Tag Archives: verbal folklore

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (Ali Silva)

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Title: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”

General Information about Item:

  • Children’s folklore, lullaby
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: America
  • Informant: BH
  • Date Collected: October 16, 2021

Informant Data:

  • BH was born in Los Angeles, California on June 22, 2000. She lived with her mother, father and older brother, Christopher. Their family did not practice any religion, but they are spiritual. She participated in lots of community service and played volleyball and soccer. Her parents both worked in a hospital as surgeons. 

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural context: This lullaby talks about a special person living abroad away from the singer. This lullaby is sung in a sweet, gentle tone because it is referencing missing your loved one and wanting them to come back to you. This lullaby may have originated during a time where there was a war and the men away at war would sing this song missing their significant others back home.  
  • Social Context: BH learned this song from her dad. He would often stay at work with late shifts, so when he came home he would sing this song to BH because he missed her while he was away at work. BH remembers this song fondly because of the connection she has with her dad through it. 

Item:

“My Bonnie lies over the ocean

My Bonnie lies over the sea

Well, my Bonnie lies over the ocean

Yeah, bring back my Bonnie to me

Yeah, bring back, ah, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Ah, bring, oh, bring back, ah, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me”

  • This lullaby rhymes and is often sung twice through. The song is centered around missing someone you love when they are away.  

Associated File:

Informants Comments:

“I love this song because it makes me feel connected to my dad.”

Collector’s Comments: 

I had never heard this lullaby before hearing BH sing it.  

Collector:

Ali Silva

Dartmouth College

Russian 13

Professor Gronas and Professor Apresyan

Fall 2021

Tags:

Dartmouth

Students

Verbal Folklore

English Lullaby

Ocean

“Row Row Row Your Boat” (Jennifer Wendelken)

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General Information About Item:
Verbal Folklore
Language: English
Country of Origin: USA
Informant: Carter Nelson
Date Collected: 10-15-21

Informant Data:

Carter Nelson was born on February 21, 2000. Her parents were both born in the United States where they spent most of their lives. Carter’s parents moved to the United Kingdom in 1998, where Carter was born and still currently lives. Her parents have American accents, while Carter has an English accent. She spent most of her childhood going back and forth between California and the UK. Carter is a senior on the rowing team at Dartmouth. She shared with me that this lullaby “Row Row Row Your Boat” we collected was an integral part of her childhood, and reflects her bi-continental experience growing up in the UK, with American parents.

Contextual Data

Social Context:

This lullaby was sung to Carter every night she could not sleep when she was a child up until age 8. Both her mom and dad were very familiar with the lullaby being from the United States and wanted Carter to experience a part of their American roots. Carter feels that “Row Row Row Your Boat” has become a staple in her childhood and brought her closer with her parents. She plans on continuing this tradition with her children because of her fond memories with her own parents.

Cultural Context:

This lullaby originated in the United States where both of Carter’s parents grew up. Her grandparents sang the same lullaby to Carter’s mother. It is a classic American nursery rhyme that her family has used as a lullaby for decades. It has been translated to many different languages and spread all around the world to different cultures as well.

Item:
Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream

Associated file:

Carter-NelsonDownload

Informant Comments:
“Row Row Row Your Boat has had an impact on my relationship with my parents and made a lasting impression on my memories from my childhood.”

Collector Comments:
I loved learning more about Carter’s mixed cultural upbringing by American parents in the United Kingdom. Hearing her speak about how the lullaby connected her to her mother’s childhood was moving.

Collectors Name: Jennifer Wendelken

Sklodge (Dylan Bienstock)

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General Information:

  • Type: Verbal Lore
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: T.H. ’23
  • Date Collected: 11/07/2021
  • Location Collected: Dartmouth

Informant Data:

T.K. is a 21-year-old female from New England. She was born and raised in Boston, MA and is majoring in mechanical engineering at Dartmouth College. T. enjoys spending her free time doing Acapella and spending time hiking and walking in and around Hanover.

Contextual Data

  • Cultural Context: Dartmouth student often particpate in First Year Trip before starting their freshman fall. This is a 6 day program where student join a group of 3-7 fellow incoming freshman and 2 upperclassmen trip leaders to explore the Hanover and its surrounding area. On one day, students take a trip to a lodge, either Moosilauke or the Dartmouth Ski Lodge where they spend time outside, dance with friends, and have a nice dinner. On this trip, students often call the Ski Lodge the Sklodge.
  • Social Context: First Year Trips is an opportunty for freshman to be introduced to Dartmouth. They often take what they learn, including the termonology, and do their best to build it into their daily life in order to feel more comortable or included at Dartmouth.

Item:

Sklodge stands for “Ski Lodge.” This refers to the Dartmouth Ski Lodge located at the Dartmouth Ski way near Lyme, New Hampshire.

Associate File:

Transcript: “The sklodge, or ski lodge, is the Ski Lodge on the Dartmouth owned ski mountain 25 minutes away from campus. It functions as a normal ski lodge in the winter, a place for patrons to get changed, warm up, and grab food. Recently, it functioned as one of the lodges freshman went during First Year Trips. Half the class of 2025 went to the sklodge to participate in the normal lodge actives such as games, dancing, and a meal. It was interesting being here, as my freshman year everyone was at Moosilauke. I had never head this term until I was a trip leader, which is different than most Dartmouth terminology I learned early on Freshamn year. Many of my friends don’t know this word so I am not as likely to use it on campus compared to other terms like FFB or Dark Side. Althouth, it’s kind of fun being one of the first people to learn this work and to have the opportunity to share it with other students. Althouth I don’t know if this term is going to continue or disappear in the coming years.”

Informants Comments:

2021 was the first time First Year Trips went to the lodge. This was due to Coronavirus and the need to reduce the size of students together at once. Thus, this term is largely known by the Dartmouth class of 2025 and trip leaders that year. It will be interesting to see if First Year Trips uses the ski lodge again and if this slang will continue to be relevant or may die out.

Collector’s Name: Dylan Bienstock

Tags/Keywords

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Slang
  • Students
  • Dartmouth
  • First Year Trips

Our Father (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • A prayer sung as a lullaby 
  • Language: English
  • MA, USA
  • Informant: Nina Nesselbush 
  • Date Collected: 10-30-21

Informant Data:  Nina Nesselbush is a female student at Dartmouth in the class of 2023. She is the youngest of five sisters and grew up in Massachusetts. Nina is a Junior on the Dartmouth women’s field hockey team and is an engineering major. She shared this lullaby with me that was sung to her and her sisters before bedtime.  

Contextual Data

  • Social Context: Nina grew up in a very religious household. From as young as she can remember, this lullaby was a prayer that her mother transformed into her own tune. She was shocked to learn in church as she grew older that the prayer was not in fact a lullaby. 
  • Cultural context: This lullaby is the “Lord’s Prayer,” but Nina refers to it as “Our Father.” It is a Catholic prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples. Nina’s mother grew up in the church choir and was very familiar with hymns. Given the religious nature of her family, it was very important that Nina was involved with her religious roots at an early age.  

Item:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Informants Comments:

  • This lullaby is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about my childhood. My sister’s and I loved our mother’s voice, and found it soothing to listen to before bed. 

Collectors Comments

  • I found this prayer, turned into a lullaby, to be unique. Nina’s mother was able to incorporate religion into her daughter’s lives at a very young age. It was interesting to see the impact it had on Nina’s upbringing through her mother’s creativity 

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

Edelweiss (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Childhood Lullaby
  • Langauge: English
  • PA, USA
  • Information: 10-22-21
  • Informant: Tamer Luzi 

Informant Data: Tamer Luzi is a member of Dartmouth’s 2024 class. She currently lives in Pennsylvania but was born in London, UK and lived there until she was 5. In her spare time, Tamer loves to watch movies. 

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: This lullaby was sung to Tamer by her grandmother whenever she visited her. The two of them would watch The Sound of Music together, and Edelweiss was Tamer’s favorite song. Tamer’s grandmother would always sing this lullaby before she went to sleep.

Cultural Context: Edelweiss is a song in The Sound Of Music. It translates to “noble white” and is a flower that can be found in the Alps. 

Item:

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Ev’ry morning you greet me
Small and White
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossem of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Clean and Bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossem of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Informants Comments: The Sound of Music was my favorite movie growing up and it reminds me of my grandmother. I don’t really recall many lullabies that were sung to me when I was younger, but I definitely remember Edelweiss.  

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

Tags: 

Verbal Folklore, English Folklore, Dartmouth, Students, Movie

Hush Little Baby (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Childhood Lullaby
  • Language: English
  • Country and State of Origin: Connecticut, US 
  • Informant: Maggie O’Gorman 
  • Date Collected: 11-01-21

Informant Data: 

  • Maggie O’Gorman is a female Dartmouth student in the class of 2022. She was born and raised in Connecticut by her father. During her time at Dartmouth, Maggie plays Division 1 lacrosse and sings in an acapella group. In her time away from Dartmouth, Maggie enjoys community service, especially with her father. Given that grew up in a single-parent household as an only child, Maggie mentioned that her and her father have a very close relationship. 

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: This lullaby was sung to her, among others, before going to bed when she was young. It sends the message that no matter what happens to the person (little baby) he or she has nothing to fear, and that Papa (in Maggie’s case) would be given things to make her feel better. This message of this lullaby meant a lot to Maggie, as she mentioned that her father has always been her backbone. 
  • Cultural Context: This lullaby is a traditional, American lullaby. When singing this lullaby, she mentioned “Papa” as opposed to “Mama,” which demonstrates that the lullaby had interchangeable lyrics.

Item: 

Hush little baby, don’t say a word

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won’t sing, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring 

And if that diamond ring turns brass, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a billy goat 

And if that billy goat won’t pull 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a cart and bull 

And if that cart and bull fall down

You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town

Recording:

Informants Comments: This lullaby helped me fall asleep and always made me feel safe and protected with my Dad. I remember hearing someone sing using “Mama” instead of “Papa,” when I was younger, and tried to correct them because I thought the lyrics were wrong.

Collectors Comments: I found this lullaby and interview to give me an interesting perspective on how lullabies can be shifted and formed to match the identity of the deliverer. I remember this lullaby sung by my mother to me, and although Maggie remembers the lyrics with a slight difference, it is still sending the same message. 

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

Flair (Dylan Bienstock)

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General Information:

  • Type: Verbal Lore
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: V.L. ’23
  • Date Collected: 11/07/2021
  • Location Collected: Dartmouth

Informant Data:

V.L. is a 19-year-old male from New England. He was born and raised in New Hampshire and is at Dartmouth pursuing a major in Biology and is on the pre-med track. At Dartmouth, V. enjoys spending is on the club baseball team and lifting at Zimmerman Gym

Contextual Data

  • Cultural Context: Dartmouth is an extemely isolated school. The social events that Dartmouth students go to are exclusively Dartmouth students, occur in Dartmouth or student owned spaces, and are hosted by Dartmouth organizations. This enables themes such as flair to gain popularity as they fit in with the exclusive nature.
  • Social Context: Nearly, if not all, students at Dartmouth know the term flair. Additionally, most students have gone to a flair themed event and have some flair of their own that they have aquired from upperclassmen. Flair is an idea that bring Dartmouth students together, allowing them to have this shared idea that everyone can easily participate in.

Item:

Flair stands for flashy, exciting, colorful clothing typically worn to Dartmouth parties and events, generally, those at greek houses

Associate File:

Transcript: “Flair is both a theme and a way to describe how someone dresses. It means to wear flashy, exciting, colorful clothing to Dartmouth parties and events. While the term is used universally on campus, its use seems to be concentrated around greek houses. Freshman fall I was invited to a club baseball event at a fraternity and was told the theme and informed of its meaning. Throughout your freshman fall, you learn the term. It’s a universal word at Dartmouth. Everyone knows it even if they don’t use it. Some groups use it more than others. It helps people express themselves the way they want. It’s a very loose word that people can interpret how they want and wear what they want. Everyone has a different flair. It is easy to dress in theme and feel included”

Informants Comments:

Often when students graduate they will pass on their flair to underclassmen. This usually occurs during an end-of-the-year dinner/banquet for most organizations on campus and is a unique opportunity for individuals and communities to build connections with one another.

Collector’s Name: Dylan Bienstock

Tags/Keywords

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Slang
  • Students
  • Dartmouth
  • Social

FFB (Dylan Bienstock)

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General Information:

  • Type: Verbal Lore
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: C.K. ’23
  • Date Collected: 11/07/2021
  • Location Collected: Dartmouth

Informant Data:

C.K. is a 20-year-old male from North West United States. He was born and raised in Oregon and moved across the country to pursue an engineering degree at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, C. enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and playing water polo for the club team.

Contextual Data

  • Cultural Context: Dartmouth is a diffuclt school where students are often required to spend large amount of time working and studying. How people study varies, and FFB gives students the opprtunity to study in a more social and engaging enviroment. This is in contast to rooms in upper levels of the library which are typically much quieter.
  • Social Context: Baker/Berry library is considering the main study location at Dartmouth college. As would make sense, the first floor, which is most accessible, is one of the most popular spaces for people to meet and do work. The location is filled with larger desks and round tables that students can work at with their friend.

Item:

FFB stands for “First First Berry.” This refers the the first floor study space of the Baker-Berry Library where Dartmouth College students go to, but is not limited to, work on problem sets, papers group-projects, and socialize with friends.

Associate File:

Transcript: “FFB stands for First Floor Berry. It is the main study area in the Dartmouth Library. I first heard it when I was a Freshman. It was one of my first days on campus and I overheard an upperclassmen ask their friend if they wanted to meet at FFB. At first I had no idea what it meant and later on, when I was on trips, my trip leader told me about its meaning. The term seems universal among Dartmouth students, with all grade years using the term, and no grade seems to use it more than the other. We also have a kind of mini community on FFB. There are certain frequenters of this space who spend most, if not all, of their study time there.”

Informants Comments:

FFB has a very positive connotation. It makes me think of talking and spending time with friends. A “coming together” type of word

Collector’s Name: Dylan Bienstock

Tags/Keywords

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Slang
  • Students
  • Dartmouth
  • Studying

“Toora Loora” (Lucy Murray

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Title: “Toora Loora”

General Information about Item:

Verbal Folklore 

Language: Irish-American 

Country of Origin: USA

Informant: M.B.

Date Collected: 10-31-21

Informant Data: 

M.B. was born December 6th, 2000 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She is the youngest of 3 girls and has lived in New Jersey her whole life. Her parents are incredibly supportive of her endeavours as she is currently on the Dartmouth Field Hockey team. She enjoys being outside with friends and taking in the simple moments. M.B.’s parents are both Irish, so she grew up with many Irish lullabies before. One she highlighted that was a staple in her household was “Toora Loora”

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: 

M.B. sang this lullaby frequently during her childhood. She mentioned that both of her sisters also heard this lullaby when they were younger. Looking back, she realized that hearing this song was truly a soothing method for her when she was little. It instantly calmed her nerves and made her feel at home. 

Cultural Context: 

Being from an Irish family made this lullaby known to M.B. When interviewed, it made me realize that there are so many more lullabies out there than we realize. For M.B., she feels connected to her Irish roots when she hears this lullaby. She also mentioned that both her parents sang this lullaby as kids, so it has been in the family awhile. M.B. would consider this lullaby to be a huge part of her Childhood. 

Item: 

Over in Killarney, many years ago

My mother sang a song to me in tones so soft and low

Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way

And I’d give the world if I could hear that song of hers today

Audio: 

Informant Comments: 

My family is Irish, so this lullaby was a great way for my parents to teach us about our Irish heritage. I was actually only ever sung a part of this lullaby. There is a whole other part, but my parents kept it short and simple.  I will always remember Toora Loora and will be singing it to my children as well. My family is Irish, so this lullaby was a great way for my parents to teach us about our Irish heritage. I will always remember Toora Loora and will be singing it to my children as well. 

Collector Comments: 

I had never heard of this specific Irish lullaby before, but M.B. was extremely passionate about sharing. I learned a lot about her family and the importance of their Irish heritage. I appreciated the time I got to speak with M.B. and thought it was extremely valuable. 

Collector’s Name: Lucy Murray 

“Go to Sleep” (Lucy Murray)

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Title: “Go to sleep”

General Information about Item:

Verbal Folklore

Language: American

Country of Origin: USA

Informant: P.S.

Date Collected: 11-5-21

Informant Data: 

P.S. is 20 years old from Orange County, California. She has grown up in California and loves to be outside surrounded by family and friends. She is the oldest of 3 girls and plays lacrosse at Dartmouth College. Her parents are extremely supportive and important to her. Her Dad is involved with the football industry and is a very intelligent, creative man. This lullaby collected from P.S. has been a staple in her family for as long as her grandparents can remember. 

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: 

This lullaby was sung to P.S. growing up. Her parents shared that they heard this lullaby as children as well. P.S.’s siblings also sung this lullaby and they appreciated that for whoever it was sung to, they could change the name to personalize the lullaby. Growing up, P.S. would not be able to fall asleep without hearing this lullaby before bed.

Cultural Context: 

P.S.’s family is from the Netherlands, but for as long as she can remember her family has been in the US. So, this lullaby is American and has no relationship to P.S.’s Dutch heritage. It has become a staple in her life and her siblings’ life, and she would consider it a fundamental part of her childhood and culture growing up. 

Item: 

Go to sleep,

Go to sleep,

Go to sleep my little Peyton, close your eyes, and have sweet dreams

And in the morning we will play 

Audio: 

Informant Comments: 

I’m not really sure where this lullaby originated but it has been in my family for as long as I can remember. I love that I can vividly remember hearing this before bed and I can’t wait to pass it along to my children.

Collector Comments: 

This interview was very relatable to my own life as I did not have any lullabies that originated from a different country. However, I had many that my family has passed on throughout the years. Overall, this interview was productive and I really enjoyed speaking with Peyton. 

Collector’s Name: Lucy Murray