Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ALLEN PARK returned 156 results.
When I was a young boy my father was always trying to get me
to drink my milk. He would always tell me that it was good for
me and that it would put hair on my chest and that without hair
on my chest I was not a real man.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink from animal product Milk BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Something that I heard a few years ago in school was that
whenever a person got his hair cut other people would ask if that
person got his ears lowered rather than if he got his hair cut. I
guess this is just an unusual way of referring to a haircut.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
When I was younger I always used to hear people say that you
should not swallow your chewing gum because it takes seven years
to digest and that if you do swallow it too often all of the
pieces of chewed gum accumulate into a big pile and sit there in
your stomach until it is digested.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
A friendly greeting that I learned as a young child goes as
follows: "Slap me five, other side, in the hole, brother soul."
When the words "Slap me five" are said, the person you are
greeting is to slap the greeter's palm (facing up). When the
words "other side" are said the person you are greeting is to
slap the other side of the greeter's hand. When the words "in
the hole" are said the greeter is to make a hole using all five
fingers, and the person who is being greeted is to slap over the
top of the hole. And finally, when the words "brother soul" are
said the person being greeted is to grab the greeter's thumb in a
shaking motion.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Sheila.
Sheila who?
Sheila later.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
When is a dog's tail not a dog's tail?
When it's a wagon.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): wagging
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Miss Susie had an steam boat.
The steam boat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven.
The steam boat went to ...
Hello operator, give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I'll kick you right behind...
The refrigerator, there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her little ...
Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.
Miss Susie told me this the day before
She dyed her hair in purple,
She dyed her hair in pink,
She dyed her hair in polka dots
And washed it down the ...
Sink me in the ocean
Sink me in the sea
Sink me in the toilet
But please don't pee on me.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Gopher.
Gopher who?
Gopher broke.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Ice cream soda
Ice cream soda who?
Ice cream soda whole world what a moron you are.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Happy Birthday to you.
You belong in a zoo.
You look like a monkey.
You smell like one too.
Submitter comment: This is sung to the tune of Happy Birthday.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): theriomorphism
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
"I don't trust him as far as I can throw a horse"
Submitter comment: This is the informant's father's favorite saying.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001970S
If a pregnant woman is carrying her baby high
closer to the rib cage then it will be a girl.
If she carries lower, in the pelvic region,
then it is a girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001970S
(sung to the tune "Colonel Bogey March" theme from
the movie "Bridge on the River Kwaii")
Comet, it makes your teeth turn green.
Comet, it tastes like gasoline.
Comet, it makes you vomit.
So drink some Comet, and vomit, today!
Submitter comment:
Matthew only recently learned this song, and thought is
was new. When he tried to teach it to his older cousin,
Joshua, who lives in the Chicago area, Josh had already heard
of it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, commercial, humor
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
(sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg.
Batmobile lost a wheel,
And Joker got away. MM
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Fifty miles away.
He blows his nose in cheerios,
And eats them right away!
Submitter comment:
This is only one of many such "gross" songs that the
elementary school boys love to sing.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, Cartoon character, humor, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001987ca
(sung to the tune of "Deck the Halls")
Deck the halls with gasoline.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Light a match and watch it gleam.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Watch the school burn down to ashes.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Aren't you glad we played with matches?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Submitter comment:
This song is an obvious favorite with the grade school
children during the holidays, especially the boys.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, humor, arson, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
"Great Green Gobs"
(sung to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare")
Great green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Dirty little birdies' feet
French fried eyeballs lying in a pool of blood,
And I forgot my spoon!
Submitter comment:
This "classic" children's parody of the "The Old Gray Mare"
was learned by Terry in Ohio during the 50's. It is still
being sung in much the same manner by children in the Detroit
area, as well as children in the Chicago area. Probably
versions of it are sung throughout the United States.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): mock horror, cannibalism, humor, gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU PUT WEDDING CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW YOU WILL DREAM ABOUT THE
MAN YOU WISH TO MARRY. IF YOU PUT IT IN THE DEEP FREEZE YOU WILL
POSTPONE THE MEETING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): FREEZER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-15-1987 ; 10-14-1987
IF YOU DROP A SPOON YOU ARE GOING TO GET A FEMALE VISITOR, IF YOU
DROP A FORK YOUR ARE GOING TO GET A MALE VISITOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
TAUNT-INSULT
ARABIC INSULT: DAMN THE BOAT THAT BROUGHT YOU OVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-02-1970
SILVERWARE-NUMBER GAME
KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS ARE ARRANGED IN WHAT LOOKS
TO BE A PATTERN OF SOME SORT. PARTICIPANTS TRY TO
GUESS WHAT NUMBER FROM ZERO TO TEN THE ARRANGEMENT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS,
HOWEVER, DO NOT REPRESENT ANY NUMBER. THE TRICKSTER
ACTUALLY HAS A CERTAIN NUMBER OR NO NUMBER OF HIS
FINGERS SHOWING ON THE TABLE.
Submitter comment:
A BIOLOGY NUN PLAYED THE GAME ON US. SHE FOUND IT
VERY AMUSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |