594. I Picked My Banjo Too
From MS book of songs lent to Dr. Brown in August 1936 by Miss Lura Wagoner, Vox, Alleghany county. Several of the songs are dated, some 1911, some 1913-
1 Come all you sons of freedom.
Come listen unto me;
ril tell you all my conditions
And what they used to be.
2 1 used to be a rebel,
I wandered from the Lord;
I never took his counsel
Nor read his holy word.
638 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
3 The conflict between two parties,
The gray coats and the bhie —
I vokniteered for freedom,
And I picked my banjo too.
4 I was born in North CaroHna
And raised up as a slave.
And no one ever told me
I had a soul to save.
5 Until I had the fever
It brought me near my grave,
And many a Christian told me
I had a soul to save.
6 I went to hear the gospel.
To see if it was true ;
I laughed and mawked the preacher,
And 1 picked my banjo too.
7 Until he called for mourners
And tears stood in my eyes,
I bowed beneath the altar,
And I laid my banjo by.
8 I prayed for sovereign mercy.
And Jesus filled my cup.
I went home rejoicing.
And I burned my banjo up.
9 Brother, will you meet me
On that delightful shore?
We will praise the Lord forever
W'here banjos are no more.