Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN
BEFORE YOU CROSS THE STREET
Keyword(s): SAFETY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001940S
BASKETBALL CHEER
IN THE AIR, OVER THE RIM,
COME ON (NAME OF PLAYER), PUT IT IN.
Submitter comment: THIS CHEER IS USED WHEN A PLAYER IS FOUL-SHOOTING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A BABY DOESN'T FALL OFF ITS CRIB BEFORE ITS FIRST YEAR, IT
WON'T LIVE TO OLD AGE. PARENTS USED TO PLACE THE CHILD NEAR
THE EDGE OF ITS BED SO IT WOULD FALL OFF.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PORTLAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 06-24-1973
HE WAS ONLY A LAVENDER COWBOY,
THE HAIRS ON HIS CHEST NUMBERED TWO.
HE WANTED TO BE LIKE THE HEROES
AND DO AS THE BIG MEN DO.
RED, GREEN, MANY-COLORED HAIR TONICS
HE RUBBED ON HIS CHEST DAY AND NIGHT,
BUT WHEN HE AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING,
ONLY TWO HAIRS WERE IN SIGHT.
HE BATTLED FOR RED NELLY'S HONOR,
HE HELD UP AN OUTLAW'S NEST,
BUT THEY FOUND HIM DEAD THE NEXT MORNING,
WITH ONLY TWO HAIRS ON HIS CHEST.
Where learned: OFFICE
Keyword(s): FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METAPHOR OVERSTATEMENT HEROES ; METER: IAMBIC ; REPETITION ; RHYME: IMPERFECT, MASCULINE, ABCA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
SING BEFORE YOU EAT,
YOU'LL CRY BEFORE YOU SLEEP.
Submitter comment:
AN OLD SAYING MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO KEEP ME FROM
SINGING BEFORE BREAKFAST; SHE ALWAYS SAID IT WAS
"BAD LUCK," BUT I RATHER SUSPECT I WAS JUST TOO NOISY.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
GERMAN PROVERB
SAUERKRAUT AND PORK MAKE AN OLD LADY FAT.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
WHEN I WAS LITTLE THERE WAS A RUMOUR GOING AROUND ON A OUR BLOCK THAT THE JERSEY DEVIL WAS BACK. THE JERSEY DEVIL WAS WEELL KNOWN
IN NEW JERSEY. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A MAN WITH THE FACE OF
A WOLF, FEET OF A PIG AND HORNS. HE STOOD ON TWO LEGS. HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO PREY ON LITTLE CHILDREN, AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE
OLDER KIDS TOLD US. VERY ELABORATE MEANS WERE USED TO SCARE THE
LITTLE KIDS OUT OF THEIR WITS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DRESSED IN
RED CAPES AND HORNS AND RAN THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND
SOMEONE EVEN MADE A COPY OF A PICTURE OF THE BEAST, WHICH WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE AUTHENTIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY I EVENTUALLY GREW OUT OF
MY FRIGHT OF THE JERSEY DEVIL BUT RECENTLY I HEARD SOMEONE ON TELEVIS
TALKING ABOUT THE JERSEY DEVIL. EVIDENTLY HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A
TYPE OF BIGFOOT CREATURE. IT MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT ALL THE
THAT THERE REALLY WAS SOMETHING TO BE SCARED OF.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; TOMS RIVER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 00001970S
PROVERB
THE MAN WHO IS BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH,
SELDOM MAKES MUCH STIR.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS OUR FAMILY DOCTOR. HE ALWAYS TOLD THIS TO EVERY NEW
PARENT.
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; METAPHOR ; OBERSERVATION ; REPUTATION ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
I WISH NOT WHAT IS ANOTHER'S, BUT I WILL NOT GIVE
UP MY OWN.
Keyword(s): POSSESSION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
DRINKING GAME
A GAME PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE PLAYERS. A GLASS IS FILLED WITH BEER,
THE FIRST PERSON TRIES TO BOUNCE A QUARTER OFF THE TABLE OR OTHER
SURFACE AND INTO THE GLASS OF BEER. IF HE MISSES HE MAY PASS TO THE
NEXT PLAYER OR TRY AGAIN. IF HE MISSES THE SECOND TIME HE MUST
DRINK THE BEER. IF HE MAKES IT ON EITHER TURN HE CHOOSES THE PERSON
THAT DRINKS THE BEER.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS NO WINNER, YOU EITHER TRY TO GET DRUNK YOURSELF OR GET
SOMEONE ELSE DRUNK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink |
(BROKEN GLASS)
ONE DAY A MAN RETURNED HOME TO FIND HIS BOY AND GIRL
CRYING, FOR THEIR MOTHER HAD DISAPPEARED. THREE
MONTHS LATER, DAD DISAPPEARED. THE CHILDREN SEARCHED
TO NO AVAIL. ONE DAY THE BOY DID NOT RETURN FROM PLAY.
ALL ALONE, THE GIRL CRIED AND SEARCHED FOR HER LOST
FAMILY. ONE NIGHT SHE HEARD NOISES FROM THE ATTIC.
FRIGHTENED, SHE CLIMBED THE LONG STAIRS. AS SHE ROSE
HIGHER SHE HEARD MOANING. CAUTIOUSLY, SHE OPENED THE
DOOR AND . . . (HERE THE NARRATOR SCREECHES) (WHEN
THE AUDIENCE RECOVERS, SOMEONE, IF THE SPEAKER IS
LUCKY, ASKS, "WHY DID SHE SCREAM? THE SPEAKER
ANSWERS "YOU'D SCREAM TOO IF YOU STEPPED ON BROKEN
GLASS!"
Submitter comment:
A GROUP OF US WERE TOLD THIS STORY AT A PICNIC IN
SYLVANIA {OHIO}.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
ORDINARY FOLKTALE
THERE WAS ONCE A LITTLE SPOILED BOY WHO HAD SO MUCH
THAT WHEN HE DIDN'T GET WHAT HE WANTED, HE SLAPPED AND
KICKED AT HIS MOTHER. AS HE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL ONE DAY,
HE MET WITH A MISFORTUNE AND WAS KILLED. THE MOTHER
MOURNED AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS FUNERAL THE BEST POSSIBLE.
AT THE CEMETERY THEY HAD TO DRAG THE WEEPING MOTHER AWAY.
THREE DAYS LATER SHE VISITED THE GRAVE AND WAS HORRIFIED
AT WHAT SHE SAW. STICKING UP FROM THE GROUND WERE
FOUR CHUBBY FINGERS. OTHERS WERE ALSO HORRIFIED AND
TRIED TO COVER THEM. THREE TIMES THE MOTHER WENT TO
THE GRAVE AND FOUND THE FINGERS STICKING UP EVERY TIME.
THE MOTHER WENT TO THE PARISH PRIEST WHO SOON DISCOVERED
THAT THE YOUNG BOY HAD NEVER BEEN PUNISHED FOR HIS BAD
BEHAVIOR. THE MOTHER WOULD HAVE TO PUNISH THE BOY NOW
BY BEATING HIS FINGERS INTO THE GROUND IF HE WERE
TO FINALLY HAVE ETERNAL REST. THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS NOT TO STRIKE YOUR PARENTS.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY A COMMUNITY INSTRUCTOR: 1940S.
SLAPPING CAUSES HAND OF BURIED SINNER TO RETURN UNDERGROUND IN GRAVE
TOLD BY A COMMUNITY INSTRUCTOR IN THE 1940S
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: CA12001965
THE ELMORE GHOST
NOT TOO LONG AGO IN ELMORE, OHIO, A GROUP OF DRUNK TEENAGERS
RAN INTO AND KILLED A POLICEMAN ON A MOTORCYCLE. THIS WAS
WITNESSED BY A PERSON LIVING IN A HOUSE NOT FAR AWAY. THE
PERSON DIED OF SHOCK. IF YOU GO THERE YOU CAN SEE CAR LIGHTS
COMING AT YOU, FEEL THE BUMP-BUMP OF A MOTORCYCLE ON YOUR CAR
HOOD AND SEE A LIGHT MOVE FROM WINDOW TO WINDOW OF THE NOW-
DESERTED HOUSE.
Date learned: 00-00-1968
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM THE CITY,
WHO MET WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A KITTY.
HE GAVE IT A PAT
AND SAID, "NICE LITTLE CAT!"
THEY BURIED HIS CLOTHES OUT OF PITY.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): FUNCTION AND GENRE: LIMERICK ; HUMOR ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE ANTICLIMAX QUINTAIN ; RHYME: AABBA, FEMININE ; SKUNK ; SOUND: DACTYLIC TETRAMETER ; SUBJECT: ACCIDENTS, ANIMALS ; UNDERSTATEMENT IRONY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
WAYS TO KILL A VAMPIRE
THROWING HOLY WATER ON A VAMPIRE WILL KILL HIM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Vampire
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
IF A CHILD STUTTERS STAND HIM AGAINST THE WALL AND MARK
HIS HEIGHT ON IT. WHEN HE GROWS BEYOND THE MARK, HE WILL
GET OVER THE STUTTERING.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; GADSDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-01-1973
A rhyme used to pick the next player of a game.
She never went to college
She never went to school
But when she came back
She was an educated fool.
Submitter comment:
This game is used to pick the next person to be "it."
All players gather in a circle. One person is inside
the circle. This person covers their eyes with one hand and
points out a finger with the other hand as they spin around
in a circle. As the words to the above rhyme are sung a new
player is picked on the word "fool". Whoever the finger is
pointed at on the word "fool" takes the place of the person in
the center and becomes "it".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
FOOTBALL CHEER
REPEL THEM, REPEL THEM,
MAKE THEM RELINQUISH THE BALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND AMONG THE FRANCISCAN NUNS OF TOLEDO {OHIO}
HAS IT THAT THEY UNKNOWINGLY HARBORED AL CAPONE FROM
THE POLICE. THE NUNS, SYMPATHETIC TO THE HUNGRY
VAGRANT, THE PREMISE THAT CAPONE PUT ON, LET HIM
STAY INDOORS, FED HIM WHILE THE POLICE COMBED THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER THE POLICE WENT AWAY, CAPONE LEFT
PEACEFULLY, OFFERING THANKS TO THE NUNS. THE EVENT
OCCURRED AT ST. STANISLAUS CONVENT ON DETROIT AVENUE
IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY A FRANCISCAN NUN WHEN I WAS STUDYING HISTORY
IN GRADE SCHOOL.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: IN GRADE SCHOOL
THE HEADLESS
IN TOLEDO {OHIO} THERE WAS A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
IN WHICH THE DRIVER LOST HIS HEAD.
NOW ON THE SAME ROAD, YOU CAN SEE ONE HEADLIGHT
COMING AT YOU (USUALLY AROUND MIDNIGHT), BUT
WHEN IT GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT OUT, IT
DISAPPEARS. IT IS SAID TO BE THE MOTORCYCLIST
LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.
Where learned: OHIO ; APARTMENT ; TOLEDO ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-12-1969