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 CHILDHOOD returned 85 results.
It's Raining
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed, bumped his head,
And couldn't get up in the morning.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Old Bald-Headed Chineseman
My mommy done told me to open the door, and oh I did not want to.
I opened the door, he fell to the floor, the old bald-headed Chineseman.
My mommy done told me to give him a drink, but oh I did not want to.
I gave him a drink, he drank out the sink, the old bald-headed Chineseman.
My mommy done told me to take off his hat, but oh I did not want to.
I took off his hat, he was as bald as a bat, the old bald-headed Chineseman.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; CHARLEVOIX
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Found a Peanut
Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peanut just now,
Oh I just found a peanut, found a peanut just now,
Found it rotten, found it rotten, found it rotten just now,
Oh I just found it rotten, found it rotten just now.
Ate it anyway, ate it anyway, ate it anyway just now,
Oh I just now ate it anyway, ate it anyway just now.
Got sick, got sick, got sick just now,
Oh I just now got sick, got sick just now.
Called the doctor, called the doctor, called the doctor just now.
Oh 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.
Oh he just now said I wouldn't die, said I wouldn't die just now.
Died anyway, died anyway, died anyway just now,
Oh I just now died anyway, died anyway just now.
Went to heaven, went to heaven, went to heaven just now,
Oh I just now went to heaven, went to heaven just now.
Got a transfer, got a transfer, got a transfer just now,
Oh I just now got a transfer, got a transfer just now.
Shoveled coal, shoveled coal, shoveled coal just now,
Oh I just now shoveled coal, shoveled coal just now.
Burnt my finger, burnt my finger, burnt my finger just now.
Oh I just now burnt my finger, burnt my finger just now.
Turned red, turned red, turned red just now,
Oh it just now turned red, turned red just now,
Got a band-aid, got a band-aid, got a band-aid just now,
Oh I just now got a band-aid, got a band-aid just now.
Got better, got better, got better just now,
Oh I just now got better, got better just now.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Lullaby
Go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody
That the old grey goose is dead.
The one she's been saving
The one she's been saving
The one she's been saving
To make a feather bed.
Old gander's weeping . . .
Because his wife is dead.
The goslins are crying . . .
Because their mother's dead.
Go tell Aunt Rhody . . .
That the old grey goose is dead.
Submitter comment:
From childhood; my grandmother used to sing it.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Grandmother
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
A Little Acorn
From a little acorn, a mighty oak tree grew.
Submitter comment:
Informant learned in his childhood circa 1900.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname; likely father and son.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
MOTOR BOAT
MOTOR BOAT, MOTOR BOAT GO SO SLOW.
MOTOR BOAT, MOTOR BOAT GO SO FAST.
MOTOR BOAT, MOTOR BOAT STEP ON THE GAS!
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPEED-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
PROVERBIAL SAYING
IT WILL ALWAYS RAIN ON GOOD FRIDAY.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
BRIDAL SUPERSTITION
IT IS BAD LUCK TO CHANGE YOUR NAME BUT NOT THE FIRST LETTER OF IT WHEN YOU MARRY.
CHANGE THE NAME AND NOT THE LETTER,
MARRY FOR WORSE AND NOT FOR BETTER.
Submitter comment:
Remembered from childhood.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE
IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
Remembered from childhood.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BRIDAL SUPERSTITION
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THE BRIDE TO SEE THE GROOM ON THE WEDDING DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING.
Submitter comment:
REMEMBERED FROM CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BRIDAL SUPERSTITION
A BRIDE WEARS SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, AND A PENNY IN HER SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
Remembered from childhood.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THREE ON A MATCH
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES ON A MATCH.
Submitter comment:
REMEMBERED FROM CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
OPPOSITE SIDES OF A POST
IF YOU AND A FRIEND WALK ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A POST, ONE MUST SAY "BREAD AND BUTTER" AND THE OTHER MUST ANSWER "COME TO SUPPER" TO KEEP FROM HAVING BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BROKEN MIRROR
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR INTO LESS THAN SEVEN PIECES, YOU WILL HAVE AS MANY YEARS OF BAD LUCK AS THERE ARE PIECES. IF YOU BREAK IT INTO MORE THAN SEVEN PIECES, YOU WILL HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
Remembered from childhood.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
I HEARD THE MOON WAS MADE OF GREEN CHEESE WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 03-20-1972
ST.SWITHIN'S DAY
ST. SWITHIN'S DAY, IF THOU DOST RAIN,
FOR FORTY DAYS IT WILL REMAIN;
ST. SWITHIN'S DAY, IF THOU BE FAIR,
FOR FORTY DAYS 'TWILL RAIN NA MAIR.
Submitter comment:
RECALLED FROM CHILDHOOD
VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC
PREDICTION DIVINATION
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; REMEMBERED FROM CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Jump-Rope Rhyme
CINDERELLA
DRESSED IN YELLOW
WENT UPSTAIRS
TO KISS HER FELLOW.
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE RECEIVE?
(COUNT OUT)
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
DONALD DUCK
DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON ONE FOOT WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)
DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON BOTH FEET WHILE SINGING
THIS LINE.)
DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER HOPS ON BOTH FEET AND PUTS ONE HAND DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR EACH JUMP WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)
DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON BOTH FEET AND PUTS
BOTH HANDS DOWN ON THE GROUND WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
Keyword(s): ACTION RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Jump-Rope Rhyme
I scream
You scream
We all scream
For ice cream.
Submitter comment:
From childhood.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PLAIN JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
I was born
I was born in a frying pan and
I want to know how old I am.
One, two, three...( count until jumper misses)
Data entry tech comment:
Collector and informant are the same person.
Where learned: Informant learned from childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |