Negro Folk Rhymes Part 19

A n.i.g.g.e.r come a-struttin' up to me las' night; In his han' wus a walkin' cane, He tipped his hat an' give a low bow; "Howdy-doo! Miss Lize Jane!"

But I didn' ax him how he done, Which make a hint good pinned, Dat I'd druther have a paper bag, When it's sumpin' to be filled up wid wind.

GOING TO BE GOOD SLAVES

Ole Mosser an' Missus has gone down to town, Dey said dey'd git us somethin' an' dat hain't no jokes.

I'se gwineter be good all de whilst dey're all 'way, An' I'se gwineter wear stockin's jes lak de white folks.

[30]PAGE'S GEESE

Ole man Page'll be in a turble rage, W'en he find out, it'll raise his dander.

Yankee soldiers bought his geese, fer one cent a-piece, An' sent de pay home by de gander.

[30] The Northern soldiers during the Civil War took all of a Southern planter's geese except one lone gander. They put one penny, for each goose taken, into a small bag and tied this bag around the gander's neck. They then sent him home to his owner with the pay of one penny for each goose taken. The Negroes of the community at once made up this little song.

TO WIN A YELLOW GIRL

If you wants to win a yaller gal, I tell you what you do; You "borrow" Mosser's Beaver hat, An' slip on his Long-tailed Blue.

s.e.x LAUGH

You'se heared a many a gal laugh, An' say: "He! He-he! He-he-he!"

But you hain't heared no boy laugh, An' say: "She! She-she! She-she-she!"

OUTRUNNING THE DEVIL

I went upon de mountain, An' I seed de Devil comin'.

I retched an' got my hat an' coat, An' I beat de Devil runnin'.

As I run'd down across de fiel', A rattlesnake bit me on de heel.

I rears an' pitches an' does my bes', An' I falls right back in a hornet's nes'.

For w'en I wus a sinnah man, I rund by leaps an' boun's.

I wus afeard de Devil 'ould ketch me Wid his ole three legged houn's.

But now I'se come a Christun, I kneels right down an' prays, An' den de Devil runs from me-- I'se tried dem other ways.

HOW TO KEEP OR KILL THE DEVIL

If you wants to see de Devil smile, Simpully do lak his own chile.

If you wants to see de Devil git s.p.u.n.k, Swallow whisky, an' git drunk.

If you wants to see de Devil live, Cuss an' swar an' never give.

If you wants to see de Devil run, Jes tu'n a loose de Gospel gun.

If you wants to see de Devil fall, Hit him wid de Gospel ball.

If you wants to see de Devil beg, Nail him wid a Gospel peg.

If you wants to see de Devil sick, Beat him wid a Gospel stick.

If you wants to see de Devil die, Feed him up on Gospel pie.

But de Devil w'ars dat iron shoe, An' if you don't watch, he'll slip it on you.

JOHN HENRY

John Henry, he wus a steel-drivin' man.

He died wid his hammer in his han'.

O come long boys, an' line up de track, For John Henry, he hain't never comin' back.

John Henry said to his Cappun: "Boss, A man hain't nothin' but a man, An' 'fore I'll be beat in dis s.e.xion gang, I'll die wid a hammer in my han'."

John Henry, he had a liddle boy, He helt 'im in de pam of his han'; An' de las' word he say to dat chile wus: "I wants you to be my steel-drivin' man."

John Henry, he had a pretty liddle wife, An' her name, it wus Polly Ann.

She walk down de track, widout lookin' back, For to see her big fine steel-drivin' man.

John Henry had dat pretty liddle wife, An' she went all dress up in red.

She walk ev'y day down de railroad track To de place whar her steel-drivin' man fell dead.

[31]THE NASHVILLE LADIES

Dem Nashville ladies dress up fine.

Got longpail hoopskirts hanging down behin'!

Got deir bonnets to deir shoulders an' deir noses in de sky!

Big pig! Liddle pig! Root hog, or die!

[31] The name of the place was used where the rhyme was repeated.

THE RASCAL

I'se de bigges' rascal fer my age.

I now speaks from dis public stage.

I'se stole a cow; I'se stole a calf, An' dat hain't more 'an jes 'bout half.

Yes, Mosser!--Lover of my soul!-- "How many chickens has I stole?"