Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ROYAL OAK returned 336 results.
PLACE (NAME STORY: "LOOSE WOMEN PROUD OF NAME")
"THE LOOSE WOMEN OF THIS VILLAGE HAVE DECIDED TO STAY THAT
WAY." "WE ARE PROUD OF IT, IT GIVES US A FEELING OF DISTINCTION,
ONE WOMAN SAID." SIXTY WOMEN RESIDENTS OF LOOSE, A VILLAGE IN
KENT COUNTY, THURSDAY VOTED DOWN A PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE IN THE
TOWN'S NAME, LONG THE TARGET OF AMUSED VISITORS. "LOOSE WE ARE
AND LOOSE WE WILL STAY. THERE IS A TOWN CALLED UGLEY. I'D
RATHER BE CALLED LOOSE THAN UGLEY," A WOMAN SAID. THE NAME OF
THE VILLAGE HAS NO CONNECTION WITH ITS WOMEN, BUT COMES FROM
SEVERAL STREAMS...FROM LOOSE, ENGLAND."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
PLACE (FRENCH NAME)
THE WESTERN TIP OF BRITTANY GOING INTO THE OCEAN IS CALLED
FINISTERE. FINISTERE IS TRANSLATED, "END OF LAND."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
ONE THUMB UP, PUSHING ARM OUT AS FAR AS IT WILL GO,
MEANS THAT EVERYTHING IS O.K.
Submitter comment: USED BY PILOTS FLYING FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- All right O.K. |
Date learned: 11-24-1965
THE ACCEPTED HITCH-HIKING GESTURE IN AMERICA, THUMB
EXTENDED FROM A CLOSED FIST, IS AN INSULT TO A DRIVER ON
CANADA'S ROADS. IT HAS THE SAME MEANING THERE AS THE
RAISED SECOND FINGER FROM A CLOSED FIST HAS HERE
IN THE U.S. TO USE THE AMERICAN GESTURE IN CANADA
COULD GET ONE INTO A FIGHT, INSTEAD OF A RIDE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEANED IT WHILE HITCHHIKING IN CANADA--
THE HARD WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Derision Scorn SPEECH -- Travel Hitchhiking |
Date learned: 10-03-1967
BRAD JACKSON JR. A DRIVER FOR BRAD JACKSON INC. RELATED TO ME
THE STORY OF A FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE MAN STOPPING
A SEMI-DRIVER NEAR JACKSONVILLE AND ASKED TO SEE THE DRIVER'S LOG
BOOK, THE DRIVER REPLIED, ME SUH, I AIN'T HAULIN' NO LOGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 12-01-1972
WHILE IN A TRUCK STOP ON DETROIT'S EAST SIDE WITH A LONG DISTANCE
TOWING DRIVER NAMED FRANK OF DETROIT TOWING WHO WAS TOWING MY
REA TRUCK. HE REFERRED TO COFFEE AS BLACK JOE. THIS INSTANCE OCCURRED
IN JUNE 1969
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Common Word SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 12-01-1972
Symbol
THE LILY IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN P680; C346 crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): DEATH ; FLOWER ; Lily ; Portent ; SIGN ; Signifier
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-14-1970
Peanut Butter
Peanut sat on a railroad track
His heart was all a-flutter
A train came rolling down the track
TOOT! TOOT! Peanut-butter!
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
There Was an Old Lady
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider.
It wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
Etc.
There was an old lady who swallowed a cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
Etc.
There was an old lady who swallowed a dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
Etc.
There was an old lady who swallowed a goat.
How remote to swallow a goat.
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
Etc.
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow.
I don't know how she swallowed a cow.
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat.
How remote to swallow a goat.
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't iknow why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a horse.
She died, of course.
Submitter comment:
Learned this song from his father.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; from father
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic |
The Scottish song "You Take the High Road and I'll Take the Low Road" is really a song concerning death. The Scots believed that when they died they would return to their native land by the shortest route.Therefore if a person was killed for instance in the U.S. he would travel through the earth to Scotland. This would be the low road. If his companion was with him and still alive he would return, of course, overland or the high road.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; heard on the radio
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Death |
The Prettiest Girl
The prettiest girl, (repeat)
I ever did saw, (repeat)
Was sippin' cider through a stra-a-a-a-aw.
I asked her if, (repeat)
She'd teach me how, (repeat)
To sip some cider through a stra-a-a-a-aw.
The straw did slip, (repeat)
I kissed her lips, (repeat)
While sippin' cider through a stra-a-a-a-aw.
And now I've got, (repeat)
A mother-in-law (repeat)
From sippin' cider through a stra-a-a-a-aw.
And fourteen kids, (repeat)
All call me "Pa" (repeat)
From sippin' cider through a stra-a-a-a-aw.
The moral of, (repeat)
This sad, sad tale, (repeat)
Is: Sip your cider from a PAIL!
Submitter comment:
Learned this song from my father. It is meant to be sung by one "leader" and a chorus.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; from father
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage |
Song
Found a peanut.
Found a peanut.
Found a peanut just now.
I just now found a peanut.
Found a peanut just now.
Cracked it open.
Cracked it open.
Cracked it open just now.
I just now cracked it open.
Cracked it open just now.
Found it rotten.
Found it rotten.
Found it rotten just now.
I just now found it rotten.
Found it rotten just now.
Ate it anyway,
Ate it anyway.
Ate it anyway just now.
I just now ate it anyway.
Ate it anyway just now.
Got sick.
Got sick.
Got sick just now.
I just now got sick.
Got sick just now.
Called the doctor.
Called the doctor.
Called the doctor jut now.
I just now called the doctor.
Called the doctor just now.
Said I wouldn't die.
Said I wouldn't die.
Said I wouldn't die just now.
He just now said I wouldn't die.
Said I wouldn't die just now.
Died anyway.
Died anyway.
Died anyway just now.
I just now died anyway.
Died anyway just now.
Went to heaven.
Went to heaven.
Went to heaven just now.
I just now went to heaven.
Went to heaven just now.
Play the harp.
Play the harp.
Play the harp just now.
I just now play the harp.
Play the harp just now.
Broke a string.
Broke a string.
Broke a string just now.
I just now broke a string.
Broke a string just now.
Cut my finger.
Cut my finger.
Cut my finger just now.
I just now cut my finger.
Cut my finger just now.
Got a band-aid.
Got a band-aid.
Got a band-aid just now.
I just now got a band-aid.
Got a band-aid just now.
Kicked an angel.
Kicked an angel.
Kicked an angel just now.
I just now kicked an angel.
Kicked an angel just now.
Got a transfer.
Got a transfer.
Got a transfer just now.
I just now got a transfer.
Got a transfer just now.
Shovel coal.
Shovel coal.
Shovel coal just now.
I just now shovel coal.
Shovel coal just now.
Turned to ashes.
Turned to ashes.
Turned to ashes just now.
I just now turned to ashes.
Turned to ashes just now.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; Mark Twain Play School
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
English Song
Early one morning just as the sun was shining
I heard a maiden sing in the valley below.
"Oh don't deceive me, oh, never leave me,
How could you use a poor maiden so."
Submitter comment:
Heard in England.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname and city of residence,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
All Night, All Day
Chorus:
All night, all day, angels watching over me, My Lord.
All night, all day, angels watching over me.
Now I lay me down to sleep, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
If I should die before I wake, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord.
I pray the Lord my soul to take,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord.
Bless this bed that I lay on,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
Submitter comment:
Learned in Girl Scouts and from friends who attended CYO camps.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are likely the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; Girl Scouts
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Jump Rope Rhyme
Dick and Janet sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
First comes love, then comes marriage, and then along coems Laura in a baby carriage
(When they ingroduce the new person into the rhyme in the carriage it usually meant that a new person was supposed to begin jumping. The on who's name is called out.)
Where learned: Royal Oak, Michigan
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Little Dutchgirl
I'm a little Dutchgirl, dressed in blue,
These are things I like to do:
Salute to the captain
Cursty to the queen
Turn my back to the dirty submarine.
Where learned: Royal Oak, Michigan
Keyword(s): ACTION ; CHARACTER ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |