Negro Folk Rhymes Part 35

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 flo'!

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 mo' an' mo'.

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.

[43]DON'T SING BEFORE BREAKFAST

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 superst.i.tion.

MY FOLKS AND YOUR FOLKS

If you an' yo' folks Likes me an' my folks, Lak me an' my folks, Likes you an' yo' folks; You's never seed folks, Since folks 'as been folks, Like you an' yo' folks, Lak me an' my folks.

LITTLE SLEEPING NEGROES

One liddle n.i.g.g.e.r a-lyin' in de bed; His eyes shet an' still, lak he been dead.

Two liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs a-lyin' in de bed; A-snorin' an' a-dreamin' of a table spread.

Three liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs a-lyin' in de bed; Deir heels cracked open lak shorten' bread.

Four liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs 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 n.i.g.g.e.r boys as black as tar, Tryin' to go to Heaben on a railroad chyar.

Off fall n.i.g.g.e.r boys on a cross-tie!

Dey's gwineter git to Heaben sh.o.r.e bye-an'-bye.

WAs.h.i.+NG MAMMA'S DISHES

When I wus a liddle boy A-was.h.i.+n' 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 sho' 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 do'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He rid up to Miss Mousie's do', Whar he'd of'en been befo. 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!