Jamaican Song and Story Part 69

Cx.x.xVII.

This seems a fitting moment to introduce:--

[Music: _4th Figure._

Oh General Jackson!

Oh General Jackson!

Oh General Jackson!

Oh you kill all the Black man them!

Oh what a wrongful judgment!

Oh what a wrongful judgment!

Oh what a wrongful judgment!

You kill all the Black man them.

Oh what a awful mourning!

Oh what a awful mourning!

Oh what a awful mourning You bring on St. Thomas people!]

This is the other side of the question, referred to in the Digging Sing, No. 88. It is the rebellion of 1865 again, from the point of view of that section of the Blacks who considered themselves aggrieved at the measures taken for its suppression.

Cx.x.xVIII.

We get a glimpse of the doings of the soldiery in peaceable times in:--

[Music: _5th Figure._

Soldier da go 'way, Married woman let go your bull-dog to-morrow; Soldier da go way to-morrow, The last of the ring ding to-morrow, Soldier da go 'way, Married woman let go your bull-dog to-morrow; Soldier da go 'way, Married woman let go your bull-dog.]

The soldiers are s.h.i.+fting their quarters. As they are apt to be rather riotous on the night before departure, the owner of the bull-dog is advised to unchain him so that he may guard her property more effectually.

Cx.x.xIX.

There is also a tender side to the parting:--

[Music: _4th Figure._

Don't cry too much, Jamaica gal, First West will soon come back again.

Don't cry too much, Jamaica gal, Second West is gone to the war.

Don't cry too much, don't cry too much, First West will come and cheer you up.

Don't cry too much, Jamaica gal, Second West is gone to the war.]

CXL.

A few years ago Jamaica boasted of water as efficacious as that of Mecca in the opinion of some people. It seems to have lost its repute in these sceptical days:--

[Music: _4th Figure._

Dip them, Mister Bedward, dip them, Dip them in the healing stream; Some come with jacka.s.s, some come with bus, Dip them in the healing stream.]

CXLI.

It says much for the expertness of the dancers that they can fit the same steps to tunes of such varying accent as the two last examples present. Here is another which differs again:--

[Music: _4th Figure._

Very well, very well, Mister Collin now, An' him leave an' join Sabbatarian bands, An' him lose the whole of his members now, Oh then poor Sabbatarian bands!]

Mr. Collin was a minister who told his flock that he had made a mistake in keeping Sunday holy, and that for the future he would have service on Sat.u.r.day and the people were to come to church on that day and work on Sunday. The "sing" suggests that his congregation was not persuaded by his arguments.

CXLII.

The light-hearted way in which the Negro turns serious things into fun is well ill.u.s.trated by:--

[Music: _4th Figure._

Oh trial! Great trevelation children ho!

Trial! We're bound to leave this world.

Baptis', Baptis', Baptis' till I die.

I been grown up in the Baptis' side an' die under Baptis' rule.

Oh trial! Great trevelation children ho!

Trial! We're bound to leave this world.

Church-light, Church-light, Church-light till I die, I been grown up in the Church-light side an' die under Church-light rule.

Oh! trial! Great trevelation children ho!

Trial! We're bound to leave this world.]

And so on through all the sects and persuasions, Wesleyan, etc., etc., among them Mettetis (Methodist).

There is no doubt about the word being _trevelation_ a mixture of Revelation, one of their favourite books in the Bible, and tribulation, for which it is intended. The wrong phrasing of two notes to "bound" is as they give it. We should allow only one.