Negro Folk Rhymes Part 10

She fell in de fire, an' she kicked up a chunk.

Dem embers got in Aunt Dinah's shoe, An' dat black n.i.g.g.e.r sho' got up an' flew.

I likes Aunt Dinah mighty, mighty well, But dere's jes' one thing I hates an' 'spize: She drinks mo' whisky dan de bigges' fool, Den she up an' tell ten thousand lies.

Yes, I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk.

I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk.

I won't git drunk an' kick up a chunk, 'Way down on de ole Plank Road.

Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.

Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.

Oh shoo my Love! My turkle dove.

'Way down on de ole Plank Road.

THE OLD WOMAN IN THE HILLS

Once: Dere wus an ole 'oman Dat lived in de hills; Put rocks in 'er stockin's, An' sent 'em to mill.

Den: De ole miller swore, By de pint o' his knife; Dat he never had ground up No rocks in his life.

So: De ole 'oman said To dat miller nex' day: "You railly must 'scuse me, It's de onliest way."

"I heared you made meal, A-grindin' on stones.

I mus' 'ave heared wrong, It mus' 'ave been bones."

A SICK WIFE

Las' Sadday night my wife tuck sick, An' what d'you reckon ail her?

She e't a tucky gobbler's head An' her stomach, it jes' fail her.

She squall out: "Sam, bring me some mint!

Make catnip up an' sage tea!"

I goes an' gits her all dem things, But she throw 'em back right to me.

Says I: "Dear Honey! Mind nex' time!"

"Don't eat from 'A to Izzard'"

"I thinks you won' git sick at all, If you saves po' me de gizzard."

MY WONDERFUL TRAVEL

I come down from ole Virginny, 'Twas on a Summer day; De wedder was all frez up, 'An' I skeeted all de way!

_Interlocution_:

Hand my banjer down to play, Wanter pick fer dese ladies right away;

"W'en dey went to bed, Dey couldn' shet deir eyes,"

An' "Dey was stan'in' on deir heads, A-pickin' up de pies."

[17]I WOULD NOT MARRY A BLACK GIRL

I wouldn' marry a black gal, I'll tell you de reason why: When she goes to comb dat head De naps'll 'gin to fly.

I wouldn' marry a black gal, I'll tell you why I won't: When she'd oughter wash her face-- Well, I'll jes say she don't.

I woudn' marry a black gal, An' dis is why I say: When you has her face around, It never gits good day.

[17] For discussion see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.

HARVEST SONG

Las' year wus a good c.r.a.p year, An' we raised beans an' 'maters.

We didn' make much cotton an' co'n; But, Goodness Life, de taters!

You can plow dat ole gray hoss, I'se gwineter plow dat mulie; An' w'en we's geddered in de c.r.a.ps, I'se gwine down to see Julie.

I hain't gwineter wo'k on de railroad.

I hates to wo'k on de fahm.

I jes wants to set in de cool shade, Wid my head on my Julie's ahm.

You swing Lou, an' I'll swing Sue.

Dere hain't no diffunce 'tween dese two.

You swing Lou, I'll swing my beau; I'se gwineter buy my gal red calico.

YEAR OF JUBILEE

n.i.g.g.e.rs, has you seed ole Mosser; (Red mustache on his face.) A-gwine 'roun' sometime dis mawnin', 'Spectin' to leave de place?

n.i.g.g.e.r Hands all runnin' 'way, Looks lak we mought git free!

It mus' be now de [18]Kingdom Come In de Year o' Jubilee.

Oh, yon'er comes ole Mosser Wid his red mustache all white!

It mus' be now de Kingdom Come Sometime to-morrer night.

Yanks locked him in de smokehouse cellar, De key's throwed in de well: It sho' mus' be de Kingdom Come.

Go ring dat n.i.g.g.e.r field-bell!

[18] Kingdom Come = Freedom.

SHEEP Sh.e.l.l CORN

_Oh_: De Ram blow de ho'n an' de sheep sh.e.l.l co'n; An' he sen' it to de mill by de buck-eyed Whippoorwill.

Ole Joe's dead an' gone but his [19]Hant blows de ho'n; An' his hound howls still from de top o' dat hill.