417. My Ole Mistus Promised Me

417. My Ole Mistus Promised Me

White. .'\XI-\S 132. shows that this song, of minstrel origin in
the 1850S, "had contemporary existence [of the first stanza] in
practically every section of the South." JAFL xxx 220 contains a

 rini;-,L:anic soiii;- from Georiiia which hr.^ins w itli a story — cor-
respoiuliiii;- to "My Ole Mistiis I'roiniscil Mr,' foUowcd hy a refrain.
The second stanza continues :

Now she's dead and gone to licll.

I hope that tlie devil will burn her well.

Scarhorout;li (TXh'.S 1^)4-5) contains a song the second stanza of
which corresjionds to the followins^-. (See also TNFS 194.)

"My Ule Mistus Promised Ale.' From Miss Clara Hcarnc, Pittsboro,
Chatham county, c. 1923.

1 My ole mistus promised me
When she died she'd set me free.

Refrain :

Good mornin'. John.
Ans.: Howdy.

Good mornin'. John.
Ans.: Howdy.

2 She Hved so long her head got l)ald.
She got outer de notion er dyin' at ah.

3 My ole mistus killed a duck,

Didn' give me nuffin' hut de hone to suck.

4 Alv ole mistus killed a goose,

Didn' give me nuffin' but de greasy juice.

5 I'm on my way to the promised land,
A great big biscuit in each hand.