Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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COUNTING OUT
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR;
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, ORE.
OUT GOES YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USED THIS RHYME WHILE A CHILD IN BALTIMORE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE
Keyword(s): Count ; COUNTING ; Eliminate ; Elimination ; GAME ; NUMBER ; POTATO ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
SOME LOVE ONE,
SOME LOVE TWENTY,
I LOVE YOU,
AND THAT'S A PLENTY.
Submitter comment: 1939, BIRCH TREE, MARYLAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYLAND ; GROSSE POINTE ; BIRCH TREE
Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
NOT GIVEN
WHEN I WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS OLD AND WE LIVED NEAR THE COUNTRY,
I WOULD OFTEN GO OUT TO PLAY ALL DAY. SO I USED TO GO TO THE
LAVATORY OUTSIDE. MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME THAT I SHOULD
COME HOME TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, BECAUSE WHEN THE DEVIL CAUGHT
LITTLE BOYS GOING TO THE BATHROOM OUTSIDE HE WOULD BITE OFF
THEIR PENIS.
Where learned: MARYLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; URINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
AFTER A NEWBORN BABY IS ABOUT TO LOSE THE CORD FROM HIS
NAVEL YOU SHOULD TAPE A HALF-DOLLAR OVER THE NAVEL.
THIS WILL KEEP THE NAVEL FROM RUPTURING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS COLLECTOR'S SISTER-IN-LAW.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; HAVRE DE GRACE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-02-1970
SOUTHERNERS USED BAKING SODA AS TOOTHPASTE AND AS AN
UNDERARM DEODORANT.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE
James Callow Keyword(s): HYGIENE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00001960S
When you are at a bar with a group of people and
someone burps, the last one to put their thumb on
their forehead gets biffed on the head.
Submitter comment:
The fun part of the game is getting people that
have no idea what is going on. People usually
catch on after getting hit two or three times.
Biffed means to get slapped on the forehead.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
If you are wearing your belt twisted, you are in love.
Submitter comment:
My mom used to say that to me when I was young to
tease me.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; Laurel
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth |
Date learned: 00001970S
TWO HANDKERCHIEFS
A LADY WITH A COLD WENT TO A DINNER PARTY AND TOOK WITH HER TWO
HANDKERCHIEFS. ONE SHE TUCKED IN HER BOSOM. AT THE PARTY SHE
STARTED LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT IN HER BOSOM. SHE SUDDENLY NOTICED
PEOPLE LOOKING AT HER. EMBARRASSED, SHE SAID, "I KNOW I HAD TWO
WHEN I CAME."
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): BREASTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
YOU SHOULD LET OTHERS RUN THEIR MOUTH WHILE YOU RUN YOUR OWN
BUSINESS.
Submitter comment: THIS INFORMANT'S FORMER EMPLOYER USED TO SAY THIS.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
A CHILD'S BLESSING
GOD BLESS THE FATHER OF THIS HOUSE AND ITS MOTHER TOO/
AND ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN THAT ROUND THE TABLE GO/ AND ALL YOUR
RELATIVES THAT LIVE FAR AND NEAR/ WISH THEM A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; TOLD IN ; TURNERS STATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.642 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Greetings, wishes, prayers, cards BELIEF -- Prayer |
MANY YOUNG MOTHERS BELIEVE THAT PET CATS WILL STIFLE THE BREATH OF
THEIR BABIES IF THEY HAVE THE CHANCE.
Submitter comment: MANY OF THE INFORMANT'S PATIENTS HAVE ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SUFFOCATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
MOROCCAN WEDDINGS
IN MOROCCO, AFRICA WATER AND MILK ARE SPRINKLED OVER YOUNG BRIDES
DURING THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY. THIS IS TO PURIFY THE GIRLS OF ANY
EVIL DEMONS THAT MAY BE AROUND. IN OTHER CEREMONIES THEY CROSS
SWORDS OVER THE NEWLYWED'S HEADS TO SCARE AWAY BAD SPIRITS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN SUCH A CEREMONY.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Ceremony BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00001971 WINTER
"NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, A DOLLAR DOWN AND A DOLLAR A WEEK."
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IT IS A SURE SIGN OF TROUBLE IF A PERSON DREAMS OF SILVER MONEY.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about luck BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about objects BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHAT DID THE RIGHT EYE SAY TO THE LEFT EYE? (THERE'S SOMETHING
BETWEEN US THAT SMELLS.)
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): NOSE ; PUN ON SMELLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
HOW DOES THE BIG MOUNTAIN CALL HIS SON? (HE YELLS, "HEY CLIFF")
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON FIRST NAME
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
STRUT MISS LIZZY
STRUT MISS LIZZY ALL DAY LONG/NOW HERE COMES ANOTHER JUST LIKE THE
OTHER, ALL DAY LONG/ WELL HEY THERE SAILOR, HOW ABOUT A DATE?
I DON'T HAVE TO BE HOME UNTIL HALF PAST EIGHT/ I CAN DO THE KICK
AND I CAN DO THE SPLIT, AND I CAN WEAR MY DRESSES UP ABOVE MY KNEES
AND I CAN SHAKE MY SHIMMY TO WHO I PLEASE/ I'VE NEVER BEEN TO COLLEGE
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BOOGIE I CAN BOOGIE
LIKE A FOOL/YOU JUMP FRONT BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE. (A DANCING SONG)
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER
WHAT GET'S LOST EVERY TIME YOU STAND UP? (YOUR LAP)
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
THE SKUNKS
MAMA SKUNK WAS WORRIED BECAUSE SHE COULD NEVER KEEP TRACK OF HER TWO
KIDS. THEY WERE NAMED "IN" AND "OUT" AND WHEN "IN" WAS IN, "OUT" WAS
OUT. AND IF "IN" WAS OUT, "OUT" WAS IN. ONE DAY SHE CALLED "OUT"
AND TOLD HIM TO BRING "IN" IN. HE DID. "GOOD!" SAID MAMA SKUNK.
"HOW DID YOU FIND HIM IN SO SHORT A TIME?" "IT WAS EASY SAID
OUT, "INSTINCT!"
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
TALKING PET
A MAN WHO WANTED A PET PARROT SAW A SIGN SAYING "BANKRUPTCY SALE"
IN THE WINDOW OF A PET SHOP. HE WENT INSIDE AND BEGAN BIDDING FOR
A BEAUTIFUL PARROT HE SAW. HE BID HIGHER AND HIGHER UNTIL THE BIRD
WAS FINALLY HIS. HE THEN ASKED THE AUCTIONEER IF THE BIRD COULD
TALK. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WAS BIDDING AGAINST YOU ALL THE
TIME?" SAID THE PARROT.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1972