Possum Pie
 

Possum Pie

Old-Time Fiddle beakdown and song USA; Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri.

ARTIST:  from Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 69.

CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes DATE: Negro Poems By William C. Blades 1921; Dates back to minstrel era; published in 1967 by Thede;

RECORDING INFO:

OTHER NAMES/RELATED TO: "Carve Dat Possum," "Bile Them Cabbage Down." 

SOURCES: Thede; Ceolas; Folk Index;

NOTES:  G Major. Standard. One Part. The tune is identified by Thede as a African-American 'banjo tune'. The song is related to two songs by Sam Lucas, "Carve Dat Possum" and "Oh Hannah, Boil Dem Cabbage Down." 

A version of "Carve Dat Possum" was done by Uncle Dave Macon. It has the line, "Carve dat possum; Carve him to the heart." Below is one early set of lyrics of Possum Pie found in "Negro Poems" by William C. Blades 1921.

POSSUM PIE Negro Poems By William C. Blades 1921

Carve that possum, Hannah
Carve that possum soon,
For the pan am ready
And here am the spoon;
Carve him in de quarters,
Carve him in de thigh,
And carve that possum, Hannah
Foh a Possum pie.

Carve that possum, Hannah
Carve the fat and lean,
For that meat am the juiciest
That I have ever see.
Carve him in de quarters
Carve him in de thigh
And carve that possum, Hannah
Foh a Possum pie. 

"Possum Pie" from Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 69:

Carve that 'possum Hannah,
Carve that possum soon;
For the pan is ready,
And *I am the spoon.

*here