If it talk lak dey tell,
Den ev'ry time it come to Sam,
It up an' say: "Farewell!"
I'LL EAT WHEN I'M HUNGRY
I'll eat when I'se hongry,
An' I'll drink when I'se dry;
An' if de whitefolks don't kill me,
I'll live till I die.
In my liddle log cabin,
Ever since I'se been born;
Dere hain't been no nothin'
'Cept dat hard salt parch corn.
But I knows whar's a henhouse,
An' de tucky he charve;
An' if ole Mosser don't kill me,
I cain't never starve.
HEAR-SAY
Hello! Br'er Jack. How do you do?
I'se been a-hearin' a heaps o' things 'bout you.
I'll jes declar! It beats de Dickuns!
Dey's been tryin' to say you's been a-stealin' chickens!
NEGRO SOLDIER'S CIVIL WAR CHANT
Ole [32]Abe (God bless 'is ole soul!)
Got a plenty good victuals, an' a plenty good clo'es.
Got powder, an' shot, an' lead,
To bust in Adam's liddle Confed'
In dese hard times.
Oh, once dere wus union, an' den dere wus peace;
De slave, in de cornfield, bare up to his knees.
But de Rebel's in gray, an' Sesesh's in de way,
An' de slave'll be free
In dese hard times.
[32] Abraham Lincoln.
PARODY ON "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP"
Uh-huh: "Now I lays me down to sleep!"--
While dead oudles o' bedbugs 'round me creep,--
Well: If dey bites me bef[=o]' "I" wake,
I hopes "deir" ole jawbones'll break.
I'LL GET YOU, RABBIT!
Rabbit! Rabbit! You'se got a mighty habit,
A-runnin' through de grass,
Eatin' up my cabbages;
But I'll git you shore at las'.
Rabbit! Rabbit! Ole rabbit in de bottoms,
A-playin' in de san',
By to-morrow mornin',
You'll be in my fryin' pan.
THE ELEPHANT
My mammy gimme fifteen cents
Fer to see dat elephan' jump de fence.
He jump so high, I didn' see why,
If she gimme a dollar he mought not cry.
So I axed my mammy to gimme a dollar,
Fer to go an' hear de elephan' holler.
He holler so loud, he skeered de crowd.
Nex' he jump so high, he tetch de sky;
An' he won't git back 'fore de fo'th o' July.
A FEW NEGROES BY STATES
Alabammer Nigger say he love mush.
Tennessee Nigger say: "Good Lawd, hush!"
Fifteen cents in de panel of de fence,
South Ca'lina Nigger hain't got no sense.
Dat Kentucky Nigger jes think he's fine,
'Cause he drink dat Gooseberry wine.
I'se done heared some twenty year ago
Dat de Missippi Nigger hafter sleep on de fl[=o]'.
Lousanner Nigger fall out'n de bed,
An' break his head on a pone o' co'n bread.
HOW TO PLEASE A PREACHER
If you wants to see dat Preachah laugh,
Jes change up a dollar, an' give 'im a half.
If you wants to make dat Preachah sing,
Kill dat tucky an' give him a wing.
If you wants to see dat Preachah cry,
Kill dat chicken an' give him a thigh.
LOOKING FOR A FIGHT
I went down town de yudder night,
A-raisin' san' an' a-wantin' a fight.
Had a forty dollar razzer, an' a gatlin' gun,
Fer to shoot dem Niggers down one by one.
I'LL WEAR ME A COTTON DRESS
Oh, will you wear red? Oh, will you wear red?
Oh, will you wear red, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear red,
It's too much lak Missus' head.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Oh, will you wear blue? Oh, will you wear blue?
Oh, will you wear blue, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear blue,
It's too much lak Missus' shoe.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
You sholy would wear gray? You sholy would wear gray?
You sholy would wear gray, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear gray,
It's too much lak Missus' way.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Well, will you wear white? Well, will you wear white?
Well, will you wear white, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear white,
I'd get dirty long 'fore night.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Now, will you wear black? Now, will you wear black?
Now, will you wear black, Milly Biggers?
"I mought wear black,
Case it's de color o' my back;
An' it looks lak my cotton dress,
Dyed wid [33]copperse an' oak-bark."
[33] Copperse is copperas, or sulphate of iron.
HALF WAY DOINGS
My dear Brudders an' Sisters,
As I comes here to-day,
I hain't gwineter take no scripture verse
Fer what I'se gwineter say.
My words I'se gwineter cut off short
An' I 'spects to use dis tex':
"Dis half way doin's hain't no 'count
Fer dis worl' nor de nex'."
Dis half way doin's, Brudderin,
Won't never do, I say.
Go to y[=o]' wuk, an' git it done,
An' den's de time to play.
Fer w'en a Nigger gits lazy,
An' stops to take short naps,
De weeds an' grass is shore to grow
An' smudder out his craps.
Dis worl' dat we's a livin' in
Is sumpen lak a cotton row:
Whar each an' ev'ry one o' us
Is got his row to hoe.
An' w'en de cotton's all laid by,
De rain, it spile de bowls,
If you don't keep busy pickin'
In de cotton fiel' of y[=o]' souls.
Keep on a-plowin', an' a-hoein';
Keep on scrapin' off de rows;
An' w'en de year is over
You can pay off all you owes.
But w'en you sees a lazy Nigger
Stop workin', shore's you're born,
You'se gwineter see him comin' out
At de liddle end of de horn.
TWO TIMES ONE
Two times one is two.
Won't you jes keep still till I gits through?
Three times three is nine.
You 'tend to y[=o]' business, an' I'll 'tend to mine.
HE PAID ME SEVEN (PARODY)
"Our Fadder, Which are in Heaben!"--
White man owe me leben and pay me seben.
"D'y Kingdom come! D'y Will be done!"--
An' if I hadn't tuck dat, I wouldn' git none.
PARODY ON "REIGN, MASTER JESUS, REIGN!"
Oh rain! Oh rain! Oh rain, "good" Mosser!
Rain, Mosser, rain! Rain hard!
Rain flour an' lard an' a big hog head
Down in my back yard.
An' w'en you comes down to my cabin,
Come down by de corn fiel'.
If you cain't bring me a piece o' meat,
Den bring me a peck o' meal.
Oh rain! Oh rain! Oh rain, "good" Mosser!
Dat good rain gives m[=o]' rest.
"What d'you say? You Nigger, dar!"--
"Wet ground grows grass best."
A REQUEST TO SELL
Gwineter ax my daddy to sell ole Rose,
So's I can git me some new cl[=o]'s.
Gwineter ax my daddy to sell ole Nat,
So's I can git a bran' new hat.
Gwineter ax my daddy to sell ole Bruise,
Den I can git some Brogran shoes.
Now, I'se gwineter fix myse'f "jes so,"
An' take myse'f down to Big Shiloh.
I'se gwine right down to Big Shiloh
To take dat t'other Nigger's beau.
WE'LL STICK TO THE HOE
We'll stick to de hoe, till de sun go down.
We'll rise w'en de rooster crow,
An' go to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Yes, Chilluns, we'll all go!
We'll go to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot.
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Oh, sing 'long boys, fer de wuk hain't hard!
Oh scrape an' clean up de row.
Fer de grass musn' grow, while de sun shine hot,
In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
No, Chilluns. No, No!
Dat grass musn' grow, while de sun shine hot,
In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Don't think 'bout de time, fer de time hain't long.
Y[=o]' life soon come an' go;
Den good-bye fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Yes, Chilluns. We'll all go!
Good-by to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
A FINE PLASTER
W'en it's sheep skin an' beeswax,
It sh[=o]'s a mighty fine plaster:
De m[=o]' you tries to pull it off,
De m[=o]' it sticks de faster.
A DAY'S HAPPINESS
Fust: I went out to milk an' I didn' know how,
I milked dat goat instid o' dat cow;
While a Nigger a-settin' wid a gapin' jaw,
Kept winkin' his eye at a tucky in de straw.
Den: I went out de gate an' I went down de road,
An' I met Miss 'Possum an' I met Mistah Toad;
An' ev'y time Miss 'Possum 'ould sing,
Mistah Toad 'ould cut dat Pigeon's Wing.
But: I went in a whoop, as I went down de road;
I had a bawky team an' a heavy load.
I cracked my whip, an' ole Beck sprung,
An' she busted out my wagin tongue.
Well: Dat night dere 'us a-gittin' up, shores you're born.
De louse go to supper, an' de flea blow de horn.
Dat raccoon paced, an' dat 'possum trot;
Dat ole goose laid, an' de gander sot.
MASTER KILLED A BIG BULL
Mosser killed a big bull,
Missus cooked a dish full,
Didn't give poor Nigger a mouf full.
Humph! Humph!
Mosser killed a fat lam'.
Missus brung a basket,
An' give poor Nigger de haslet.
Eh-eh! Eh-eh!
Mosser killed a fat hog
Missus biled de middlin's,
An' give poor Nigger de chitlin's.
Sh[=o]! Sh[=o]!
YOU HAD BETTER MIND MASTER
'Way down yon'er in 'Possum Trot,
(In ole Miss'sip' whar de sun shines hot)
Dere hain't no chickens an' de Niggers eats c'on;
You hain't never see'd de lak since youse been bo'n,
You'd better m[=i]n' Mosser an' keep a stiff lip,
So's you won't git s[=o]l' down to ole Miss'sip'.
LOVE RHYME SECTION
PRETTY LITTLE PINK
My pretty liddle Pink,
I once did think,
Dat we-uns sh[=o]' would marry;
But I'se done give up,
Hain't got no hope,
I hain't got no time to tarry.
I'll drink coffee dat flows,
From oaks dat grows,
'Long de river dat flows wid brandy.
A BITTER LOVERS' QUARREL--ONE SIDE
You nasty dog! You dirty hog!
You thinks somebody loves you.
I tells you dis to let you know
I thinks myse'f above you.
ROSES RED
Rose's red, vi'lets blue.
Sugar is sweet but not lak you.
De vi'lets fade, de roses fall;
But you gits sweeter, all in all.
As shore as de grass grows 'round de stump,
You is my darlin' Sugar Lump.
W'en de sun don't shine de day is cold,
But my love fer you do not git old.
De ocean's deep, de sky is blue;
Sugar is sweet, an' so is you;
De ocean waves an' de sky gits pale,
But my love are true, an' it never fail.
YOU HAVE MADE ME WEEP
You'se made me weep, you'se made me mourn,
You'se made me tears an' sorrow.
So far' you well, my pretty liddle gal,
I'se gwine away to-morrow.
MOURNING SLAVE FIANCEES
Look down dat lonesome road! Look down!
De way are dark an' c[=o]l'.
Dey makes me weep, dey makes me mourn;
All 'cause my love are s[=o]l'.
O don't you see dat turkle dove,
What mourns from vine to vine?
She mourns lak I moans fer my love,
Lef' many a mile behin'.
DO I LOVE YOU?
Does I love you wid all my heart?--
I loves you wid my liver;
An' if I had you in my mouf,
I'd spit you in de river.
LOVERS' GOOD-NIGHT
Cotton fields white in de bright moonlight,
Now kiss y[=o]' gal' an' say "Good-night."
If she don't kiss you, jes go on 'way;
Hain't no need a-stayin' ontel nex' day.
VINIE
I loves coffee, an' I loves tea.
I axes you, Vinie, does you love me?
My day's study's Vinie, an' my midnight dreams,
My apples, my peaches, my tunnups, an' greens.
Oh, I wants dat good 'possum, an' I wants to be free;
But I don't need no sugar, if Vinie love me.
De river is wide, an' I cain't well step it.
I loves you, dear Vinie; an' you know I cain't he'p it.
Dat sugar is sweet, an' dat butter is greasy;
But I loves you, sweet Vinie; don't be oneasy.
Some loves ten, an' some loves twenty,
But I loves you, Vinie, an' dat is a plenty.
Oh silver, it shine, an' lakwise do tin.
De way I loves Vinie, it mus' be a sin.
Well, de cedar is green, an' so is de pine.
God bless you, Vinie! I wish you 'us mine.
LOVE SONG RHYME SECTION
SHE HUGGED ME AND KISSED ME
I see'd her in de Springtime,
I see'd her in de Fall,
I see'd her in de Cotton patch,
A cameing from de Ball.
She hug me, an' she kiss me,
She wrung my han' an' cried.
She said I wus de sweetes' thing
Dat ever lived or died.
She hug me an' she kiss me.
Oh Heaben! De touch o' her han'!
She said I wus de puttiest thing
In de shape o' mortal man.
I told her dat I love her,
Dat my love wus bed-cord strong;
Den I axed her w'en she'd have me,
An' she jes say "Go long!"
IT IS HARD TO LOVE
It's hard to love, yes, indeed 'tis.
It's hard to be broke up in min'.
You'se all lugged up in some gal's heart,
But you hain't gwineter lug up in mine.
ME AND MY LOVER
Me an' my Lover, we fall out.
How d'you reckon de fuss begun?
She laked licker, an' I laked fun,
An' dat wus de way de fuss begun.
Me an' my Lover, we fall out.
W'at d'you reckon de fuss wus 'bout?
She loved bitters, an' I loved kraut,
An' dat wus w'at de fuss wus 'bout.
Me an' my Lover git clean 'part.
How d'you reckon dat big fuss start?
She's got a gizzard, an' I'se got a heart,
An' dat's de way dat big fuss start.
I WISH I WAS AN APPLE
Oh: I wish I wus an apple,
An' my Sallie wus anudder.
What a pretty match we'd be,
Hangin' on a tree togedder!
But: If I wus an apple,
An' my Sallie wus anudder;
We'd grow up high, close to de sky,
Whar de Niggers couldn' git 'er.
We'd grow up close to de sun
An' smile up dar above;
Den we'd fall down 'way in de groun'
To sleep an' dream 'bout love.
And: W'en we git through a dreamin',
We'd bofe in Heaben wake.
No Nigger shouldn' git my gal
W'en 'is time come to bake.
REJECTED BY ELIZA JANE
W'en I went 'cross de cotton patch
I give my ho'n a blow.
I thought I heared pretty Lizie say:
"Oh, yon'er come my beau!"
So: I axed pretty Lizie to marry me,
An' what d'you reckon she said?
She said she wouldn' marry me,
If ev'ybody else wus dead.
An': As I went up de new cut road,
An' she go down de lane;
Den I thought I heared somebody say:
"Good-bye, ole Lize Jane!"
Well: Jes git 'long, Lizie, my true love.
Git 'long, Miss Lizie Jane.
Perhaps you'll [34]sack "Ole Sour Bill"
An' git choked on "Sugar Cain."
[34] Sack = To reject as a lover.
COURTSHIP RHYME SECTION
ANTEBELLUM COURTSHIP INQUIRY
(He) Is you a flyin' lark or a settin' dove?
(She) I'se a flyin' lark, my honey Love.
(He) Is you a bird o' one fedder, or a bird o' two?
(She) I'se a bird o' one fedder, w'en it comes to you.
(He) Den, Mam:
I has desire, an' quick temptation,
To jine my fence to y[=o]' plantation.
INVITED TO TAKE THE ESCORT'S ARM
Miss, does you lak strawberries?
____*____*____*____*____*____
Den hang on de vine.
____*____*____*____*____*____
Miss, does you lak chicken?
____*____*____*____*____*____
Den have a wing dis time.
SPARKING OR COURTING
I'se heaps older dan three.
I'se heaps thicker dan barks;
An' de older I gits,
De m[=o]' harder I sparks.
I sparks fast an' hard,
For I'se feared I mought fail.
Dough I'se gittin' ole,
I don't co't lak no snail.
A CLANDESTINE LETTER
Kind Miss: If I sent you a letter,
By de crickets,
Through de thickets,
How'd you answer better?
Kind Suh: I'd sen' you a letter,
By de mole,
Not to be t[=o]l';
Fer dat's m[=o]' secretter.
ANTEBELLUM MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
(_A proposal of marriage with the answer deferred_)
(He) De ocean, it's wide; de sea, it's deep.
Yes, in y[=o]' arms I begs to sleep,
Not fer one time, not fer three;
But long as we-uns can agree.
(She) Please gimme time, Suh, to "reponder;"
Please gimme time to "gargalize;"
Den 'haps I'll tu'n to "cattlegog,"
An' answer up 'greeable fer a s'prise.
IF YOU FROWN
If you frowns, an' I frowns,
W'en we goes out togedder;
Den all de t'other folks aroun'
Will say: "De rain is fallin' down
Right in de sunshine wedder!"
"LET'S MARRY" COURTSHIP
(_A proposal of marriage, with a provisional acceptance_)
(He) Oh Miss Lizie, how I loves you!
My life's jes los' if you hain't true.
If you loves me lak I loves you,
No knife cain't cut our love in two.
(She) Grapevine warp, an' cornstalk fillin';
I'll marry you if mammy an' daddy's willin'.
(He) Rabbit hop an' long dog trot!
Let's git married if dey say "not."
COURTSHIP
(_A proposal of marriage with its acceptance_)
Kind Miss: I'se on de stage o' action,
Pleadin' hard fer satisfaction,
Pleadin' 'fore de time-thief late;
Darfore, Ma'm, now, [35]"cravenate."
If I brung to you a gyarment;
To be cut widout scissors,
An' to be sewed widout thread;
How (I ax you) would you make it,
Widout de needle sewin'
An' widout de cloth spread?
Kind Suh: I'd make dat gyarment
Wid love from my heart,
Wid tears on y[=o]' head;
We never would part.
[35] Cravenate = consider.
I WALKED THE ROADS
Well: I walked de roads, till de roads git muddy.
I talked to dat pretty gal, till I couldn' stan' study.
Den: I say: "Love me liddle," I say; "Love me long."
I say: "Let dat liddle be 'doggone' strong!
For, shore as dat rat runs 'cross de rafter,
So shore you'se de gal, you'se de gal I'se after."
PRESENTING A HAT TO PHOEBE
Sister Phoebe: Happy wus we,
W'en we sot under dat Juniper tree.
Take dis hat, it'll keep y[=o]' head warm.
Take dis kiss, it'll do you no harm.
Sister Phoebe: De hours, dey're few;
But dis hat'll say I'se thinkin' 'bout you.
Sugar, it's sugar; an' salt, it's salt;
If you don't love me, it's sh[=o]' y[=o]' own fault.
WOOING
W'at is dat a wukin
At y[=o]' han' bill on de wall,
So's y[=o]' sperit, it cain't res',
An' a gemmun's heat, it call?
Is you lookin' fer sweeter berries
Growin' on a higher bush?
An' does my combersation suit?
If not, w'at does you wush?
COURTSHIP SONG RHYME SECTION
THE COURTING BOY
W'en I wus a liddle boy,
Jes fifteen inches high;
De way I court de pretty gals,
It make de ole folks cry.
De geese swim in de middle pon'.
De ducks fly 'cross de clover.
Run an' tell dem pretty gals,
Dat I'se a-comin' over.
Ho! Marindie! Ho!
Ho! Missindie! Ho!
Ho! Malindie! Ho! my gal!
I'se gwine now to see ole Sal.
PRETTY POLLY ANN
I'se gwineter marry, if I can.
I'se gwineter marry pretty Polly Ann.
I axed Polly Ann, fer to marry me.
She say she's a-lookin' fer a Nigger dat's free.
Pretty Polly Ann's jes dressed so fine!
I'll bet five dollars she hain't got a dime.
Pretty Polly Ann's jes a-puttin' on airs,
She won't notice me, but nobody cares.
I'll drop Polly Ann, a-lookin' lak a crane;
I 'spec's I'll marry Miss Lize Jane.
MARRIAGE RHYME SECTION
SLAVE MARRIAGE CEREMONY SUPPLEMENT
Dark an' stormy may come de wedder;
I jines dis he-male an' dis she-male togedder.
Let none, but Him dat makes de thunder,
Put dis he-male an' dis she-male asunder.
I darfore 'nounce you bofe de same.
Be good, go 'long, an' keep up y[=o]' name.
De broomstick's jumped, de worl's not wide.
She's now y[=o]' own. Salute y[=o]' bride!
MARRIED LIFE RHYME SECTION
THE NEWLY WEDS
First Mont': "Set down in my cabin, Honey!"
Nex' Mont': "Stan' up, my Pie."
Third Mont': "You go to wuk, you Wench!
You well to wuk as I!"
WHEN I GO TO MARRY
W'en I goes to marry,
I wants a gal wid money.
I wants a pretty black-eyed gal
To kiss an' call me "Honey."
Well, w'en I goes to marry,
I don't wanter git no riches.
I wants a man 'bout four foot high,
So's I can w'ar de britches.
BOUGHT ME A WIFE
Bought me a wife an' de wife please me,
I feeds my wife un'er yon'er tree.
My wife go: "Row-row!"
My guinea go: "Potrack! Potrack!"
My chicken go: "Gymsack! Gymsack!"
My duck go: "Quack-quack! Quack-quack!"
My dog go: "Bow-bow!"
My hoss go: "Whee-whee! Whee-whee!"
My cat go: "Fiddle-toe! Fiddle-toe!"
WHEN I WAS A "ROUSTABOUT"
W'en I wus a "Roustabout," wild an' young,
I co'ted my gal wid a mighty slick tongue.
I t[=o]l' her some oncommon lies dere an' den.
I t[=o]l' her dat we'd marry, but I didn' say w'en.
So on a Mond'y mornin' I tuck her fer my wife.
Of co'se I wus 'spectin' an agreeable life.
But on a Chuesd'y mornin' she chuned up her pipe,
An' she 'bused me more 'an I'd been 'bused all my life.
On a Wednesd'y evenin', as I come 'long home,
I says to myse'f dat she wus all my own;
An' on a Thursd'y night I went out to de woods,
An' I cut me two big fine tough leatherwoods.
So on a Frid'y mornin' w'en she roll me 'er eyes,
I retched fer my leatherwoods to give 'er a s'prise,
Dem long keen leatherwoods wuked mighty well,
An' 'er tongue, it jes rattle lak a clapper in a bell.
On a Sadd'y mornin' she sleep sorter late;
An' de las' time I see'd her, she 'us gwine out de gate.
I wus feedin' at de stable, lookin' out through a crack,
An' she lef' my log cabin 'fore I could git back.
On a Sund'y mornin', as I laid on my bed,
I didn' have no Nigger wife to bother my head.
Now whisky an' brandy jug's my biges' bes' friend,
An' my long week's wuk is about at its end.
MY FIRST AND MY SECOND WIFE
My fust liddle wife wus short an' fat.
Her face wus as black as my ole hat,
Her nose all flat, an' her eyes sunk in,
An' dat lip hang down below her chin.
Now wusn't I sorrowful in mind?
W'en I went down to dat wife's brother;
He said: "She 'us tired. Gwineter marry 'nother."
If I ever ketches dat city Coon,
He railly mought see my razzer soon.
Den I 'spec's he'd be troubled in mind!
My nex' wife hug an' kiss me,
She call me "Sugar Plum!"
She throw her arms 'round me,
Lak a grapevine 'round de gum!
Wusn't dat glory to my soul!
Her cheeks, dey're lak de cherry;
Dat Cherry, it's lak de rose.
Wid a liddle dimple in her chin,
An' a liddle tu'ned up nose!
Oh, hain't I happy in mind!
I'se got you, Lou, now fer my wife.
Keep new Coons 'way, "My Pie!"
Caze, if you don't, I tells you now,
Dat we all three mought die.
Den we'd be troubled in min'!
GOOD-BY, WIFE!
I had a liddle wife,
An' I didn' want to kill 'er;
So I tuck 'er by de heels,
An' I throwed 'er in de river.
"Good-by, Wife! Good-by, Honey!
Hadn' been fer you,
I'd a had a liddle money."
My liddle fussy wife
Up an' say she mus' have scissors;
An' druther dan to fight,
I'd a throwed 'er in three rivers.
But she crossed dem fingers, w'en she go down,
An' a liddle bit later
She walk out on de groun'.
NURSERY RHYME SECTION
AWFUL HARBINGERS[36]
W'en de big owl whoops,
An' de screech owl screeks,
An' de win' makes a howlin' sound;
You liddle wooly heads
Had better kiver up,
Caze de "hants" is comin' 'round.
[36] This little rhyme is based upon a superstition once current among
Negroes, to the effect that bad luck would come when a screech owl
called near your home at night unless, upon hearing him, you would stick
the handle of a shovel into the fire about which you were sitting, or
would throw salt into it. The word "hant" means ghost or spirit.
THE LAST OF JACK
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Jack;
He run forty mile 'fore he look back.
W'en he look back, he fall in a crack;
W'en he fall in a crack, he break 'is back;
An' dat wus de las' o' poor liddle Jack.
LITTLE DOGS
I had a liddle dog; his name wus Ball;
W'en I give him a liddle, he want it all.
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Trot;
He helt up his tail, all tied in a knot.
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Blue;
I put him on de road, an' he almos' flew.
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Mack;
I rid his tail fer to save his back.
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Rover;
W'en he died, he died all over.
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Dan;
An' w'en he died, I buried 'im in de san'.
MY DOG, CUFF
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Cuff;
I sent 'im to town to buy some snuff.
He drapped de bale, an' he spilt de snuff,
An' I guess dat speech is long enough.
SAM IS A CLEVER FELLOW
Say! Is y[=o]' peaches ripe, my boy,
An' is y[=o]' apples meller?
Go an' tell Miss Katie Jones
Dat Sam's a clever feller.
Say! Is y[=o]' cherries red, my boy,
An' is y[=o]' plums all yeller?
Oh please run tell Miss Katie Jones
Dat Sam's a clever feller.
THE GREAT OWL'S SONG
Ah-hoo-hoo? Ah-hoo-hoo? Ah-hoo-hoo----?
An' who'll cook fer Kelline, an' who'll cook fer you----?
I will cook fer myse'f, I won't cook fer you.
Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo----!
Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo----!
I wonder if Kelline would not cook fer Hue----?
Fer dis is Big Sandy! It's Big Sandy Hue----!
Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo----!
Ah-ha-hah! Ah-ha-hah! Ah-ha-hah! Ah-hah----!
I thought you 'us ole Bill Jack as black as de tah.
You really must 'scuse me, my "Honey Lump Pa."
Ah-ha-hah! Ah-ha-hah! Ah-ha-hah! Ah-hah----!
An' since I'se been Kelline, an' you'se Big Sandy Hue;
I will cook fer myse'f, an' I will cook fer you.
I'll love you forever, an' sing in de dew:
"Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo----!"
Yes!--Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-hoo! Ah-hoo-all!
Now, we'll cook fer ourse'fs, but who'll cook fer you all?
Fer Tom Dick an' his wife, fer Pete Snap an' Shoe-Awl,
Rough Shot De Shoe-boot, an' de Lawd He knows who all?
HERE I STAND
Here I stan', raggity an' dirty;
If you don't come kiss me, I'll run lak a tucky.
Here I stan' on two liddle chips,
Pray, come kiss my sweet liddle lips.
Here I stan' crooked lak a horn;
I hain't had no kiss since I'se been born.
PIG TAIL
Run boys, run!
De pig tail's done.
If you don't come quick,
You won't git none.
Pig ham's dere,
Lakwise middlin's square;
But dese great big parts
Hain't no Nigger's bes' fare.
A, B, C
A, B, C,
Doubled down D;
I'se so lazy you cain't see me.
A, B, C,
Doubled down D
Lazy Chilluns gits hick'ry tea.
A, B, C,
Doubled down D,
Dat "cat's" in de cupboard an' hid. You see?
A, B, C,
Doubled down D,
You'd better come out an' wuk lak me.
NEGRO BAKER MAN
Patty cake! Patty cake! Nigger Baker man.
Missus an' Mosser gwineter ketch 'im if dey can.
Put de liddle Nigger in Mosser's dish pan,
An' scrub 'im off good fer de ole San' Man.
STICK-A-MA-STEW
Stick-a-ma-stew, he went to town.
Stick-a-ma-stew, he tore 'is gown.
All dem folks what live in town
Cain't mend dat randsome, handsome gown.
BOB-WHITE'S SONG
Bob-white! Bob-white!
Is y[=o]' peas all ripe?
No--! not--! quite!
Bob-white! Bob-white!
W'en will dey be ripe?
To-mor--! row--! might!
Bob-white! Bob-white!
Does you sing at night?
No--! not--! quite!
Bob-white! Bob-white!
W'en is de time right?
At can--! dle--! light!
COOKING DINNER
Go: Bile dem cabbage down.
Turn dat hoecake 'round,
Cook it done an' brown.
Yes: Gwineter have sweet taters too.
Hain't had none since las' Fall,
Gwineter eat 'em skins an' all.
CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW SONG
Oh nimber, nimber Will-o!
My crooked, crooked bill-o!
I'se settin' down right now, on
de sweet pertater hill-o.
Oh nimber, nimber Will-o!
My crooked, crooked bill-o!
Two liddle naked babies, my two
brown aigs now fill-o.
Oh nimber, nimber Will-o!
My crooked, crooked bill-o!
Don't hurt de liddle babies; dey
is too sweet to kill-o.
BRIDLE UP A RAT
Bridle up er rat,
Saddle up er cat,
An' han' me down my big straw hat.
In come de cat,
Out go de rat,
Down go de baby wid 'is big straw hat.
MY LITTLE PIG
You see: I had a liddle pig,
I fed 'im on slop;
He got so fat
Dat he almos' pop.
An' den: I tuck de liddle pig,
An' I rid 'im to school;
He e't ginger cake,
An' it tu'n 'im a fool.
But: He grunt de lessons,
An' keep all de rule,
An' he make 'em all think
Dat he learn in de cool.
IN A MULBERRY TREE
Jes looky, looky yonder; w'at I see!
Two liddle Niggers in a Mulberry tree.
One cain't read, an' de t'other cain't write.
But dey bofe can smoke deir daddy's pipe.
"One ma two! One ma two!"
Dat Mulberry Witch, he [37]titterer too.
"Big bait o' Mulberries make 'em bofe sick.
Dem liddle Niggers gwineter roll an' kick!"
[37] Titterer means laugh.
ANIMAL ATTIRE
Dat Coon, he w'ar a undershirt;
Dat 'Possum w'ar a gown.
Br'er Rabbit, he w'ar a overcoat
Wid buttons up an' down.
Mistah Gobbler's got beads 'roun' 'is nec'.
Mistah Pattridge's got a collar, Hun!
Mistah Peacock, a fedder on his head!
But dese don't stop no gun.
ASPIRATION
If I wus de President
Of dese United States,
I'd eat good 'lasses candy,
An' swing on all de gates.
ANIMAL FAIR
Has you ever hearn tell 'bout de Animal Fair?
Dem birds an' beasts wus all down dere.
Dat jaybird a-settin' down on 'is wing!
Has you ever hearn tell about sitch a thing
As whut 'us at dat Animal Fair?
Well, dem animals had a Fair.
Dem birds an' beasts wus dere.
De big Baboon,
By de light o' de moon,
Jes comb up his sandy hair.
De monkey, he git drunk,
He kick up a red hot chunk.
Dem coals, dey 'rose;
An' bu'nt 'is toes!
He clumb de Elephan's trunk.
I went down to de Fair.
Dem varmints all wus dere.
Dat young Baboon
Wunk at Miss Coon;
Dat curled de Elephan's hair.
De Camel den walk 'bout,
An' tromped on de Elephan's snout.
De Elephan' sneeze,
An' fall on his knees;
Dat pleased all dem monk[=e]ys.
LITTLE BOY WHO COULDN'T COUNT SEVEN
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count one.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought it great big fun.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count two.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought 'e 'us gwine through.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count three.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de Niggers 'us free.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count f[=o]'.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e jumped out on de fl[=o]'.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count five.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de dead alive.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count six.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e never did git fix!
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count seben.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought he's gwine to Heaben!
MISS TERRAPIN AND MISS TOAD
As I went marchin' down de road,
I met Miss Tearpin an' I met Miss Toad.
An' ev'ry time Miss Toad would jump,
Miss Tearpin would peep from 'hind de stump.
I axed dem ladies fer to marry me,
An' bofe find fault wid de t'other, you see.
"If you marries Miss Toad," Miss Tearpin said,
"You'll have to hop 'round lak you'se been half dead!"
"If you combs y[=o]' head wid a Tearpin comb,
You'll have to creep 'round all tied up at home."
I run'd away frum dar, my foot got bruise,
For I didn't know zackly which to choose.
FROM SLAVERY
Chile: I come from out'n slavery,
Whar de Bull-whup bust de hide;
Back dar, whar dis gineration
Natchully widdered up an' died!
THE END OF TEN LITTLE NEGROES
Ten liddle Niggers, a-eatin', fat an' fine;
One choke hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' nine.
Nine liddle Niggers, dey sot up too late;
One sleep hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' eight.
Eight liddle Niggers want to go to Heaben;
One sing hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' seben.
Seben liddle Niggers, a-pickin' up sticks;
One wuk hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' six.
Six liddle Niggers went out fer to drive;
Mule run away wid one, an' dat lef' five.
Five liddle Niggers in a cold rain pour;
One coughed hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' four.
Four liddle Niggers, climb a' apple tree;
One fall down an' out, an' dat lef' three.
Three liddle Niggers a-wantin' sumpin new;
One, he quit de udders, an' dat lef' two.
Two liddle Niggers went out fer to run;
One fell down de bluff, an' dat lef' one.
One liddle Nigger, a-foolin' wid a gun;
Gun go off "bang!" an' dat lef' none.
THE ALABAMA WAY
'Way down yon'er "in de Alerbamer way,"
De Niggers goes to wo'k at de peep o' de day.
De bed's too short, an' de high posts rear;
De Niggers needs a ladder fer to climb up dere.
De cord's wore out, an' de bed-tick's gone.
Niggers' legs hang down fer de chickens t' roost on.
MOTHER SAYS I AM SIX YEARS OLD
My mammy says dat I'se too young
To go to Church an' pray;
But she don't know how bad I is
W'en she's been gone away.
My mammy says I'se six years old,
My daddy says I'se seben.
Dat's all right how old I is,
Jes since I'se a gwine to Heaben.
THE ORIGIN OF THE SNAKE
Up de hill an' down de level!
Up de hill an' down de level!
Granny's puppy treed de Devil.
Puppy howl, an' Devil shake!
Puppy howl, an' Devil shake!
Devil leave, an' dere's y[=o]' snake.
Mash his head; de sun shine bright!
Mash his head; de sun shine bright!
Tail don't die ontel it's night.
Night come on, an' sperits groan!
Night come on, an' sperits groan!
Devil come an' gits his own.
WILD HOG HUNT
Nigger in de woods, a-settin' on a log;
Wid his finger on de trigger, an' his eyes upon de hog.
De gun say "bam!" an' de hog say "bip!"
An' de Nigger grab dat wild hog wid all his grip.
A STRANGE BROOD
De ole hen sot on tucky aigs,
An' she hatch out goslin's three.
Two wus tuckies wid slender legs,
An' one wus a bumblebee.
All dem hens say to one nudder:
"Mighty queer chickens! See?"
THE TOWN AND THE COUNTRY BIRD
Jaybird a-swingin' a two hoss plow;
"Sparrer, why not you?"
"W'y--! My legs so liddle an' slender, man,
I'se fear'd dey'd break in two."
Jaybird answer: "What'd you say?--
I sometimes worms terbaccy;
But I'd druther plow sweet taters too,
Dan to be a ole Town Tacky!"
Jaybird up in de Sugar tree,
De sparrer on de groun';
De jaybird shake de sugar down,
An' de sparrer pass it 'roun'.
De jaybird say: "Save some fer me;
I needs it w'en I bakes."
De sparrer say: "Use 'lasses, Suh!
Dat suits fer Country-Jakes!"
FROG IN A MILL ([38]GUINEA OR EBO RHYME)
Once dere wus er frog dat lived in er mill.
He had er raker don la bottom o' la kimebo
Kimebo, nayro, dilldo, kiro
Stimstam, formididdle, all-a-board la rake;
Wid er raker don la bottom o' la kimebo.
[38] For explanation, read the Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.
STRONG HANDS
Here's y[=o]' bread, an' here's y[=o]' butter;
An' here's de hands fer to make you sputter.
Tetch dese hands, w'en you wants to tetch a beaver.
If dese hands tetch you, you'll sh[=o]' ketch de fever.
Dese hands Samson, good fer a row,
W'en dey hits you, it's "good-by cow!"
TREE FROGS (GUINEA OR EBO RHYME)
Shool! Shool! Shool! I rule!
Shool! Shool! Shool! I rule!
Shool! Shacker-rack!
I shool bubba cool.
Seller! Beller eel!
Fust to ma tree'l
Just came er bubba.
Buska! Buska-reel!
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY
W'en I wus a liddle boy
I cleaned up mammy's dishes;
Now I is a great big boy,
I wears my daddy's britches.
I can knock dat Mobile Buck
An' smoke dat corncob pipe.
I can kiss dem pretty gals,
An' set up ev'ry night.
GRASSHOPPER SENSE
Dere wus a liddle grasshopper
Dat wus always on de jump;
An' caze he never look ahead,
He wus always gittin' a bump.
Huddlety, dumpty, dumpty, dump!
Mind out, or you will git a bump;
Shore as de grass grows 'round de stump
Be keerful, my sweet Sugar Lump.
YOUNG MASTER AND OLD MASTER
Hick'ry leaves an' calico sleeves!
I tells you young Mosser's hard to please.
Young Mosser fool you, de way he grin.
De way he whup you is a sin.
De monkey's a-settin' on de end of a rail,
Pickin' his tooth wid de end of his tail.
Mulberry leaves an' homespun sleeves!
Better know dat ole Mosser's not easy to please.
MY SPECKLED HEN
Somebody stole my speckled hen.
Dey lef' me mighty p[=o]o'.
Ev'ry day she layed three aigs,
An' Sunday she lay f[=o]'.
Somebody stole my speckled hen.
She crowed at my back d[=o]'.
Fedders, dey shine jes lak de sun;
De Niggers grudged her m[=o]'.
[39]De whis'lin' gal, an' de crowin' hen,
Never comes to no good en'.
Stop dat whis'lin'; go on an' sing!
'Member dat hen wid 'er shinin' wing.
[39] An old superstition.
THE SNAIL'S REPLY
Snail! Snail! Come out'n o' y[=o]' shell,
Or I'll beat on y[=o]' back till you rings lak a bell.
"I do ve'y well," sayed de snail in de shell,
"I'll jes take my chances in here whar I dwell."
A STRANGE FAMILY
Once dere's an ole 'oman dat lived in de Wes'.
She had two gals of de very bes'.
One wus older dan de t'other,
T'other's older dan her mother,
An' dey're all deir own gran'mother.
Can you guess?
GOOD-BY, RING
I had a liddle dog, his name wus Ring,
I tied him up to his nose wid a string.
I pulled dat string, an' his eyes tu'n blue.
"Good-by, Ring! I'se done wid you."
DEEDLE, DUMPLING
Deedle, deedle, dumplin'! My boy, Pete!
He went to bed wid his dirty feet.
Mammy laid a switch down on dat sheet!
Deedle, deedle, dumplin'! My boy, Pete!
BUCK AND BERRY
Buck an' Berry run a race,
Buck fall down an' skin his face.
Buck an' Berry in a stall;
Buck, he try to eat it all.
Buck, he e't too much, you see.
So he died wid choleree.
PRETTY LITTLE GIRL
Who's been here since I'se been gone?
A pretty liddle gal wid a blue dress on.
Who'll stay here when I goes 'way?
A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in gray.
Who'll wait on Mistess day an' night?
A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in white.
Who'll be here when I'se been dead?
A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in red.
TWO SICK NEGRO BOYS
Two liddle Niggers sick in bed,
One jumped up an' bumped his head.
W'en de Doctah come he simpully said:
"Jes feed dat boy on shorten' bread."
T'other liddle Nigger sick in bed,
W'en he hear tell o' shorten' bread,
Popped up all well. He dance an' sing!
He almos' cut dat Pigeon's Wing!
GRASSHOPPER SITTING ON A SWEET POTATO VINE
Grasshopper a-settin' on a sweet tater vine,
'Long come a Blackbird an' nab him up behind.
Blackbird a-settin' in a sour apple tree;
Hawk grab him up behind; he "Chee! Chee! Chee!"
Big hawk a-settin' in de top of dat oak,
Start to eat dat Blackbird an' he git choke.
DOODLE-BUG
Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git sweet milk.
Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git butter.
Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git co'n bread.
Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come on to Supper.
RAW HEAD AND BLOODY BONES[40]
Don't talk! Go to sleep!
Eyes shet an' don't you peep!
Keep still, or he jes moans:
"Raw Head an' Bloody Bones!"
[40] Repeated to restless children at night to make them lie still and
go to sleep.
MYSTERIOUS FACE WASHING
I wash my face in de watah
Dat's neider rain nor run.
I wipes my face on de towel
Dat's neider wove nor spun.--
I wash my face in de dew,
An' I dries it in de sun.
GO TO BED
De wood's in de kitchen.
De hoss's in de shed.
You liddle Niggers
Had better go to bed.
BUCK-EYED RABBIT! WHOOPEE![41]
Dat Squir'l, he's a cunnin' thing;
He tote a bushy tail.
He jes lug off Uncle Sambo's co'n,
An' heart it on a rail.
Dat Squir'l, he's a cunnin' thing;
An' so is ole Jedge B'ar.
Br'er Rabbit's gone an' los' his tail
'Cep' a liddle bunch of ha'r.
Buckeyed Rabbit! Whoopee!
Buckeyed Rabbit! Ho!
Buckeyed Rabbit! Whoopee!
Squir'l's got a long way to go.
[41] The explanation of this rhyme is found in the Study in Negro Folk
Rhymes.
CAPTAIN COON
Captain Coon's a mighty man,
He trabble atter dark;
Wid nothin' 'tall to 'sturb his mind,
But to hear my ole dog bark.
Dat 'Possum, he's a mighty man,
He trabble late at night.
He never think to climb a tree,
'Till he's feared ole Rober'll bite.
GUINEA GALL
'Way down yon'er in Guinea Gall,
De Niggers eats de fat an' all.
'Way down yon'er in de cotton fiel',
Ev'ry week one peck o' meal.
'Way down yon'er ole Mosser swar';
Holler at you, an' pitch, an' r'ar;
Wid cat o' nine tails,
Wid pen o' nine nails,
Tee whing, tee bing,
An' ev'ry thing!
FISHING SIMON
Simon tuck his hook an' pole,
An' fished on Sunday we's been told.
Fish dem water death bells ring,
Talk from out'n de water, sing--
"Bait y[=o]' hook, Simon!
Drap y[=o]' line, Simon!
Now ketch me, Simon!
Pull me out, Simon!
Take me home, Simon!
Now clean me, Simon!
Cut me up now, Simon!
Now salt me, Simon!
Now fry me, Simon!
Dish me up now, Simon!
Eat me all, Simon!"
Simon e't till he wus full.
Still dat fish keep his plate fall.
Simon want no m[=o]' at all,
Fish say dat he mus' eat all.
Simon's sick, so he throw up!
He give Sunday fishin' up.
A STRANGE OLD WOMAN
Dere wus an ole 'oman, her name wus Nan.
She lived an 'oman, an' died a man.
De ole 'oman lived to be dried up an' cunnin';
One leg stood still, while de tother kep' runnin'.
IN '76
Way down yonder in sebenty-six,
Whar I git my jawbone fix;
All dem coon-loons eatin' wid a spoon!
I'll be ready fer dat Great Day soon.
REDHEAD WOODPECKER
Redhead woodpecker: "Chip! Chip! Chee!"
Promise dat he'll marry me.
Whar shall de weddin' supper be?
Down in de lot, in a rotten holler tree.
What will de weddin' supper be?
A liddle green worm an' a bumblebee,
'Way down yonder on de holler tree.
De Redhead woodpecker, "Chip! Chip! Chee!"
OLD AUNT KATE
Jes look at Ole Aunt Kate at de gyardin gate!
She's a good ole 'oman.
W'en she sift 'er meal, she give me de husk;
W'en she cook 'er bread, she give me de crust.
She put de hosses in de stable;
But one jump out, an' skin his nable.
Jes look at Ole Aunt Kate at de gyardin gate!
Still she's always late.
Hurrah fer Ole Aunt Kate by de gyardin gate!
She's a fine ole 'oman.
Git down dat sifter, take down dat tray!
Go 'long, Honey, dere hain't no udder way!
She put on dat hoe cake, she went 'round de house.
She cook dat 'Possum, an' she call 'im a mouse!
Hurrah fer Ole Aunt Kate by de gyardin gate!
She's a fine playmate.
CHILDREN'S SEATING RHYME
You set outside, an' ketch de cow-hide.
I'll set in de middle, an' play de gol' fiddle.
You set 'round about, an' git scrouged out.
MY BABY
I'se de daddy of dis liddle black baby.
He's his mammy's onliest sweetest liddle Coon.
Got de look on de forehead lak his daddy,
Pretty eyes jes as big as de moon.
I'se de daddy of dis liddle black baby.
Yes, his mammy keep de "Sugar" rollin' over.
She feed him wid a tin cup an' a spoon;
An' he kick lak a pony eatin' clover.
A RACE-STARTER'S RHYME
One fer de money!
Two fer de show!
Three to git ready,
An' four fer to go!
NESTING
De jaybird build on a swingin' lim',
De sparrow in de gyardin;
Dat ole gray goose in de panel o' de fence,
An' de gander on de t'other side o' Jordan.
BABY WANTS CHERRIES
De cherries, dey're red; de cherries, dey're ripe;
An' de baby it want one.
De cherries, dey're hard; de cherries, dey're sour;
An' de baby cain't git none.
Jes look at dat bird in de cherry tree!
He's pickin' 'em one by one!
He's shakin' his bill, he's gittin' it fill',
An' down dat th'oat dey run!
Nev' mind! Bye an' bye dat bird's gwineter fly,
An' mammy's gwineter make dat pie.
She'll give you a few, fer de baby cain't chew,
An' de Pickaninny sholy won't cry.
A PRETTY PAIR OF CHICKENS
Dat box-legged rooster, an' dat bow-legged hen
Make a mighty pretty couple, not to be no kin.
Dey's jes lak some Niggers wearin' white folks ole britches,
Dey thinks dey's lookin' fine, w'en dey needs lots of stitches.
TOO MUCH WATERMELON
Dere wus a great big watermillion growin' on de vine.
Dere wus a liddle ugly Nigger watchin' all de time.
An' w'en dat great big watermillion lay ripenin' in de sun,
An' de stripes along its purty skin wus comin' one by one,
Dat ugly Nigger pulled it off an' toted it away,
An' he e't dat great big watermillion all in one single day.
He e't de rinds, an' red meat too, he finish it all trim;
An' den,--dat great big watermillion up an' finish him.
BUTTERFLY
Pretty liddle butterfly, yaller as de gold,
My sweet liddle butterfly, you sh[=o]' is mighty bold.
You can dance out in de sun, you can fly up high,
But you know I'se bound to git you, yet, my liddle butterfly.
THE HATED BLACKBIRD AND CROW
Dat Blackbird say unto de Crow:
"Dat's why de white folks hates us so;
For ever since ole Adam wus born,
It's been our rule to gedder green corn."
Dat Blackbird say unto de Crow:
"If you's not black, den I don't know.
White folks calls you black, but I say not;
Caze de kittle musn' talk about de pot."
IN A RUSH
Here I comes jes a-rearin' an' a-pitchin',
I hain't had no kiss since I lef' de ole kitchin.
Candy, dat's sweet; dat's very, very clear;
But a kiss from y[=o]' lips would be sweeter, my dear.
TAKING A WALK
We's a-walkin' in de green grass dust, dust, dust.
We's a-walkin' in de green grass dust.
If you's jes as sweet as I thinks you to be,
I'll take you by y[=o]' liddle hand to walk wid me.
PAYING DEBTS WITH KICKS
I owes y[=o]' daddy a peck o' peas.
I'se gwineter pay it wid my knees.
I owes y[=o]' mammy a pound o' meat;
An' I'se gwineter pay dat wid my feet.
Now, if I owes 'em somethin' m[=o]';
You come right back an' let me know.
Please say to dem ('fore I fergets)
I never fails to pay my debts.
GETTING TEN NEGRO BOYS TOGETHER
One liddle Nigger boy whistle an' stew,
He whistle up anudder Nigger an' dat make two.
Two liddle Nigger boys shuck de apple tree,
Down fall anudder Nigger, an' dat make three.
Three liddle Nigger boys, a-wantin' one more,
Never has no trouble a-gittin' up four.
Four liddle Nigger boys, dey cain't drive.
Dey hire a Nigger hack boy, an' dat make five.
Five liddle Niggers, bein' calcullated men,
Call anudder Nigger 'piece an' dat make ten.
HAWK AND CHICKENS
Hen an' chickens in a fodder stack,
Mighty busy scratchin'.
Hawk settin' off on a swingin' lim',
Ready fer de catchin'.
Hawk come a-whizzin' wid his bitin' mouf,
Couldn' hold hisself in.
Hen, flyin' up, knock his eye clean out;
An' de Jaybird died a-laughin'.
MUD-LOG POND
As I stepped down by de Mud-log pon',
I seed dat bullfrog wid his shoe-boots on.
His eyes wus glass, an' his heels wus brass;
An' I give him a dollar fer to let me pass.
WHAT WILL WE DO FOR BACON?
What will we do fer bacon now?
I'se shot, I'se shot de ole sandy sow!
She jumped de fence an' broke de rail;
An'--"Bam!"--I shot her on de tail.
A LITTLE PICKANINNY
Me an' its mammy is both gwine to town,
To git dis Pickaninny a liddle hat an' gown.
Don't you never let him waller on de fl[=o]'!
He's a liddle Pickaninny,
Born in ole Virginy.
Mammy! Don't de baby grow?
Setch a eatin' o' de honey an' a drinkin' o' de wine!
We's gwine down togedder fer to have a good time;
An' we's gwineter eat, an' drink m[=o]' an' m[=o]'.
Oh, sweet liddle [42]Pickaninny,
Born in ole Virginy.
Mammy! How de baby grow!
[42] Pickanniny appears to have been an African word used by the early
American slaves for the word baby.
DON'T SING BEFORE BREAKFAST[43]
Don't sing out 'fore Breakfast,
Don't sing 'fore you eat,
Or you'll cry out 'fore midnight,
You'll cry 'fore you sleep.
[43] A superstition.
MY FOLKS AND YOUR FOLKS
If you an' y[=o]' folks
Likes me an' my folks,
Lak me an' my folks,
Likes you an' y[=o]' folks;
You's never seed folks,
Since folks 'as been folks,
Like you an' y[=o]' folks,
Lak me an' my folks.
LITTLE SLEEPING NEGROES
One liddle Nigger a-lyin' in de bed;
His eyes shet an' still, lak he been dead.
Two liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
A-snorin' an' a-dreamin' of a table spread.
Three liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Deir heels cracked open lak shorten' bread.
Four liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Dey'd better hop out, if dey wants to git fed!
MAMMA'S DARLING
Wid flowers on my shoulders,
An' wid slippers on my feet;
I'se my mammy's darlin'.
Don't you think I'se sweet?
I wish I had a fourpence,
Den I mought use a dime.
I wish I had a Sweetheart,
To kiss me all de time.
I has apples on de table,
An' I has peaches on de shelf;
But I wish I had a husband--
I'se so tired stayin' to myself.
STEALING A RIDE
Two liddle Nigger boys as black as tar,
Tryin' to go to Heaben on a railroad chyar.
Off fall Nigger boys on a cross-tie!
Dey's gwineter git to Heaben shore bye-an'-bye.
WASHING MAMMA'S DISHES
When I wus a liddle boy
A-washin' my mammy's dishes,
I rund my finger down my th'oat
An' pulled out two big fishes!
When I wus a liddle boy
A-wipin' my mammy's dishes,
I sticked my finger in my eye
An' I sh[=o]' seed liddle fishes.
De big fish swallowed dem all up!
It put me jes a-thinkin'.
All dem things looks awful cu'ous!
I wonder wus I drinkin'?
WILLIE WEE
Willie, Willie, Willie Wee!
One, two, three.
If you wanna kiss a pretty gal,
Come kiss me.
ONE NEGRO THEME SUNG WITH "FROG WENT A-COURTING"
[music]
FROG WENT A-COURTING
De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride
Wid a sword an' a pistol by 'is side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He rid up to Miss Mousie's d[=o]'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He rid up to Miss Mousie's d[=o]',
Whar he'd of'en been bef[=o]. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?"
"Oh yes, Sugar Lump! I kyard an' spin." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He tuck dat Mousie on his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He tuck dat Mousie on his knee,
An' he say: "Dear Honey, marry me!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat,
Widout de sayso o' uncle Rat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home,
Sayin': "Whose been here since I'se been gone?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"A fine young gemmun fer to see." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"A fine young gemmun fer to see,
An' one dat axed fer to marry me." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side.
"Jes think o' Mousie's bein' a bride!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Nex' day, dat rat went down to town. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Nex' day dat rat went down to town,
To git up de Mousie's Weddin' gown. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?"--
"Dat acorn hull, all gray an' brown!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"--
"Down in de swamp in a holler tree." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"--
"Two brown beans an' a blackeyed pea." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee.
Wid a fiddle an' bow across his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren,
An' he dance a reel wid de Turkey Hen. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake,
He swallowed de whole weddin' cake! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea,
An' he dance a jig fer de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse.
He dance a breakdown 'round de house. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' to come wus Major Tick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' to come wus Major Tick,
An' he e't so much it make 'im sick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly.
Says he: "Major Tick, you's boun' to die." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat,
An' chilluns, dey all hollered, "Scat!!" Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!
It give dat frog a turble fright. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
It give dat frog a turble fright,
An' he up an' say to dem, "Good-night!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun',
An' a big black duck come gobble 'im down. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?"--
"W'y--, she got swallered on de spot!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Now, I don't know no m[=o]' 'an dat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Now, I don't know no m[=o]' 'an dat.
If you gits m[=o]' you can take my hat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' if you thinks dat hat won't do. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' if you thinks dat hat won't do,
Den you mought take my head 'long, too. Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!
SHOO! SHOO!
Shoo! Shoo!
What'll I do?
Run three mile an' buckle my shoe?
No! No!
I'se gwineter go,
An' kill dat chicken on my fl[=o]'.
Oh! My!
Chicken pie!
Sen' fer de Doctah, I mought die.
Christmus here,
Once a year.
Pass dat cider an' 'simmon beer.
FLAP-JACKS
I loves my wife, an' I loves my baby:
An' I loves dem flap-jacks a-floatin' in gravy.
You play dem chyards, an' make two passes:
While I eats dem flap-jacks a-floatin' in 'lasses.
Now: in come a Nigger an' in come a bear,
In come a Nigger dat hain't got no hair.
Good-by, Nigger, go right on back,
Fer I hain't gwineter give you no flap-jack.
TEACHING TABLE MANNERS
Now whilst we's here 'round de table,
All you young ones git right still.
I wants to l'arn you some good manners,
So's you'll think o' Uncle Bill.
Cose we's gwineter 'scuse Merlindy,
Caze she's jes a baby yit.
But it's time you udder young ones
Wus a-l'arnin' a liddle bit.
I can 'member as a youngster,
Lak you youngsters is to-day;
How my mammy l'arnt me manners
In a 'culiar kind o' way.
One o' mammy's ole time 'quaintance.
(Ole Aunt Donie wus her name)
Come one night to see my mammy.
Mammy co'se 'pared fer de same.
Mammy got de sifter, Honey;
An' she tuck an' make up dough,
Which she tu'n into hot biscuits.
Den we all git smart, you know.
'Zerves an' biscuits on de table!
Honey, noways could I wait.
Ole Aunt Donie wus a good ole 'oman,
An' I jes had to pass my plate.
I soon swallered down dem biscuit,
E't 'em faster dan a shoat.
Dey wus a liddle tough an' knotty,
But I chawed 'em lak a goat.
"Pass de biscuits, please, Mam!
Please, Mam, fer I wants some m[=o]'."
Lawd! You'd oughter seed my mammy
Frownin' up, jes "sorter so."
"Won't you pass de biscuit, please, Mam?"
I said wid a liddle fear.
Dere wus not but one m[=o]' lef', Sir.
Mammy riz up out'n her chear.
W'en Aunt Donie lef' our house, Suh,
Mammy come lak bees an' ants,
Put my head down 'twixt her knees, Suh,
Almos' roll me out'n my pants.
She had a great big tough hick'ry,
An' it help till it convince.
Frum dat day clean down to dis one,
I'se had manners ev'r since.
MISS BLODGER
De rats an' de mice, dey rund up stairs,
Fer to hear Miss Blodger say her prayers.
Now here I stan's 'fore Miss Blodger.
She 'spects to hit me, but I'se gwineter dodge her.
THE LITTLE NEGRO FLY
Dere's a liddle Nigger fly
Got a pretty liddle eye;
But he don't know 'is A, B, C's.
He up an' crawl de book,
An' he eben 'pears to look;
But he don't know 'is A, B, C's.
DESTINIES OF GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN
One, two, three, f[=o]', five, six, seben;
All de good chilluns goes to Heaben.
All de bad chilluns goes below,
To [44]segashuate wid ole man [45]Joe.
One, two, three, f[=o]', five, six, seben, eight;
All de good chilluns goes in de Pearly Gate.
But all de bad chilluns goes the Broad Road below,
To segashuate wid ole man Joe.
[44] Segashuate means associate with.
[45] Read first stanza of "Sheep Shell Corn," to know of ole man Joe.
BLACK-EYED PEAS FOR LUCK
One time I went a-huntin',
I heared dat 'possum sneeze.
I hollered back to Susan Ann:
"Put on a pot o' peas."
Dat good ole 'lasses candy,
What makes de eyeballs shine,
Wid 'possum peas an' taters,
Is my dish all de time.
[46]Dem black-eyed peas is lucky;
When e't on New Year's day,
You always has sweet taters,
An' 'possum come your way.
[46] This last stanza embodies one of the old superstitions.
PERIWINKLE[47]
Pennywinkle, pennywinkle, poke out y[=o]' ho'n;
An' I'll give you five dollahs an' a bar'l o' co'n.
Pennywinkle! Pennywinkle! Dat gal love me?
Jes stick out y[=o]' ho'n all pinted to a tree.
[47] The Periwinkle seems to have been used as an oracle by some Negroes
in the days of their enslavement.
TRAINING THE BOY
W'en I wus a liddle boy,
Jes thirteen inches high,
I useter climb de table legs,
An' steal off cake an' pie.
Altho' I wus a liddle boy,
An' tho' I wusn't high,
My mammy took dat keen switch down,
An' whupped me till I cry.
Now I is a great big boy,
An' Mammy, she cain't do it;
My daddy gits a great big stick,
An' pulls me right down to it.
Dey say: "No breakin' dishes now;
No stealin' an' no lies."
An' since I is a great big boy,
Dey 'spects me to act wise.
BAT! BAT![48]
Bat! Bat! Come un'er my hat,
An' I'll give you a slish o' bacon.
But don't bring none y[=o]' ole bedbugs,
If you don't want to git fersaken.
[48] A superstition that it is good luck to catch a bat in one's hat if
he doesn't get bedbugs by so doing.
RANDSOME TANTSOME
Randsome Tantsome!--Gwine to de Fair?
Randsome Tantsome!--W'at you gwineter wear?
"Dem shoes an' stockin's I'se bound to wear!"
Randsome Tantsome a-gwine to de Fair.
ARE YOU CAREFUL?
Is you keerful; w'en you goes down de street,
To see dat y[=o]' cloze looks nice an' neat?
Does you watch y[=o]' liddle step 'long de way,
An' think 'bout dem words dat you say?
RABBIT HASH
Dere wus a big ole rabbit
Dat had a mighty habit
A-settin' in my gyardin,
An' eatin' all my cabbitch.
I hit 'im wid a mallet,
I tapped 'im wid a maul.
Sich anudder rabbit hash,
You's never tasted 'tall.
WHY THE WOODPECKER'S HEAD IS RED
Bill Dillix say to dat woodpecker bird:
"W'at makes y[=o]' topknot red?"
Says he: "I'se picked in de red-hot sun,
Till it's done burnt my head."
BLESSINGS
The chivalry of the Old South rather demanded that all friends should be
invited to partake of the meal, if they chanced to come calling about
the time of the meal hour. This ideal also pervaded the lowly slave
Negro's cabin. In order that this hospitality might not be abused, the
Negroes had a little deterrent story which they told their children.
Below are the fancied Blessings asked by the fictitious Negro family, in
the story, whose hospitality had been abused.
BLESSING WITH COMPANY PRESENT
Oh Lawd now bless an' b[=i]n' us,
An' put ole Satan 'h[=i]n' us.
Oh let y[=o]' Sperit m[=i]n' us.
Don't let none hongry f[=i]n' us.
BLESSING WITHOUT COMPANY
Oh Lawd have mussy now upon us,
An' keep 'way some our neighbors from us.
For w'en dey all comes down upon us,
Dey eats m[=o]s' all our victuals from us.
ANIMAL PERSECUTORS
I went up on de mountain,
To git a bag o' co'n.
Dat coon, he sicked 'is dog on me,
Dat 'possum blowed 'is ho'n.
Dat gobbler up an' laugh at me.
Dat pattridge giggled out.
Dat peacock squall to bust 'is sides,
To see me runnin' 'bout.
FOUR RUNAWAY NEGROES--WHENCE THEY CAME
Once f[=o]' runaway Niggers,
Dey met in de road.
An' dey ax one nudder:
Whar dey come from.
Den one up an' say:
"I'se jes come down from Chapel Hill
Whar de Niggers hain't wuked an' never will."
Den anudder up an' say:
"I'se jes come here from Guinea Gall
Whar dey eats de cow up, skin an' all."
Den de nex' Nigger say
Whar he done come from:
"Dey wuked you night an' day as dey could;
Dey never had stopped an' dey never would."
De las' Nigger say
Whar he come from:
"De Niggers all went out to de Ball;
De thick, de thin, de short, de tall."
But dey'd all please set up,
Jes lak ole Br'er Rabbit
W'en he look fer a dog.
An' keep it in mind,
Whilst dey boasts 'bout deir gals
An' dem t'other things:
"Dat none deir gals wus lak Sallie Jane,
Fer dat gal wus sweeter dan sugar cane."
WISE SAYING SECTION
LEARN TO COUNT
Naught's a naught,
Five's a figger.
All fer de white man,
None fer de Nigger.
Ten's a ten,
But it's mighty funny;
When you cain't count good,
You hain't got no money.
THE WAR IS ON
De boll-weevil's in de cotton,
De cut-worm's in de corn,
De Devil's in de white man;
An' de wah's a-gwine on.
Poor Nigger hain't got no home!
Poor Nigger hain't got no home!
HOW TO PLANT AND CULTIVATE SEEDS
Plant: One fer de blackbird
Two fer de crow,
Three fer de jaybird
An' f[=o]' fer to grow.
Den: When you goes to wuk,
Don't never stand still;
When you pull de grass,
Pull it out'n de hill.
A MAN OF WORDS
A man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.
De weeds 'gin to grow
Lak a gyarden full o' snow.
De snow 'gin to fly
Lak a eagle in de sky.
De sky 'gin to roar
Lak a hammer on y[=o]' door.
De door 'gin to crack
Lak a hick'ry on y[=o]' back.
Y[=o]' back 'gin to smart
Lak a knife in y[=o]' heart.
Y[=o]' heart 'gin to fail
Lak a boat widout a sail.
De boat 'gin to sink
Lak a bottle full o' ink.
Dat ink, it won't write
Neider black nor white.
Dat man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.
INDEPENDENT
I'se jes as innerpenunt as a pig on ice.
Gwineter git up ag'in if I slips down twice.
If I cain't git up, I can jes lie down.
I don't want no Niggers to be he'pin' me 'roun'.
TEMPERANCE RHYME
Whisky nor brandy hain't no friend to my kind.
Dey killed my p[=o]' daddy, an' dey troubled my mind.
Sometime he drunk whisky, sometime he drunk ale;
Sometime he kotch de rawhide, an' sometime de flail.
On yon'er high mountain, I'll set up dar high;
An' de wild geese can cheer me while passin' on by.
Go 'way, young ladies, an' let me alone;
For you know I'se a poor boy, an' a long ways from home.
Go put up de hosses an' give 'em some hay;
But don't give me no whisky, so long as I stay.
For whisky nor brandy hain't friend to my kind;
Dey killed my p[=o]' daddy, an' dey troubled my mind.
THAT HYPOCRITE
I tell you how dat hypocrite do,
He come down to my house, an' talk about you;
He talk about me, an' he talk about you;
An' dat's de way dat hypocrite do.
I tell you how dat hypocrite pray.
He pray out loud in de hypocrite way.
He pray out loud, got a heap to say;
An' dat's de way dat hypocrite pray.
I tell you how dat hypocrite 'ten',
He 'ten' dat he love, an' he don't love men.
He 'ten' dat he love, an' he hate Br'er Ben;
An' dat's de way dat hypocrite 'ten'.
DRINKING RAZOR SOUP
He's been drinkin' razzer soup;
Dat sharp Nigger, black lak ink.
If he don't watch dat tongue o' his,
Somebody'll hurt 'im 'f[=o]r' he think.
He cain't drive de pigeons t' roost,
Dough he talk so big an' smart.
Hain't got de sense to tole 'em in.
Cain't more 'an drive dat ole mule chyart.
OLD MAN KNOW-ALL
Ole man Know-All, he come 'round
Wid his nose in de air, turned 'way frum de ground.
His ole woolly head hain't been combed fer a week;
It say: "Keep still, while Know-All speak."
Ole man Know-All's tongue, it run;
He jes know'd ev'rything under de sun.
When you knowed one thing, he knowed m[=o]'.
He 'us sharp 'nough to stick an' green 'nough to grow.
Ole man Know-All died las' week.
He got drowned in de middle o' de creek.
De bridge wus dar, an' dar to stay.
But he knowed too much to go dat way.
FED FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
I nebber starts to break my colt,
Till he's ole enough to trabble.
I nebber digs my taters up
Wen dey's only right to grabble.
So w'en you sees me risin' up
To structify in meetin',
You can know I'se climbed de Knowledge Tree
An' done some apple eatin'.
THE TONGUE
Got a tongue dat jes run when it walk?
It cain't talk.
Got a tongue dat can hush when it talk?--
It cain't squawk.
BRAG AND BOAST
Brag is a big dog;
But Hold Fast, he is better.
Dem big black rough hands,
Dey cain't write no letter.
Boast, he barks an' growls loud;
But Bulger, he hain't no shirker.
Dat big loud mouf Nigger,
He hain't never no worker.
SELF-CONTROL
Befo' you says dat ugly word,
You stop an' count ten.
Den if you wants to say dat word,
Begin an' count again.
Don't have a tongue tied in de middle,
An' loose frum en' to en'.
You mus' think twice, den speak once;
Dat [49]donkey cain't count ten.
[49] The somewhat less dignified term was more commonly used.
SPEAK SOFTLY
"Wus dat you spoke,
Or a fence rail broke?"
Br'er Rabbit say to de Jay
[50]W'en you don't speak sof',
Y[=o]' baits comes off;
An' de fish jes swim away.
[50] The last three lines of the rhyme was a superstition current among
antebellum Negroes.
STILL WATER RUNS DEEP
Dat still water, it run deep.
Dat shaller water prattle.
Dat tongue, hung in a holler head,
Jes roll 'round an' rattle.
DON'T TELL ALL YOU KNOW
Keep dis in min', an' all 'll go right;
As on y[=o]' way you goes;
Be shore you knows 'bout all you tells,
But don't tell all you knows.
JACK AND DINAH WANT FREEDOM[51]
Ole Aunt Dinah, she's jes lak me.
She wuk so hard dat she want to be free.
But, you know, Aunt Dinah's gittin' sorter ole;
An' she's feared to go to Canada, caze it's so c[=o]l'.
Dar wus ole Uncle Jack, he want to git free.
He find de way Norf by de moss on de tree.
He cross dat [52]river a-floatin' in a tub.
Dem [53]Patterollers give 'im a mighty close rub.
Dar is ole Uncle Billy, he's a mighty good Nigger.
He tote all de news to Mosser a little bigger.
When you tells Uncle Billy, you wants free fer a fac';
De nex' day de hide drap off'n y[=o]' back.
[51] The writer wishes to give explanation as to why the rhyme "Jack and
Dinah Want Freedom" appears under the Section of Psycho-composite Rhymes
as set forth in "The Study----" of our volume. The Negroes repeating
this rhyme did not always give the names Jack, Dinah, and Billy, as we
here record them, but at their pleasure put in the individual name of
the Negro in their surroundings whom the stanza being repeated might
represent. Thus this little rhyme was the scientific dividing, on the
part of the Negroes themselves, of the members of their race into three
general classes with respect to the matter of Freedom.
[52] The Ohio River.
[53] White guards who caught and kept slaves at the master's home.
FOREIGN SECTION
AFRICAN RHYMES
The rhymes "Tuba Blay," "Near Waldo Tee-do O mah nah mejai," "Sai
Boddeoh Sumpun Komo," and "Byanswahn-Byanswahn" were kindly contributed
by Mr. John H. Zeigler, Monrovia, Liberia, and Mr. C. T. Wardoh of the
Bassa Tribe, Liberia. They are natives and are now in America for
collegiate study and training.
NEAR-WALDO-TEE-DO O MAH NAH MEJAI
OR
NEAR-WALDO-TEE-DO IS MY SWEETHEART
1. A yehn me doddoc Near Waldo Tee-do.
Yehn me doddoc o-o seoh-o-o.
Omah nahn mejai Near Waldo Tee-do.
Omah nahn mejai Near Waldo Tee-do.
_Translation_
Near Waldo Tee-do gave me a suit.
He gave me a suit.
Near Waldo Tee-do is my sweetheart.
Near Waldo Tee-do is my sweetheart.
TUBA BLAY
OR
AN EVENING SONG
1. Seah O, Tuba blay.
Tuba blay, Tuba blay.
2. O blay wulna nahn blay.
Tuba blay, Tuba blay.
_Translation_
1. Oh please Tuba sing.
Tuba sing, Tuba sing.
2. Oh sing that song.
Tuba sing, Tuba sing.
THE OWL
We are indebted for this Baluba rhyme to Dr. and Mrs. William H.
Sheppard, pioneer missionaries under the Southern Presbyterian Church.
The little production comes from Congo, Africa.
Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.
Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.
Meme taya wewe, Cimpungelu.
Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.
_Translation_
The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.
The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.
I now tell you by my dancing, I'm the owl.
The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.
SAI BODDEOH SUMPUN KOMO
OR
I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY SUMPUN
1. Sai Sumpun komo.
De Sumpun nenah?
Sumpun se jello jeppo
Boddeoh Sumpun.
2. Sai Sumpun komo.
De Sumpun nenah?
Sumpun auch nahn jehn deddoc.
Boddeoh Sumpun.
_Translation_
1. I am not going to marry Sumpun.
What has Sumpun done?
Sumpun doesn't live a seafaring life
Boddeoh Sumpun.
2. I am not going to marry Sumpun.
What has Sumpun done?
Sumpun does not support me.
Boddeoh Sumpun.
BYANSWAHN-BYANSWAHN
OR
A BOAT SONG
[=O]-[=O] Byanswahn blay Tanner tee-o-o.
O Byanswahn jekah jubha.
De jo Byanswahn se kah jujah dai.
[=O] Byanswahn blay dai Tanner tee-o-o.
_Translation_
Oh boat, come back to me.
Since you carried my child away,
I have not seen that child.
Oh boat come back to me.
THE TURKEY BUZZARD
Dr. C. C. Fuller: a missionary at Chikore Melsetter, Rhodesia, Africa,
was good enough to secure for the compiler this rhyme, written in
Chindau, from the Rev. John E. Hatch, also a missionary in South Africa.
Riti, riti, mwana wa rashika.
Ndizo, ndizo kurgya ku wande.
Riti, riti, mwana wa oneka.
Ndizo, ndizo ti wande issu.
_Translation_
Turkey buzzard, turkey buzzard, your child is lost.
That is all right, the food will be more plentiful.
Turkey buzzard, turkey buzzard, your child is found.
That is all right, we will increase in number.
THE FROGS
The following child's play rhyme in Baluba with its translation was
contributed by Mrs. L. G. Sheppard, who was for many years a missionary
in Congo, Africa.
Cula, Cula, Kuya kudi Kunyi?
Tuyiya ku cisila wa Baluba.
Tun kuata tua kuesa cinyi?
Tua kudimuka kua musode.
_Translation_
Frogs, frogs, where are you going?
We are going to the market of the Baluba.
If they catch you, what will they do?
They will turn us all into lizards.
JAMAICA RHYME
BUSCHER GARDEN
This Negro rhyme from rural Jamaica was contributed by Dr. Cecil B.
Roddock, a native of that country. The word _Buscher_ means an overseer
or master of a plantation.
All a night, me da watch a brother Wayrum;
Wayrum ina me Buscher garden.
Oh, Brother Wayrum! Wha' a you da do,
To make a me Buscher a catch a you?
Oh a me Buscher, in a me Buscher garden;
Me a beg a me Buscher a pardon!
VENEZUELAN NEGRO RHYMES
These Venezuelan rhymes: "A 'Would be' Immigrant" and "Game Contestant's
Song," came to us through the kindness of Mr. J. C. Williams, Caracas,
Venezuela, S. A. He is a native of Venezuela.
GAME CONTESTANT'S SONG
We're going to dig!
We're going to dig a sepulcher to bury those regiments.
White Rose Union!
Get yourself in readiness to bury those regiments.
Oh Grentville! [54]Cici! Cici!
Beat them forever.
Sa your de vrai!
We'll send them a challenge,
To mardi carnival.
Sa your de vrai!!
[54] Cici = a kind of game.
A "WOULD BE" IMMIGRANT
Conjo Celestine! Oh
He was going to Panama.
Reavay Trinidad!
Celestine Revay, la Grenada!
What d'you think bring Celestine back?
What d'you think bring Celestine back?
What d'you think bring Celestine to me?
Twenty cents for a cup of tea.
TRINIDAD NEGRO RHYMES
We are very grateful to Mr. L. A. Brown for his kindness in giving to us
the two Venezuelan rhymes which follow. His home is in Princess Town,
Trinidad, B. W. I.
UN BELLE MARIE COOLIE
OR
BEAUTIFUL MARIE, THE EAST INDIAN
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.
Papa est un African.
Mamma est un belle Coolie.
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.
_Translation_
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.
Papa is an African.
Mamma is a beautiful East Indian.
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.
A TOM CAT
My father had a big Tom cat,
That tried to play a fiddle.
He struck it here, and he struck it there,
And he struck it in the middle.
PHILIPPINE ISLAND RHYME
The following rhyme came to me through the kindness of Mr. C. W. Ransom,
Grand Chain, Ill., U.S.A. Mr. Ransom served three years with the United
States Army in the Philippine Islands.
See that Monkey up the cocoanut tree,
A-jumpin' an' a-throwin' nuts at me?
El hombre no savoy,
No like such play.
All same to Americano,
No hay dique.