428
The Traveling Coon
A
From Percy F. Dilling, Trinity College student, Decemljer 5, 1919, with
music by E. C Lovell and note : "Sung by travelling minstrel at King's
Mountain, Cleveland County, N. C." As in White ANFS 349 (without
music).
1 Once there was a travelling coon
Who was born in Tennessee.
He made his living stealing chickens
And everything else he could see.
Chorus:
Well, he travelled and was known for miles around,
And he didn't get enough, he didn't get enough,
Till the police shot him down.
2 Well, the police got in an automobile ;
They got right after that coon.
No matter how fast that freigh train past.
That coon was sho' to get on board.
3 That coon got on the Titanic steamship
And sailed across the ocean blue.
When he saw that iceberg a-comin'.
Right overboard he flew.
4 The people standin' aroun'
Said that nigger was sure a fool.
But when that Titanic ship went down.
He was shootin' craps in Liverpool.
5 They sent for his mother down in Cjeorgia ;
She was all carried 'way with tears.
When she opened tip the coffin for to see her boy.
He hafl done a disaj^peared.
B
No title. From an informant identified only as Woodard ; no date. Cor-
responds to chorus and stanzas 3 and 4 of .\.
----------------------------
428
The Traveling Coon
'The Traveling Coon.' Sung by Percy F. Billing, Trinity College, Durham, December 5, 1919. MS score by E. C. Lovell. There is also a recording.
F-397
Once there was trav - el - ling coon Who was
born in Ten - ne - see. He made his Hv - ing steal-ing
chick-ens And ev - 'ry - thing else he could see. Well, he
trav - elled and he was known for miles a - round,
And he did - n't get e - nough, he did - n't
I get e - nough, Till the po - lice shot him down.
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aba^cde (2,2,2,
2,4,4) 1aa1bc (4.4.4.4)- There is a slight melodic relationship between e
and a of the smaller subdivision.