million bucks - all green and wrinkled.
Submitter comment:
Learned this from my brother, Brett Gundlach (informant quote)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Source? Total Effect?
Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE
Keyword(s): Bucks ; COLOR ; COMEBACK ; Dollars ; Green ; INSULT ; Million ; MONEY ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SIMILE ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
BELIEF
IT IS BAD LUCK TO BE VISITED BY SOMEONE ON A MONDAY.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
IF YOU MAKE A WISH AND TELL WHAT
IT IS, IT WILL NOT COME TRUE.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
RIDDLE TO IDENTIFY CORAL SNAKE
YELLOW ON RED, DO NOT DREAD.
BLACK ON YELLOW, KILLA FELLA.
Submitter comment: AS TOLD BY MY SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
RAINBOW TO WINDWARD,
FOUL FALLS THE DAY;
RAINBOW TO LEEWARD,
DAMP RUNS AWAY.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
SMART-ALECK RHYME
IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN'S SNORING.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.464 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE
WHO'S NOT READY HOLLER I.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
BELIEF
A TWIN DAY (22, 11, ETC.) IS A GOOD FISHING DAY.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN