Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for DETROIT returned 16887 results.
DROP AN OBJECT SUPERSTITION
IF YOU DROP AN OBJECT THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS IN YOUR HANDS, THIS MEANS
SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Submitter comment:
HEARD FROM MOTHER, SHE HEARD FROM HER MOTHER AND ON DOWN THE FAMILY
TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 12-00-1982
PROVERB
A LIAR BELIEVES NO ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
PROVERB
HE WHO HAS MANY FRIENDS, HAS NONE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USES THIS AS A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
WHEN YOU GIVE SOMEONE A SHARP OBJECT, THEY SHOULD GIVE YOU A PENNY
Submitter comment: THIS SAYING IS A VARIATION FROM ONE WE TALKED ABOUT IN CLASS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1950 ; 00-00-1980
PROVERB
HE WHO GOES FORTH WITH A FIFTH ON THE FOURTH, MAY NOT GO
FORTH ON THE FIFTH.
Submitter comment: READ IN PARISH BULLETIN. ALSO APPEARED IN READER'S DIGEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
PROVERB
HE WHO DRINKS MUCH WATER AFTER MEALS WILL NEVER SUFFER FROM STOMACH
TROUBLE
Submitter comment: HEARD IT FROM HER FATHER AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HEALTH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 07-13-1964
PROVERB
HE WHO DOES NOT USE HIS HEAD, USES HIS FEET.
Submitter comment: I HAD FORGET SOME BOOKS AT THE DORM I HAD TO WALK BACK TO GET THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
CHILD SONG
THERE ONCE WAS A MAN WITH A DOUBLE CHIN
AND HE PLAYED ALL DAY ON HIS VIOLIN
AND HE PLAYED ALL DAY
AND HE PLAYED ALL NIGHT
BUT HE COULDN'T PLAY ANYTHING
BUT "OLD ZIP COON."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
CROCODILE SONG
THEY SAILED A WAY A SUNNY SUMMER DAY
ON THE BACK OF A CROCODILE.
" YOU SEE, " SAID SHE, " HE'S AS TAME AS HE CAN BE
I'LL FLOAT HIM DOWN THE NILE. "
THE CROCK WINKED HIS EYE AS SHE WAVED THEM ALL GOOD-BYE
WEARING A HAPPY SMILE.
AT THE END OF THE RIDE, THE LADY WAS INSIDE AND THE
SMILE ON THE CROCODILE.
Submitter comment: SONG WHICH IS SUNG BY MANY SMALL CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM, INDIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
100 BOTTLES OF BEER
100 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL- 100 BOTTLES OF BEER
IF ONE OF THOSE BOTTLES SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL
99 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL-99 BOTTLES OF BEER
IF ONE OF THOSE BOTTLES SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL
98 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL. - (REPEATED DOWN
TO) 1 BOTTLE OF BEER ON THE WALL- ONE BOTTLE OF BEER
IF THAT BOTTLE OF BEER SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL
0 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN: JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHAIN SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C360 |
Date learned: 10-06-1967
SONG
OH SAY CAN YOU SEE
ANY BEDBUGS ON ME
IF YOU DO PICK A FEW
AND I'LL FRY THEM FOR YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
PARODY SONG
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
RUDOLPH RAN AWAY
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A SMASHED UP CHEVROLET.
Submitter comment:
SUNG TO "JINGLE BELLS"
HEARD AS A CHILD IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I ALSO HEARD MY 10 YEAR OLD SISTER
SING THIS SONG A FEW YEARS AGO.
MY SISTER AND I WENT TO
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND SHE KNEW
NONE OF MY FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
A TUNE OF "HARK THE HAROLD ANGELS SING"
HARK THE HORNED ANGELS SHOUT.
EIGHT MORE DAYS 'TILL WE GET OUT
NO MORE TEXTS AND NO MORE THINKING,
BACK TO SEX AND SOCIAL DRINKING.
EIGHT MORE DAYS TIL WE CAN TELL,
WESTERN MICHIGAN TO GO TO HELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COLLEGE SONG ; PARODY OF RELIGIOUS SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
I'M CONCHITA BANANA
AND I'M HERE TO SAY
HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR TEACHER
THE EASY WAY
PUT A BANANA ON THE FLOOR
AND WATCH YOUR TEACHER
SLIDE OUT THE DOOR.
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, THE STAIRS SHE GOES
WHERE SHE LANDS KNOW ONE KNOWS
AND WHILE SHE'S GONE, THE KIDS HAVE FUN
DRINKING WHISKEY, BEER, AND RUM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTI-TEACHER ; PARODY OF A COMMERCIAL JINGLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
WHAT'D YA DO DISCOVER AMERICA?
Submitter comment:
USED TO GET BACK AT A PERSON WHEN THE PERSON ACTS AS THOUGH HE
IS THE GREATEST PERSON ALIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; SOUTH QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
SONG
I HATE BOSCO, BOSCO'S BAD FOR ME
MY MOMMY PUT IT IN MY MILK
AND TRIED TO POISON ME.
BUT I FOOLED MOMMY, I PUT IT IN HER TEA
AND NOW I HAVE NO MOMMY, TO TRY AND POISON ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MATRICIDE ; PARODDY OF A COMMERCIAL JINGLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
GRAFFITI
GOD ISN'T DEAD, HE IS JUST ON VACATION IN MIAMI BEACH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PLUM ST
Keyword(s): FLORIDA PARODY RELIGION
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 10-31-1967
GRAFFITI
LSD MELTS IN YOUR MIND, NOT IN YOUR HAND.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS A PARODY OF THE M&M CANDY COMMERCIAL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PLUM ST
Keyword(s): DRUGS PARODY OF TV COMMERCIAL ADVICE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 10-31-1967
GOOD LUCK CHARM
MY GRANDFATHER HAD A LITTLE HEART
MADE OUT OF CLOTH. IT WAS FILLED WITH A
WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF HERBS.
HE USED TO PIN THIS CLOTH HEART TO HIS UNDER-SHIRT
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; SOUTH QUAD
Keyword(s): SCAPULAR ; UNDERWEAR
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
GOOD LUCK CHARM
BEFORE SURGERY, A PATIENT, (AN OLD LADY),
PINNED A ONE DOLLAR BILL TO HER UNDERWEAR FOR GOOD
LUCK AND A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; SOUTH QUAD
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
Date learned: 10-23-1970