Jamaican Song and Story Part 66

[Music: _3rd Figure._

Crahss-lookin' dog up'tairs, Crahss-lookin' dog up'tairs; I lift up me foot an' I hit him a kick an' him roll up him tail an' run.

What you fe do with that?

What you fe do with that?

I meet him up'tairs an' I hit him a kick an' he roll up him tail an' run.]

See note to "Parson Puss and Parson Dog" (p. 93), also Author's Preface.

CXX.

[Music: _4th Figure._

Goatridge have some set a gal So-so s.h.i.+rt them can't wash.

Give me back me soap an' blue, Give me back me soap an' blue, Give me back me soap an' 'tarch, So-so s.h.i.+rt them can't wash.]

Goatridge is the name of a neighbouring hamlet. When a boy "gives out his s.h.i.+rts to wash" he also provides the girl with soap, blue and starch.

So-so means even. It also means only, as:--"I get so-so potato fe nyam," I only got potatoes to eat.

"s.h.i.+rt" is p.r.o.nounced almost "shut."

CXXI.

[Music: _5th Figure._

Me carry me akee a Linstead market, Not a quatty worth sell.

Oh what a losses!

Not a quatty worth sell.

Me carry me akee a Linstead market.

Not a quatty worth sell.

Oh not a light, not a bite!

Not a quatty worth sell.]

The Akee (_Cupania edulis_), p.r.o.nounced _acky_, is a handsome tree producing something which one hardly knows whether to call a fruit or a vegetable. Besides the edible part, the beautiful scarlet capsule contains a substance which is poisonous. Deaths by misadventure through carelessness in its preparation for table occur every year.

The time of these Quadrille tunes will be pretty accurately judged.

They would all come under _Allegro_ except the First, which is slower than the others, and it might be headed _Allegretto_ or even _Andantino_. The Third figure is not much used, and many dancers do not know the step. Its place is generally supplied by one of the other figures. The most popular of all is the Fifth, of which we have many examples to give. The step is regulated by two beats in the bar of six, so we find that they dance it also to 2/4 time, as for instance:--

CXXII.

[Music: _5th Figure._

Since Dora Logan a wahk with Gallawoss, The man them a beat them wife with junka 'tick.

Why, why, why, Amily!

Bring back me dumpling, yah? Amily!

No dog, no puss, no fowl, Amily.

Bring back me dumpling, yah?[54] Amily.

No dog, no puss, no fowl, Amily.

Fetch back me dumpling, yah? Amily.]

[Footnote 54: "Yah?" = Do you hear?]

This has to go very fast, indeed as fast as the words of the second bar can be spoken. It will be found then to correspond to a moderate _Allegro_ in six time counted in two.

Two stories are mixed up here. One of the girl who walks with the Gallawoss--a Lizard with a gold eye and an undeserved reputation for biting--which leads to an age the reverse of golden, when the men beat their wives with junka (short) sticks. And the other, of some incident connected with breakfast in the field, when Amily ate somebody's dumpling and laid the blame on the usual scapegoat, the cat.

CXXIII.

The rapid speed necessitated by some forms of 2/4 time just suits the following:--

[Music: _5th Figure._

Fire, Mister Preston, Fire!

Fi-er down the lane!

Then send the brigade fe go out the fire, The brigade can't out the fire.

Fire, Mister Preston! Fire, Mister Preston!

Fi-er down the lane!

Fire, Mister Preston! Fire, Mister Preston!

Fi-er down the lane!]

CXXIV.

Where the beat is in crotchets it sounds unduly slow:--

[Music: _5th Figure._

Tief cahffee, Tief cahffee, Tief cahffee, Benigna Field, fe go buy silk dress, Fe go show them Gardon boy, fe go show them Gardon boy, fe go show them Gardon boy, Benigna Field, you tief cahffee.]