EACH CHILD INVOLVED PUTS HIS TWO FISTS FORWARD AND ONE
PERSON DOES THE COUNTING OUT, SAYING ONE WORD AS HE
TAPS EACH FIST. THE RHYME IS:
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
CHILD MAY REPLY, YES, AND THE COUNTER CONTINUES, Y-E-S
SPELLS YES, AND YOU ARE NOT IT. WHOEVER HAS THE WORD "IT"
SPOKEN TO HIM, PUTS THAT FIST BEHIND HIS BACK. THE PROCESS
CONTINUES UNTIL ONE PERSON HAS ONE FIST LEFT AND THAT
PERSON IS IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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ALL THE CHILDREN WHO AR GOING TO PLAY A CERTAIN GAME IN
WHICH ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE IT, STAND IN A CIRCLE.
THEY THEN CLENCH THEIR FISTS AND HOLD THEM AT ABOUT WAIST-
HIGH IN FRONT OF THEM. ONE PERSON ASSUMES THE ROLE OF
COUNTER. HE THEN STARTS AT THE PERSON NEXT TO HIM AND
SAYS, "ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO." EACH FIST IS "ADDRESSED"
SEPARATELY AND THE COUNTER CONTINUES, "3 POTATO, 4, 5
POTATO, 6 POTATO, 7 POTATO, OR." WHOEVER'S FIST IS
TAPPED ON "OR" BY THE COUNTER, TAKES HIS FIST AND PUTS
IT BEHIND HIS BACK. THIS PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL ONE
PERSON IS LEFT AND THEN THAT PERSON IS IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 00001950'S

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RIGHT EYE ITCHES- TO CRY
LEFT EYE ITCHES- GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU BURY A PERSON WITHOUT SHOES, THEY WILL COME BACK AND
HAUNT YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): Barefoot ; BELIEF ; Bury ; DEATH ; SHOES ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-27-1971

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VERSE

ROSES ARE RED/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE/ SUGAR IS SWEET/ AND SO ARE YOU.

BUT THE ROSES ARE WILTED / AND THE VIOLETS ARE DEAD /
AND THE SUGAR IS LUMPED / AND SO IS YOUR HEAD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A PLAYMATE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 08-11-1964

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Proverbial Saying

Water seeks its own level

Submitter comment:

Proverbial Saying

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): Control ; Level ; WATER

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in Pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Disturb ; Dogs ; Passive ; SLEEP

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

Birds of a feather flock together.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Dup of WPP

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): BIRDS ; Flock ; Homogeneous ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Belief: Weather

Weather Proverb:

If the wind is from the East, the fishing is the least;

But if the wind is from the West, the fishing is the best.

Submitter comment:

My mother heard this proverb from my father, who likes fishing.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Dup. of WPP

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Connor St ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): Air ; DIRECTION ; East ; FISHING ; PREDICTION ; RHYME ; WEATHER ; West ; Wind

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

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Belief: Luck

Bowling: never change your line-up unless you have a losing streak.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with current classification.

The word Luck is written across the top of the card.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): Bowling ; CUSTOM ; Entertainment ; LUCK ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): LUCK

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

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ST LUCY'S DAY - PATRON OF THE EYES

A PROMISE IS MADE BY ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES BY
NOT EATING ANYTHING MADE WITH FLOUR - SO THE SUBSTITUTION IS MADE
BY SERVING RICE, POTATOES AND WHEAT MADE INTO FOODS WHICH WILL TAKE
THE PLACE OF BREAD.
THE SACRIFICE IS NOT FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, BUT FOR SOMEONE THEY
MAY KNOW WHO MAY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THEIR EYES OR EVEN FOR THE
WHOLE CLAN TO PROTECT THEIR EYES FROM ANY HARM. CUSTOMS ORIGINATE,
AS ONE KNOWS, FROM THE ANCIENT BELIEFS THAT SOMEONE WAS HELPED BY A
PERSON'S SACRIFICE AND OF COURSE THE WORD TRAVELED AROUND THE
COUNTRYSIDE AND THE CUSTOM BEGAN. AS WITH ALL CUSTOMS, THEY HAVE
BECOME ALMOST EXTINCT IN PRESENT-DAY ITALY. CELEBRATED DECEMBER 13TH

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F121
Food Drink -- Plant food
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-31-1971

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ST. MARTIN'S DAY

THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER IN ITALY IS THE MAKING OF WINE AND WHEN
THE WINE IS READY FOR CONSUMPTION, IT IS CELEBRATED ON NOVEMBER 11TH
WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ST. MARTIN'S DAY, THIS BEING THE DAY WHEN THE
WINE IS READY. THE USUAL GATHERING OF ALL RELATIVES TO CELEBRATE
THIS EVENT IN ONE'S HOME IS THE DUNKING IN WINE OF A HARD BISCUIT
WHICH IS MADE ONLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F111
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving

Date learned: 10-31-1971

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CHRISTMAS EVE

AFTER THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER, BREAD RESEMBLING
THE HOLY HOST WOULD BE SHARED
BY THE FAMILY. THE BREAD WOULD BE PASSED
FROM THE ELDEST, TO THE YOUNGEST, EACH
BREAKING OFF A PIECE AND EATING IT.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAID THIS TRADITION WAS FOLLOWED
EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE, WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG BOY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 02-20-1972

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AUTOGRAPH INSCRIPTION

ON THE SHORES OF GICHIGOMI,
COME ON BY AND SOCK-IT-TO-ME.
U R A Q T
I N V U

Submitter comment: UNDATED ENTRY IN KATHY CRACCHIOLO'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK
KEPT IN ST. CLAIR SHORES MICH. IN 1968

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): PARODY OF HIAWATHA ; TROCHAIC TETRAMETER ; TYPOGRAPHICAL VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing

Date learned: 02-27-1971 ; 00-00-1968

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AUTOGRAPH INSCRIPTION

MM[ ON THE SHORES OF GICHIGOMI,
COME ON BY AND SOCK-IT-TO-ME.
U R A Q T
I N V U

Submitter comment: UNDATED ENTRY IN KATHY CRACCHIOLO'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK
KEPT IN ST. CLAIR SHORES MICH. IN 1968

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): PARODY OF HIAWATHA ; TROCHAIC TETRAMETER ; TYPOGRAPHICAL VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing

Date learned: 02-27-1971

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RETORT

WHEN ARGUING WITH SOMEONE STUBBORN, GIVE UP AND SAY "SZKODA GADACZ"
IN POLISH THIS MEANS "THERE IS NO USE TALKING."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00001930S ; 02-16-1980

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Entry filtered.

Ethnic Joke: The Italian Who Came to Detroit

Ima don lak Detroit worth a sheet. I check inna hotel and go down for breakfast an I tella da girl I wanna ham and eggs and two piece a toast. I tella her I wanna two peese. She say if you wanna to peese go to da toilet. I say you no unnerstand, I wanna two peese on my plate. She say you don peese on your plate, you sonna ma beech. I no eat, I go to my room.

At lunch time I go donna da street for my lunch inna Drake Hotel. The waitress brings me a knife an a napkin but no foke. I tella her I wanna foke. She say whatta you talk, everybody wanna foke. I say you no unnerstand, I wanna foke on the table. She say you don care where you foke, you sonna ma bech. So when she call me sonna ma beech, I go back to hotel.

When I get inna da room I got no sheet on my bed, so I calla da manager and tell him I wanna sheet on my bed. He says don sheet on your bed, go to the bathroom. You no unnerstand, I say, I wanna sheet on the bed. He say you better not sheet on your bed, you sonna ma beech. So when he call me a sonna ma beech, I go check out. I go to da desk to check out to New York, and when I leave the manacer say Peace on You. I say peese on you too, you sonna ma beech cause I go back to Italy.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word Italian is written in the upper left hand corner of the submission.

Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Cultural Divide ; EUPHEMISM ; HUMOR ; Italian ; Language ; Language Barrier ; NEW YORK ; OBSCENE IMPLICATION ; SPEECH ; Stereotype