DANCE RHYME SONG SECTION
[CONTENTS
Jaybird
Off from Richmond
He Is my Horse
Judge Buzzard
Sheep and the Goat
Jackson, Put That Kettle On
Dinah's Dinner Horn
My Mule
Bullfrog Put on the Soldier's Clothes
Sail Away Ladies
The Banjo Picking
Old Molly Hare
An Opposum Hunt (tune)
An Opposum Hunt
Devilish Pigs
Promises of Freedom
When My Wife Dies
Baa, Baa Black Sheep (Tune)
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
He Will Get Mister Coon
Bring On Your Hot Corn
The Little Rooster
Sugar in Coffee
The Turtle's Song
Raccon and Possum Fight
Cotton Eyed Joe
Rabbit Soup
Old Gray Mink
Run, Nigger, Run
Shake The Persimmons Down
The Cow Needs A Tail in Fly Time
Jaybird Died With The Whooping Chough
Wanted! Cornbread and Coon
Little Red Hen
Ration Day
My Fiddle
Die in the Pig-Pen Fighting
Master is Six Feet One Way
Fox and Geese
Gooseberry Wine
I'd Rather Be A Negro Than A Poor White Man
The Hunting Camp
The Ark
Gray and Black Horses
Rattler
Brother Ben and Sister Sal
Simon Slick's Mule
Nobody Looking
Hoecake
I Went Down the Road
The Old Cackled Hen
I Love Somebody
We Are "All the Go"
Aunt Dinal Drunk
The Old Woman in the Hills
A Sick Wife
My Wonderful Travel
I Wouldn't Marry A Black Girl
Havest Song
The Year of Jubilee
Sheep Shell Corn
Plaster
Uncle Ned
The Master's "Stolen" Coat
I Wouldn't Marry A Yellow or a White Negro Girl
Don't Ask Me Questions
The Old Section Boss
The Negro and the Policeman
Ham Beats All Meat
Suze Ann
Walk Tom Wilson
Chiken Pie
I Am Not Going to Hobo Any More
Forty-Four]
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JAYBIRD
JAYBIRD
De Jaybird jump from lim' to lim',
An' he tell Br'er Rabbit to do lak him.
Br'er Rabbit say to de cunnin' elf:
"You jes want me to fall an' kill myself."
Dat Jaybird a-settin' on a swingin' lim'.
He wink at me an' I wink at him.
He laugh at me w'en my gun "crack."
It kick me down on de flat o' my back.
Nex' day de Jaybird dance dat lim'.
I grabs my gun fer to shoot at him.
W'en I "crack" down, it split my chin.
"Ole Aggie Cunjer" fly lak sin.
Way down yon'er at de risin' sun,
Jaybird a-talkin' wid a forked tongue.
[8]He's been down dar whar de bad mens dwell.
"Ole Friday Devil," fare--you--well!
[8] A superstition. For explanation, see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
OFF FROM RICHMOND
I'se off from Richmon' sooner in de mornin'.
I'se off from Richmon' bef[=o]' de break o' day.
I slips off from Mosser widout pass an' warnin'
Fer I mus' see my Donie wharever she may stay.
HE IS MY HORSE
One day as I wus a-ridin' by,
Said dey: "Ole man, y[=o]' hoss will die"--
"If he dies, he is my loss;
An' if he lives, he is my hoss."
Nex' day w'en I come a-ridin' by,
Dey said: "Ole man, y[=o]' hoss may die."--
"If he dies, I'll tan 'is skin;
An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im ag'in."
Den ag'in w'en I come a-ridin' by,
Said dey: "Ole man, y[=o]' hoss mought die."--
"If he dies, I'll eat his co'n;
An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im on."
JUDGE BUZZARD[9]
Dere sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.
Go tu'n him off wid a monkey wrench!
Jedge Buzzard try Br'er Rabbit's case;
An' he say Br'er Tarepin win dat race.
Here sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.
Knock him off wid dat monkey wrench!
[9] See Study in Negro Rhymes for explanation.
SHEEP AND GOAT
Sheep an' goat gwine to de paster;
Says de goat to de sheep: "Cain't you walk a liddle faster?"
De sheep says: "I cain't, I'se a liddle too full."
Den de goat say: "You can wid my ho'ns in y[=o]' wool."
But de goat fall down an' skin 'is shin
An' de sheep split 'is lip wid a big broad grin.
JACKSON, PUT THAT KETTLE ON!
Jackson, put dat kittle on!
Fire, steam dat coffee done!
Day done broke, an' I got to run
Fer to meet my gal by de risin' sun.
My ole Mosser say to me,
Dat I mus' drink [10]sassfac tea;
But Jackson stews dat coffee done,
An' he sh[=o]' gits his po'tion: Son!
[10] Sassfac = sassafras.
DINAH'S DINNER HORN
It's a c[=o]l', frosty mornin',
An' de Niggers goes to wo'k;
Wid deir axes on deir shoulders,
An' widout a bit o' [11]shu't.
Dey's got ole husky ashcake,
Widout a bit o' fat;
An' de white folks'll grumble,
If you eats much o' dat.
I runs down to de henhouse,
An' I falls upon my knees;
It's 'nough to make a rabbit laugh
To hear my tucky sneeze.
I grows up on dem meatskins,
I comes down on a bone;
I hits dat co'n bread fifty licks,
I makes dat butter moan.
It's glory in y[=o]' honor!
An' don't you want to go?
I sholy will be ready
Fer dat dinnah ho'n to blow.
Dat ole bell, it goes "Bangity--bang!"
Fer all dem white folks bo'n.
But I'se not ready fer to go
Till Dinah blows her ho'n.
"Poke--sallid!" "Poke--sallid!"
Dat ole ho'n up an' blow.
Jes think about dem good ole greens!
Say? Don't you want to go?
[11] Shu't = shirt.
MY MULE
Las' Saddy mornin' Mosser said:
"Jump up now, Sambo, out'n bed.
Go saddle dat mule, an' go to town;
An' bring home Mistiss' mornin' gown."
I saddled dat mule to go to town.
I mounted up an' he buck'd me down.
Den I jumped up from out'n de dust,
An' I rid him till I thought he'd bust.
BULLFROG PUT ON THE SOLDIER CLOTHES
Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.
He went down yonder fer to shoot at de crows;
Wid a knife an' a fo'k between 'is toes,
An' a white hankcher fer to wipe 'is nose.
Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.
He's a "dead shore shot," gwineter kill dem crows.
He takes "Pot," an' "Skillet" from de Fiddler's Ball.
Dey're to dance a liddle jig while Jim Crow fall.
Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.
He went down de river fer to shoot at de crows.
De powder flash, an' de crows fly 'way;
An' de Bullfrog shoot at 'em all nex' day.
SAIL AWAY, LADIES!
Sail away, ladies! Sail away!
Sail away, ladies! Sail away!
Nev' min' what dem white folks say,
May de Mighty bless you. Sail away!
Nev' min' what y[=o]' daddy say,
Shake y[=o]' liddle foot an' fly away.
Nev' min' if y[=o]' mammy say:
"De Devil'll git you." Sail away!
THE BANJO PICKING
Hush boys! Hush boys! Don't make a noise,
While ole Mosser's sleepin'.
We'll run down de Graveyard, an' take out de bones,
An' have a liddle Banjer pickin'.
I takes my Banjer on a Sunday mornin'.
Dem ladies, dey 'vites me to come.
We slips down de hill an' picks de liddle chune:
"Walk, Tom Wilson Here Afternoon."
[12]"Walk Tom Wilson Here Afternoon";
"You Cain't Dance Lak ole Zipp Coon."
Pick [12]"Dinah's Dinner Ho'n" "Dance 'Round de Room."
"Sweep dat Kittle Wid a Bran' New Broom."
[12] Those marked [12] are found elsewhere in this volume. We were
unable to obtain the other three.
OLD MOLLY HARE
Ole Molly har'!
What's you doin' thar?
"I'se settin' in de fence corner, smokin' seegyar."
Ole Molly har'!
What's you doin' thar?
"I'se pickin' out a br'or, settin' on a Pricky-p'ar."
Ole Molly har'!
What's you doin' thar?
"I'se gwine cross de Cotton Patch, hard as I can t'ar."
Molly har' to-day,
So dey all say,
Got her pipe o' clay, jes to smoke de time 'way.
"De dogs say 'boo!'
An' dey barks too,
I hain't got no time fer to talk to you."
ONE NEGRO TUNE USED WITH "AN OPOSSUM HUNT"
AN OPOSSUM HUNT
'Possum meat is good an' sweet,
I always finds it good to eat.
My dog tree, I went to see.
A great big 'possum up dat tree.
I retch up an' pull him in,
Den dat ole 'possum 'gin to grin.
I tuck him home an' dressed him off,
Dat night I laid him in de fros'.
De way I cooked dat 'possum sound,
I fust parboiled, den baked him brown.
I put sweet taters in de pan,
'Twus de bigges' eatin' in de lan'.
DEVILISH PIGS
I wish I had a load o' poles,
To fence my new-groun' lot;
To keep dem liddle bitsy debblish pigs
Frum a-rootin' up all I'se got.
Dey roots my cabbage, roots my co'n;
Dey roots up all my beans.
Dey speilt my fine sweet-tater patch,
An' dey ruint my tunnup greens.
I'se rund dem pigs, an' I'se rund dem pigs.
I'se gittin' mighty hot;
An' one dese days w'en nobody look,
Dey'll root 'round in my pot.
PROMISES OF FREEDOM
My ole Mistiss promise me,
W'en she died, she'd set me free.
She lived so long dat 'er head got bal',
An' she give out'n de notion a dyin' at all.
My ole Mistiss say to me:
"Sambo, I'se gwine ter set you free."
But w'en dat head git slick an' bal',
De Lawd couldn' a' killed 'er wid a big green maul.
My ole Mistiss never die,
Wid 'er nose all hooked an' skin all dry.
But my ole Miss, she's somehow gone,
An' she lef' "Uncle Sambo" a-hillin' up co'n.
Ole Mosser lakwise promise me,
W'en he died, he'd set me free.
But ole Mosser go an' make his Will
Fer to leave me a-plowin' ole Beck still.
Yes, my ole Mosser promise me;
But "his papers" didn' leave me free.
A dose of pizen he'ped 'im along.
May de Devil preach 'is f[=u]ner'l song.
WHEN MY WIFE DIES
W'en my wife dies, gwineter git me anudder one;
A big fat yaller one, jes lak de yudder one.
I'll hate mighty bad, w'en she's been gone.
Hain't no better 'oman never nowhars been bo'n.
W'en I comes to die, you mus'n' bury me deep,
But put Sogrum molasses close by my feet.
Put a pone o' co'n bread way down in my han'.
Gwineter sop on de way to de Promus' Lan'.
W'en I goes to die, Nobody mus'n' cry,
Mus'n' dress up in black, fer I mought come back.
But w'en I'se been dead, an' almos' fergotten;
You mought think about me an' keep on a-trottin'.
Railly, w'en I'se been dead, you needn' bury me at tall.
You mought pickle my bones down in alkihall;
Den fold my han's "so," right across my breas';
An' go an' tell de folks I'se done gone to "res'."
ONE TUNE USED WITH "BAA! BAA! BLACK SHEEP!"
BAA! BAA! BLACK SHEEP
"Baa! Baa! Black Sheep,
Has you got wool?"
"Yes, good Mosser,
Free bags full.
One fer ole Mistis,
One fer Miss Dame,
An' one fer de good Nigger
Jes across de lane."
P[=o][=o]r liddle Black Sheep,
P[=o][=o]r liddle lammy;
P[=o][=o]r liddle Black Sheep's
Got no mammy.
HE WILL GET MR. COON
Ole Mistah Coon, at de break o' day,
You needn' think youse gwineter git 'way.
Caze ole man Ned, he know how to run,
An' he's sh[=o]' gone fer to git 'is gun.
You needn' clam to dat highes' lim',
You cain't git out'n de retch o' him.
You can stay up dar till de sun done set.
I'll bet you a dollar dat he'll git you yet.
Ole Mistah Coon, you'd well's to give up.
You had well's to give up, I say.
Caze ole man Ned is straight atter you,
An' he'll git you sh[=o]' this day.
BRING ON YOUR HOT CORN
Bring along y[=o]' hot co'n,
Bring along y[=o]' col' co'n;
But I say bring along,
Bring along y[=o]' [13]Jimmy-john.
Some loves de hot co'n,
Some loves de col' co'n;
But I loves, I loves,
I loves dat Jimmy-john.
[13] Jimmy-john = a whiskey jug.
THE LITTLE ROOSTER
I had a liddle rooster,
He crowed bef[=o]' day.
'Long come a big owl,
An' toted him away.
But de rooster fight hard,
An' de owl let him go.
Now all de pretty hens
Wants dat rooster fer deir beau.
SUGAR IN COFFEE
Sheep's in de meader a-mowin' o' de hay.
De honey's in de bee-gum, so dey all say.
My head's up an' I'se boun' to go.
Who'll take sugar in de coffee-o?
I'se de prettiest liddle gal in de county-o.
My mammy an' daddy, dey bofe say so.
I looks in de glass, it don't say, "No";
So I'll take sugar in de coffee-o.
THE TURTLE'S SONG[14]
Mud turkle settin' on de end of a log,
A-watchin' of a tadpole a-turnin' to a frog.
He sees Br'er B'ar a-pullin' lak a mule.
He sees Br'er Tearpin a-makin' him a fool.
Br'er B'ar pull de rope an' he puff an' he blow;
But he cain't git de Tearpin out'n de water from below.
Dat big clay root is a-holdin' dat rope,
Br'er Tearpin's got 'im fooled, an' dere hain't no hope.
Mud turkle settin' on de end o' dat log;
Sing fer de tadpole a-turnin' to a frog,
Sing to Br'er B'ar a-pullin' lak a mule,
Sing to Br'er Tearpin a-makin' 'im a fool:--
"Oh, Br'er Rabbit! Y[=o]' eyes mighty big!"
"Yes, Br'er Turkle! Dey're made fer to see."
"Oh, Br'er Tearpin! Y[=o]' house mighty cu'ous!"
"Yes, Br'er Turkle, but it jest suits me."
"Oh, Br'er B'ar! You pulls mighty stout."
"Yes, Br'er Turkle! Dat's right smart said!"
"Right, Br'er B'ar! Dat sounds bully good,
But you'd oughter git a liddle m[=o]' pull in de head."
[14] For explanation see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
RACCOON AND OPOSSUM FIGHT
De raccoon an' de 'possum
Under de hill a-fightin';
Rabbit almos' bust his sides
Laughin' at de bitin'.
De raccoon claw de 'possum
Along de ribs an' head;
'Possum tumble over an' grin,
Playin' lak he been dead.
COTTON EYED JOE
Hol' my fiddle an' hol' my bow,
Whilst I knocks ole Cotton Eyed Joe.
I'd a been dead some seben years ago,
If I hadn' a danced dat Cotton Eyed Joe.
Oh, it makes dem ladies love me so,
W'en I comes 'roun' pickin' ole Cotton Eyed Joe!
Yes, I'd a been married some forty year ago,
If I hadn' stay'd 'roun' wid Cotton Eyed Joe.
I hain't seed ole Joe, since way las' Fall;
Dey say he's been sol' down to Guinea Gall.
RABBIT SOUP
Rabbit soup! Rabbit sop!
Rabbit e't my tunnup top.
Rabbit hop, rabbit jump,
Rabbit hide behin' dat stump.
Rabbit stop, twelve o'clock,
Killed dat rabbit wid a rock.
Rabbit's mine. Rabbit's skin'.
Dress 'im off an' take 'im in.
Rabbit's on! Dance an' whoop!
Makin' a pot o' rabbit soup!
OLD GRAY MINK
I once did think dat I would sink,
But you know I wus dat ole gray mink.
Dat ole gray mink jes couldn' die,
W'en he thought about good chicken pie.
He swum dat creek above de mill,
An' he's killing an' eatin' chicken still.
RUN, NIGGER, RUN!
Run, Nigger, run! De [15]Patter-rollers'll ketch you.
Run, Nigger, run! It's almos' day.
Dat Nigger run'd, dat Nigger flew,
Dat Nigger tore his shu't in two.
All over dem woods and frou de paster,
Dem Patter-rollers shot; but de Nigger git faster,
Oh, dat Nigger whirl'd, dat Nigger wheel'd,
Dat Nigger tore up de whole co'n field.
[15] Patrollers, or white guards; on duty at night during the days of
slavery; whose duty it was to see that slaves without permission to go,
stayed at home.
SHAKE THE PERSIMMONS DOWN
De raccoon up in de 'simmon tree.
Dat 'possum on de groun'.
De 'possum say to de raccoon: "Suh!"
"Please shake dem 'simmons down."
De raccoon say to de 'possum: "Suh!"
(As he grin from down below),
"If you wants dese good 'simmons, man,
Jes clam up whar dey grow."
THE COW NEEDS A TAIL IN FLY-TIME
Dat ole black sow, she can root in de mud,
She can tumble an' roll in de slime;
But dat big red cow, she git all mired up,
So dat cow need a tail in fly-time.
Dat ole gray hoss, wid 'is ole bob tail,
You mought buy all 'is ribs fer a dime;
But dat ole gray hoss can git a kiver on,
Whilst de cow need a tail in fly-time.
Dat Nigger Overseer, dat's a-ridin' on a mule,
Cain't make hisse'f white lak de lime;
Mosser mought take 'im down fer a notch or two,
Den de cow'd need a tail in fly-time.
JAYBIRD DIED WITH THE WHOOPING COUGH
De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Sparrer died wid de colic;
'Long come de Red-bird, skippin' 'round,
Sayin': "Boys, git ready fer de Frolic!"
De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Bluebird died wid de Measles;
'Long come a Nigger wid a fiddle on his back,
'Vitin' Crows fer to dance wid de Weasels.
Dat Mockin'-bird, he romp an' sing;
Dat ole Gray Goose come prancin'.
Dat Thrasher stuff his mouf wid plums,
Den he caper on down to de dancin'.
Dey hopped it low, an' dey hopped it high;
Dey hopped it to, an' dey hopped it by;
Dey hopped it fer, an' dey hopped it nigh;
Dat fiddle an' bow jes make 'em fly.
WANTED! CORNBREAD AND COON
I'se gwine now a-huntin' to ketch a big fat coon.
Gwineter bring him home, an' bake him, an' eat him wid a spoon.
Gwineter baste him up wid gravy, an' add some onions too.
I'se gwineter shet de Niggers out, an' stuff myse'f clean through.
I wants a piece o' hoecake; I wants a piece o' bread,
An' I wants a piece o' Johnnycake as big as my ole head.
I wants a piece o' ash cake: I wants dat big fat coon!
An' I sh[=o]' won't git hongry 'fore de middle o' nex' June.
LITTLE RED HEN
My liddle red hen, wid a liddle white foot,
Done built her nes' in a huckleberry root.
She lay m[=o]' aigs dan a flock on a fahm.
Anudder liddle drink wouldn' do us no harm.
My liddle red hen hatch fifty red chicks
In dat liddle ole nes' of huckleberry sticks.
Wid one m[=o]' drink, ev'y chick'll make two!
Come, bring it on, Honey, an' let's git through.
RATION DAY
Dat ration day come once a week,
Ole Mosser's rich as Gundy;
But he gives us 'lasses all de week,
An' buttermilk fer Sund'y.
Ole Mosser give me a pound o' meat.
I e't it all on Mond'y;
Den I e't 'is 'lasses all de week,
An' buttermilk fer Sund'y.
Ole Mosser give me a peck o' meal,
I fed and cotch my tucky;
But I e't dem 'lasses all de week,
An' buttermilk fer Sund'y.
Oh laugh an' sing an' don't git tired.
We's all gwine home, some Mond'y,
To de honey ponds an' fritter trees;
An' ev'ry day'll be Sund'y.
MY FIDDLE
If my ole fiddle wus jes in chune,
She'd bring me a dollar ev'y Friday night in June.
W'en my ole fiddle is fixed up right,
She bring me a dollar in nearly ev'y night.
W'en my ole fiddle begin to sing,
She make de whole plantation ring.
She bring me in a dollar an' sometime m[=o]'.
Hurrah fer my ole fiddle an' bow!
DIE IN THE PIG-PEN FIGHTING
Dat ole sow said to de barrer:
"I'll tell you w'at let's do:
Let's go an' git dat broad-axe
And die in de pig-pen too."
"Die in de pig-pen fightin'!
Yes, die, die in de wah!
Die in de pig-pen fightin',
Yes, die wid a bitin' jaw!"
MASTER IS SIX FEET ONE WAY
Mosser is six foot one way, an' free foot tudder;
An' he weigh five hunderd pound.
Britches cut so big dat dey don't suit de tailor,
An' dey don't meet half way 'round.
Mosser's coat come back to a claw-hammer p'int.
(Speak sof' or his Bloodhound'll bite us.)
His long white stockin's mighty clean an' nice,
But a liddle m[=o]' holier dan righteous.
FOX AND GEESE
Br'er Fox wa'k out one moonshiny night,
He say to hisse'f w'at he's a gwineter do.
He say, "I'se gwineter have a good piece o' meat,
Bef[=o]' I leaves dis townyoo.
Dis townyoo, dis townyoo!
Yes, bef[=o]' I leaves dis townyoo!"
Ole mammy Sopentater jump up out'n bed,
An' she poke her head outside o' de d[=o]'.
She say: "Ole man, my gander's gone.
I heared 'im w'en he holler 'quinny-quanio,'
'Quinny-quanio, quinny-quanio!'
Yes, I heared 'im w'en he holler 'quinny-quanio.'"
GOOSEBERRY WINE
Now 'umble Uncle Steben,
I wonders whar youse gwine?
Don't never tu'n y[=o]' back, Suh,
On dat good ole gooseberry wine!
Oh walk chalk, Ginger Blue!
Git over double trouble.
You needn' min' de wedder
So's de win' don't blow you double.
_Now!_
Uncle Mack! Uncle Mack!
Did you ever see de lak?
Dat good ole sweet gooseberry wine
Call Uncle Steben back.
I'D RATHER BE A NEGRO THAN A POOR WHITE MAN
My name's Ran, I wuks in de san';
But I'd druther be a Nigger dan a p[=o]' white man.
Gwineter hitch my oxes side by side,
An' take my gal fer a big fine ride.
Gwineter take my gal to de country st[=o]';
Gwineter dress her up in red calico.
You take Kate, an' I'll take Joe.
Den off we'll go to de pahty-o.
Gwineter take my gal to de Hullabaloo,
Whar dere hain't no [16]Crackers in a mile or two.
_Interlocution_:
(Fiddler) "Oh, Sal! Whar's de milk
strainer cloth?"
(Banjo Picker) "Bill's got it wropped
'round his ole sore leg."
(Fiddler) "Well, take it down to de
gum spring an' give it a cold water
rench; I 'spizes nastness anyway.
I'se got to have a clean
cloth fer de milk."
He don't lak whisky but he jest drinks a can.
Honey! I'd druther be a Nigger dan a p[=o]' white man.
I'd druther be a Nigger, an' plow ole Beck
Dan a white [16]Hill Billy wid his long red neck.
[16] Names applied by Negroes to the poorer class of white people in the
South.
THE HUNTING CAMP
Sam got up one mornin'
A mighty big fros'.
Saw "A louse, in de huntin' camp
As big as any hoss!"
Sam run 'way down de mountain;
But w'en Mosser got dar,
He swore it twusn't nothin'
But a big black b'ar.
THE ARK
Ole Nora had a lots o' hands
A clearin' new ground patches.
He said he's gwineter build a Ark,
An' put tar on de hatches.
He had a sassy Mo'gan hoss
An' gobs of big fat cattle;
An' he driv' em all aboard de Ark,
W'en he hear de thunder rattle.
An' den de river riz so fas'
Dat it bust de levee railin's.
De lion got his dander up,
An' he lak to a broke de palin's.
An' on dat Ark wus daddy Ham;
No udder Nigger on dat packet.
He soon got tired o' de Barber Shop,
Caze he couln' stan' de racket.
An' den jes to amuse hisse'f,
He steamed a board an' bent it, Son.
Dat way he got a banjer up,
Fer ole Ham's de fust to make one.
Dey danced dat Ark from [=e]en to [=e]en,
Ole Nora called de Figgers.
Ole Ham, he sot an' knocked de chunes,
De happiest of de Niggers.
GRAY AND BLACK HORSES
I went down to de woods an' I couldn' go 'cross,
So I paid five dollars fer an ole gray hoss.
De hoss wouldn' pull, so I s[=o]l' 'im fer a bull.
De bull wouldn' holler, so I s[=o]l' 'im fer a dollar.
De dollar wouldn' pass, so I throwed it in de grass.
Den de grass wouldn' grow. Heigho! Heigho!
Through dat huckleberry woods I couldn' git far,
So I paid a good dollar fer an ole black mar'.
W'en I got down dar, de trees wouldn' bar;
So I had to gallop back on dat ole black mar'.
"Bookitie-bar!" Dat ole black mar'; "Bookitie-bar!" Dat ole black mar'.
Yes she trabble so hard dat she jolt off my ha'r.
RATTLER
Go call ole Rattler from de bo'n.
Here Rattler! Here!
He'll drive de cows out'n de co'n,
Here Rattler! Here!
Rattler is my huntin' dog.
Here Rattler! Here!
He's good fer rabbit, good fer hog,
Here Rattler! Here!
He's good fer 'possum in de dew.
Here Rattler! Here!
Sometimes he gits a chicken, too.
Here Rattler! Here!
BROTHER BEN AND SISTER SAL
Ole Br'er Ben's a mighty good ole man,
He don't steal chickens lak he useter.
He went down de chicken roos' las' Friday night,
An' tuck off a dominicker rooster.
Dere's ole Sis Sal, she climbs right well,
But she cain't 'gin to climb lak she useter.
So yonder she sets a shellin' out co'n
To Mammy's ole bob-tailed rooster.
Yes, ole Sis Sal's a mighty fine ole gal,
She's sh[=o]' extra good an' clever.
She's done tuck a notion all her own,
Dat she hain't gwineter marry never.
Ole Sis Sal's got a foot so big,
Dat she cain't wear no shoes an' gaiters.
So all she want is some red calico,
An' dem big yaller yam sweet taters.
Now looky, looky here! Now looky, looky there!
Jes looky!--Looky 'way over yonder!--
Don't you see dat ole gray goose
A-smilin' at de gander?
SIMON SLICK'S MULE
Dere wus a liddle kickin' man,
His name wus Simon Slick.
He had a mule wid cherry eyes.
Oh, how dat mule could kick!
An', Suh, w'en you go up to him,
He shet one eye an' smile;
Den 'e telegram 'is foot to you,
An' sen' you half a mile!
NOBODY LOOKING
Well: I look dis a way, an' I look dat a way,
An' I heared a mighty rumblin'.
W'en I come to find out, 'twus dad's black sow,
A-rootin' an' a-grumblin'.
Den: I slipped away down to de big White House.
Miss Sallie, she done gone 'way.
I popped myse'f in de rockin' chear,
An' I rocked myse'f all day.
Now: I looked dis a way, an' I looked dat a way,
An' I didn' see nobody in here.
I jes run'd my head in de coffee pot,
An' I drink'd up all o' de beer.
HOECAKE
If you wants to bake a hoecake,
To bake it good an' done;
Jes' slap it on a Nigger's heel,
An' hol' it to de sun.
Dat snake, he bake a hoecake,
An' sot de toad to mind it;
Dat toad he up an' go to sleep,
An' a lizard slip an' find it!
My mammy baked a hoecake,
As big as Alabamer.
She throwed it 'g'inst a Nigger's head
An' it ring jes' lak a hammer.
De way you bakes a hoecake,
In de ole Virginy 'tire;
You wrops it 'round a Nigger's heel,
An' h[=o]l's it to de fire.
I WENT DOWN THE ROAD
I went down de road,
I went in a whoop;
An' I met Aunt Dinah
Wid a chicken pot o' soup.
Sing: "I went away from dar; hook-a-doo-dle, hook-a-doo-dle."
"I went away from dar; hook-a-doo-dle-doo!"
I drunk up dat soup,
An' I let her go by;
An' I t[=o]l' her nex' time
To bring Missus' pot pie.
Sing: "Oh far'-you-well; hook-a-doo-dle, hook-a-doo-dle;
Oh far'-you-well, an' a hook-a-doo-dle-doo!"
THE OLD HEN CACKLED
De ole hen she cackled,
An' stayed down in de bo'n.
She git fat an' sassy,
A-eatin' up de co'n.
De ole hen she cackled,
Git great long yaller laigs.
She swaller down de oats,
But I don't git no aigs.
De ole hen she cackled,
She cackled in de lot,
De nex' time she cackled,
She cackled in de pot.
I LOVE SOMEBODY
I loves somebody, yes, I do;
An' I wants somebody to love me too.
Wid my chyart an' oxes stan'in' 'roun',
Her pretty liddle foot needn' tetch de groun'.
I loves somebody, yes, I do,
Dat randsome, handsome, Stickamastew.
Wid her reddingoat an' waterfall,
She's de pretty liddle gal dat beats 'em all.
WE ARE "ALL THE GO"
Yes! We's "All-de-go," boys; we's "All-de-go."
Me an' my Lulu gal's "All-de-go."
I jes' loves my sweet pretty liddle Lulu Ann,
But de way she gits my money I cain't hardly understan'.
W'en she up an' call me "Honey!" I fergits my name is Sam,
An' I hain't got one nickel lef' to git a me a dram.
Still: We's "All-de-go," boys; we's "All-de-go."
Me an' my Lulu gal's "All-de-go."
She's always gwine a-fishin', w'en she'd oughter not to go;
An' now she's all a troubled wid de frostes an' de snow.
I tells you jes one thing dat I'se done gone an' foun':
De Nigs cain't git no livin' 'round de C[=o]'t House steps
an' town.
AUNT DINAH DRUNK
Ole Aunt Dinah, she got drunk.
She fell in de fire, an' she kicked up a chunk.
Dem embers got in Aunt Dinah's shoe,
An' dat black Nigger sh[=o]' got up an' flew.
I likes Aunt Dinah mighty, mighty well,
But dere's jes' one thing I hates an' 'spize:
She drinks m[=o]' whisky dan de bigges' fool,
Den she up an' tell ten thousand lies.
Yes, I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk.
I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk.
I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk,
'Way down on de ole Plank Road.
Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.
Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.
Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.
'Way down on de ole Plank Road.
THE OLD WOMAN IN THE HILLS
Once: Dere wus an ole 'oman
Dat lived in de hills;
Put rocks in 'er stockin's,
An' sent 'em to mill.
Den: De ole miller swore,
By de pint o' his knife;
Dat he never had ground up
No rocks in his life.
So: De ole 'oman said
To dat miller nex' day:
"You railly must 'scuse me,
It's de onliest way."
"I heared you made meal,
A-grindin' on stones.
I mus' 'ave heared wrong,
It mus' 'ave been bones."
A SICK WIFE
Las' Sadday night my wife tuck sick,
An' what d'you reckon ail her?
She e't a tucky gobbler's head
An' her stomach, it jes' fail her.
She squall out: "Sam, bring me some mint!
Make catnip up an' sage tea!"
I goes an' gits her all dem things,
But she throw 'em back right to me.
Says I: "Dear Honey! Mind nex' time!"
"Don't eat from 'A to Izzard'"
"I thinks you won' git sick at all,
If you saves p[=o]' me de gizzard."
MY WONDERFUL TRAVEL
I come down from ole Virginny,
'Twas on a Summer day;
De wedder was all frez up,
'An' I skeeted all de way!
_Interlocution_:
Hand my banjer down to play,
Wanter pick fer dese ladies right away;
"W'en dey went to bed,
Dey couldn' shet deir eyes,"
An' "Dey was stan'in' on deir heads,
A-pickin' up de pies."
I WOULD NOT MARRY A BLACK GIRL[17]
I wouldn' marry a black gal,
I'll tell you de reason why:
When she goes to comb dat head
De naps'll 'gin to fly.
I wouldn' marry a black gal,
I'll tell you why I won't:
When she'd oughter wash her face--
Well, I'll jes say she don't.
I woudn' marry a black gal,
An' dis is why I say:
When you has her face around,
It never gits good day.
[17] For discussion see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
HARVEST SONG
Las' year wus a good crap year,
An' we raised beans an' 'maters.
We didn' make much cotton an' co'n;
But, Goodness Life, de taters!
You can plow dat ole gray hoss,
I'se gwineter plow dat mulie;
An' w'en we's geddered in de craps,
I'se gwine down to see Julie.
I hain't gwineter wo'k on de railroad.
I hates to wo'k on de fahm.
I jes wants to set in de cool shade,
Wid my head on my Julie's ahm.
You swing Lou, an' I'll swing Sue.
Dere hain't no diffunce 'tween dese two.
You swing Lou, I'll swing my beau;
I'se gwineter buy my gal red calico.
YEAR OF JUBILEE
Niggers, has you seed ole Mosser;
(Red mustache on his face.)
A-gwine 'roun' sometime dis mawnin',
'Spectin' to leave de place?
Nigger Hands all runnin' 'way,
Looks lak we mought git free!
It mus' be now de [18]Kingdom Come
In de Year o' Jubilee.
Oh, yon'er comes ole Mosser
Wid his red mustache all white!
It mus' be now de Kingdom Come
Sometime to-morrer night.
Yanks locked him in de smokehouse cellar,
De key's throwed in de well:
It sh[=o]' mus' be de Kingdom Come.
Go ring dat Nigger field-bell!
[18] Kingdom Come = Freedom.
SHEEP SHELL CORN
_Oh_: De Ram blow de ho'n an' de sheep shell co'n;
An' he sen' it to de mill by de buck-eyed Whippoorwill.
Ole Joe's dead an' gone but his [19]Hant blows de ho'n;
An' his hound howls still from de top o' dat hill.
_Yes_: De Fish-hawk said unto Mistah Crane;
"I wishes to de Lawd dat you'd sen' a liddle rain;
Fer de water's all muddy, an de creek's gone dry;
If it 'twasn't fer de tadpoles we'd all die."
_Oh_: When de sheep shell co'n wid de rattle of his ho'n
I wishes to de Lawd I'd never been bo'n;
Caze when de Hant blows de ho'n, de sperits all dance,
An' de hosses an' de cattle, dey whirls 'round an' prance.
_Oh_: Yonder comes Skillet an' dere goes Pot;
An' here comes Jawbone 'cross de lot.
Walk Jawbone! Beat de Skillet an' de Pan!
You cut dat Pigeon's Wing, Black Man!
_Now_: Take keer, gemmuns, an' let me through;
Caze I'se gwineter dance wid liddle Mollie Lou.
But I'se never seed de lak since I'se been bo'n,
When de sheep shell co'n wid de rattle of his ho'n!
[19] Hant = spirit or ghost.
PLASTER
Chilluns:
Mammy an' daddy had a hoss,
Dey want a liddle bigger.
Dey sticked a plaster on his back
An' drawed a liddle Nigger.
Den:
Mammy an' daddy had a dog,
His tail wus short an' chunky.
Dey slapped a plaster 'round dat tail,
An' drawed it lak de monkey.
Well:
Mammy an' daddy's dead an' gone.
Did you ever hear deir story?
Dey sticked some plasters on deir heels,
An' drawed 'em up to Glory!
UNCLE NED
Jes lay down de shovel an' de hoe.
Jes hang up de fiddle an' de bow.
No more hard work fer ole man Ned,
Fer he's gone whar de good Niggers go.
He didn' have no years fer to hear,
Didn' have no eyes fer to see,
Didn' have no teeth fer to eat corn cake,
An' he had to let de beefsteak be.
Dey called 'im "Ole Uncle Ned,"
A long, long time ago.
Dere wusn't no wool on de top o' his head
In de place whar de wool oughter grow.
When ole man Ned wus dead,
Mosser's tears run down lak rain;
But ole Miss, she wus a liddle sorter glad,
Dat she wouldn' see de ole Nigger 'gain.
THE MASTER'S "STOLEN" COAT
Ole Mosser bought a brand new coat,
He hung it on de wall.
Dat Nigger [20]stole dat coat away,
An' wore it to de Ball.
His head look lak a Coffee pot,
His nose look lak de spout,
His mouf look lak de fier place,
Wid de ashes all tuck out.
His face look lak a skillet lid,
His years lak two big kites.
His eyes look lak two big biled aigs,
Wid de yallers in de whites.
His body 'us lak a stuffed toad frog,
His foot look lak a board.
Oh-oh! He thinks he is so fine,
But he's greener dan a gourd.
[20] Stole, here, means taken temporarily with intention to return.
I WOULDN'T MARRY A YELLOW OR A WHITE NEGRO GIRL[21]
I sho' loves dat gal dat dey calls Sally [22]"Black,"
An' I sorter loves some of de res';
I first loves de gals fer lovin' me,
Den I loves myse'f de bes'.
I wouldn' marry dat yaller Nigger gal,
An' I'll tell you de reason why:
Her neck's drawed out so stringy an' long,
I'se afeared she 'ould never die.
I wouldn' marry dat White Nigger gal,
(Fer gracious sakes!) dis is why:
Her nose look lak a kittle spout;
An' her skin, it hain't never dry.
[21] For discussion see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
[22] "Black" here is not the real name. This name is applied because of
the complexion of the girls to whom it was sung.
DON'T ASK ME QUESTIONS
Don't ax me no questions,
An' I won't tell you no lies;
But bring me dem apples,
An' I'll make you some pies.
An' if you ax questions,
'Bout my havin' de flour;
I fergits to use 'lasses
An' de pie'll be all sour.
Dem apples jes wa'k here;
An' dem 'lasses, dey run.
Hain't no place lak my house
Found un'er de sun.
THE OLD SECTION BOSS
I once knowed an ole Sexion Boss but he done been laid low.
I once knowed an ole Sexion Boss but he done been laid low.
He "Caame frum gude ole Ireland some fawhrty year ago."
W'en I ax 'im fer a job, he say: "Nayger, w'at can yer do?"
W'en I ax 'im fer a job, he say: "Nayger, w'at can yer do?"
"I can line de track; tote de jack, de pick an' shovel too."
Says he: "Nayger, de railroad's done, an' de chyars is on de track,"
Says he: "Nayger, de railroad's done, an' de chyars is on de track,"
"Transportation brung yer here, but y[=o]' money'll take yer back."
I went down to de Deepo, an' my ticket I sh[=o]' did draw.
I went down to de Deepo, an' my ticket I sh[=o]' did draw.
To take me over dat ole Iron Mountain to de State o' Arkansaw.
As I went sailin' down de road, I met my mudder-in-law.
I wus so tired an' hongry, man, dat I couldn' wuk my jaw.
Fer I hadn't had no decent grub since I lef' ole Arkansaw.
Her bread wus hard corndodgers; dat meat, I couldn' chaw.
Her bread wus hard corndodgers; dat meat, I couldn' chaw.
You see; dat's de way de Hoosiers feeds way out in Arkansaw.
THE NEGRO AND THE POLICEMAN
"Oh Mistah Policeman, tu'n me loose;
Hain't got no money but a good excuse."
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
Dat ole Policeman treat me mean,
He make me wa'k to Bowlin' Green.
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
De way he treat me wus a shame.
He make me wear dat Ball an' Chain.
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
I runs to de river, I can't git 'cross;
Dat Police grab me an' swim lak a hoss.
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
I goes up town to git me a gun,
Dat ole Police sh[=o]' make me run.
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
I goes crosstown sorter walkin' wid a hump
An' dat ole Police sh[=o]' make me jump.
Oh hello, Sarah Jane!
Sarah Jane, is dat y[=o]' name?
Us boys, we calls you Sarah Jane.
Well, hello, Sarah Jane!
HAM BEATS ALL MEAT
Dem white folks set up in a Dinin' Room
An' dey charve dat mutton an' lam'.
De Nigger, he set 'hind de kitchen door,
An' he eat up de good sweet ham.
Dem white folks, dey set up an' look so fine,
An' dey eats dat ole cow meat;
But de Nigger grin an' he don't say much,
Still he know how to git what's sweet.
Deir ginger cakes taste right good sometimes,
An' deir Cobblers an' deir jam.
But fer every day an' Sunday too,
Jest gimme de good sweet ham.
Ham beats all meat,
Always good an' sweet.
Ham beats all meat,
I'se always ready to eat.
You can bake it, bile it, fry it, stew it,
An' still it's de good sweet ham.
SUZE ANN
Yes: I loves dat gal wid a blue dress on,
Dat de white folks calls Suze Ann.
She's jes' dat gal what stole my heart,
'Way down in Alabam'.
But: She loves a Nigger about nineteen,
Wid his lips all painted red;
Wid a liddle fuz around his mouf;
An' no brains in his head.
Now: Looky, looky Eas'! Oh, looky, looky Wes'!
I'se been down to ole Lou'zan';
Still dat ar gal I loves de bes'
Is de gal what's named Suze Ann.
Oh, head 'er! Head 'er! Ketch 'er!
Jump up an' [23]"Jubal Jew."
Fer de Banger Picker's sayin':
He hain't got nothin' to do.
[23] Jubal Jew is a kind of dance step.
WALK TOM WILSON
Ole Tom Wilson, he had 'im a hoss;
His legs so long he couldn' git 'em 'cross.
He laid up dar lak a bag o' meal,
An' he spur him in de flank wid his toenail heel.
Ole Tom Wilson, he come an' he go,
Frum cabin to cabin in de county-o.
W'en he go to bed, his legs hang do'n,
An' his foots makes poles fer de chickens t' roost on.
Tom went down to de river, an' he couldn' go 'cross.
Tom tromp on a 'gater an' 'e think 'e wus a hoss.
Wid a mouf wide open, 'gater jump from de san',
An' dat Nigger look clean down to de Promus' Lan'.
Wa'k Tom Wilson, git out'n de way!
Wa'k Tom Wilson, don't wait all de day!
Wa'k Tom Wilson, here afternoon;
Sweep dat kitchen wid a bran' new broom.
CHICKEN PIE
If you wants to make an ole Nigger feel good,
Let me tell you w'at to do:
Jes take off a chicken from dat chicken roost,
An' take 'im along wid you.
Take a liddle dough to roll 'im up in,
An' it'll make you wink y[=o]' eye;
Wen dat good smell gits up y[=o]' nose,
Frum dat home-made chicken pie.
Jes go round w'en de night's sorter dark,
An' dem chickens, dey can't see.
Be shore dat de bad dog's all tied up,
Den slip right close to de tree.
Now retch out y[=o]' han' an' pull 'im in,
Den run lak a William goat;
An' if he holler, squeeze 'is neck,
An' shove 'im un'er y[=o]' coat.
Bake dat Chicken pie!
It's mighty hard to wait
When you see dat Chicken pie,
Hot, smokin' on de plate.
Bake dat Chicken pie!
Yes, put in lots o' spice.
Oh, how I hopes to Goodness
Dat I gits de bigges' slice.
I AM NOT GOING TO HOBO ANY MORE
My mammy done tol' me a long time ago
To always try fer to be a good boy;
To lay on my pallet an' to waller on de fl[=o]';
An' to never leave my daddy's house.
I hain't never gwineter hobo no m[=o]'. By George!
I hain't never gwineter hobo no m[=o]'.
Yes, bef[=o]' I'd live dat ar hobo life,
I'll tell you what I'd jes go an' do:
I'd court dat pretty gal an' take 'er fer my wife,
Den jes lay 'side dat ar hobo life.
I hain't never gwineter hobo no m[=o]'. By George!
I hain't never gwineter hobo no m[=o]'.
FORTY-FOUR
If de people'll jes gimme
Des a liddle bit o' peace,
I'll tell 'em what happen
To de Chief o' Perlice.
He met a robber
Right at de d[=o]'!
An' de robber, he shot 'im
Wid a forty-f[=o]'!
He shot dat Perliceman.
He shot 'im sh[=o]'!
What did he shoot 'im wid?
A forty-f[=o]'.
Dey sent fer de Doctah
An' de Doctah he come.
He come in a hurry,
He come in a run.
He come wid his instriments
Right in his han',
To progue an' find
Dat forty-f[=o]', Man!
De Doctah he progued;
He progued 'im sh[=o]'!
But he jes couldn' find
Dat forty-f[=o]'.
Dey sent fer de Preachah,
An' de preachah he come.
He come in a walk,
An' he come in to talk.
He come wid 'is Bible,
Right in 'is han',
An' he read from dat chapter,
Forty-f[=o]', Man!
Dat Preachah, he read.
He read, I know.
What Chapter did he read frum?
'Twus Forty-f[=o]'!