Negro Folk Rhymes Part 4

An' don't you want to go?

I sholy will be ready Fer dat dinnah ho'n to blow.

Dat ole bell, it goes "Bangity--bang!"

Fer all dem white folks bo'n.

But I'se not ready fer to go Till Dinah blows her ho'n.

"Poke--sallid!" "Poke--sallid!"

Dat ole ho'n up an' blow.

Jes think about dem good ole greens!

Say? Don't you want to go?

[11] Shu't = s.h.i.+rt.

MY MULE

Las' Saddy mornin' Mosser said: "Jump up now, Sambo, out'n bed.

Go saddle dat mule, an' go to town; An' bring home Mistiss' mornin' gown."

I saddled dat mule to go to town.

I mounted up an' he buck'd me down.

Den I jumped up from out'n de dust, An' I rid him till I thought he'd bust.

BULLFROG PUT ON THE SOLDIER CLOTHES

Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.

He went down yonder fer to shoot at de crows; Wid a knife an' a fo'k between 'is toes, An' a white hankcher fer to wipe 'is nose.

Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.

He's a "dead sh.o.r.e shot," gwineter kill dem crows.

He takes "Pot," an' "Skillet" from de Fiddler's Ball.

Dey're to dance a liddle jig while Jim Crow fall.

Bullfrog put on de soldier clo's.

He went down de river fer to shoot at de crows.

De powder flash, an' de crows fly 'way; An' de Bullfrog shoot at 'em all nex' day.

SAIL AWAY, LADIES!

Sail away, ladies! Sail away!

Sail away, ladies! Sail away!

Nev' min' what dem white folks say, May de Mighty bless you. Sail away!

Nev' min' what yo' daddy say, Shake yo' liddle foot an' fly away.

Nev' min' if yo' mammy say: "De Devil'll git you." Sail away!

THE BANJO PICKING

Hush boys! Hush boys! Don't make a noise, While ole Mosser's sleepin'.

We'll run down de Graveyard, an' take out de bones, An' have a liddle Banjer pickin'.

I takes my Banjer on a Sunday mornin'.

Dem ladies, dey 'vites me to come.

We slips down de hill an' picks de liddle chune: "Walk, Tom Wilson Here Afternoon."

[12]"Walk Tom Wilson Here Afternoon"; "You Cain't Dance Lak ole Zipp c.o.o.n."

Pick [12]"Dinah's Dinner Ho'n" "Dance 'Round de Room."

"Sweep dat Kittle Wid a Bran' New Broom."

[12] Those marked [12] are found elsewhere in this volume. We were unable to obtain the other three.

OLD MOLLY HARE

Ole Molly har'!

What's you doin' thar?

"I'se settin' in de fence corner, smokin' seegyar."

Ole Molly har'!

What's you doin' thar?

"I'se pickin' out a br'or, settin' on a p.r.i.c.ky-p'ar."

Ole Molly har'!

What's you doin' thar?

"I'se gwine cross de Cotton Patch, hard as I can t'ar."

Molly har' to-day, So dey all say, Got her pipe o' clay, jes to smoke de time 'way.

"De dogs say 'boo!'

An' dey barks too, I hain't got no time fer to talk to you."

ONE NEGRO TUNE USED WITH "AN OPOSSUM HUNT"

[music]

AN OPOSSUM HUNT

'Possum meat is good an' sweet, I always finds it good to eat.

My dog tree, I went to see.

A great big 'possum up dat tree.

I retch up an' pull him in, Den dat ole 'possum 'gin to grin.

I tuck him home an' dressed him off, Dat night I laid him in de fros'.

De way I cooked dat 'possum sound, I fust parboiled, den baked him brown.