PLAY RHYME SECTION
[CONTENTS
Blindfold Play Chant
Fox and Geese Play
Hawk and Chickens Play
Caught by the Witch Play
Goose-Gander Play Rhyme
Hawk and Buzzard
Likes and Dislikes
Susie Girl
Susan Jane
Peep Squirrel
Did You Feed My Cow?
A Budget
The Old Black Gnats
Sugar Loaf Tea
Green Oak Tree Rocky'O
Kissing Song
Kneel on This Carpet
Salt Rising Bread
Precious Things
He Loves Sugar and Tea
Here Comes A Young Man Courting
Anchor Line
Sallie
Song to the Runaway Slave
Down in the Lonesome Garden
Little Sister, Won't You Marry me?
Raise A Rucus To-Night
Sweet Pinks and Roses]
BLINDFOLD PLAY CHANT
Oh blin' man! Oh blin' man!
You cain't never see.
Just tu'n 'round three times
You cain't ketch me.
Oh tu'n Eas'! Oh tu'n Wes'!
Ketch us if you can.
Did you thought dat you'd cotch us,
Mistah blin' man?
FOX AND GEESE PLAY
[24](Fox _Call_) "Fox in de mawnin'!"
(Goose _Sponse_) "Goose in de evenin'!"
(Fox _Call_) "How many geese you got?"
(Goose _Sponse_) "More 'an you're able to ketch!"
[24] For explanation of "call," and "sponse," see Study in Negro Folk
Rhymes.
HAWK AND CHICKENS PLAY
[25](Chicken's _Call_) "Chickamee, chickamee, cranie-crow."
I went to de well to wash my toe.
W'en I come back, my chicken wus gone.
W'at time, ole Witch?
(Hawk _Sponse_) "One"
(Hawk _Call_) "I wants a chick."
(Chicken's _Sponse_) "Well, you cain't git mine."
(Hawk _Call_) "I shall have a chick!"
(Chicken's _Sponse_) "You shan't have a chick!"
[25] For explanation of "call," and "sponse," see Study in Negro Folk
Rhymes.
CAUGHT BY THE WITCH PLAY
(Human _Call_) "Molly, Molly, Molly-bright!"
(Witch _Sponse_) "Three sc[=o]' an' ten!"
(Human _Call_) "Can we git dar 'fore candle-light?"
(Witch _Sponse_) "Yes, if y[=o]' legs is long an' light."
(Conscience's Warning _Call_) "You'd better watch out,
Or de witches'll git yer!"
GOOSIE-GANDER PLAY RHYME[26]
"Goosie, goosie, goosie-gander!
What d'you say?"--"Say: 'Goose!'"--
"Ve'y well, go right along, Honey!
I tu'ns y[=o]' years a-loose."
"Goosie, goosie, goosie-gander!
What d'you say?"--"Say: 'Gander'"
"Ve'y well. Come in de ring, Honey!
I'll pull y[=o]' years way yander!"
[26] For explanation read the Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
HAWK AND BUZZARD
Once: De Hawk an' de buzzard went to roost,
An' de hawk got up wid a broke off tooth.
Den: De hawk an' de buzzard went to law,
An' de hawk come back wid a broke up jaw.
But lastly: Dat buzzard tried to plead his case,
Den he went home wid a smashed in face.
LIKES AND DISLIKES
I sho' loves Miss Donie! Oh, yes, I do!
She's neat in de waist,
Lak a needle in de case;
An' she suits my taste.
I'se gwineter run wid Mollie Roalin'! Oh, yes, I will!
She's pretty an' nice
Lak a bottle full o' spice,
But she's done drap me twice.
I don't lak Miss Jane! Oh no, I don't.
She's fat an' stout,
Got her mouf sticked out,
An' she laks to pout.
SUSIE GIRL
Ring 'round, Miss Susie gal,
Ring 'round, "My Dovie."
Ring 'round, Miss Susie gal.
Bless you! "My Lovie."
Back 'way, Miss Susie gal.
Back 'way, "My Money."
Now come back, Miss Susie gal.
Dat's right! "My Honey."
Swing me, Miss Susie gal.
Swing me, "My Starlin'."
Jes swing me, my Susie gal.
Yes "Love!" "My Darlin'."
SUSAN JANE
I know somebody's got my Lover;
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
Oh, cain't you tell me; help me find 'er?
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
If I lives to see nex' Fall;
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
I hain't gwineter sow no wheat at all.
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
'Way down yon'er in de middle o' de branch;
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
De ole cow pat an' de buzzards dance.
Susan Jane! Susan Jane!
PEEP SQUIRREL
Peep squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Peep squir'l, it's almos' day,
Look squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum,
Look squir'l, an' run away.
Walk squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Walk squir'l, fer dat's de way.
Skip squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Skip squir'l, all dress in gray.
Run squir'l! Ying-ding-did-lum!
Run squir'l! Oh, run away!
I cotch you squir'l! Ying-ding-did-lum!
I cotch you squir'l! Now stay, I say.
DID YOU FEED MY COW?
"Did yer feed my cow?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Will yer tell me how?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."
"Did yer milk 'er good?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Did yer do lak yer should?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"
"Did dat cow git sick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wus she kivered wid tick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."
"Did dat cow die?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wid a pain in 'er eye?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"
"Did de Buzzards come?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Fer to pick 'er bone?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"
A BUDGET
If I lives to see nex' Spring
I'se gwineter buy my wife a big gold ring.
If I lives to see nex' Fall,
I'se gwinter buy my wife a waterfall.
"When Christmas comes?" You cunnin' elf!
I'se gwineter spen' my money on myself.
THE OLD BLACK GNATS
Dem ole black gnats, dey is so bad
I cain't git out'n here.
Dey stings, an' bites, an' runs me mad;
I cain't git out'n here.
Dem ole black gnats dey sings de song,
"You cain't git out'n here.
Ole Satan'll git you bef[=o]' long;
You cain't git out'n here."
Dey burns my years, gits in my eye;
An' I cain't git out'n here.
Dey makes me dance, dey makes me cry;
An' I cain't git out'n here.
I fans an' knocks but dey won't go 'way!
I cain't git out'n here.
Dey makes me wish 'twus Jedgment Day;
Fer I cain't git out'n here.
SUGAR LOAF TEA
Bring through y[=o]' [27]Sugar-l[=o]'-tea, bring through y[=o]'
[27]Candy,
All I want is to wheel, an' tu'n, an' bow to my Love so handy.
You tu'n here on Sugar-l[=o]'-tea, I'll tu'n there on Candy.
All I want is to wheel, an' tu'n, an' bow to my Love so handy.
Some gits drunk on Sugar-l[=o]'-tea, some gits drunk on Candy,
But all I wants is to wheel, an' tu'n, an' bow to my Love so handy.
[27] Nicknames applied in imagination to the women engaged in playing in
the Play Song.
GREEN OAK TREE! ROCKY'O
Green oak tree! Rocky'o! Green oak tree! Rocky'o!
Call dat one you loves, who it may be,
To come an' set by de side o' me.
"Will you hug 'im once an' kiss 'im twice?"
"W'y! I wouldn' kiss 'im once fer to save 'is life!"
Green oak tree! Rocky'o! Green oak tree! Rocky'o!
KISSING SONG
A sleish o' bread an' butter fried,
Is good enough fer y[=o]' sweet Bride.
Now choose y[=o]' Lover, w'ile we sing,
An' call 'er nex' onto de ring.
"Oh my Love, how I loves you!
Nothin' 's in dis worl' above you.
Dis right han', fersake it never.
Dis heart, you mus' keep forever.
One sweet kiss, I now takes from you;
Caze I'se gwine away to leave you."
KNEEL ON THIS CARPET
Jes choose y[=o]' Eas'; jes choose y[=o]' Wes'.
Now choose de one you loves de bes'.
If she hain't here to take 'er part
Choose some one else wid all y[=o]' heart.
Down on dis chyarpet you mus' kneel,
Shore as de grass grows in de fiel'.
Salute y[=o]' Bride, an' kiss her sweet,
An' den rise up upon y[=o]' feet.
SALT RISING BREAD
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
Put on dat skillet, nev' mind de lead;
Caze I'se gwineter cook dat saltin' bread;
Yes, ever since my mammy's been dead,
I'se been makin' an' cookin' dat saltin' bread.
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
You loves biscuit, butter, an' fat?
I can dance Shiloh better 'an dat.
Does you turn 'round an' shake y[=o]' head?--
Well; I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
W'en you ax y[=o]' mammy fer butter an' bread,
She don't give nothin' but a stick across y[=o]' head.
On cracklin's, you say, you wants to git fed?
Well, I loves saltin', saltin' bread.
PRECIOUS THINGS
Hol' my rooster, h[=o]l' my hen,
Pray don't tetch my [28]Gooshen Ben'.
Hol' my bonnet, h[=o]l' my shawl,
Pray don't tetch my waterfall.
H[=o]l' my han's by de finger tips,
But pray don't tetch my sweet liddle lips.
[28] Grecian Bend.
HE LOVES SUGAR AND TEA
Mistah Buster, he loves sugar an' tea.
Mistah Buster, he loves candy.
Mistah Buster, he's a Jim-dandy!
He can swing dem gals so handy.
Charlie's up an' Charlie's down.
Charlie's fine an' dandy.
Ev'ry time he goes to town,
He gits dem gals stick candy.
Dat Niggah, he love sugar an' tea.
Dat Niggah love dat candy.
Fine Niggah! He can wheel 'em 'round,
An' swing dem ladies handy.
Mistah Sambo, he love sugar an' tea.
Mistah Sambo love his candy.
Mistah Sambo; he's dat han'some man
What goes wid sister Mandy.
HERE COMES A YOUNG MAN COURTING
Here comes a young man a courtin'! Courtin'! Courtin'!
Here comes a young man a-courtin'! It's Tidlum Tidelum Day.
"Say! Won't you have one o' us? Us, Sir? Us, Sir?
Say! Won't you have one o' us, Sir?" dem brown skin ladies say.
"You is too black an' rusty! Rusty! Rusty!
You is too black an' rusty!" said Tidlum Tidelum Day.
"We hain't no blacker 'an you, Sir! You, Sir! You, Sir!
We hain't no blacker 'an you, Sir!" dem brown skin ladies say.
"Pray! Won't you have one o' us, Sir? Us, Sir? Us, Sir?
Pray! Won't you have one o' us, Sir?" say yaller gals all gay.
"You is too ragged an' dirty! Dirty! Dirty!
You is too ragged an' dirty!" said Tidlum Tidelum Day.
"You shore is got de bighead! Bighead! Bighead!
You shore is got de bighead! You needn' come dis way.
We's good enough fer you, Sir! You, Sir! You, Sir!
We's good enough fer you, Sir!" dem yaller gals all say.
"De fairest one dat I can see, dat I can see, dat I can see,
De fairest one dat I can see," said Tidlum Tidelum Day.
"My Lulu, come an' wa'k wid me, wa'k wid me, wa'k wid me.
My Lulu, come an' wa'k wid me. 'Miss Tidlum Tidelum Day.'"
ANCHOR LINE
I'se gwine out on de Anchor Line, Dinah!
I won't git back 'fore de summer time, Dinah!
W'en I come back be "dead in line,"
I'se gwineter bring you a dollar an' a dime,
Shore as I gits in from de Anchor Line, Dinah!
If you loves me lak I loves you, Dinah!
No Coon can cut our love in two, Dinah!
If you'll jes come an' go wid me,
Come go wid me to Tennessee,
Come go wid me; I'll set you free,--Dinah!
SALLIE
Sallie! Sallie! don't you want to marry?
Sallie! Sallie! do come an' tarry!
Sallie! Sallie! Mammy says to tell her when.
Sallie! Sallie! She's gwineter kill dat turkey hen!
Sallie! Sallie! When you goes to marry,
(Sallie! Sallie!) Marry a fahmin man(!)
(Sallie! Sallie!) Ev'ry day'll be Mond'y,
(Sallie! Sallie!) Wid a hoe-handle in y[=o]' han'!
SONG TO THE RUNAWAY SLAVE[29]
Go 'way from dat window, "My Honey, My Love!"
Go 'way from dat window! I say.
De baby's in de bed, an' his mammy's lyin' by,
But you cain't git y[=o]' lodgin' here.
Go 'way from dat window, "My Honey, My Love!"
Go 'way from dat window! I say;
Fer ole Mosser's got 'is gun, an' to Miss'ip' youse been s[=o]l';
So you cain't git y[=o]' lodgin' here.
Go 'way from dat window, "My Honey, My Love!"
Go 'way from dat window! I say.
De baby keeps a-cryin'; but you'd better un'erstan'
Dat you cain't git y[=o]' lodgin' here.
Go 'way from dat window, "My Honey, My Love!"
Go 'way from dat window! I say;
Fer de Devil's in dat man, an' you'd better un'erstan'
Dat you cain't git y[=o]' lodgin' here.
[29] The story went among Negroes that a runaway slave husband returned
every night, and knocked on the window of his wife's cabin to get food.
Other slaves having betrayed the secret that he was still in the
vicinity, he was sold in the woods to a slave trader at reduced price.
This trader was to come next day with bloodhounds to hunt him down. On
the night after the sale, when the runaway slave husband knocked, the
slave wife pinched their baby to make it cry. Then she sang the above
song (as if singing to the baby), so that he might, if possible, effect
his escape.
DOWN IN THE LONESOME GARDEN
Hain't no use to weep, hain't no use to moan;
Down in a lonesome gyardin.
You cain't git no meat widout pickin' up a bone,
Down in a lonesome gyardin.
Look at dat gal! How she puts on airs,
Down in de lonesome gyardin!
But whar did she git dem closes she w'ars,
Down in de lonesome gyardin?
It hain't gwineter rain, an' it hain't gwineter snow;
Down in my lonesome gyardin.
You hain't gwinter eat in my kitchen doo',
Nor down in my lonesome gyardin.
LITTLE SISTER, WON'T YOU MARRY ME?
Liddle sistah in de barn, jine de weddin'.
Youse de sweetest liddle couple dat I ever did see.
Oh Love! Love! Ahms all 'round me!
Say, liddle sistah, won't you marry me?
Oh step back, gal, an' don't you come a nigh me,
Wid all dem sassy words dat you say to me.
Oh Love! Love! Ahms all 'roun' me!
Oh liddle sistah, won't you marry me?
RAISE A "RUCUS" TO-NIGHT
Two liddle Niggers all dressed in white,
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Want to go to Heaben on de tail of a kite.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
De kite string broke; dem Niggers fell;
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Whar dem Niggers go, I hain't gwineter tell.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
A Nigger an' a w'ite man a playin' seben up;
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
De Nigger beat de w'ite man, but '[=e]'s skeered to pick it up.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Dat Nigger grabbed de money, an' de w'ite man fell.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
How de Nigger run, I'se not gwineter tell.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Look here, Nigger! Let me tell you a naked fac';
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
You mought a been cullud widout bein' dat black;
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Dem 'ar feet look lak youse sh[=o]' walkin' back;
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
An' y[=o]' ha'r, it look lak a chyarpet tack.
(Raise a rucus to-night.)
Oh come 'long, chilluns, come 'long,
W'ile dat moon are shinin' bright.
Let's git on board, an' float down de river,
An' raise dat rucus to-night.
SWEET PINKS AND ROSES
Sweet pinks an' roses, strawbeers on de vines,
Call in de one you loves, an' kiss 'er if you minds.
Here sets a pretty gal,
Here sets a pretty boy;
Cheeks painted rosy, an' deir eyes battin' black.
You kiss dat pretty gal, an' I'll stan' back.