RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for UNION returned 103 results.

prev | items
| next

SOME DAYS YOU GET THE BEAR
AND OTHER DAYS THE BEAR GETS YOU.

Submitter comment: HEARD IT AT HOME

Where learned: UNION, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-17-1967

View just this record

CHILD'S SUPERSTITIOUS SAYING

TOUCH BLACK NO TRADES BACK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AS A CHILD IN DETROIT

Where learned: STUDENT UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb

Date learned: 04-04-1967

View just this record

RIDDLE

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CROSS AN ELEPHANT WITH PEANUT BUTTER?
YOU GET AN ELEPHANT THAT STICKS TO THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH.

Submitter comment: HEARD IT HROM A FRIEND UP HERE AT U OF D.

Where learned: UNION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-17-1967

View just this record

CUSTOM

IN JAPAN, THE PEOPLE EXCHANGE NEW YEAR'S
CARDS WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; UNION

Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.0101
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20

Date learned: 11-25-1969

View just this record

WISHING

WHEN YOU HAVE AN APPLE WITH A STEM IN IT,
T0IST THE STEM AND &-R EACH C-MPLETE TURN C-UNT
UNTIL THE STEM C-MES -UT. THE LAST NUMBER Y-U
SAY IS THE AMOUNT OF WISHES YOU CAN MAKE.
VARIATIONS OF THIS IS THAT THE LAST NUMBER
THAT Y-U SAY IS H-0 MANY CHILDREN Y-U ARE G-ING
TO HAVE OR HOW MANY WIVES OR HUSBANDS YOU WILL HAVE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 10-05-1971

View just this record

BIRTH BELIEF

A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO IS CARRYING A NOT SO ACTIVE CHILD IS SAID
TO BE CARRYING A GIRL.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER PARENTS, WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS
FROM PAST EXPERIENCES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-10-1971

View just this record

BIRTH BELIEF

IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY IN HER HIP, IT'S A GIRL.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A BELIEF THAT WAS TOLD INFORMANT BY HER GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

View just this record

BIRTH

A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO IS CARRYING AN ACTIVE CHILD IS USUALLY
CARRYING A BOY.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER, WHO ACTUALLY
BELIEVES THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; PASSIVE GIRLS?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

View just this record

CURSE OF DONERAILE

ALAS HOW DISMAL IS MY TALE;
I LOST MY WATCH IN DONERAILE.
MY DUBLIN WATCH, MY CHAIN AND SEAL
PILFERED AT ONCE IN DONERAILE.
MAY FIRE AND BRIMSTONE NEVER FAIL
TO FALL IN SHOWERS IN DONERAILE.
THE FATE OF POMPEY AT PHORSALE
BE THAT CURSE OF DONERAILE.
MAY EGYPT'S PLAGUE AT ONCE PREVAIL
TO THIN THE KNAVES OF DONERAILE.
MAY EVERY POST, GAZETTE, AND MAIL
SAD TIDINGS BRING OF DONERAILE.
MAY FROST AND SNOW AND SLEET AND HAIL
BENUMB EACH JOINT IN DONERAILE.
MAY WOLVES AND BLOODHOUNDS TRACE AND TRAIL
THE CURSED CREW OF DONERAILE.
MAY EVERY MISCHIEF FRESH AND STALE
ABIDE HENCEFORTH IN DONERAILE
MAY NEITHER FLOUR NOR OATENMEAL
BE FOUND OR KNOWN IN DONERAILE.
MAY CURSES WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
POUR WITH FULL FORCE ON DONERAILE.
MAY EVERY TRANSPORT WONT TO SAIL
A CONVICT BRING FROM DONERAILE.
MAY COLD AND HUNGER STILL CONGEAL
THE STAGNANT BLOOD OF DONERAILE.
MAY CHARON'S BOAT TRIUMPHANT SAIL
COMPLETELY MANNED FROM DONERAILE.
AND MAY GRIM PLUTO'S INNER JAIL
FOREVER GROAN WITH DONERAIL.

Submitter comment:

IT IS A GREAT CURSING BALLAD; WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1808, IT IS AS
POPULAR TODAY AS IT WAS THEN. IN DONERAILE AT THE TIME, LIVED
A GALWAY SCHOOLMASTER, PAT O'KELLY, WHO FANCIED HIMSELF A BIT OF
A POET. ONE DAY HE LOST HIS WATCH IN THE LOVELY NORTH CORK
VILLAGE AND WAS NEVER RETURNED. HE IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN AND WROTE
THIS BALLAD. FAR TOO LONG TO GIVE IN FULL, HERE ARE A FEW COUPLETS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNION

Keyword(s): CURSE ; IRELAND ; OVERREACTION

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hate
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 11-26-1972

View just this record

The Men of Sigma Pi--A Toast

Oh lift the brimming glasses
And raise the song on high
To pledge the rousing chorus
The men of Sigma Pi

Our band will soon be parted
As time rolls swiftly by
So pledge the toast true hearted
Ye men of Sigma Pi

Ring out the hearty wassail
Then drain your goblets dry
While the echoes are resounding
In praise of Sigma Pi.

CHORUS:
For search the wide world over
Or wander far and nigh
Truer men you'll not discover
Than the men of Sigma Pi.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion

View just this record

The Adam Song

Adam was the first man,
To wear a Sig Pi pin,
Noah was the second,
We had to let him in,
Moses was the third one,
We had a lot of fun,
When Julius Caesar came around
We pledged the son of a gun.

The S stands for Sigma,
The P stands for P-I, pi.
The S stands for Sigma,
The P stands for P-I, pi.
And if you look around you,
Or gaze into the sky,
You will see that naught is written
But the name of Sigma Pi

He rambled down to U of D
He thought he'd join a frat
He thought he'd take a look around
To see where he was at;
Because he was a fellow
We knew he'd be all right
The colors that he wore next day
Were lavender and white.

He rambled down to Hades
To see the poor souls
He saw a bunch of Theta Xi's
A roasting on the coals
For the TKE's and Theta Tau's
The sizzle had begun
While SIGMA PI's in velvet chairs
Were watching all the fun.

CHORUS:
Then in came old beelzebub
Of hell he was the king;
And all the little imps came in
And they began to sing;
They saw the gang give him the grip
And then they heard the cry
That he's a charter member
And a damn good Sigma Pi.

He rambled up to heaven
To see who all was there
He found a bunch a-hanging 'round
The foot of the Golden Stairs.
Some were smoking cigarettes,
They all were feeling high,
They all were damn good friends of his,
They all were Sigma Pi's.

CHORUS:
Now don't be disconcerted
If you miss the narrow path.
Or if you flunk your morals
like you used to flunk your math.
And don't be disconcerted
If you hear the funeral bell
For we've a strong alumni
In the very depths of hell.


 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion

View just this record

Polish Wedding Custom - Song

At the end of the reception, everyone sings:

Twelve angels carrying
God's blessing from above
Twelve angels carrying
Twelve angels carrying
God's blessing from above.

This is the refrain. After all the verses, the last one is:

My dearest mother
I'm leaving you today
To live with my man
To live with my man
On this my wedding day.

 

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION ; told at work

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage

View just this record

My Sigma Pi Girl

My Sigma Pi girl, you're the one girl for me dear
I meant it, you know that I do.
The touch of your hand is a blessing to me dear
That no other girl friend can give.

I feel that you're mine and I know that I'm yours dear
It's something that can't be denied
I love and adore you, my life lies before you,
My beautiful Sigma Pi girl.

 

Submitter comment:

This song is traditionally sung when introducing Sigma Pi sweetheart, or when one of the brothers announces his pinning or engagement.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Serenade Charivari

View just this record

Parting Song (Tune: Auld Lang Syne)

Oh, brothers raise the parting song;
At last it is good-bye.
In every heart is grief to part
From men of Sigma Pi.
While time rolls on, men still must pass,
The parting hour is nigh
Oh loyal band stretch forth your hand
To men of Sigma Pi.

And brothers, when once more we meet;
Oh how shall gleam each eye,
To greet once more the friends of yore
True men of Sigma Pi.
When comes the time, as come it must,
To leave our band for aye,
In every heart shall fullest start,
The love of Sigma Pi.

 

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion

View just this record

Graffiti

This spread disease . . . keep yours buttoned.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

View just this record

Graffiti: Ode to Grecian Urinal

As my yellow river flows
Down this china sea
I pray to god that there
is some kind of eternity.


 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

View just this record

Graffiti

Would you let Spiro Agnew grow in your bath tub?

 

Data entry tech comment:

It appears that informant told collector about this graffiti that he had found two years earlier in a University of Detroit lavatory.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

View just this record

Graffiti

Man was born to live . . . not to prepare for life.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.