Negro Folk Rhymes Part 7

THE COW NEEDS A TAIL IN FLY-TIME

Dat ole black sow, she can root in de mud, She can tumble an' roll in de slime; But dat big red cow, she git all mired up, So dat cow need a tail in fly-time.

Dat ole gray hoss, wid 'is ole bob tail, You mought buy all 'is ribs fer a dime; But dat ole gray hoss can git a kiver on, Whilst de cow need a tail in fly-time.

Dat n.i.g.g.e.r Overseer, dat's a-ridin' on a mule, Cain't make hisse'f white lak de lime; Mosser mought take 'im down fer a notch or two, Den de cow'd need a tail in fly-time.

JAYBIRD DIED WITH THE WHOOPING COUGH

De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough, De Sparrer died wid de colic; 'Long come de Red-bird, skippin' 'round, Sayin': "Boys, git ready fer de Frolic!"

De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough, De Bluebird died wid de Measles; 'Long come a n.i.g.g.e.r wid a fiddle on his back, 'Vitin' Crows fer to dance wid de Weasels.

Dat Mockin'-bird, he romp an' sing; Dat ole Gray Goose come prancin'.

Dat Thrasher stuff his mouf wid plums, Den he caper on down to de dancin'.

Dey hopped it low, an' dey hopped it high; Dey hopped it to, an' dey hopped it by; Dey hopped it fer, an' dey hopped it nigh; Dat fiddle an' bow jes make 'em fly.

WANTED! CORNBREAD AND c.o.o.n

I'se gwine now a-huntin' to ketch a big fat c.o.o.n.

Gwineter bring him home, an' bake him, an' eat him wid a spoon.

Gwineter baste him up wid gravy, an' add some onions too.

I'se gwineter shet de n.i.g.g.e.rs out, an' stuff myse'f clean through.

I wants a piece o' hoecake; I wants a piece o' bread, An' I wants a piece o' Johnnycake as big as my ole head.

I wants a piece o' ash cake: I wants dat big fat c.o.o.n!

An' I sho' won't git hongry 'fore de middle o' nex' June.

LITTLE RED HEN

My liddle red hen, wid a liddle white foot, Done built her nes' in a huckleberry root.

She lay mo' aigs dan a flock on a fahm.

Anudder liddle drink wouldn' do us no harm.

My liddle red hen hatch fifty red chicks In dat liddle ole nes' of huckleberry sticks.

Wid one mo' drink, ev'y chick'll make two!

Come, bring it on, Honey, an' let's git through.

RATION DAY

Dat ration day come once a week, Ole Mosser's rich as Gundy; But he gives us 'la.s.ses all de week, An' b.u.t.termilk fer Sund'y.

Ole Mosser give me a pound o' meat.

I e't it all on Mond'y; Den I e't 'is 'la.s.ses all de week, An' b.u.t.termilk fer Sund'y.

Ole Mosser give me a peck o' meal, I fed and cotch my tucky; But I e't dem 'la.s.ses all de week, An' b.u.t.termilk fer Sund'y.

Oh laugh an' sing an' don't git tired.

We's all gwine home, some Mond'y, To de honey ponds an' fritter trees; An' ev'ry day'll be Sund'y.

MY FIDDLE

If my ole fiddle wus jes in chune, She'd bring me a dollar ev'y Friday night in June.

W'en my ole fiddle is fixed up right, She bring me a dollar in nearly ev'y night.

W'en my ole fiddle begin to sing, She make de whole plantation ring.

She bring me in a dollar an' sometime mo'.

Hurrah fer my ole fiddle an' bow!

DIE IN THE PIG-PEN FIGHTING

Dat ole sow said to de barrer: "I'll tell you w'at let's do: Let's go an' git dat broad-axe And die in de pig-pen too."

"Die in de pig-pen fightin'!

Yes, die, die in de wah!

Die in de pig-pen fightin', Yes, die wid a bitin' jaw!"

MASTER IS SIX FEET ONE WAY

Mosser is six foot one way, an' free foot tudder; An' he weigh five hunderd pound.

Britches cut so big dat dey don't suit de tailor, An' dey don't meet half way 'round.

Mosser's coat come back to a claw-hammer p'int.

(Speak sof' or his Bloodhound'll bite us.) His long white stockin's mighty clean an' nice, But a liddle mo' holier dan righteous.

FOX AND GEESE

Br'er Fox wa'k out one moonshiny night, He say to hisse'f w'at he's a gwineter do.

He say, "I'se gwineter have a good piece o' meat, Befo' I leaves dis townyoo.

Dis townyoo, dis townyoo!

Yes, befo' I leaves dis townyoo!"

Ole mammy Sopentater jump up out'n bed, An' she poke her head outside o' de do'.

She say: "Ole man, my gander's gone.

I heared 'im w'en he holler 'quinny-quanio,'

'Quinny-quanio, quinny-quanio!'

Yes, I heared 'im w'en he holler 'quinny-quanio.'"

GOOSEBERRY WINE