The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"IN MY MID-TEENS, I WAS FINAGLED INTO TEACHING VACATION BIBLE
SCHOOL. WE THEN LIVED IN A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY EAST OF
CINCINNATI, OHIO. ONE OF THE RETIRED GENTLEMEN FROM OUR CHURCH
PICKED UP MY MOM, MY SIBLINGS, A COUPLE OF OTHER KIDS FROM DOWN
THE ROAD AND ME EVERY MORNING IN HIS OVERTURNED BATHTUB--THAT'S
WHAT HIS HUDSON MOTOR CAR LOOKED LIKE TO US.
ONCE AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, WE HAD OUR LITTLE LESSONS AND
CRAFTS FOR THE DAY; AND OF COURSE SONGS--MOST OF WHICH HAD
ACCOMPANYING HAND MOTIONS. THE ONLY ONE I REMEMBER IN ITS
ENTIRETY WAS THIS ONE--YOU'LL HAVE TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION SUPPLY
THE HAND MOTIONS:
"ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A LITTLE SLING
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT HE COULD PRAY AND SING.
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A RIPPLING BROOK
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT FIVE LITTLE STONES HE TOOK.

AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE SLING
AND THE SLING WENT ROUND AND ROUND
AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND
ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND
AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE AIR AND THE GIANT CAME
TUMBLING DOWN."

Submitter comment: I REMEMBER SOME THE HAND MOTIONS FROM WHEN MY MOM SANG THIS TO
ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. THEY ARE PANTOMIMES OF DAVID, THE SLING,
AND THE ACTION OF PICKING UP THE STONES IN THE FIRST STANZA. THE
SECOND STANZA FEATURES THE SWINGING ACTION OF THE SLING AND THE
MOTION OF FALLING LIKE THE GIANT.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

James Callow Keyword(s): FINAGLE FENAGLE

Date learned: 00001950S