Negro Folk Rhymes Part 11

_Yes_: De Fish-hawk said unto Mistah Crane; "I wishes to de Lawd dat you'd sen' a liddle rain; Fer de water's all muddy, an de creek's gone dry; If it 'twasn't fer de tadpoles we'd all die."

_Oh_: When de sheep sh.e.l.l co'n wid de rattle of his ho'n I wishes to de Lawd I'd never been bo'n; Caze when de Hant blows de ho'n, de sperits all dance, An' de hosses an' de cattle, dey whirls 'round an' prance.

_Oh_: Yonder comes Skillet an' dere goes Pot; An' here comes Jawbone 'cross de lot.

Walk Jawbone! Beat de Skillet an' de Pan!

You cut dat Pigeon's Wing, Black Man!

_Now_: Take keer, gemmuns, an' let me through; Caze I'se gwineter dance wid liddle Mollie Lou.

But I'se never seed de lak since I'se been bo'n, When de sheep sh.e.l.l co'n wid de rattle of his ho'n!

[19] Hant = spirit or ghost.

PLASTER

Chilluns: Mammy an' daddy had a hoss, Dey want a liddle bigger.

Dey sticked a plaster on his back An' drawed a liddle n.i.g.g.e.r.

Den: Mammy an' daddy had a dog, His tail wus short an' chunky.

Dey slapped a plaster 'round dat tail, An' drawed it lak de monkey.

Well: Mammy an' daddy's dead an' gone.

Did you ever hear deir story?

Dey sticked some plasters on deir heels, An' drawed 'em up to Glory!

UNCLE NED

Jes lay down de shovel an' de hoe.

Jes hang up de fiddle an' de bow.

No more hard work fer ole man Ned, Fer he's gone whar de good n.i.g.g.e.rs go.

He didn' have no years fer to hear, Didn' have no eyes fer to see, Didn' have no teeth fer to eat corn cake, An' he had to let de beefsteak be.

Dey called 'im "Ole Uncle Ned,"

A long, long time ago.

Dere wusn't no wool on de top o' his head In de place whar de wool oughter grow.

When ole man Ned wus dead, Mosser's tears run down lak rain; But ole Miss, she wus a liddle sorter glad, Dat she wouldn' see de ole n.i.g.g.e.r 'gain.

THE MASTER'S "STOLEN" COAT

Ole Mosser bought a brand new coat, He hung it on de wall.

Dat n.i.g.g.e.r [20]stole dat coat away, An' wore it to de Ball.

His head look lak a Coffee pot, His nose look lak de spout, His mouf look lak de fier place, Wid de ashes all tuck out.

His face look lak a skillet lid, His years lak two big kites.

His eyes look lak two big biled aigs, Wid de yallers in de whites.

His body 'us lak a stuffed toad frog, His foot look lak a board.

Oh-oh! He thinks he is so fine, But he's greener dan a gourd.

[20] Stole, here, means taken temporarily with intention to return.

[21]I WOULDN'T MARRY A YELLOW OR A WHITE NEGRO GIRL

I sho' loves dat gal dat dey calls Sally [22]"Black,"

An' I sorter loves some of de res'; I first loves de gals fer lovin' me, Den I loves myse'f de bes'.

I wouldn' marry dat yaller n.i.g.g.e.r gal, An' I'll tell you de reason why: Her neck's drawed out so stringy an' long, I'se afeared she 'ould never die.

I wouldn' marry dat White n.i.g.g.e.r gal, (Fer gracious sakes!) dis is why: Her nose look lak a kittle spout; An' her skin, it hain't never dry.

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

[22] "Black" here is not the real name. This name is applied because of the complexion of the girls to whom it was sung.

DON'T ASK ME QUESTIONS

Don't ax me no questions, An' I won't tell you no lies; But bring me dem apples, An' I'll make you some pies.

An' if you ax questions, 'Bout my havin' de flour; I fergits to use 'la.s.ses An' de pie'll be all sour.

Dem apples jes wa'k here; An' dem 'la.s.ses, dey run.

Hain't no place lak my house Found un'er de sun.

THE OLD SECTION BOSS

I once knowed an ole s.e.xion Boss but he done been laid low.

I once knowed an ole s.e.xion Boss but he done been laid low.

He "Caame frum gude ole Ireland some fawhrty year ago."

W'en I ax 'im fer a job, he say: "Nayger, w'at can yer do?"

W'en I ax 'im fer a job, he say: "Nayger, w'at can yer do?"

"I can line de track; tote de jack, de pick an' shovel too."

Says he: "Nayger, de railroad's done, an' de chyars is on de track,"

Says he: "Nayger, de railroad's done, an' de chyars is on de track,"

"Transportation brung yer here, but yo' money'll take yer back."

I went down to de Deepo, an' my ticket I sho' did draw.

I went down to de Deepo, an' my ticket I sho' did draw.

To take me over dat ole Iron Mountain to de State o' Arkansaw.

As I went sailin' down de road, I met my mudder-in-law.