Marsha Crozier interview with elementary school children from Atlanta and Austell, Georgia

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Note: This interview is available upon request. In this recording, Marsha Crozier interviews elementary school children from Atlanta, Georgia. She begins by interviewing five third graders, who are referred to as Students A through E. Student A tells a riddle and a joke. Student B, at minute 2:02, tells a version of Black Casket and riddles, and sings jump rope rhymes. At minute 5:49, Student C tells riddles and a joke, recites school rhymes and parodies of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, recounts a humorous story about boys working, and mentions a trip to his principals office. Student D, at minute 11:20, tells jokes he learned from his older brother, sings variations of The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the Popeye the Sailorman theme, and recites a rhyme. At minute 19:18, Student E tells several jokes. At minute 21:47, a student from Austell, Georgia, sings rhymes and Eenie Meenie Miney Mo, and tells jokes. 23:20: Crozier next interviews two sixth graders from Atlanta. One recites two rhymes and Page sings school-parodies of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The two then take turns telling riddles and jokes, singing parodies of Mary had a Little Lamb, and singing nasty joke songs, including variations of Bang Bang Lulu. At minute 29:05 one sings Chocolate Ice Cream Cone, which she learned from her family. From minute 29:57 to minute 44:35 a television show plays. Next Crozier interviews five children from Austell, Georgia. One begins at minute 44:44 telling her version of the story Big Toe and singing jump rope rhymes. Another tells a joke about a clock, and a third sings rhyme songs. Next a student tells jokes and sings a jump rope rhyme, and another tells a prank joke, sings Eenie Meenie Miney Mo and a jump rope rhyme, followed by her sister singing a rhyme about underwear. Next a student sings a song about bluebirds and another sings another jump rope rhyme. Then a couple tell jokes about elephants, and a prank joke. This is followed by a recitation of the story Bloody Bones, the song Im going to the Kentucky Fair, and two scary stories. A student recites a rhyme, then performs a call-and-response rhyme with her sister. The interview ends with the song Yankee Doodle. No biographical information has been determined. teacher jokes; prank jokes; AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number M(,)~, \I)() ') l) \ \ ,\"., '(," ...rnl' I . ,', , . Source Field* (ContentDM) Release form Yes at No ) Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yeso~~ Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org. name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the phvsical obiect here: ~itle . 1<\.\'Ay \~,(l fK~ctv)e nCo \ liz' >'.c I, y(y() I, Ch i\() \1 CV) (interviewee' . , .' ' name and date ]"tn\li'()'~l ('YC>,'( C:t'{J\'('\ \,( 1;;: of interview) . Description (bio on interviewee) ,<,')I\\,t,) ti\ "'/ S\ I () \/\:~\ /\ &"~ \/(,4/':, fJ! I \ 1 ,I,:\(}' ( I,' . J ( \ ,) I, \ \ 01, ) I'S 1'('~1'-" 0\(\ ,\"1\ '\h",i ?{' .~ '('<'eN';;, "L\ \~ elk,,) 0''''(' 'ii 1"""\ (J.), 1\'\ '\\\1,) ()""Je \1, r'''' \'. \h"(, is f~\~N\\ c(' ,y) \?,)\\ \'~'\'): )'1 ,/ 'i\'\ 1\ ~ 'S'\ )j". " ,I, 'J: ~ Creator ~Ct\S~c~ C- 'I -E'li (:';(" lc0't'V)(,) (Enter either \ () an individual's Burrison Folklore Class name or an organization) Collection Name (within the Georgia Folklore Archives organization) Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) v;;tbC{ T:::rr"VV\\ '''\ l (use only one) " ./ ,," .It... l Year (if only the year is known) , Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Object Type Image_ Text - Text and image_ Video and S:?d _ Sound only . Media Format Reel-reel (VHS, reel to reel, etc) Recording Hours: extent Minutes: SC :Ict :J Derivatives Access copy: Yes or No Access copy format: .~ Recording clip ~es)r No Clip extent: Co: 3L.\ Time code for Beginning: b'l '. If?;, : 6D End: tW " [')0 ~ dCI clip (h:m:s) Notes (P16)\ '0 1/\ \\ () 1'1\ (\ \00 u t A(,tfl '1\ 't (\~: C' (C' '1\' ! i i.I II ,(1 i'l (interview '\:\V'h,\ ( summary) >;' \ \ '.. f) \~,f <, () , ,\ ., \ i'{' ,, ,I, . "'~' \, , ",._" .. .../ .... \.' 'I" '\' ,I I '-I ' l(ld'I'Ii'i '._,,''''- " I , ~C\IY\'f~.J <tnc) " (')\ V~) II ,,' ,,'I 1. C," \..c, I"l,! .\ '" , Jt'll"\ 1\ ..\ ' (\ " , /1/' (l' ' r '.o' ~.,,;. \ ,-". . ',j 1t{ \ 2 ) Recording issues (background noise, echo, static, etc.) Subject Information Enter .InformafIon about the content 0 f the Ob)l'eCt here: SUbject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Subject Who Last Name First Name MI Subject Country State County Town Local Name Location \1'j(\ (jA A-( leu fez, ,\ \1,\\ (' Subject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOC subject headinas onIv) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See sUbject who for additional names 3 . Corporate names Geographic locations Topics '-)1"/\\,10\\,\ \' ',('Z'()l,('\\\ \\~ '\ Zl\ , ~) ,\ni{\U\{' ,~\ \ {'1~,"){'\'\ 1 00', til l' .' "\ U', \ "'\()I\ (' l(\i,\()\C :', '.\'< \ VI' ,"; \,(, .. ) , ,,' - \, J , \ "\\ \ \\ t"e ", 4 I Mr. Burris::> n, Since I was unable to carry out my plan of comparing the two age groups, the paper is just made up of traditional things that children do and say. Sorry I couldn't do a better job. Marsha CHILDREN'S FOLKLORE Marsha Crozier Folklore 300 Mr. Burrison 10:40 December 1, 1969 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I SES"IUN I The first session was held at an elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia. The area around tile schaal used to be a typical mi.ddle class area l'1i th very well kept older houses, l-Ihere most of the people ownedtheir homes. In recent years a nearby college has expanded its campus, and more businesses have come into the area. The area is rapidly becoming transient. This gives tLe school a mixture of children -- going from middle class to lower class. In my first session, I talked separately with five students from the third grade. I shall distinguish between these children by calling them Student A, Student B, etc. Before I turned the recorder on, I asked each child for jokes, rhymes, riddles, etc. that he had heard from otl,er children. Student A Student A is eight years old, and in the thi rd grade. She seemed to be a quiet child, and did not 1'tant to tell me very much. She seemed to be one of the typical middle class students in the school. Student A: The faster you run, the harder it is to catch it. It/hat is it? MKC: I don t t knol-'. Student A: Your breath. I Student A: vlhat did the big firecracker say to the little ~'lKc: What? firecracker? ',l,'') n, 1/) \ I' Student A: My boom's bigger than your boom. Student B Student B is eight years old and in the third grade. Her father died about two years ago, and this seemed to have upset her greatly. She was rather quiet at first, but seemed to become more rela~ed as she talked. She, also, is from a typical middle class family. Student B: One time this woman was in the bed, and uh, her husband died, and uh, she was in the bed and her telephone rung, and uh, ffilQ the person said, "Black casket, twenty miles away. " And it rang about five minutes later, and it said, "Black casket fifteen miles alvay. " And the phone rung again that night, and the person said,"Black casket ten miles away. " And it rang again and said, "Black cas)<, et, I'm in your living room." And it called back again and said "BlacK ca.sket, I'm in your bedroom.' Black cn.sket, I'm going to get you." m(c: \fuat happened? Did it get her? () Student B: Yes. MKC: Do you know any more stories or jokes that you heard from other children? Student B: No. MKC: Do you know any stories or jokes that you tell to just girls, that you wouldn't want a boy to hear? Student B: No, but I know a riddle. ~OCC: Oh, good. Tell it to me. Student B: How did three women get under one umbrella? How did three big women get under one umbrella? MKC: HOI,? Student B: When the sun was shining. MKC: Oh, that was cute. Do you know any more riddles or jokes, or rhymes you might say when you jump rope? Student B: Yes, I know a jumprope rhyme. MKC: Please tell it to me. Student B: Blue bells cockel shells, evy, ivy, overhead. MKC: Do you know any more? Student B: Yes. Down by the ocean, dOln by the sea, Johnny broke a bottle and he blamed it on me. I told Ma, Ma Gold Pa, How many whippings did he gi t? (Then the child counts as he jumps.) I~;C: Do you know any more? Student B: No. MKC: Well, do you knov' any stories that eo mebody in your family told you that their mother or someone told them, that have been passed down in the family? 3 student B: No. MKC: Do you know anymore jokes or riddles that you could tell me? Student B: I know another riddle. MKC: Good, tell it to me! Student B: \1here "laS the cat "Ihen you, uh, turned out the lights? MKC: Where was he? Student B: In the dark! MKC: Do you Imow another one? Student B: No. Student C Student C is thirteen years old and in the third grade. He has had an unusual family life -- his mother is dead, and his father disappeared. He now lives with his grandmother. Prior to this he had been shifted around among members of the fanily. He is slightly mentally retarded, and his unstable home life may have contributed to this. (However, he was still very tallmtive.) Student C: What has legs and never moves? mec: Goodness, I don't know. Student C: A table. [{IKC: Do you Imo\'1 any more? Student C: Name six thing~maller than the ant? MKC: I don't know, what are they? Student C: Six of his teeth. JVIl(C: OK, do you lmo~r any mo re? Student C: Why did the chicken cross the road? JVIKC: I don't kno':r. Student C: He wanted to get to th3 other side. ~~C: Are all of these things that you heard from other children? Student C: I learned that one from a book. (At this point I was unable to really tell which of the things this child heard from other children, and which he read from books, but after continually asking him if these ~rere things he had heard from other children, and his continually answering "yes", I took his word for it.) JVIKC: Do you kna., any that you heard from other children? Student C: Yes well it's sort of a riddle. MKC: That's fine! Student C: School's out, school's out, teacher let the monkeys out. One went east, one went west, one \'rent up the tefwher's dress. Glory, glory hallelujah, Teacher hit me with a ruler. Shot LeI' in the head with a rott$n tangerine. ~(C: That's a funny one, alright! Student C: Glory, glory hallelujah, Teacher hit me with a ruler. Met her at the door with a big 44, and she won't be teachin no more. Student C: Once upon a time there was t~ree little children going down the street, and one of them said "hello", whatcha doing? Ancl, they walked up to the lady and asked her if they could malce a little bit of money, like ra1cing yards, picking up trash, and doing stuff and carrying out garbage. And the littlest one, he was only five, and so he was fixing to carry out the garbage, you know, and the garbage can bottom come out, and all that mess come out. Anel the other one wasraldng the yard, and the ra1ce broke. And the other one ~as sweeping the house, and the broomstick broke. And one ~IaS outside washing the windows, and that than g that he was si ttin on broke. And so they all had to pay for the things. One had to pay for the garbage em' bottom, one had to pay for the broom and ra1ce, and that's all of the story. ~OCC: Goodness, they didn't ma1ce much money the~, did they? Student C: They made tenc'cents. 111KC: Ten cents apiece, tbat's not much money now, is it? Student C: lilo. ~(C: Do you know any more? Do you know any riddles or jokes or anything? Jtudent C: I know a tonguet~lister. ~(C: Oh, good, tell it to me. Is it something that you heard from another child? Student C: lilo, I read it from a book. ["IKC: I 1'Tant to hear the things that you heard from other children. Student C: What has one hundred legs, forty t"TO necks, and nine f'eet? MIC C: r'Jy goodness, I don't know. Student C: A grandaddy with a hundred legs. ~CC: A grandaddy with a hundred legs\ ( Ha, ha.) Student C: Teacher, teacher, I declare you forgot your underwear \ /lIKC: Do you lmOl'T any more like that? Student C: Teacher, teacher, I declare. Wait a minute. Teacher, teacher, give me. Vlai t a minute. Teacher, teacher, I declare. Wait a minute, I got i t no\~. 'l'encher, teacher, give my bubble gwn bacl;:. MICC: Do you know any more? Student C: We used t~ put a tack in the teacher's seat\ MKC: You really did? You wuldn't do that olD me liould you'? Student C: No. The first time I did it I got sent to the principal's office. student D This student was very cooperative and talkative. He is from a typical middle class family. He seems to have gotten a lot of his jokes from his fifteen year old brother. Student D is eight years old and in the third grade. 1 Student D: My name is -----. Oh yea, this is one my brother told me. vfuat did one tonsil say to another tonsil? ~(C: I don't know, what? Student D: Get your hat and coat, the doctor's taking us out tonight! Let's see, oh yea, this is another one. I was walking dovm the street one day, and I saw a cat with no tail, and I said, "I'/here's your cat, tail? ,,( I think he meant ",-,here's your tail, cat.") He said "I cut it off." Well, I just walked on by. The next day he, uh, came back and, uh, I said "Cat, vlhere did you get your tail?" ''It/here did you get another tail?" He said, "I got it at a retail store." MKC: Ha, ha, that'~ a cute one. Student D: Let me see, uh. Oh yea. Uh, why do you turn backwards on a horse? ~(C: v/hy? Student D: Because, to see ,qhere you've been! Let's see, uh, if I can think of any more. MKC: Do you know any jokes about teachers? Student D: No! MKC: You don't know any teacher jokes? Student D: No. Let's see, what was that other one my brother told me? I can't think of them! I have so many that I know, but I can't think of them. rn<c: You can have as much time to think as you would like. Student D: Wait a minute, I got one. It's somelhing like a teacher joke. MKC: Oh, good. Student D: It goes like this. Ulory, glory h3~lelujah, Teacher hit me with a ruler, I got a 22 and &lOt her out the door, and I never saw the teacher any more: I~C: You know any more like that? Student D: No. That's the only one my brother told me like that. rn(c: Did you learn any more from any children at school? Student D: My brother, he told me something like nasty, but I don't want to tell it. MKC: Oh. Student D: I can't think of them. rn<c: Do you have any jokes that you tell only to boys? Student D: There's one that I d6n ',tahrays tell around everybody, but it's not, it's not nasty, but it's something about your nm e. MKC: OK, go ahead and tell me. Student D: \:lhat did one nos tril say to another nostril? rn<c: What? Student D: Turn the light on, there.' s a 'bugger in here: MKC: Do you kn~1 any more like that? Student D: No. r~c: You don't? That's the only one you know like that? Student D: No. I can't think of any more. What do y'u do to make an elephant get off a rug? ~'IKC : Illhat? student D: Wait till he gits upt Uh, ~rl\'y do you put ice in your, uh, Pop's bed? MKC: Why? Student D: Cause you want cold pop. Let's see now. \1hat has eyes like an Indian, and uh, sits like an Indian, and has a face like an Indifri!,8;.I, but is not an Indian? MKC: \>lhat? Student D: A picture of an Indian. ~(C: A picture of an Indian. Ha, ha. Student D: Oh yea, I,hat gives milk, and has a Lorn? ~(C: \1hat'? student D: A milk truck. MKC: A milk trucl{, ha, ha. Student D: \>fuat is big and red and eats rocks? MKC: What? Student D: A big red rock eater. (A song to the tune of Popeye the Sailor) Oh, I'm Popeye the sailor man, I live in a garbage can, I eat wor--ms, And spit out the germs. I'm Popeye the sailor man. /6 Student D: This is another one about Popeye. I'm Popeye the sailor man, I live in the garbage can, I eat tomatoe s, And spit out potatoes, I'm Popeye the sailor man. m(c: Did you hear that from another little boy? Student D: Yes. m(c: Who told that one to you? Student D: Some boy named, uh, I think it was Wayne. Yea, Wayne. This is something like tattle tale. m(C: OK. Student D: Tattle, tattletale, oh yea, tattle tale, tattle tale, hoo g your britches on a nail, hang um high, hang urn low, hang urn on the teacher's nose. !VIKC: That \~as a good one. Do you kno\~ any mor e like that? Student D: No. Student E This boy was very quiet, and did not want to talk to me very much. Both of his parents are deaf mutes, which may have some bearing on tlds. He is eight years old 2.nd in the third grade. Ilis family \'lOuld probably be on the boarder line betvl6en middle and lower class. Student E: My name is -----. \'Ihen does a giraffe have four feet? fllK C: \'Ih en ? II Student E: When's theres two together! ~rr(c: When there are two together, ha. Student E: OK, here's another one. What is big, and red and eats rocks? ~jKC: What? Stud.ent E: A big red eater. I mean, a big red rock eater. ~jKC: Ths.t viaS good, do' you kno\-, any more? Student E: What did the big firecracker say to the little firecracker? ~C: What? Student E: My pop's bigger than your pop. ~rr(c: You know any more? You lWO\; any jokes about teachers? Student E: No. ~C: You don't? Oh you cm tell them to me if you do. I'm sure you kno\-, at least one! Student E: I don't. lf~C: You mean you don't know any jokes about teachers? Student E: No. m(c: I thought everybody knew a joke about a teacher. I'm not going to tell a,'ybody if you tell me. Student E: I don't know. mw: You don't know any at all? Student E: No. /~ SBSSION II Session II was held at the same elementary school. At this session I talked ,:Ii th two sixth graders (at the same time.) Students A and Bare' both very outgoing, and did not mind talldng to me. Student A is 1 a gi rl, eleven years old. Student B is' a boy, eleven years old. Both students are, from middle class families. Student A: r'ly name is ----. Teacher, teacher, I been thinlcin, What the world have you been drinkin'? Is it whiskey, is it wine'? Oh my lord, it's turpentine. School's out, school's out, The teacher let the monkey out. One went South, one went West, Ona went up the teacher's dress. Student B: My name is ----. (A song sung to the tune of Glory, glory,hallelujah.) Mine eyes h,we seen the glory of the burning of the sohool, We have tortured every teacher, and we've broken every rule, We're on the way to the office to ha--ng the principal, Us brats are marching on. /3 Student B: (Song, cont'd) Glory, glory, hallelujah, ~~eacher hi t me wi th a ruler. Stood behind the door wit a loaded 44, And I never did see her no more. Det's see, ull. Glory, glory, hallelujah, Teacher hit me with a ruler, Hit her on the beanie with a rotten tangerine, And I never did see her no more. Student A: Itlhat looks like a cat, shaped like a cat, face like a cat, but it isn't a cat? Ans\-fer: A ki tten. Student B: Hold it no1'1 , sto p for a minute. Student A: I-Ihat' s \-Ihi te, has hlo horns and gives milk? Answer: A milk truck. Student B: I-Ihat is blue and \-Ihi te, with a blueberry on top? Answer: A police car. Student A: Itlhy d.id silly Billy thro~f the clock out the ~ri nd O"I? Answer: He wanted to see time fly. Why did silly Billy creep past the medicine cabinet? Answer: He didn' t \~ant to \-181,e the sleeping pills. '-Ihy did Silly Billy cl ose the door "hen he opened the ice box? AlJ S\'ler: The cabbage dressing." said, "Get "ut of here, I'm /f Student B: Oh, no! vlha,t did the rug say to t.he floor? Answer: Hold it, you're covered. Student A: ':Ihat iJ blncl, and white, black and ,.Jhite, black and ,-TLite, an,lblack and white? Ans\'Ter: A nun folling davin the stairs. Student B: What's white with two red crosses? Answer: An ambulm ce. (To tl::e tune of "Mary had a little lamb") Mary had a little lamb, tied it to th8 heater, Every time it turned around, burned it's little seater. Student A: Mary had a little lamb, she fed it castor oil, Every trme it went outside, j,t fertilized the soil. Student B: If you put a Hershey's bar in the refrigerator, and take it out about five hours later, and it'll taste like Exlax. If the rooster is on the house, and one side of the house is flat and the other one is steep, and the rooster lays an egg, vrhich side is the rooster's egg going to falloff? You say, no, and tJll1 you say roosters don't laY. eggs. Student A: This waitress was \valking around and she sawhTo lumps of sugar on tLe table, so she didn't want to waste them, so she put them inside her dress. And a matI came along and 'Iranted some coffee, sLe said, "You vrant hTo lumps or one?" He said Ie;' Student A: (cont'd) "TI-IO. " So she took them out of her dress, and put them in tbere. And she said, "Cream?" He said "You wouldn't dare!" Student B: This is a nasty one. Student A: (Sort of a song) Mary had a tub boat, Tub boat had a bell, lVlary \Vent t 0 heaven, Tub boat went to, Hello operator, Give me number nine, If you do not reach me, I'll kick you in Behind the frigerator is some glass, ~ittle Miss Mary cut her little, Ask me no questions, Tell me no lies, The rest of the story is uncivilized! Student B: Now I'll tell you on4. ( A.sort of song) Lulu had a boyfriend, Boyfriend had a truck, I,ulu liked to shift the gears, Boyfriend liked to ---bang, bang, /(P student B: (cont '.d) Lulu had a boyfriend, N8~ewas Di8~ond Dick, Lulu liked the fellow, But didn't like to -- bong, bang. student A: Lulu had a brother, His name was cliocolEl,te eater, Put him on the ironing board, To see his little, --- bang, bang, shangalang. Lulu had a boyfriend, Boyfriend had a duck, They put 'em in the bathtub, Just to see if tl,ey would student B: IJuiu had t\'lO boyfriends, One was very rlich, One was the son of a banker, bang, bang, shangalm g. One vws a son of a ----bang, bn.ng. Lulu had a chicken, Lulu had a duck, Put them in the bathtub, To see if tLey vlould, -- bang, bang. Student A: (This viaS a song "anded dovm through at least tl,ree generations in this girl's family.) My mama said if I'd be good, She'd send me to the store, If I would bake some gingerbread, If I would sweep the floor. /7 Student A: (cont'd) And so I did, The things she said, And sLe sent me for a loaf of bread. Nov' coming home I stubbed my toe, Upon a big old stone. Indeed I tell you that I dropped, A chocolate ice cream cone. A little doggy came along, And in ok a great big lick --Slupp, And then I hit that mean old dog, \Vi ttl just one little stick. And he chaseJ me, Allover town, And he bit me-ee, "'here I sit down -- Ouch! And no,-I I'm lost, sniff, sniff, Can't find my home, sniff, smiff, And all because of a chocolate ice cream cone. (Jump rope rhyme) I like coffee,. I like tea, I'd like Kathy to Jump in with me. /'6 SESSION III The third session was not held at school, but in my home, in Austell, Georgia. This session involved five childrel' bet\'Teen the ages of five and eight. Al though these children are not all from the same school district, they are all typical, good middle class children. Cheryl Young is eight years old, and quite an outgoing child. Mary Cain is a five year old who is just beginning to get her "traditions" from other children. Bill Hand is a six year old, first grader who had rather make up jokes than hear them from other children (I only taped the ones he heard from other children). Kim Bridgewater is a seven year old second graDer, who is a bit shy around the recorder. Tammy Bridgewater, is an eight year old third grader Hho is not at all shy, and enjoys hearing and telling stories. Cheryl: Rhymes Chocolate fUdge, here comes the judge, lVIichael's gonna have a baby, \'frap it up in tissue paper, send it down the eievator, Boys and girls, triplets, twins. (Jump rope rhymeJ) Cinderella dressed in yelloH, Went upstairs to kiss the felloH, Made a miiJ"take and kiss eo a snake. How many doctors would it take? ( Child, jumps and counts) 19 Cheryl: ]iljary: (Prank joke) Hit me. (Another child hits her) \'That di d I say?. (Another child ans"rers) Hit me.(and first child does.) Vfilat's your favorite number? (Child ansvlers) A thousund. I'That's your fa,vorite color? (Child ans,'lers) Black. You got a thousand black babies. (To pick vrho is It) Einy, meny, miny, mo, Catch a blackbi rd by his toe, If he hollers, make him pay, Fifteen dollars, My mamma told me to kick him out, Cause he's a bad blacl, bi rd. My name is Mary, and I'm five years old. You vwnt me to tell you the. one about the toes first? Once upon a time, the mother told the kid to get some turnips. So she did. She got all she wanted, so, she got all of them she ,'ranted, and thEn she started home, she saw this grea.t 01 big one, she pUlled, and she pulled ,~itl) one hand. She couldn I t get it ,vi th one hand., so she started with both hands. Ghe pUlled, and she pulled until it came out. So she heard something say "I want my big t08 back, I viant my big toe back." So she grabbed the turnip greens and ran home and told her Mama. So she said (the Bill: mother) II That must be a devil' s toe." So she didn't cook the one's that big that the kid pUlled. So she cooked supper and ate it, and they heard something going around, ami arc und the house saying, "I \'1a,nt my big toe bac1{, I \nmt my big toe back." So the mother got it and threw the turnip out, and they heard something going around and around the house sewing, "I got my big toe back, I got my big toe back. II Cinderella, dressed in yellow, \~ent upstairs to lciss her fellow, How many kisses, kissed a snake, Ho\'r many kisses did sLe git, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Cinderella, dressed in yellow, I'lent to to\m to write a note. Saw her boyfriend, How many kisses did she git, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. My name is Bill Hand, and I'm six years old. \'Ihy did the rna,) throvr the clock out the windovl? MKC: 111hy? Bill: To see time fly. Cleryl: IVIy name is Cheryl and I'm eight years old. Teacher, of all the class, Somebody lost their underwear, It's not I, It's not his, It's the teacher's undervrear. Cheryl: Tammy: MICC: Tammy: MKC: Tammy: Johnny, Johnny in the sea, Johnny broke a bottle, I told Na, Ma told Pa, Johnny got a whipping, Ra, ha, ha. My name is Tammy and I'm eight yerus old. Why did the dog sit in t~e sun? Why? Cause he wanted to be a hot dog. Why did the hen cross the street? Why? Cause he wanted to get over to the other side. HOvr do you get 8, elephant off 8 blanket? I'IlKC: How? Tammy: Kim: \'lai t ti 11 he gets up. (Jump rope rhyme) Cinderella dressed in yellow, Went upstairs to kiss her fellow, Made a mistake and kissed a snake, how many doctors did it take? 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. My name is Kim Bridgewater and I'm seven years old. (Prank joke) . !\.dam and Eve and pinel' me tight, To cross the river to see a fight, Adam and Eve got saved, Who got drowned? jVIKC: Pinch me tight? (And you get pinch eo) Kim: Yea. Biny, meny, miny, rna, Me,ma married Doctor Poe, Kim: Poe died, lVlama cried, Einy, meny, miny, mo. vlhnt did the big chimley say to tile 11 ttle chimley? IV[KC: Vlhat? Kim: You're too little to smoke. (Jump rope rhyme) 'I.'eacher, teacher I declare, 'rlhat did you make in arithmetic? A,B,C,D,E F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,W,Z. Teacher, teacher I declare, You forgot your un"erwear, Is it white, is it blue, Is it green, or is it red? I got my colors mixed up! Cheryl: Bluebirds,bluebirds, in aDd out my windol'l, ( a Bluebirds, bluebirds, in and out my win~ow, song) Bluebirds, bluebirds in and out my Ivi ndow, Ooh Johnny, I'm tired. Tap a little boy on the shoulder, Tap a 11 ttle; boy on the shoulder, Tap a little boy on the shoulder, Ooh Johnny, I'm tired. Kim: (Jump nope rhyme) I like coffee, I like tea, I want somebody to run in 1,1ith me. Bill: MKC: Bill: 'l'amm:w: IVJKC : KIM: ~1KC : KIM: Tammy: Why does the elephant wear tennis shoes? '1lhy? Because his elephant shoes are too little. 'Ifuy did the elephant have three white shoes on? Because he tee-teed on One. Why did the elephant have three white tennis shoo s and one yellow one? Why? Because he pee-peed on one. (Prs,nk joke) It's about time, It's about space, It's about time to slap your face. (Child gets sl appel;) Sugar, candy, lollp, POP. (Child gets popped) There 1~8B this house, and there wasn I t enough beds upstairs, so the mother sen t the father downstai rs to sleep. And that night he heard "I'm bloody bones and I'm going to get you." 80 the father ran upstairs and sent the sister d01\'tl tlJere, and the sister heard "I'm bloody bones and I'm going to get you." So she ran upstairs and sent the brother down there, and the brother heard,"I'm bloody bones and I'm going to get you." So he ran upstairs and sent the mother d01m tl,ere, so the mother heard, "I'm blocxiy bones, and Tammy: (Cont'd) I'm going to get you." So the mother ran up and sent the baby down there. So he heard, "I'm bloody bones and I'm going to get you." And the baby said, "Wait a minute, I'd better go and get you some bandaids." (A game) I was going to Kentucky, / () The old Kentucky fair, I met a sentorita, Iiith diamonds in her hair, Ooh, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, Shake it if you can, Shllice it like a milk shake, And shlli,e it once again, Point to the East, Point to the We~t, Point to the one you like the best. This man, he was laying in bed, and he had gun under the covers, and his toes was sticking out down at the end of the covers, and he tliought it was two eyes, so he shot them, and the next morning, he didn't have any toes. This lady, she had this little girl, and she needed some ketchup, so she asked the little girl to go and get some ketchup, and uh, she said, "But don't go past the graveyard." So she went past the graveyard, Tammy: (cont'd) and uh, this man came out of this grave, and said, "V/here are you going?", and she said, "I'm going to the store to get some ketchup." And the man said, "I'll give you sme ketchup if you don't tell anybody where you got it." So she said, OK: And "Then she got back kame, the mother asked her where she got it. She said, "I can't tell you." And her ~lamma said, "v/here did you get it?" She said, "I can't tell you." Her momer said, "If you don't tell me I'm going to spank you." So she said, "This man in the graveya,rd gave it to me." So that night she remembered that the man said, "Don't tell anybody "There you got the ketchup." And that night she heard, "I'm on your first step, I'm on the second ste,p, I'm on the mird step, I'm on the fourth step, I'm on t~e fifth step, I'm on the sixth step, I'm on the seventh step, I'm in your house, I'm in your mother's room, I'm in your brother's room, I'm in your father's room, I'm at the foot of the bed, I got'cha~" , (\ Kim: Patsy, Patsy had a baby, Wrap it up in tissue paper, Send it claIm the elevator. Tammy: (wit]! Kim answering) I went upstairs, , : Just like me, Shut the door, Just like me, Looked out the window, Just like me, Saw t\'IO monkeys, .. Just like mel Cheryl: (Yankee doodle tune) Yankee doodle went to town, A ridin on a turtle, Turned the corner just in time, To see a lady's girdle. If anyone thinks that children are losing their traditions, tbis paper ,,/ill prove them wrong. Even in today's modern world of television, radio, boxed games, and other forms of entertainment, children have not lost the art of entertaining themselves with their own stories, games, rhymes, and riddles. Children have "their thing" too. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.