Negro Folk Rhymes Part 29

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 n.i.g.g.e.rs 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]t.i.tterer too.

"Big bait o' Mulberries make 'em bofe sick.

Dem liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs gwineter roll an' kick!"

[37] t.i.tterer means laugh.

ANIMAL ATTIRE

Dat c.o.o.n, he w'ar a unders.h.i.+rt; Dat 'Possum w'ar a gown.

Br'er Rabbit, he w'ar a overcoat Wid b.u.t.tons up an' down.

Mistah Gobbler's got beads 'roun' 'is nec'.

Mistah Pattridge's got a collar, Hun!

Mistah Peac.o.c.k, 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 'la.s.ses 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 c.o.o.n; 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 monkeys.

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.