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.