427. Have a Little Banjo Beating
From J. B. Midgett, Wanchese. Roanoke Island, identified by Dr. White as "probably the uncle of P. D. Midgett, Jr., a Trinity student who wrote F.C.B. from Wanchese in 1920 that his father knew about 500 songs." Phonograph recording ("as sung by Mr. or Mrs. C. K. Tillett, Wanchese, 12-29-22"). Resembles 'Have a" Little Dance,' in Christy's Negro Songster (New York, 1855), p. 18.
1 Stay a little longer and don't keep a noise
While old Massa and Missus is sleeping.
We'll go in the barnyard and awake up the boys
And have a little banjo beating.
Chorus:
Ho. ho, ho, a long time ago,
Ho, ho. ho, a long time ago.
2 The hardest work I ever done
Was grubbing around the pine ;
The easiest work I ever did
Was hugging that girl of mine.
3 I've been to the east, Lve been to the west,
I've been to South Carolina,
Lve been so far beyond the sun
I heard jioor negro hollow.
li L A C K F A C E MINSTREL, N E c; R SONGS 5 1 5
4 The telegraph is mighty swift,
But a negro's heel is swifter.
I'll go down in New Orleans
And marry Pop Miller's sister.
5 1 took Susanna hy the hand
And led her across the field.
Her ankle stuck fast in the middle of the ditch
And she couldn't get out for her heel.
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427
Have a Little Banjo Beating
'Have a Little Banjo Beating.' Sung by C. K. Tillett, Wanchese, Roanoke
Island, December 29, 1922.
F-396
Stay a lit - tie long - er and don't make a noise
While old Mas - sa and Mis - sus are sleep -ing.-
We'll go in the barn-yard and a - wake up the boys
And — have a littie banjo beat - ing.
Stanza 4
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abed (4,2,2,2).
Observe the subtle use of the tonal material of the first two measures in the
fifth and sixth and again in the seventh and eighth measures. Note the con-
traction of the third and fourth measures into measure 8. Circular Tune (II).
The tonal center here is the highest tone.